Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Harry Potter: The Power Of Fans, Rachel Roscoe '22

Honor Scholar Theses

In order to begin to unpack the question of why do so many people connect with and are drawn to the world of Harry Potter, I thought it would be important to analyze certain themes that are present in each of the books of this series. However, because there are seven, I will be focusing my analysis on three. The books that I chose from the series are the first one, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the fifth one, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and the seventh one, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. These particular …

How Love Ought To Be: The Power Of Sapphic Representation In Animated Children’S Cartoons, Olivia Storz '22

Honor Scholar Theses

Though there has been a long history of LGBTQ+ representation across various forms of media, cartoons are uniquely suited to counter hegemonic teachings that privilege heteronormativity. Consuming media with LGBTQ+ characters not only has the potential to shape attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community and make them more positive, but cartoons have the unique power to teach children important lessons that they do not learn in school, including narratives about queerness. In the absence of discussions about LGBTQ+ identities in the classroom, children overwhelmingly end up priviling heterosexuality in their interactions. As such, cartoons then have the power to counter these …

In A Galaxy Far, Far Away: Deconstructing Binaries In Star Wars, Joanna Berry '22

Honor Scholar Theses

This thesis is separated into three sections. Section I: “Resisting Bloodlines, Destinies, and Traditions” examines Luke Skywalker and Rey Skywalker’s respective character arcs in regards to their familial lineages through psychoanalytical and deconstructive frameworks; Section II: “Resisting Gender Norms and Expectations” outlines the depictions of the most prominent women in Star Wars films: Leia Organa, Jyn Erso, Padmé Amidala, and Rey Skywalker; an additional chapter interrogates the sequel trilogy villain Kylo Ren through a feminist lens; the third and final section, “Resisting Binaries and Absolutes,” again employs deconstructivism and poststructuralism to explore the utility of masks and helmets and their …

Public Art In The United States By Black Artists (1980s - Present), Anthony L. Treadaway '22

Honor Scholar Theses

The purpose of this project is to do further research on public art created by Black artists and to explore how their work has created change by looking through the lens of the specific mural and sculpture exhibits. I will be specifically focusing on artworks and artists from the early 1980s to the present day. In the end, this piece offers insight into the importance of public art in our diverse communities. Public art serves as a form of representation and historically Black voices have been silenced in this arena. The stakes of increasing the amount of public art that …

Coffee, Music, And Taste: Why We Like What We Like, And Why That Matters, Thomas Curdt '22

Honor Scholar Theses

Research Questions

In both my research and performance, I will investigate three aspects of taste:

How do we Taste?

• What are the mechanical and physiological mechanisms through which we taste food and hear music?

How do we communicate Taste?

• How do we translate physical senses and taste into language?
• What is the role of metaphor in communicating taste?

How does our worldview affect our Taste?

• How do our emotions affect our taste?
• How does our identities affect our taste?
• How does technology affect our taste?
• How can we be more intentional about our taste?

The Erasure Of Indigenous Populations Within National Geographic's Portrayal Of National Parks: A Digital Zine, Abigail Cook '22

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

In Our Shoes, Mahogany Brim '22

Honor Scholar Theses

In Our Shoes has lived inside of me for a long time. As someone who has always been fully immersed in my own culture, I was born into this duality of identity. I realized early on that I existed in two different worlds: the one shaped by my Bajan identity and the one shaped by my American one. I wasn’t fully a Black American. I had deep ties to this tiny island in the Atlantic, famous for flying fish and Rihanna. And I wasn’t one of those immigrant children that had never set foot on the island that they were …

Art Walk 2022: An Exploration In Collaboration And Creativity, Elena Collins '22

Honor Scholar Theses

My thesis project consists of three parts: research, organization of Art Walk 2022, and an original curation. It begins with researching community engagement, interdisciplinary studies, general arts administrative skills, and artistic curation. Using this research, I will facilitate and manage an arts festival (Art Walk 2022) that focuses on interdisciplinary projects created by various students at DePauw. Further. during Art Walk 2022, an installation of original art will be produced and displayed that synthesizes past projects with new ideas. This combination of theory and practice will help me synthesize the many, varied roles of an artist-curator and will allow me …

The Semiotics Of Tension In American Punk Rock, Christian Smith '22

Honor Scholar Theses

Punk rock is a musical subculture with numerous driving forces behind it. The countercultural values of the movement in addition to the demographics of its membership put it at odds against the larger parent culture of the United States. The tension that is created between the subculture and parent culture is evident through the symbolic language and imagery produced in Punk fanzines. Fanzines give a bottom-up view of the Punk rock movement in a unique way which allows for the observation of the created semiotic relationship and how it affects the daily lives of Punks living in the communities of …

Furthering Philosophy For The Future: An Exploration Of The Benefits Of High School Philosophy Education And The Barriers It Faces, Alexander Spencer '22

Honor Scholar Theses

In this paper, I will present a picture of how philosophy education should be integrated into American high schools, I will build a case for the benefits of this integration, and I will respond to some challenges to the process of bringing philosophy into the classroom. I hope to show that expanding philosophy education and encouraging critical thinking is important. American high schools are in need of new methods of instruction in this era of misinformation and fruitless political discourse. I hope to show that philosophy education is one tool in the project of improving education, and thus society in …