Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Missguided Project: Bringing Awareness To The Stigmas And Miseducation Surrounding Women’S Health Through Art And Creative Research, Gwyneth Cunningham, Hayley Newton, Zeen Ari, Claire Portele, Kerlous Aziz, Madelyn Kearns

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

MissGuided is a project that discusses miseducation, shame, and stigma within women's healthcare settings, and the transformative potential of storytelling and artmaking in these contexts. Women encounter systemic miseducation, leading to shame and stigma surrounding their health experiences. However, through the power of community-driven narratives and creative expression, these barriers can be dismantled. Facilitating communal dinner parties as a form of conceptual art making, we aim to explore the diverse experiences in healthcare through conversation. The accumulation of the research, dinner parties, and wellcores will be delivered through a collective cookbook which includes recipes, testimonials, and art. By sharing personal …

Onnagata, Femininity, And Cross-Dressing In Narukami: A Look Into Gender In Kabuki, Mary Hughes

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

This paper explores the gender dynamics within Kabuki theatre through the examination of the play Narukami. Kabuki is a theatre style that was originated by women, but it quickly excluded them in favor of using men to portray female characters. This study delves into the relevance of these female characters to modern non-male identifying performers and challenges the traditional casting norms. Looking to the onnagata role, which is the role of a male actor playing a woman onstage, the paper examines how gender is represented within the existing practice of Kabuki. For example, the character of Teama in Narukami is …

"What Is, As Is", Raymarah Watson-Cunningham

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

what is, as is

“I have always wrapped myself in this gentle embrace,

A letting go that makes a hostage out of rage from what I cannot change.

A recognition of what is, as is.

A struggle to release, a vengeful peace.

I have found it so,

A balm for wounds, a way to grow.

To learn and move, leading a life to prove.”

— Raymarah Watson-Cunningham

This essay examines the concept of Blackness in the sublime through an interdisciplinary analysis of contemporary art and critical theory. Drawing on insights from artists such as Jordan Casteel, Jennifer Packer, and Kehinde …

“Making The Bed”: Challenging Ideologies Of Ownership, Nonlocality, And Romanticism In The Age Of The Anthropocene, Ainsley P. Foster

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The current Age of the Anthropocene marks a recent and rapid transition into a period in climate history that is notably defined by human impact. Modern Western sentiments of grief, frustration, and romanticism as a result of the interplay between domestic and corporate spaces seem to culminate in an overall attitude of apathy and acceptance of the Age of the Anthropocene. Various art forms collaborate to create the current conversation of the causatory and reactionary relationship that humans have with the Anthropocene, offering interpretations of how individuals and corporations view ownership of and responsibilities to the environment. There is a …

The Art Of Engaging The Public: The Effect Of The Arts On Civic Engagement, Kathryn Fraley

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

No abstract provided.

Photography, Architecture, And Environment: An Architectural Analysis Of Edward Ruscha’S 26 Gasoline Stations, Rebecca Tonguis

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

This presentation explores Edward Ruscha’s photobook 26 Gasoline Stations through an architectural lens. Specifically, it treats Ruscha’s work as historic evidence of how consumption, industry, and commodity have infiltrated all kinds of environmental contexts through architectural manifestations. Known for being the first artist’s book, 26 Gasoline Stations ambiguously exists as both fine art and documentation of everyday conditions, with the overall graphic character highlighting its perceived focus on overarching narrative. Since gasoline stations are the primary subject of each of the 26 photographs, the subject of this work is arguably architecture, suggesting that the historic relationship between mass gas consumption—or …

Promoting Sustainability At The Branch Of Nashville Through Volunteer Training Visuals, Ainsley P. Foster, Nick Wilson, Sophia Vickers

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The Branch of Nashville is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide comprehensive care to the diverse neighborhoods of Nashville, TN through food, ELL services, and individualized support. The services and resources that this organization provides are essential to the acclimation and thriving of vulnerable groups in their new communities. The volunteers at The Branch play a pivotal role in ensuring that each client is welcomed into the community and has their needs appropriately addressed. Thus, there is a need for volunteers to undergo adequate training to feel confident in performing these roles. The Branch, however, currently lacks training materials …

Wole Soyinka: A Life Of Arts And Advocacy, Maggie Feduccia

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The life and work of playwright, novelist, and activist Wole Soyinka (born in 1934) serves as a perfect example of the marriage of the arts and advocacy, through the telling of stories of the Nigerian people. Soyinka grew up surrounded by Christianity, Islam, and the tribal religion of the Yoruba people. Additionally, Soyinka’s parents exposed him to Nigerian and other West African literature, Western literature, and ancient Greek drama. Soyinka’s intellect was formed at the intersection of these various theologies and literary traditions, and further developed through studies at the University of Ibadan and the University of Leeds, from where …

Japanese Fashion Legacies, Emily C. Guerry, Patricia B. Metcalf

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Exploration of Japan's contributions to fashion is highlighted in our research presentation. Silhouettes, textiles, and accessories that originated in ancient Japanese culture are analyzed throughout their evolution. From these findings, a 10-piece capsule collection was made to bring these ideas further into the modern day. We displayed them from traditional to modern to highlight this evolution through the culture. Popular garments such as the Kimono were used as inspiration for details such as thick belts, ties, and wrap-style shirts. Additionally, the textile stitching technique, Sashiko, is a main source of inspiration in the collection. Sashiko started as a mending technique …

Factors Influencing Music Therapists’ Retention Of Clinical Hours With Autistic Clients Over Telehealth During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nicole M. Richard Williams

Faculty Scholarship

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced music therapists to migrate services to online platforms, though some lost clinical hours during the pandemic when telehealth was not a viable option. This survey study aimed to ascertain factors that helped music-based therapists to continue serving autistic clients over telehealth during the pandemic. We surveyed 193 accredited music therapists located mainly in Canada and the United States. In addition to gathering data on general perceptions of telehealth music therapy and Neurologic Music Therapy® (NMT), one-way ANOVAs were applied to determine differences in percent-change loss of clinical hours for music therapists: 1) working in different employment …

Carl Maria Von Weber: “Romance: Trombone Et Piano” An Analysis Of Musical Narrative, Ambiguity, And Chromatic Voice Leading And Progressions, Michael A. Luttrull

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Abstract

Romance for Trombone and Piano by Carl Maria von Weber is one of the most pivotal works of trombone repertoire today. This piece is an important piece to study for many trombonists today as it embodies many fundamental characteristics of German Romantic music, including: increased chromaticism, elaborate harmonic progressions, and increased emotional expression. In my presentation, I discuss how Romance for Trombone and Piano utilizes the concepts of ambiguity and chromatic voice leading progressions to create a sense of longing, desire and instability. Specifically, the listener can hear instances of “false tonics,” chromatic mediants, omnibus progressions, and voice leading …

The Chicago Blues, Luke J. Sunderland

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

In my presentation, I will explain how financial institutions and racial segregation influenced the development of Chicago Blues. Songs by Muddy Waters and Eddie Boyd will be used as examples to show the hidden transcript in songwriting. The concept of hidden transcript is the idea that phrases in song lyrics might contain a different meaning for an average listener, but in reality, it holds a subtext that would be evident to those for whom the song was originally written. For example, Eddie Boyd writes a song that seems to be talking about a failing relationship between a man and a …

Communism As An Americanism: The Curious Case Of The Red Jeffersonians, Matthew H. Hill

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The communist movement in the United States has struggled with many issues over its long history. One of these problems is the problem of American history itself. The United States, in many ways the quintessential capitalist state, would seemingly represent the ultimate enemy for a communist. It is more than a little bizarre, then, to see the, sometimes intense, admiration that many American communists had for men like Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. While contradictory at first, this essay shows the logic behind this admiration, exploring the long history of American communism’s love affair with iconic figures of American history. …

Behind The Lens, Jolie M. Adams Miss

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

What Fuels Me as a Photographer?

Many photographers don’t realize their ability and opportunity to give back and make a difference. I believe photography extends beyond taking a series of photographs. For me, it is my way of serving others, connecting with people, and sharing their stories. I believe photography is a powerful tool to inspire change in communities—especially in those that are underserved. Photos are visual statements of humanity: an abstract of our failures, ignorance, arrogance, compassion, resilience, progress, and so much more. I want my photography to go beyond a small circle of influence. All of us have …

The Graveyard Of Empires, Sadaf Folad

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

No abstract provided.

Psychology: Religious Conflicts Amongst A Christian Campus, Cole Peterson, Alyssa Shearing, Sydney Willis, Melody Alvarez

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The current study seeks to develop and validate a quantitative measure of religion on a Christian campus. As the influence of religion in multiple aspects of the world continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly important to gain an understanding of the experiences of college students within a Christian campus. It has been found that “exposure to new ideas that college provides were thought to lead students to question and ultimately abandon their traditional religious beliefs” (Maryl & Oeur, 2009). More research regarding the effect of religion specifically on a Christian campus is needed; therefore, a reliable and valid psychometric scale …

No Sex For Me: Female Influence And Power Through The Lens Of Hrotsvitha, Madison Patoto

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

No Sex for Me: Female Influence and Power Through the Lens of Hrotsvitha

Madison Patoto

Male playwrights dominated the theatre world until Hrotsvitha, a German nun and playwright, broke the silence of The Dark Ages. She adapted the works of the ancient Roman playwright, Terence, with a more favorable depiction of faith and women. In the midst of a patriarchal world, Hrotsvitha explored the theme of sexuality through strong female characters who gained power and influence in a world that degraded them and considered them impotent. This essay dives into the main differences between Terence’s Roman secular views and Hrotsvitha’s …

I Was Crazy Once: An Examination Of Elizabethan Insanity In Shakespeare’S Work, Hope L. Kobus

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

William Shakespeare wrote numerous works, diving into the common motifs of love, revenge, power, but most importantly, madness. While Elizabethan audiences were more accustomed to seeing madness as a ploy for comedy, Shakespeare changed the appeal through shows such as King Lear, Hamlet, and Macbeth. He presents the power and ambition of women, as well as the failings of the upper-class, but he disguised them through the idea of insanity. At a time when the public had little understanding of mental health, it was easy to blame madness on gender, social status, and even the supernatural. Through …

"1984" Apple Commercial, Eloise Sharkey

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

In 1984, Apple released a commercial to advertise their first personal computer, The Macintosh. The ad aired during the 1984 Super bowl on January 22^nd and was titled “1984”. With the rise of computers and the information age, I set out to discover how Apple was able to distinguish themselves from IBM and why this was so important for them to do. The company used revolutionary rhetoric to address the dreaded social consequences of a world run by computers by positioning the Macintosh as a tool for agency and creativity in a world of mindless drones. This commercial took …

Investigating The Use Of Recurrent Neural Networks In Modeling Guitar Distortion Effects, Caleb Koch, Scott Hawley, Andrew Fyfe

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Guitar players have been modifying their guitar tone with audio effects ever since the mid-20th century. Traditionally, these effects have been achieved by passing a guitar signal through a series of electronic circuits which modify the signal to produce the desired audio effect. With advances in computer technology, audio “plugins” have been created to produce audio effects digitally through programming algorithms. More recently, machine learning researchers have been exploring the use of neural networks to replicate and produce audio effects initially created by analog and digital effects units. Recurrent Neural Networks have proven to be exceptional at modeling audio effects …

A Girl Named Malaka: An Exploration Of Lebanese-American Identity, Ava Munyer

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Ava Munyer is a passionate and ambitious student at Belmont University pursing a double major in Finance and Business Systems and Analytics, as well as a minor in French. This paper explores the relationship between cultural background and societal engagement as a Lebanese-American, discussing the impact of ethnically identifying features in conjunction with ancestral history. After traveling to Lebanon and the birthplace of her ancestors and intensely connecting with her cultural traditions, she experienced inner conflict when expressing these revelations when reintroduced to American academic settings. This autobiography begins with a through explanation of her lineage and family’s immigration to …

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Adaptive Reuse Of Frosty Morn, Veronika Kalugina, Rebecca Tonguis, Heidi Gabriel, Peyton Kauffman

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Frosty Morn, a former meat packing facility in Clarksville, TN, is now abandoned, dilapidated, and partially demolished. The site sits within the Red River District neighborhood, which consists of a diverse community of artists. The Red River District has been identified by the Clarksville Mayor’s Office as an area with potential for growth, catalyzed by repurposing the Frosty Morn building as an icon and beacon of the community. Highest and best use research, in addition to community voices, indicated programmatic needs of a farmer’s market, makerspaces, small business incubators, park space, and live/work units. Our presentation will describe how this …

Romantic And Victorian Era: Fashion Reimagined, Sara E. Pacheco

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

This venture was about reimaginations of the Romantic and Victorian era fashion through the person of Audrey Hepburn, a famous 1960’s Movie star. The Romantic and Victorian eras were chosen because of their similarities and the beauty of those eras in expressing femininity for women. The colors served as a main source of inspiration because they conveyed a feminine vintage feel for the garments. Additionally, inspiration was drawn from the patterns and textures of fabric, especially silk textiles whose satin finish complemented the shiny, smooth, and silky feel of the fabrics. The reimagined fashion images on display illustrate how a …

African American Fashion Legacies, Yasmeen Orozco

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

This was an exploration of how African American Designers, former and current have contributed to fashion legacies. Key points that will be presented will be – brief biographies of seven African American designers, that covers their upbringing, education, and their fashion legacies. The seven fashion designers that will be discussed include - Patrick Kelly, Willie Smith, Anna Lowe, Stephine Burrows, Laquan Smith, Dapper Dan, and Zelda Wynn Valdes.

The study further features fashion trends that originated from the African American community. Notably, African Americans have been a pioneering force with creative styles that have been ignored and rebutted. Finally, the …

A Modern Twist Based On The 17th Century And Victorian Era, Kenzie Styles

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

This project was an exploration of the 17th Century and Victorian styles with a modern twist to suit Cher, who is an iconic famous signer and actress, in her teens and early 20s. Most of the inspiration for the designs was taken from undergarments and silhouettes inspired by both eras. As well as light feminine colors inspired by the eras, combined with dark greens and blues to create a modern effect. Details of the garments include lace and embroidery inspired by the artwork of the 17th century.

Analysis Of A Doll's House, Matthew Gilleran

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibson is, first and foremost, a play about freedom. I outline how this theme is portrayed in the general plot, the structure of said plot, the language (and imagery within said language), as well as how this theme is portrayed in the characters themselves. This want for freedom ties all the characters together in an uncomfortably spun spider web; none of them can have what they want without taking something from another. Almost every character is aware of this, as well, which makes for a very tense setting within the play. This web of conflict …

The Crossroad Of Hamsters, Robots & Electropop, Olivia Crimivaroli

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Kia Corporation is an automobile manufacturer based in South Korea, who produces and sells vehicles with one of the most well known of their models being the Kia Soul. There are a number of factors that contribute to the Soul being a well known car but one of the biggest reasons is because of the infamous and out-of-the-box commercials that have been crafted in order to promote this style of car. This critique will encompass the contents of one commercial released in 2012 in an attempt to stimulate sales for this specific model of the Kia Soul. This advertisement is …

Mono Audio - Columbia Studio A, Doyuen Ko, Sungyoung Kim, Miriam Kolar

Columbia Studio A - Nashville: Audio

For a small-room venue with recent historical context, we work to preserve aural heritage from American recording studios in Nashville’s Historic Music Row that have shaped the history of recorded music. In January 2015, the National Trust for Historic Preservation designated Music Row as a “National Treasure,” a highly significant yet threatened historic place. The above photo shows one acoustical measurement setup from our May 2019 data collection session, using a dodecahedral (omnidirectional) loudspeaker for sound sources and several microphones as receivers in a typical room acoustics test configuration.

Binaural Audio - Columbia Studio A, Doyuen Ko, Sungyoung Kim, Miriam Kolar

Columbia Studio A - Nashville: Audio

For a small-room venue with recent historical context, we work to preserve aural heritage from American recording studios in Nashville’s Historic Music Row that have shaped the history of recorded music. In January 2015, the National Trust for Historic Preservation designated Music Row as a “National Treasure,” a highly significant yet threatened historic place. The above photo shows one acoustical measurement setup from our May 2019 data collection session, using a dodecahedral (omnidirectional) loudspeaker for sound sources and several microphones as receivers in a typical room acoustics test configuration.

Binaural Audio - Rochester Savings Bank, Doyuen Ko, Sungyoung Kim, Miriam Kolar

Rochester Savings Bank - Rochester: Audio

As an example of large and public space acoustics, we will apply the method to the interior of the Rochester Savings Bank located in downtown of Rochester. This 1927 building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), with historical significance for art, architecture and commerce. The above photo shows the ornately decorated main hall, whose coupled volumes and diverse materials create particular acoustical and sensory features.