Summer Undergrad Research Fellowship
MUSTANG DIARIES 2017
Experimenting with Mixed-Media Writing and Photography to Document Wild Horses
in the American West - Fellowship (200 hours)
Student Name and Year:
Marcia Hage, Senior
Mentor Name and Department:
Yvonne Rutford, Associate Professor of Writing,
Department of Writing & Library Science
Project Description:
Creative Goals and Research
Creative nonfiction has branched out significantly in the past
few years and is now far more than text on a page. I am excited
to explore and experiment with these non-traditional forms, particularly multi-dimensional narratives that combine my own photographic images to produce a piece that weaves together my personal journey with that of the wild mustang.
How this project fits the definition of undergraduate research:
I feel this project meets the goals of scholarly and creative activity through the valuable learning experience in a cross-disciplinary study that blends primary and secondary research with personal creative activity—and in meeting the ultimate goal of undergraduate research in that it contributes knowledge to the discipline of environmental literature and media.
Methodology and Design:
I will read and study a variety of work by existing mixed-media and environmental writers as recommended by my mentor prior to traveling to North Dakota and Wyoming to photograph wild horses. Through journaling and photography, I will compare and contrast the lives of these horses to those living in a holding facility or sanctuary, as well as gain an accurate depiction of the controversy surrounding their conservation and management through research and interviews with Bureau of Land Management employees and local residents.
Final Product or Proposed Outcome:
My project is a multi-media creative nonfiction narrative that blends research with personal experience that not only celebrates the beauty of wild horses in their natural environment, but also explores the controversies that shadow them. Photographic images taken on a two-week trip out West last summer add an additional perspective of the gift these horses give us. Woven throughout their story is my own personal journey to find them in the vast wilds of Wyoming and Montana. The use of different media allowed me to discover new sources of creativity within myself. In addition, I was honored to be selected to share my work at the Western Literature Association Conference this past fall in Minneapolis where I presented my photographs and read excerpts from my book in progress.
I came to UW-Superior as a non-traditional student after being laid off at United Taconite when the mine idled and I opted to return to school to pursue a second degree. I have a BA in Organizational Management, but was burned out in the business world. As a creative person, I am happiest when I am writing or taking photographs, so I chose a double major in Writing and Communication. Horses have always been my greatest passion and inspiration. Without this funding, I wouldn’t have been able to make the trip out west - a truly amazing opportunity that has changed my life. While there I kept a journal, and It is my hope my work will provide a voice for those who have none: the last remaining wild horses of our American West. Most people are unaware there are still wild horses in America and the sad truth is more of them live in holding facilities than run free. I plan to continue to visit these wild places while there are still mustangs and write about my experiences and discoveries as part of a published book.
