Date of Award
Spring 5-1-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Creative Writing
First Advisor
Eyal Press
Second Advisor
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh
Academic Program Adviser
Michael Rizzo
Abstract
This thesis explores teenage mental health in the scope of black girlhood, growing up in the internet age, family memories, trauma, and displacement. It explores a maladaptive coping mechanism called "scripting", which distorts how we see and process reality based of the tropes and story-lines shown to us in media throughout our lives.
Recommended Citation
Gardner, Laila Simone, "Main Character Syndrome" (2026). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/hc_sas_etds/1487
