Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Exiles: Trauma, Art & Design, Edwin Lew-Højbak Paquette

University Honors Theses

A BFA thesis about the researching, writing, illustrating, and printing of a graphic novel. The story, an auto-biographical exploration of trauma using magical realism, is based on the Jungian psychology concept of shadow work and Internal Family Systems (IFS).

An Analysis On The Florida Project, Capucine Rosier

University Honors Theses

The Florida Project is a contemporary movie filmed by independent director Sean Baker. This movie tackles different social and institutional issues across America, specifically the outdated welfare system and the rise of homelessness among young children. This paper is determined to analyze the different social and ethical concerns filmed throughout the movie and offer my interpretation of the film. Digging deeper into artistic pieces is essential as hidden messages are portrayed in every way. Censorship and display through art have been a form of individual expression since the beginning. This thesis will discuss how the filmmaker filmed and showcased the …

Ad Natural: A Campaign Advocating For Representation Of Diverse Female Body Types In Advertising Practices, Stacey Horton

University Honors Theses

In this paper, I discuss the conceptualization, research, and execution of my awareness campaign, Ad Natural, in which I explore the best methods for promoting representation of diverse body types among women in advertisements. Through studying the history of women in advertising, the conduction of an anonymous survey, and competitor analysis I am able to determine where there is room for growth in advocating for this cause and integrate the solutions into the campaign. The end result consists of a full brand identity across a website, advertisement series, and merchandise with consistent messaging and imagery meant to empower the desired …

Signs Of Life, John Kohlepp

University Honors Theses

Inspired by the isolation of the COVID pandemic, John Kohlepp explores Manuel DeLanda's theories of identity and assemblage with a modular exhibit of trompe l’oeil paintings of humble objects found in his home and nearby surroundings. The exhibit offers the opportunity to recombine these interrelated elements into new patterns of meaning. The thesis offers an exploration of the philosophical and biographical inspirations behind the media and concepts engaged by the artist.

Unexpected Wins: Curating Comics And Teaching Manga From The Dark Horse Comics Collection, Elsa Loftis, Jon Holt

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

A familiar staple of entertainment for a wide variety of readers, the comic book has not always held a regular place in the academic library. Concerning themselves with collecting more traditional expressions of scholarship, libraries have not historically dedicated much of their acquisitions budgets to this area. Therefore, the comic book or graphic novel was largely relegated to someone’s personal collection and would more likely be found on the shelves of a comic book store than the shelves of a university library.

Fast-forward to the present day, where library collections more commonly provide access to comic books, either in regular …

You Need This: Global Fast Fashion, Environment, And Consumption Culture, Alexandra Lamm

Student Work

In looking at how global production of clothing has increased and shifted, we see the impacts in places like workers rights, environmental issues and cultural consumption. Although vastly different, through examination we will see how all are intrinsically linked. We have reached a truly global economy, and even when threatened with negative consequences of mass consumption in our daily lives, the road to actual change in the fashion industry becomes harder in time due to our dependency on the industry as a whole.

Dossier Cover, Tye Raymond

Anthós

This is the cover image for the 2022 Anthós Dossier about the novel Passing.

Artemisia Gentileschi: A Deeper Look Into Burghley House Susanna, Emma M. Rochlin

University Honors Theses

In this article Emma Rochlin investigates the debated topic amongst art historians regarding Artemisia Gentileschi's Susanna and the Elders of 1622. References to the research of Mary Garrard, stated in her book Artemisia Gentileschi Around 1622 encouraged this discussion. Rochlin examines expressions, landscapes, and signatures while referencing other paintings during this period of Gentileschi's career, along with the discoveries of Garrard, in order to decipher the authenticity of this painting.

Branding In Motion: How Animation And Branding Intersect To Support Nonprofits In Need, Shannon M. Steed

University Honors Theses

Nonprofits often don’t receive the kind of attention needed to garner a wide audience. Especially during the pandemic when the world has largely gone online, it can be a challenge for many of these organizations to adapt to the fast-paced digital landscape. This is largely due to a lack of access to resources and modern design practices to create more community visibility. This thesis is an exploration of how thoughtful design can bring these nonprofit events a new life. I created design systems for two nonprofit events, each with a digitally-focused approach and a focus on deeply considering the audience. …

Shaping The Witch: A Visual Art Thesis, Amanda Cobb

University Honors Theses

This thesis is an exploration of the complex and interconnected nature of folklore, personal mythology, and re-enchantment as expressed through the lens of puppetry. I have drawn inspiration from the works of deeply reflective works concerning the psychological nature of mythologies of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung, as well as the magical and beautiful work of artists Jim Henson, Brian and Wendy Froud, and Mercer Meyer. Through working in the medium of puppets, I have given consideration to the possibilities and limitations of these forms in expressing the complexity of narrative, personal mythology, the anxiety of disenchantment, lost and reclaimed …

Baking With Depression: An Exploration Of Crisis Response Through Dessert, Phoebe Jacques

University Honors Theses

In this paper, I discuss the conceptualization, research and execution of my cookbook, Baking with Depression, in which I explore how cooking habits reflect human behavior during times of crisis. Looking through the lens of cooking provides a unique perspective into how widespread stress can alter behaviors and outlooks. By comparing the Covid-19 pandemic and Great Depression, I make historical connections and use humor to create an engaging exploration.

For Art's Sake: An Exploration Of The Persistence Of Imposter Syndrome And Low-Self Confidence In Creative Fields, Mckinsey Carroll

University Honors Theses

Inspired by personal experiences as a graphic design student and those of my peers, this qualitative creative thesis discusses the prevalence of insecurity, imposter syndrome, and similar mental health struggles in creatives, and the ways in which these experiences or tendencies can inhibit us and stifle our creativity. Through my research, I learned that there are many ways in which graphic design as a field is uniquely affected by these issues, and that there exists a glaring need for conversation, particularly in academic spaces. This prompted the development of my personal interactive workbook titled "For Art's Sake" in which I …

Story And Play: Applying Narrative Game Scholarship To Game Design, Rodale Wenger

University Honors Theses

This paper examines the relationship of narrative to computer games from a design perspective. Over the past three decades, the academic discourse on narratives games has evolved considerably while producing a wealth of serious scholarship. However, the process of narrative game design continues to be an underdeveloped area of study. In this thesis, I review influential scholarship on narrative games and the broader topic of interactive digital narrative (IDN) and attempt to analyze its potential application to the process of design. I examine some of the major works on IDN, explore historical and ongoing debates related to narrativity within games, …

Moving From Cars To People, Kelly J. Clifton, Kristina M. Currans

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The twenty-page comic includes a dialogue, taking place in various urban settings, between characters Kelly and Kristi who are based on National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) researchers Kelly Clifton of the University of British Columbia and Kristina Currans of the University of Arizona. The two have a long history of collaboration around the data, methods, and processes used to plan for multimodal transportation impacts of new development. This short graphic synopsis is an engaging, approachable way for anyone – no matter their level of expertise in this topic – to learn about their findings.

Illustrated by PSU Master …

All Changelings Have Autism: How To Make A Better Book For Autistic Children, Nadia L. Hitchcock

University Honors Theses

How should a content creator, whether they work in film, literature, or sequential art, approach portrayals of Autistic characters? More specifically, how should these altruistic ideas be translated into a better storybook for Autistic children? This is the challenge that I have addressed with my Graphic Design thesis, by writing and illustrating my own children's picture book. The story itself is a spiritual successor to Old World changeling folktales and All Cats Have Asperger's Syndrome (Kathy Hoopman 2006). Though many Autistic people loved Hoopman's book as children, its visual shortcomings and linguistic oversights have marred its intended inclusive, positive message. …

Before Beachie Creek, Raine Welterlen

Anthós

An account of the biodiversity observed on a hiking trip in July 2020, three months before devastating wildfires destroyed much of the Opal Creek Wilderness

Colorful, Weird, And Wonderful: The Influences Of Subculture On The Fashion Of The 1960s, Gianna M. Zanzi

University Honors Theses

In this paper, I attempt to examine the fashion of three dominant subcultures within the American Counterculture movement of the 1960s--the Youthquakers, Mods, and Hippies--before discussing my project that was synthesized from this research; three outfits, one representing each subculture, that I had sewn using vintage and vintage-inspired patterns, fabrics, and notions. While I myself was not alive during the 1960s, my interest in the aesthetics associated with the decade were my motivation for trying my hand at creating period-accurate clothing using techniques and materials that would have also been used at this time. This essay is the documentation of …

Burnt Out: Encouraging Breaks And Lessening Burnout Symptoms In A Digital Landscape, Maria Miranda

University Honors Theses

This thesis project aims to create a website that’ll promote ways to lessen burnout symptoms and encourage taking efficient breaks in one’s daily routine. Burnout is a term formed in the 1970s to reflect the mental and physical toll employees experienced due to high amounts of stress brought up by the workplace. Since then the term burnout has expanded beyond the workplace and speaks directly to the experiences of graphic design students during the pandemic. Proper recovery from burnout is a crucial step, as neglecting care can lead to worsening conditions for the mind and body. By understanding the three …

Mapping The Case Study Houses: Translating History Via Design, Samuel L. Person

University Honors Theses

In this paper, I detail the process of creating a book titled The Case Study Houses: A Field Guide, a project meant to fill a gap in the scholarship on the Case Study Houses, one of the most influential architectural programs of the 20^th century. I provide an overview of existing scholarship on the program, in addition to its shortcomings, and how my project addresses these by translating that body of work into an approachable, modern, yet no less informational format. My research process involved concatenating various informational sources into one cohesive whole that provides a standardized presentation …

Portland Park Signage: An Exploration Into Reimaging Placemaking, Samuel Garcia

University Honors Theses

In this paper I outline the rebrand for Portland Park Signage discussing the role between signage and visitor experience. I researched the fundamentals of user experience in physical space in the hope of beginning to understand how people connect with and interpret space into meaning. In doing so I discovered that providing visitors with a variety of experiences was key to developing positive experiences in public space which I attempted to interpret into the design of the sign itself. I did so by providing viewers with a variety of ways to interact with the sign as well as a variety …

Street Art: The Gallery Of The City, Mia Pinzelik

University Honors Theses

This project will look to better understand the culture and community of Portland street art, the unique aspects of the art form, the kinds of people participating in street art culture, the difficulties they face, and what defines this specific Portland subculture in 2020. The goal of this project is to compile this research into a board game illustrating a general overview of the process and experiences of street artists in Portland.

Connection, Compassion, And Honesty: Using Picture Books To Help Build A Healthier Relationship To Death In A Death-Denying Culture, Kami Sahalie Upshaw Gould

University Honors Theses

This paper explores the ways children are taught about death and dying and how children's picture books can be utilized in difficult conversations of this nature. I go into the historical advent of books specifically for children and research how different ways of explaining death can help or hurt a child. Through this research, I explore how our situationality in a death denying culture has shaped how we explain death to children and what steps can be taken to counter this denial.

What's Important To You? A Look Into The Historical And Social Significance Of Buttons, Hope Je Ferns

University Honors Theses

This project is an exploration into the social and historical significance of buttons and the culture surrounding buttons. Not only is it looked at from a graphic design context, but it is also looked at from the context of nonverbal communication, social change, and a piece of history that is tangible, accessible, and for all groups of people.

Bakeneko: A Look Into The Origins Of Japan's Supernatural Cats, Cedar Taulbee

University Honors Theses

Cats are strange and mysterious creatures. Cultures all around the world have created myths and legends surrounding house cats, stories laden with superstition and usually a touch of fear. In most of the West we have black cats and their association with witches and black magic. In Ancient Egypt, as most of us know, cats were worshipped as sacred animals. And in Japan there are bakeneko.

I use bakeneko as a general term, but what I am really referring to is kaibyo, which is a Japanese word used to describe supernatural or "strange" cats. And Japan has a …

Fallen Objects: Collaborating With Artificial Intelligence In The Field Of Graphic Design, Harrison S. Gerard

University Honors Theses

In this paper, I discuss the creation, execution and reception of my digital art series Fallen Objects, in which I collaborate with a neural net to create pseudo-found objects. I explore how artists might collaborate with Artificial Intelligence obliquely, not by having the AI generate the images themselves, but instead generate input for the artists to make the images. While many artists are focused on training neural nets to replicate their own art inputs, I instead focus on working with an AI trained on external, easily-accessible data and creating images from the prompts it delivers. In this way, the AI …

Original, Nicole Donisi, Skyler Hayes, Ash Horn, Naomi Likayi, Trudy Chin, Fahad Al-Meraikhi, Matt Davidson, Wolfgang Schildmeyer, Nicola Cheadle, Melissa Delzio, Olivia Ridgley, Portland Design History

Student Work

This magazine showcases some of the people, brands and organizations of significance from Portland’s design scene with a focus on the 1960s & 1970s.

Noah’S Ark And Burning Sodom: Woodcuts In The Psu Codex Fasciculus Temporum, Amber L. Shrewsbury

Fasciculus Temporum

Early printed books were illustrated by means of woodcut block illustrations. These illustrations frequently depicted well-known biblical events or stories and cities, and the woodcuts were frequently reused, sometimes within the same edition.

The focus of this paper is two woodcut illustrations in PSU’s 1490 edition of Werner Rolewinck’s Fasciculus temporum: Noah’s Ark and the destruction of Sodom. Comparisons are made between these two illustrations and relevant woodcuts in other editions of the Fasciculus temporum, as well as those found in a 1493 edition of the Nuremberg Chronicle by Hartmann Schedel.

Drach, Prüss, And The Fifteenth-Century Book Trade, Jonathan Taylor

Extra-Textual Elements

The development of the moveable-type press in the mid-fifteenth century led to the rise of a new industry, the manufacture and trade of printed books. Before this, written works existed as handwritten manuscripts individually produced by scribes.

The printing press allowed works such as the Malleus maleficarum and Fasciculus temporum contained within Portland State University’s codex to be produced in a significantly more efficient manner. The printers of the two volumes contained in the codex, Peter Drach and Johann Prüss, successfully avoided the pitfalls facing early printers to become successful in their trade, and may have actively cooperated in the …

Erotic Manga, Its Artists, And The Pressures Of Censorship, Dominique Andrée Lief

University Honors Theses

Erotic manga (エロマンガ), a genre of adult-oriented Japanese comics is subjected to censorship that may seem irrelevant or confusing to people outside of the industry. Why is erotic manga censored? How is erotic manga censored? How does censorship affect erotic manga artists? These questions are examined through use of English academic sources, Japanese academic sources and news articles, and interviews with professional erotic manga artists translated into English.

From Bird-Woman To Mermaid: The Shifting Image Of The Medieval Siren, Claire Cannell

Student Research Symposium

During the Middle Ages, the siren transforms from its classical status as grotesque bird-woman into an alluring mermaid. A female monster, the siren represents what is considered monstrous in women. I plan to examine the unstable image of the siren in order to better understand the religious and social status of the medieval European woman. The siren is contextualized among contemporary secular images of female sexuality and the writings of religious authorities such as Leander of Seville, who wrote that all women were either nuns or sirens. I plan to analyze the implications of the nun-siren binary created by Leander …