Digital Commons Network^™

Equipmentality As A Pharmakon, Sherif Khalil

Theses and Dissertations

One must lose the world to know himself, if in his attempt to know the world he lost himself.

In this thesis, I argue that equipment is a pharmakon in that its harm lies in the service it is supposed to provide. Through equipment one gets to have a practical sense of the world. But, the world in this sense is a world for everyone and for no one in particular, that is, it is made to the measure of the average person who has no aspirations to realize his authenticity. That is how equipment helps us practically make sense …

The Construction Of Character And Authenticity On Rupaul’S Drag Race, Carli Pickett

University Honors Theses

One of the most common instructions delivered to the drag queens competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race is to show their “true self.” At first glance, RuPaul’s Drag Race foregrounds authenticity and individuality, but it does so through a constructed lens that shapes its contestants into characters. While storylines and characterizations on the show are necessarily informed by the queen’s actions, they are heavily shaped by editing. In this essay, I will be exploring the ways in which authenticity manifests itself throughout several seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Each episode of Season Seven, Eight and Nine was watched with special attention …

Finding Authenticity And Belonging In Teaching: Critical Reflection Of Personal Experience To Facilitate Transformation, Laura R. Chapman

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The purpose of this reflection is to tell the story of the author’s career transition towards the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and engagement in issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in education. Using the methodology of critical reflection (Brookfield, 2017), couched within an examination of disorienting dilemmas as described in transformative learning theories (Mezirow, 2000), I will explore how the lens of personal experience can be a valuable as educators strive to find authentic ways to grapple with the critical issues we face in education in general, and the field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD) …

Witnessing Timelessness: Revitalizing Heritage Tourism In The Ruins Of Saudi Arabia, Reem Habis

Masters Theses

Well-known historic sites in Saudi Arabia, such as Historic Jeddah, are designated as heritage, meaning they are protected from deterioration over time. However, in the Aseer region, there are over 4500 unprotected modest sites that provide an integral sense of identity and authenticity to the culture of not just this region, but the entire Kingdom. The absence of preservation guidelines has left these sites vulnerable to indiscriminate developments attempting revitalization. Undesignated heritage sites must be safeguarded and rehabilitated rather than neglected and left at risk of further decay, especially with the encroachment of tourism.

To preserve the sites’ authenticity and …

The Village On The Stage: Dramaturgies Of Modernity In African Concert Dance, Margit N. Edwards

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

My dissertation, The Village on the Stage: Dramaturgies of Modernity in African Concert Dance, analyzes the underlying theatrical logic in African concert dance through a dramaturgical model I call the village on the stage. The village on the stage dramaturgy has had multiple iterations over the 20^th and 21^st centuries both across the African continent and the African diaspora. Commonly presented within the world-dance market as neo-traditional African dance, the village on the stage refers to a set of practices of staging traditional dance and music of Africa and the African diaspora and serves as a …

An Existentialist Love, Garrett T. Harrison

The Corinthian

This paper seeks to establish an existentialist concept of virtuous Love by discussing the works of famous modern Existentialist thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus within the realm of Love as discussed by Bell Hooks and Skye Cleary. It also seeks to express the significance of this Love within modern society. Our notion of Existentialist Love is built upon Sartre’s concept of authenticity, and branches into the inter-personal through Beauvoir’s notion of reciprocal, virtuous love. It is then expounded into the greater collective through a discussion of fear as the breeder of inauthenticity and is …

Authenticity In Fashion And Beauty: Influencer Marketing And The Development Of Parasocial Relationships On Social Media, Catherine Goodheart

Student Theses and Dissertations

Social media influencers are more accessible than celebrities, making their audience form strong connections with them through their niche content. The parasocial relationship formed between influencers and their followers through the followers' media literacy of the influencer’s authenticity enables influencers to market themselves promoting products; without a perceived authenticity, a parasocial relationship will struggle to form. This parasocial relationship is typically to generate profit for the influencer, as many influencers are paid to promote and advertise products specific to their niche(s) on their profiles or on the brand’s profiles. A media analysis was used to study 5 beauty and fashion …

Death To The Museum (As We Know It): A California Art And History Museum Designs A Different Cultural Exhibit, Caitlin Pambid

csuglobaljournal

Museums have stuck to traditional rules of focusing interpretation only on the object, having a single exceptional curator, and top-down dissemination of information. One California museum has created a different cultural exhibit that rejects all of these pillars to create an active museum. New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU Los Gatos) recently held an exhibition titled: Reclamation: Resilience of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Collaborating with the Muwekma Ohlone, aboriginal to the San Francisco Bay Region, this exhibit spotlights and provides a platform for the Muwekma to the surrounding Los Gatos community who may not be aware of the local indigenous …

“Everybody Loves A Conjurer:” The Fake Artworks Of Elmyr De Hory (1906-1976) And Their Consequences On The Art World, Caroline Grinstead

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Art institutions such as museums, galleries, and auction houses have for many years been characterized as reliable and trustworthy. The act of art forgery threatens this integrity and causes these institutions to rethink how they acquire artworks. My research focuses on a specific art forger, Elmyr de Hory, who became notorious for being able to reproduce works in the style of notable artists such as Picasso, Matisse, and Modigliani. By successfully selling his forgeries to multiple museums and galleries, only to be discovered later, de Hory forced institutions to reconstruct their approaches in authenticating and acquiring works of art. As …

Second Language Acquisition In The Era Of Technology And Artificial Intelligence: Exploring New Frontiers, Mimoun Akhiat

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This portfolio is the capstone project of the Master of Second Language Teaching program. It offers perspectives and insights into major themes of importance to the writer. It begins with a general introduction pertaining to the writer’s education and teaching background, his goals for joining the program and an overall reflection of this experience. Following this is the writer’s teaching philosophy comprised of a description of professional environment and a teaching philosophy statement centered on the principles of multimodality, authenticity, and collaboration. The second section of this portfolio is entitled hands-on teaching experience where the writer presents and reflects on …

Academics Intensified (A.I.): Safeguarding The Authenticity Of Student Outputs Through Streamlined Pedagogical Modifications, Shelica Lalucha T. Iniwan

Annual Research Congress for High School and Elementary Teachers, Researchers, and Scholars (ARCHERS)

The 2020 global pandemic made academics realize that online learning is a viable educational delivery mode. However, along with the persistence of schools to craft necessary learning frameworks comes the age-old issue of academic dishonesty. While technology has been seen to be pivotal in instruction, the same has also been used to commit academic misconduct, especially during distance learning. Following Dinneen (2021) and Park (2004), the study explored the level of familiarity of selected students of the different taxonomies of academic dishonesty. Then, through focus group discussions with the students and content subject teachers, the study was able to get …

The Weight Of Gratitude And The Burden Of Truth, Joshua Macer

Masters Theses

The roots of this thesis lie in a daily journal written in a tattered notebook while deployed to the war-torn city of Baghdad, Iraq. The artist's statement tells the story of how the tragic events of 9/11 led to a decade of service in the military and how a simple daily journal kept during combat became the foundation for a memoir. Times passing, memory issues from injuries sustained overseas, and conflicting stories led the author to question the accuracy of military memoirs. The critical theory paper evaluates authenticity in memoirs, the challenges to truth and memories, and the consequences of …

Ministry And Diversity In The City, William Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Missouri trains and develops men and women to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His church. The church of Jesus Christ, biblically, is a multi-ethnic body comprised of men and women of every tribe, nation, language, and tongue. God’s intention is for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Though the mission of the church is clear, go and make disciples of all nations, Christian colleges have not always developed classes to equip ministry students to effectively minister across lines of racial, cultural, and socio-economic differences. This …

Doenjang In The Air: Maangchi And The Mediation Of Korean Cultural Authenticity, Justin Sprague

Women's & Gender Studies Faculty Publications

In this article, I explore the ways that women of the Korean diaspora engage in cultural meaning‑making through material culture in efforts to redefine what it means for people, things, and ideas to be considered “authentically Korean”. Using the case study of famous internet chef Maangchi, I examine one of her best‑selling cookbooks and her digital presence to identify the tac‑ tics she uses to exert agency in the meaning‑making and community‑building process, using Korean food and her role as a maternal figure as vehicles for analysis. Due to her roles as a mother and her positioning as a quintessential …

“I’M Staying And You’Re Gonna Love Me”: Finding Authentic Freedom & Fostering Belonging As Black Female Early Faculty, Roszina D. Scott, Tinotenda Mupambo

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

The purpose of this reflection is to expand the knowledge on the retention of early Black female faculty by exploring their challenges and triumphs in dismantling Whiteness and developing an authentic sense of belonging in the academy. In higher education, Black women experience marginalization at the intersection of anti-black racism and sexism. Faculty of color experience racial microaggressions, excessive workloads and service expectations, and their expertise is seldom recognized. Despite these challenges, marginalized faculty authentically persist and find a sense of belonging within the ivory tower by building mentorship relationships, departmental DEI efforts, opportunities for innovation, and cultivating Black sisterhood. …

Reviving The Ancient Egyptian Festivals As An Authentic Tourism Product, Azza Saad, Mona Taha Hussein, Emad Eddin Abu Elenain

Journal of the General Union of Arab Archaeologists

إحياء المهرجانات المصرية القديمة كمنتج سياحي أصيل [Ar]

تعد المهرجانات من المكونات الأساسية لصناعة السياحة نظرا لأهميتها في الترويج للمقصد السياحي وتعزيز صورته، وأصبحت الأصالة من العناصر الرئيسية التي تؤثر بشكل مباشر على التصنيف العالمي للمنطقة المزارة. و بالرغم من تزايد اعداد الباحتين والدراسين لمفهوم الأصالة في السياحة إلا أن تجربة المهرجانات القديمة لم يتم التطرق إليها. استنادا على تلك الفجوة البحثية، تهدف الدراسة إلى إلقاء الضوء علي الأصالة المتحققة من المهرجانات المصرية القديمة عن طريق دراسة نوعية لتحديد كيفية توظيف تلك الأحداث كوسيلة لترويج السياحة في مصر. وجدير بالذكر أن المهرجانات كانت معروفة في مصر منذ العصور القديمة بل …

Harnessing Ireland’S Food Heritage – The Role Of The Artisan Food Producer In Ireland’S Food Tourism Offering, Margaret Connolly, Rebecca O'Flynn

European Journal of Food Drink and Society

This research paper examines the role of the artisan food producer, not just as an entrepreneur and service provider but with a focus on how they contribute to the preservation of Ireland’s food culture and heritage. Using a qualitative methodology and in keeping with a phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of ten artisan food producers from different parts of Ireland. A thematic analysis of the responses was carried out, with a desire to let the voice of the artisans themselves tell their story. The research shows that through the conservation and use of traditional ingredients, …

“Eating The Other”: Invisibilities And Inequalities Within Culinary Cosmopolitanism, Francesca Bernardino

Sociology Honors Projects

In this study, I interrogate culinary cosmopolitanism, or food consumption practices reflecting an appreciation for cultural diversity, tolerance, and exploration. Culinary cosmopolitanism has grown increasingly popular amongst consumers, alongside the implicit assumption that society is genuinely moving towards acceptance of all cultures and people. However, I argue for a more critical perspective on the consumption practices of culinary cosmopolitanism. Using interviews and survey data with students at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, I also extend current theory on culinary cosmopolitanism, which has focused on older professionals, to an understudied age group. At Macalester, a small Midwestern liberal arts college …

Women Leaders In The Oil And Gas Industry: How They Lead With Authenticity And Deal With Underrepresentation And Gender Bias In The Macro, Meso, And Micro Levels Of Society, Michelle Ann Ballard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted between March 2023 and April 2023 and measured if women leaders in the oil and gas industry could lead authentically while dealing with gender biases. Women executives encounter macro-level challenges such as recruitment, retention, maintaining a career in oil and gas, feeling a sense of belonging, and gender prejudices. Women have faced organizational obstacles and challenges such as modifying their personalities, being underrepresented in their organization, unequal compensation, discriminatory stereotypes, and scarcity of resources. However, women in the industry also confront nonorganizational deterrents such as work-life conflict, harassment, and being regarded as poor advocates for their …

“We Need To Figure Out Who We Are”: Reframing Manhood In An Online Discussion Forum, Tomas Sanjuan Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I explore the potential of online communities in negotiating alternative forms of “doing” masculinity. I focus on the /r/bropill which is hosted on Reddit – home to thousands of active discussion forums called subreddits. I argue that the members of /r/bropill subreddit are attempting to redefine what it means to live your life not only as a man but as a “good man.” Using a purposive sample, I analyzed 24 discussions which totaled 1325 posts (n = 1325). I conducted a qualitative textual analysis of the original posts and comments inspired by grounded theory. My findings reveal …

Exploring The Application Of Compassionate Leadership Behaviors In The Workplace, Tracy L. Laurie

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This qualitative case study answers the central research question “How are compassionate leadership behaviors encouraged and/or discouraged in the workplace?” Interviews with five individuals from one work team in an Am Law 100 law firm revealed how the compassionate leadership behaviors of integrity, accountability, presence, empathy, authenticity, and dignity (Shuck et al., 2019) were applied at work. This research explored four themes: leadership courage, growth mindset, empowerment, and coaching performance. Each theme has four subthemes further describing the data: Leadership courage: managing consistently and fairly, being transparent, communicating honestly, and taking risks; Growth mindset: working intentionally, developing others, learning continuously, …

The Effect Of Consumer-Based Authenticity On Attachment And Social Networks In Digital Context: Case Of Moroccan’S Terroir Products, Fatima E. Ouboutaib

Journal of Global Business Insights

The focus of this paper is to conceptualize and measure consumer-based authenticity as well as its effects on social networks (SN) and attachment. In addition, it explores the effect of consumer attachment. In order to address this focus, it suggests a framework for analyzing this relationship by using the Partial Least Squares Equation Modeling. This study utilizes applied quantitative research in the Moroccan context. The results showed that consumer-based authenticity represents a marketing tool that can influence purchase intention. The key contribution of this research is the feature of consumer authenticity that influences social network confidence. Consumers need to …

Digital Hair Creation For Archaeological Facial Approximation: George Dixon, The Last Captain Of The Hl Hunley, Robert Emerson

All Theses

This study explores the application of digital hair creation techniques in archaeological facial approximation, focusing on the case of George Dixon, the last captain of the HL Hunley submarine. While digital hair creation techniques have been previously employed in facial approximation, this research seeks to investigate further their potential and advantages over traditional methods, particularly regarding flexibility and the ability to create multiple variations.

Facial approximation is a critical method for reconstructing the physical appearance of historical individuals. However, accurately recreating their hairstyle presents a significant challenge due to limited information and reliance on artistic interpretation. This research aims to …

Blood As Currency In Professional Wrestling, Lisa S. Butler

Survive & Thrive: A Journal for Medical Humanities and Narrative as Medicine

The practice of blading in professional wrestling is a performative act where a wrestler intentionally cuts oneself to inflict a bleeding injury. Audiences in the moment and long after the match invest significant consideration in working out whether blood and injury are a ‘work’, part of the performance or ‘shoot’, an actual injury.

This reaction demonstrates an argument for real and perceived injury to be understood as a popular attraction in the spectacle of pro-wrestling’s performance, and blood in particular as currency in the performer/audience transaction. This paper will focus on the performance of pre-determined injury as modes of communication …

Nail Polish Epiphany, Mark Bieraugel

Library Scholarship

Do they really smell of marshmallow Peeps? I nervously sniffed my brightly polished fingernails as I walked to my on-campus video interview, where I would talk about what it was like being a gender non-conforming person at my workplace. My university wanted individuals’ experiences, mine included, to create a webpage full of written and video stories of a group of employees to show how inclusive we were. But back to my nails.

Being Authentic On Social Media With Generation Z, Soyombo-Erdene Ariunbold

Theses

This paper discusses the evolving landscape of social media and the significance of authenticity on social media platforms for Generation Z. It emphasizes the rise of social media platforms, shedding light on their authenticity and the profound influence they have on users' mental well-being. The paper also highlights the necessity for content creators and brands to adapt by incorporating more unpolished content on social media platforms.

The final deliverable will include a detailed survey analysis of the content authenticity on BeReal application. The findings of this study will offer valuable insights into the increasing demand for authenticity on social media …

Tracing As Process, Lesley Su

Masters Theses

Tracing is a way to observe, document and translate, to be anchored in the physical working, to find personal occupancy in the built environment.

By establishing one-to-one relationships with the physical context, tracing enables us to comprehend objects in multiple dimensions. Through tracing, we can explore how two-dimensional drawings can be transformed into three-dimensional objects, and vice versa, objects can be documented through drawing to capture the essence of reality.

Based on materials and motion, research on tracing techniques guides me into how tracing could act as a process of art and architecture practice.

“Girl Power, Selfies, And Sexiness”: An Investigation Into The Neoliberal And Postfeminist Era Of Influencer Marketing, Amalie A. Werenskiold

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In today’s social media-centered popular culture, fashion, and lifestyle influencers maintain rigid and sexist forms of femininity which are spread to a large consumer base through influencer marketing. Research on postmodern feminism has revealed that the standardized modern woman is supplied with freedom, fun, and sexiness, allowing women to live their lives as they best see fit. Yet not all women are able to experience similar feelings of liberation and gender inequality is still a regular feature of society. This study observes Instagram images, captions, and comment sections of 61 distinct female influencers from the Instagram explore page. The evidence …

A Central Task Of Theology: Authenticity In Relationship With God, Lydia Mattern

Obsculta

This work is a reflection on the beautiful mystery of Theology and what it means to be in authentic relationship with God. It is a cumulative piece of noteworthy ideas taught by Dr. Kristin Colberg in Thinking Theologically, a class that changed Lydia's life. It demonstrates that Theology is a vehicle used to come to understand God.

Negotiating Authenticity: Reproducing The Past For The Present, David Symanzik-Stock

Theses and Dissertations

Negotiating Authenticity: Reproducing the Past for the Present explores how reproductions connect us to the past. From Rembrandt restrikes to plastic souvenirs, reproductions occupy an important chapter in an object’s biography. This exhibition considers the complex relationships between "original” artifacts and their reproductions, which historically has been the focus of scholarly debate. Walter Benjamin, in his 1936 essay The Work of Art in the Age of Technological Reproduction, highlights the intrinsic questions posed of this relationship – when an original work of art (or object) is reproduced, what relationship does both the reproduction and its model (the original) have with …