Keywords

Russian, Jewish, Cultural Inheritance, Tradition, Religion

Abstract

I’m Sorry You Have to Read This is a collection of essays that explore Russian culture, Jewish traditions, and American identity. Through reflections on illness, the indignities of premature balding, and the ongoing puzzle of cultural belonging, these essays navigate the awkward and absurd passage from childhood to adulthood. The first essay, “Traditions Schmaditions,” explores cultural identity, assimilation, and generational inheritance within a Russian-Jewish immigrant family. At its core, it’s about obligation and fear, and the struggle to break free from traditions kept out of habit rather than intention. Following essays of culture-shaping experiences that explore learning to define adulthood and embrace the discomforting rite of passage known as male-pattern baldness, the collection ends with the essay, “I’m Sorry You Have to Read This,” which navigates cultural and familial expectations to examine a lifelong tendency to over-apologize. Blending humor with self-deprecation, these essays examine family, guilt, and resilience—not as lessons, but as lived experiences. More catharsis than curriculum, the collection offers a portrait of growing up where apologies are abundant, but never quite enough.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Fall

Committee Chair

Jocelyn Bartkevicius

Degree

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)

College

College of Arts and Humanities

Department

English

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0029798

Document Type

Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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