American Studies Commons^™

Eleven Are The Stars Of Joseph’S Dream; His Coat, Many Colors, Alexander B. Bloom

Capstones

At the Conservative synagogue where I attended Saturday school for part of my childhood in the 90s I recall the teachers’ reimagination of the popular Michael Jackson song “We Are the World,” taught to the seven and eight year-olds who were made to sing it in chorus at some holiday celebration that year.

“We are the Jews,” we bleated out, in concert, “We are the Chosen.”

From my place among them I remember the unsettled feeling I had, to consider my non-Jewish friends at school, teachers and babysitters who knew not of tefillin, my maternal grandparents in the pews of …

Is Sexyy Red Minstrelsy, Or Are We Overreacting?, Malik Brizan-Reed

Capstones

This criticism piece explores the controversial female rapper Sexyy Red. It challenges negative perspectives about her persona, primarily based on respectability politics. It highlights Sexyy Red's ability to capitalize on a moment and business savviness. The article has themes of racial double standards and classism. Sexyy Red is more than the "ghetto Black girl," aesthetic. She's a mother and entrepreneur who is authentic to herself.

The Stark Surrealism In Spectra’S Soulfulness, Zach Blair

English: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Arthur Davison Ficke and Witter Bynner were American poetry's first Surrealists, preceding Breton and his founding of Surrealism, with the publication of its first manifesto, in France in 1924. Though the creative merits of 1916's "Spectra: A Book of Poetic Experiments" are many, most scholars and critics regard it as a hoax intended to mock Imagism and the like. But Ficke and Bynner, using the pseudonyms Anne Knish and Emanuel Morgan, respectively, blazed trails no poets had priorly dared to venture down.

How Misogyny In Gaming Affects Black Women/Poc, Niccarri Allen

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This research query explores the gaming industry and how its misogynistic issues affect the Black community in its forums. Research has shown that there has been a suppressed issue of prejudice against women of color in many gaming spaces in the last 20 years. Video games, created for healing and interactive spaces for communities seemingly have normalized its harming nature to minority groups. My research will look into aspects of how gender bias and racism mix into the gaming industry and cause distress among its players. I will research how misrepresentation in the character personas in video games lead to …

Critical Utopia And Symbiosis In The Works Of Octavia Butler, Samuel Burton

Graduate Theses and Capstone Projects (excluding DNP)

No abstract provided.

The Price Of Freedom, Bryce Fletcher, Dawson Helton, Ty Ledford

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

In April of 1943 at Djebel under heavy enemy fire Private First Class Slusher and three other enlisted men swiftly assaulted the hill with fixed bayonets and did away with an enemy machine gun squad. For this action he was awarded a silver star. The next day he was injured by a shell fragment for which he received a purple heart.

Paul 'Raymond' Griffith, Isabella Anderson-Huseman, Allison Ferguson

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

Paul Raymond Griffith began his active-duty service on May 17, 1945 where he was stationed at the Fleet Post Office in San Francisco, California. He later served on both the USS Samar (ARG11) and the USS LST 505 working in the mail room organizing and distributing the mail among the men on the ship.

John Thomas 'Big Dog' Daugherty, Christina Lambert, Bryce Tackett

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

Lieutenant Colonel John ‘Big Dog’ Daugherty was sent to Espiritu Santo Island in 1943. In 1944, he was ordered to start a bombing attack on Rabaul out of fear of a Japanese ship attack. He flew a Grumman ‘Avenger’ and his team sunk seven ships. He was awarded the Flying Cross for showing heroism while in flight.

Sammie Slusher, Bryce Fletcher, Dawson Helton, Ty Ledford

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

Staff Sergeant Slusher enlisted in July 1942 and passed in June 1944 before his daughter could meet him. In 1943, he became the recipient of the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. His medals are the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign and the World War II Victory Medal.

The Silver Star is awarded to those who had valor in combat and the Purple Heart is given to those were injured or killed while serving the US military.

Smokey & The Panther: Homer "Smokey" Davis, Walker Anderson, Jeremiah Brown

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

Homer “Smokey” Davis belonged to the 3rd Armored Division, known as Spearhead. Davis saw heavy fighting towards the end of the war and had the rare privilege to operate the M26 Pershing T26E3 tank. Spearhead was present at the Battle of Cologne, where Davis and crew fought and won a famed tank duel with a German Panther.

Impact Of World War Ii In Eastern Kentucky, A Intro

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

An introduction poster to the Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky created by Emma Crouch in the fall of 2024.

Cultural Memory And The Search For Identity In Victorian Fantasy Fiction, Sadie Boggs

Honors College Theses

Fantasy literature's origins can be traced through myths and folktales, medieval romances, enlightenment fairy tale fantasy, and Romanticism, before finally taking firmer root in the Victorian period and blooming into its own genre in 20th century modern fantasy. Victorian thinkers reacted to the Enlightenment’s realism and technological innovation by “rediscovering” the Middle Ages as a time of beauty, simplicity, and moral virtue. Simultaneously, Psychology developed as a recognized field of study, and theories emerged about the psychological process of memory formation and retrieval, as well as its reliability and relation to identity.

Considering these psychological theories, Victorian fantasy's cultural memory …

Greenwood 'Cokie' Cocanougher, Chandler Howard, Brennan Ison, Zoey Rounsville

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

Greenwood ‘Cokie’ Cocanougher participated in the War Service Training Program where she taught 250 students. She was the first woman to pin wings on a graduate, who was her son. After the war she became the leader of the Civil Air Patrol and Aero Club of Louisville. She served on UK Board of Athletics.

Gladys Veronica Stamper Meyers: "The Hornet", Emma Crouch, Kaitlyn P'Simer, Arwen Sergent

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

Gladys Meyer came from a long line of military servicemen. She’s the first female in the Stamper family to enlist in the United States military. She was deeply inspired by her three brothers, Clarence, William, and Theodore who all served in World War II. She served in the Women's Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

Greenwood "Cokie" Cocanougher: "A Mother Doing Her Part", Chandler Howard, Brennan Ison, Zoey Rounsville

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

Cokie Cocanougher participated in the War Service Training Program where she solo taught 250 students how to fly. She was the second woman to land a plane on an army airfield and the first woman to pin wings on her son who graduated flight school.

Paul Raymond Griffith, Isabella Anderson-Huseman, Allison Ferguson

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

Seaman 1st Class Paul R. Griffith joined the Navy despite ‘not being able to swim’ according to his son. He served at the Fleet Post Office, the USS Samar and USS LST 505 in the mail rooms. Griffith received the Asiatic Pacific Area Ribbon and the World War II Victory Ribbon. After leaving the Navy, he worked for the US Postal Service until his retirement.

Gladys 'Hornet' Meyers, Emma Crouch, Kaitlyn P'Simer, Arwen Sergent

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

Corporal Gladys ‘Hornet’ Meyers serviced in the Women’s Airforce during Korea. She worked at the Defense Plant in Dayton, Ohio and took care of her family as teenager. She is the first woman in her family to serve – three of her brothers – Clarence, William, and Theodore - served in World War II one of which also served in Korea. Her father, Link Stamper, served in World World I.

Kentucky's Flying Leader: John Thomas Daugherty, Christina Lambert, Bryce Tackett

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

On July 31, 1943, Colonel John Daugherty and his bomber group were sent to Espiritu Santo Island to prepare for the Japanese along their acquired territory of Rabaul in the Pacific. In February 1944, it was assumed Japan was preparing a possible navy attack. Daugherty was ordered to begin a bombing attack on Rabaul. On March 4, 1944, the crew destroyed seven Japanese ships, with Daugherty sinking one while flying a Grumman "Avenger" torpedo bomber plane. He would receive a Flying Cross.

Homer 'Smokey' Davis, Walker Anderson, Jeremiah Brown

Impact of World War II in Eastern Kentucky

Private Homer ‘Smokey’ Davis operated the M26 Pershing T26E3 tank. His Division, called Spearhead, was at the Battle of Cologne. After serving in the war, he became an electrician at Morehead State University.

Victory Gardens: Helping On The Home Front, A Curriculum Outreach Project, Kelly Hoomes

Master's Theses

The Victory Garden: Helping on the Homefront traveling trunk outreach project links past, present, and future by introducing students to the historical significance of World War II victory gardens and emphasizing the continued relevance today. Partnering with Kennesaw State University’s Museum of History and Holocaust Education (MHHE), the traveling trunk focuses on a fifth-grade audience, aligning with Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies, Health, and Science. The traveling trunk designed as a “museum-in-a-box" includes primary sources, artifacts, and a practical gardening activity that fosters critical thinking and analysis. By encouraging an understanding of the past and the connections to …