Communication Technology and New Media Commons^™

Making Of Wars: Analysis Of The Franchise Management Of God Of War And Gears Of War, William Seaton

All Theses

Two of the most prominent franchises in the video game industry are God of War and Gears of War. These franchises, produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and Xbox Game Studios (XGS), respectively, and their presentation through company blogs offer insight into the franchise management strategies and franchise conceptualizations that their parent companies have. Understanding these franchising aspects furthers knowledge on how these companies, two of the three largest video game producers, engage in franchising behaviors through discourse. Utilizing a framework of the discourse of franchise paratexts, this thesis examines those franchising tactics and discursive frames that the companies …

Strangers Switching Their Identities: Cultural Identity Management And Performance On Social Media A Qualitative Analysis Of International Students’ Intercultural (Ex)Change Processes And Perceptions Regarding Their Stay In The United States And Countries Of Origin, Vivian Kretzschmar

All Theses

In this globalized world, cross-country travel for education has been a prevalent (5.6 million students identified as international students in 2020) and ever-increasing (with a predicted increase of 250% by 2030) trend through the past decades. The sojourn impacts the students’ experience of the new culture and the ensuing shocks and adaptations. The understanding of something as complicated as culture, trying to be integrated into a new culture, and its perception to individuals, of course, have their ways of distinct communication trends through social media.

The struggle of maintaining and changing one’s cultural identity and adaptation across cultures has been …

Re-Shaping Our Vision Of Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Analysis Of Survivors' Reaction To Existing Campaigns, Erin Alexandra Neal

All Theses

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2003), an estimated 5.3 million incidents of intimate partner violence (IPV) occur each year in the United States, resulting in nearly 2 million injuries, and approximately 1,300 deaths. Additionally, The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (2011) found that 1 in 3 women (35.6%) have experienced sexual and/or physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner. More attention has been paid to IPV in the past two decades, resulting in an increase in the number of prevention and intervention mass media campaigns; however, very few campaigns report consulting survivors …

Skating For Strength: The Experiences Of Skating In Women's Flat Track Roller Derby, Jerrica Ty Rowlett

All Theses

Feminists are continually seeking methods of improving the lives of women, whether that is through fighting for women's rights, promoting embracing aspects of being a female, or discovering new methods of female empowerment. This research looks at the last of these by exploring the experiences of women who are within their first year of competitively playing women's flat track roller derby through a qualitative phenomenological study. In order to do this, eight women were interviewed from two competitive teams located in the southeast region of the United States. From these interviews, five categories of experience emerged as significant aspects of …