Sydnie Camassar

My research for this portfolio is centered around Jewish folklore and folk literature, particularly those that contain dybbuks, a uniquely Jewish take on the concept of demons that possess humans, and golems, which are traditionally represented as beings made from clay that are brought to life through magic or some kind of incantation for the purpose of protecting the Jewish people. After researching Jewish folklore centered around those two mythical figures, I wrote a scholarly essay in which I perform feminist readings on these two areas of interest as well as a linked short story collection based on the folklore I researched. As someone with a passion for creative writing, I used this portfolio as an opportunity to develop my worldbuilding skills, as this short story collection took place in a fantasy setting rather than a real-world setting. Ultimately, the collection was defined by themes of protection, community healing, and personal agency.