The First Museum: A Novel

Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

English

First Advisor

Thisbe Nissen, M.F.A.

Second Advisor

Allen Webb, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Alen Hamza, Ph.D.

Fourth Advisor

Rajiv Mohabir, Ph.D.

Keywords

Art, erotic, fiction, incarceration, museums, novel

Abstract

The First Museum explores questions of the erotic, the institutionalization of art, and what it means to be free. Set in contemporary Houston, the novel follows aspiring curator Lena as she takes an entry-level position as an administrative assistant at the National Museum of Funeral History, where a groundbreaking new exhibition is in development—a multisensory exploration of death, memory, and the human body. However, amidst this new opportunity, she is unexpectedly invited to a homecoming party celebrating the prison release of Nilo, the brother of her estranged childhood best friends, a reunion which forces her to confront unresolved episodes from their shared past. Meanwhile, newly released Nilo tries to navigate life on the outside while grappling with his own uncertain future and ongoing questions of autonomy. Indeed, while recruited to provide construction assistance on Lena’s exhibit, Nilo secretly takes a job at a massage spa, a role that offers greater financial security and an opportunity to further explore his relationship to the body. As Lena and Nilo navigate these challenges, they become increasingly entwined in the exhibition’s curatorial process—namely its focus on the body— ultimately provoking questions about the institutions that shape our understanding of mortality and existence.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Abstract Only

Restricted to Campus until

6-1-2036

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