Abstract

For my thesis I have crafted a collection of poetry exploring concepts of selfhood. The poems use various lenses to present diverse perspectives on this concept, such as psychology, psychoanalysis, and religious theories regarding the difference between thought and action. I also draw upon biographical information about the poet Fernando Pessoa and the visual artist Yayoi Kusama and their respective selflessness and narcissism, and explore how these perspectives influence the relationship between their art and their lives. The collection is held together by a loose first-person narrative, ranging from lyrical to experimental in style, about a young woman unsure how to balance an individual identity with the desire to be close to others.