Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Bluegrass Backstory: Connecting People To Local History Through Podcasting, David Hunter Hartlage

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Kentucky has a rich cultural identity, built upon a storied local history. Unfortunately, certain aspects of local cultural history, such as the origins of Kentucky vernacular music or how the bourbon industry has promoted growth in Kentucky’s communities, are not readily apparent. The increasing popularity and accessibility of podcasting offers local historians an opportunity to address this problem.

The goal of this project was to create a podcast program which makes information regarding the history, culture, and identity of Kentucky accessible to all in a scholarly—but engaging—way. I researched podcasting equipment and how to use it, then purchased that equipment …

Landscape Analysis And Content Strategy For Covid-19 State Response Websites, Kaitlin Price

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

There is a massive flow of information about the COVID-19 pandemic from news coverage, daily announcements from local and national political leaders and health authorities, as well as social media. Because of this, a focus on providing clear, honest, and valid information is needed. One way to achieve this goal is through impactful state websites that can act as the main resource for COVID-19 related news.

This project will be analyzing three COVID-19 state response websites, kycovid19.ky.gov (Kentucky’s website), oregon.gov (Oregon’s website), and ldh.la.gov (Louisiana’s website) in terms of their use of website design and crisis communication strategies. I will …

Examining Audience Receptivity To Theatre Across Various Technological Mediums, Chingyi "Ac" Chan

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This creative project and study was proposed to investigate the impacts of online theatre on audience members’ emotions, feelings, and comprehension of the show. The Research questions asked were: RQ1: How does the viewing medium, if at all, affect the audience's response to a theatrical performance? And RQ2: Which, if any, technological mediums do audiences members prefer to use to watch theatre? Three versions of the same play were made and adapted to their respective social media platforms: YouTube, Instagram Live, and TikTok. Participants were asked to watch one of the three shows and fill out a survey. Forty participants …

Listening Back: A Podcast About Encouraging Social Change Through Theatre Of The Past, Madison Rose

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This CE/T explores the nature of theatre as a tool to encourage social change. Theatre is an important art form that can influence audiences into considering contemporary societal concerns and taking action. This capstone specifically addresses theatre prior to the 2000s as effective commentary on modern issues in America, such as police brutality, discrimination, reproductive rights, and religious hypocrisy. I have created a podcast as a resource for young dramaturgs and activists about existing and accessible plays that can be used to address important societal issues. This project is a culmination of my interest in theatre, history, communication and social …

Scotchwhisky101.Com: A User-Friendly, Persona-Driven Website, William Dillon Miller

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Within the realm of web design and marketing, it is easy for the designer to get caught up in what he/she thinks the site needs to look like. The problem is that web users are trying to accomplish specific tasks, and websites need to be tailored towards these users, not towards the designer. To work on this problem, I chose to make a website entitled “scotchwhisky101.com.” Most websites about single malts are too information-heavy and/or outdated. I used this problem to learn methods of user-oriented web design. To achieve this end, I gathered data through a survey. I then took …

The Importance Of Clothing In 1960s Protest Movements, Nicole Ziege

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The 1960s became one of the most tumultuous decades in American history because the decade experienced ideological polarization between the younger and older generations, and there was a mass influx of protests by many from the country’s younger generation in support of political and social changes for the country. Protest movements, including the anti-Vietnam War movement, the women’s liberation movement and the Civil Rights movement, became significant to the political and ideological landscape of the 1960s. Clothing became a central visual tactic to create cohesion between the protesters of these movements in order to make their protests more effective and …

Cada Día Por Dios (Every Day For God): A Look Inside La Luz Del Mundo And The Expansion Of Hispanic Evangelicalism, Jennifer King

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

“Cada día por Dios,” which translates to English as “Every Day for God” tells the story of the local congregation of the Hispanic evangelical church Iglesia del Dios Vivo, Columna y Apoyo de la Verdad, La Luz del Mundo. More commonly, the church is referred to as La Luz del Mundo or the Light of the World church. The local congregation of La Luz del Mundo is part of a larger trend of evangelical expansion in the Hispanic population and serves as a microcosm of the international church community.

The doctrine of the Light of the World church hearkens back …

Vlogging In Korea: From Film Student To Youtuber, Kalyn Edwards

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Video blogging, or vlogging, has become its own genre on YouTube in almost a “reality show” type atmosphere. This project aims to examine that world of video blogging from a personal level, not only as a film student, but also from the perspective of an aspiring businesswoman. The goals of this project are to take on the role of a vlogger, along with all its struggles, while exposing myself to a new culture in hopes of appealing to a certain demographic. It appears as though we have gone from a world relying on telegrams and postcards to becoming a society …

Journalism And Human Rights: From The Abolition Of The British Slave Trade, The Aids Crisis, And Injustices Beyond And In-Between, Andrew Henderson

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The conception of human rights is one that is enshrined within the shared, collective history of humanity. Encompassing secular traditions, Asian religions and traditions, and monotheistic religions and perspectives as a base for what would come to evolve into universal human rights. Throughout history these traditions and religions have all played a role in shaping where we are at today in terms of human rights. Yet the road which led to a universal declaration of rights was not paved with ease. From the onset of Aristotle, Plato, Hammurabi, other secular authors, and culminating to the end of the French Revolution …

Stitched Past, Sawyer Smith

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

“Stitched Past” tells the stories of vulnerable women in Lima, Peru. Despite the emotional and physical impacts of poverty, the women seek mentorship, education, and job security through Krochet Kids International. Krochet Kids, a U.S.-based non-profit organization, offers women in Peru and Uganda the opportunity to create knitwear to be sold online. In addition to gaining a new job and skill, the women receive counseling, affordable childcare, and supportive community. Krochet Kids approaches empowerment from a holistic perspective. The mentors encourage growth in five categories: financial, intellectual, physical, social, and psychological. This model of personal development ensures that the women …

Geekreformation.Com, Jacob Leonhardt

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Several years back, my best friend and I were discussing how there seemed to be no outlets for Christian geeks to enjoy being geeks without having to worry about inappropriate content. As there did not seem to be a place, we thought we should make one. Fast-forward to my senior year at Western Kentucky University, I am an Interactive Design major, and my friend has graduated with a degree in Film and Marketing; and what was once just conversation has now become a reality. This work explains what Geek Reformation is and how we went about branding and designing it. …

Thicker Than Blood, Kendall Norwood

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Everyone seeks acceptance in one facet or another throughout his or her life, and for Riley McCracken this desire for acceptance is no different. “Thicker Than Water” is a photojournalistic look at the life of a young person who recently has entered the phase of physically transitioning from female to male. Through documentation of Riley’s journey, this project showcases a humanizing and personal face to the relevant discussion of LGBT rights fought for nationally as well as in Kentucky. Riley’s story is one that echoes the struggle that many trans and gender dysmorphic individuals face, but the struggle is not …

A New Kind Of Body Project: Blogging And The American Teen Girl, Sarah E. Beach

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Through a framework of Joan Jacobs Brumberg’s 1997 work, The Body Project, this paper seeks to provide insight into how the American teenage girl’s body project has adapted and changed through the use of online blogging. Brumberg found that over the course of the 20^th century, girls changed their focus from an inner body project to an outer one. The paper uses a sample of 40 blogs, read in the month of April, 2014, and is divided up into four blog types: diary, pro-ana, style, and whole-self. By reading a girl’s online thoughts, readers will gain valuable insights …

The Concise Guide To The Modern Calvinist/Arminian Debate, David J. Leonhardt

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The Calvinist/Arminian debate is not a new issue to the Protestant Church; however, it is an issue that has resurged within contemporary Christianity. One major offense committed in this controversial debate occurs when a person or group uses a term from the opposite side in a way that is not the proponent’s original intent or meaning. Furthermore, misconceptions concerning the actual doctrines maintained by either side have become commonplace in the debate. In order to correct this problem, this thesis will serve as a guide for understanding the Calvinist/Arminian debate. It will provide information on the founders of the two …

Written In Stone, Michelle Day

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

John Peter Zenger, Elijah Lovejoy, Gordon Parks, Walter Winchell and Katherine Graham were five famous journalists who impacted the industry in enduring ways. Whether writers, publishers or a photographer, these storytellers have had their stories told countless times over many years. This project seeks to combine journalistic research with a personal experiment in creative writing. Each chapter consists of story about one of the journalists, told either from their own perspective or someone else’s. Each piece should be considered historical fiction — not nonfiction — but the overall message and basic facts are true. Each story is different but reflects …

Changes In Newspaper Portrayals Of Women, 1900-1960, Laurel Wilson

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This thesis will show how mainstream newspapers depicted women in the first half of the twentieth century, and how these portrayals changed alongside society’s view of women during this time. In addition, it will look at how coverage of women and the transformations occurring during these fifty years may have influenced and affected each other, as well as how media treatment of women contributed to the beginnings of the second wave of feminism that started in the second half of the century.

Discovering Cristina: A Study Of Cristina Peri Rossi's Life And Literary Works And Marketing Them To Worldwide Audiences, Dunja Zdero

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

As one of the leading female authors of the Latin American literature, Cristina Peri Rossi has produced a large collection of works including more than 40 published novels, essays, and short story and poetry collections. Her literature is known for addressing various topics such as political and social injustices, love, passion, feminism, sexuality, and gender studies. As an exile in Spain, Peri Rossi also offers an interesting blend of the two Spanish-speaking worlds. Although many other authors speak of the same issues, Peri Rossi provides a very unique insight into both cultures that cannot be seen elsewhere: an insight of …

The Running: Live At Mercy Lounge, Caitlin Richard

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This video is a one-hour live performance program created for the band The Running. The Running is a rock-reggae three-piece band originating from Nashville, Tennessee, consisting of a guitar player and vocalist, Mike Williams, a drummer, Andy Zimmerman, and a bass player, Christ Mironescu. The three artists have been playing together in and around Nashville for the past five years, as well as producing two albums and touring the Virgin Islands. After over 500 shows the band has created a large fan base among rock-reggae listeners. The Running: Live at Mercy Lounge was created to document a show performed …

The Corporeal Idea, Brian A. Shaw

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The act of transforming the ever elusive idea to the glorified art that appears on the “silver screen” is neither glamorous nor easy. I find the process often misrepresented in the eyes of the common viewer, and until the last four years of my undergraduate career, I saw through those same skewed eyes. The art of filmmaking is in its very essence a battle of wills and a test of endurance. It takes more than a great idea to breathe life into a project. It takes perseverance, preparation, cooperation, and most of all, a lot of luck! My experiences as …

The Faces Of Persuastion [Sic], Melissa Dawn Vincent

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Following the terrorist activities of September 11, 2001, the United States began weapons inspections in Iraq on November 18, 2002. This decision sparked interest throughout the world, including in France and the United States. By looking at Le Monde and The New York Times and focusing on the first war-related editorial each week from six weeks before and SLX weeks after the bcginning of weapons inspections, one can easily identify the opinions of the editorialists. These two papers are sister publications in France and the United States, respectively, with similarly wide ranges of audiences. Both papers were examined in their …