The Trash Painting

Abstract

"The Trash Painting: An Anthology of Short Fiction on the Theme of Urban Alienation" is a cycle of five short stories and one novella, all set within the fictional town of Newlocke, New Jersey. The connecting thread of the cycle is social alienation and loneliness. Each character is, in some way, isolated from those around them, and must navigate their own lonesomeness and inexpressiveness. This inexpressiveness comes from the lingering societal expectation of silence and non-communication while in public spaces, creating an environment where people are continually surrounded by people with whom they are conditioned to share no commonality or know anything about.