Lebanese Colonial Hang-Ups: Anti-Blackness And The Kafala System In Lebanon,
2021
University of Denver
Lebanese Colonial Hang-Ups: Anti-Blackness And The Kafala System In Lebanon, Sarah Gonzalez Noveiri
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Lebanon’s colonial legacy has not only influenced the legal and political systems which operate in the country today. As I hope to demonstrate in this dissertation, the strength and cementation of these systems can be seen as a consequence of negotiations of identity, citizenship and nation state that took place during the Ottoman Empire and French colonial rule. The Kafala is one of such systems that developed through the Ottoman Empire and against the backdrop of European colonization. Discourses of race, citizenship, gender and sexuality that were being negotiated by colonial citizens and colonial powers, served to cement the racialized …
The Sound Of Identity: Audios And Hashtags As Nexuses Of Practice On Tiktok,
2021
University of Central Florida
The Sound Of Identity: Audios And Hashtags As Nexuses Of Practice On Tiktok, Lindsey Wright
Honors Undergraduate Theses
This study investigates TikTok audios and hashtags through the lens of digital literacy studies, using Ron Scollon's nexus of practice as a theoretical framework. The researcher sought to investigate literacy practices on TikTok, such as how lurkers and posters interact with the app in ways that both define and are defined by their individual identities. Relative to other social media platforms, there is a dearth of research on TikTok. This study contributes to the gap while also building off the findings of Kaye et al., who investigated authorship and (mis)attribution on the app, and Sachs et al.'s claim that Goffman's …
The "Information Pandemic": Technical Communication And False Information On Social Media In The Age Of Covid-19,
2021
University of Central Florida
The "Information Pandemic": Technical Communication And False Information On Social Media In The Age Of Covid-19, Mia M. Stephens
Honors Undergraduate Theses
The goal of this thesis is to explore the various forms of rhetoric utilized in digital communities pertaining to COVID-19. The body of this thesis synthesizes social media data with original human subjects research, supplemented by a review of the literature surrounding digital communication. The analysis of these freestanding communities highlights the differences in communication throughout these spaces, as well as discusses their differences in reaction to disordered information. Through rhetorical analysis of the language employed by COVID-19 denialist communities on Twitter and a review of the experiences of COVID-19 “long-haulers” in COVID-19 related online communities (such as Facebook and …
The Presidential Function: An American Public Performed Through The Rhetoric Of Catastrophe,
2021
Connecticut College
The Presidential Function: An American Public Performed Through The Rhetoric Of Catastrophe, Maxwell Whisnant
English Honors Papers
In this thesis, I explore the ways in which rhetoric is used as a tool within the American presidency. I also study how the concept of the heroic president and gender affect how US presidents communicate with the American people. I then examine the very story of the United States and how words can build publics and counterpublics while remaining distant from platitudes. Finally, I define the presidential function and the ways in which US presidents are able to use the power of definition to shift focus away from massive tragedies.
Death, Discipline, And The Dead: Biopolitical Rhetoric In Early Modern English Texts,
2021
University of Kentucky
Death, Discipline, And The Dead: Biopolitical Rhetoric In Early Modern English Texts, Leslie Raybuck Malland
Theses and Dissertations--English
Death, Discipline, and the Dead: Biopolitical Rhetoric in Early Modern English Texts locates allusions to the biopolitical culture of Early Modern England within popular English texts. Through my examination of the period’s fascination with death—public executions, newly-authorized anatomies—and the ways in which death, as well as the treatment of the dead, was authorized by and supported the ideological aims of the state, my research identifies how those themes carry over into the most popular works of the day, reviewing instances of both verbal and nonverbal rhetoric across genres to find allusions to biopower — or, state control of the biological. …
The Rainbow Nation Vision: (Re)Constructing & (Re)Imagining South Africanness,
2021
Arcadia University
The Rainbow Nation Vision: (Re)Constructing & (Re)Imagining South Africanness, Riley Crouthamel
Capstone Showcase
“Rainbowism” or the new form of nationalism inspired by Mandela’s “Rainbow Nation vision” emphasizes unity, equality, and non-racialism, and has become the dominant myth and metaphor by which South Africa is recognized in the post-apartheid era. Through an application of a theoretical framework that emphasizes the mythological and imaginative aspects of constructive nationalism and an analysis of Rainbowism’s rise to mythical dominance and evolution in the South African imaginary over the span of the past three decades of democracy using ANC “Rainbowist” discourses in both explicit and inexplicit ways, this thesis argues that Rainbowism arose as a counter myth in …
Internet Memes: Leaflet Propaganda Of The Digital Age,
2021
Old Dominion University
Internet Memes: Leaflet Propaganda Of The Digital Age, Joshua Troy Nieubuurt
English Faculty Publications
Internet memes are one of the latest evolutions of “leaflet” propaganda and an effective tool in the arsenal of digital persuasion. In the past such items were dropped from planes, now they find their way into social media across multiple platforms and their territory is global. Internet memes can be used to target specific groups to help build and solidify tribal bonds. Due to the ease of creation, and their ability to constantly reaffirm axiomatic tribal ideas, they have become an adroit tool allowing for mass influence across international borders. This text explores the link between internet memes and their …
The Digital Gaze: Anthropomorphic Reflections Of Future Posthuman Reality,
2021
Old Dominion University
The Digital Gaze: Anthropomorphic Reflections Of Future Posthuman Reality, Joshua Nieubuurt
English Faculty Publications
The human world continues to be ever more entangled with the nebulous realms of the digital. The digital lives of humans are constantly viewed, analyzed, and organized by the use of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as tools of governments, institutions, and corporations. Digital-machines are able to harvest massive swaths of data from users the world over including discursive elements and biometrics; accumulating the essences of what it means to dwell in a digital world. Although such digital-machines, and the algorithms on which they operate, are becoming more and more complex, they are still viewed as a tool …
Strategic Misrepresentation Or Something More Sinister? Deception In George W. Bush's War Rhetoric On Iraq,
2021
Northern Illinois University
Strategic Misrepresentation Or Something More Sinister? Deception In George W. Bush's War Rhetoric On Iraq, Cassandra D. Hightower
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Presidential war rhetoric is an incredibly complex and far-reaching genre of political rhetoric, and the consequences of such rhetoric can often lead to mass destruction and death. Based on the continuously changing rules of warfare and the increased use of deception in political communication, this study aimed to analyze this usage of deception more closely in presidential war rhetoric. This project examined the case study of George W. Bush’s war rhetoric on the Iraq War f 2003 to determine if the deception he used fits the “strategic misrepresentation” characteristic that Campbell and Jamieson identified in their landmark 2008 book, Presidents …
Theorizing #Girlboss Culture: Mediated Neoliberal Feminisms From Influencers To Multi-Level Marketing Schemes,
2021
Virginia Commonwealth University
Theorizing #Girlboss Culture: Mediated Neoliberal Feminisms From Influencers To Multi-Level Marketing Schemes, Frankie Mastrangelo
Theses and Dissertations
I define girlboss feminism as emergent, mediated formations of neoliberal feminism that equate feminist empowerment with financial success, market competition, individualized work-life balance, and curated digital and physical presences driven by self-monetization. I look toward how the mediation of girlboss feminism utilizes branded and affective engagements with representational politics, discourses of authenticity and rebellion, as well as meritocratic aspiration to promote cultural interest in conceptualizing feminism in ways that are divorced from collective, intersectional struggle. I question the stakes involved in reducing feminist interrogations and commitments to discourses of representation, visibility, and meritocracy. I argue that while girlboss feminism may …
Moderation As Resistance: A Study Of Aggression And Response On Twitch.Tv,
2021
Northern Illinois University
Moderation As Resistance: A Study Of Aggression And Response On Twitch.Tv, Tab Marie London
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
This dissertation explores content moderation as a form of resistance to online aggression and harassment, essentially asking the question “How do live streamers on Twitch address aggression through moderation?” Although much research in the fields of rhetoric and composition has addressed online aggression, platform affordances, and rhetorical resistance, Twitch—it’s rhetors, audiences, and communities—is understudied. Through the use of five case studies focusing on women, POC, and LGBTQ+ streamers, this dissertation examines streamer and community responses to aggression and highlights examples of unruly rhetoric (callouts, mockery, shame, jokes, etc.), which served to combat aggression, establish and reinforce community boundaries, and strip …
Rednecks, Hillbillies, And White Trash In The Living Room: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Reality Television's Construction Of Appalachian Regional Identity,
2021
The College of Wooster
Rednecks, Hillbillies, And White Trash In The Living Room: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Reality Television's Construction Of Appalachian Regional Identity, Bradlee Elizabeth Hartman
Senior Independent Study Theses
Reality television is one of America’s guiltiest pleasures because it lets us peer into the lives of people who are both similar to and different from us. However, the narratives we see on the small screen are far from innocent; in fact, reality television plays a large role in directing how we make sense of the world and our place within it. To that end, this study examines how MTV’s reality television series, Buckwild, constructs a particular view of Appalachian regional identity. This study utilizes ideological criticism to uncover how MTV engages in continued stereotyping of Appalachian people. Specifically, my …
Chinese Women’S Reproductive Justice And Digital Technologies,
2021
Michigan Technological University
Chinese Women’S Reproductive Justice And Digital Technologies, Hua Wang
Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports
It is well known that China has implemented a Family Planning policy. Chinese women have limited options in reproduction, and their agency is constrained by the government, the medical institutions, and the traditional Chinese patriarchal and biased culture. By utilizing rhetorical analysis as a primary methodology with a focus on rhetorical agency, this dissertation analyzes two cases where digital technologies such as social media and apps facilitate users’ rhetorical agency to counter instances of reproductive injustice. First, I focus on China’s most popular pregnancy and mothering app, Babytree, to examine how the app rhetorically positions its users to enable empowerment …
The Rhetoric Of Jimmy Carter: Renewing America’S Confidence In Civic Leadership Through Speech And Political Education,
2020
Duquesne University
The Rhetoric Of Jimmy Carter: Renewing America’S Confidence In Civic Leadership Through Speech And Political Education, Christopher Bondi
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
July 15, 2019 marked the fortieth anniversary of President Jimmy Carter’s “Crisis of Confidence” speech, a catalyst for what became an often overlooked yet significant turning point in the nation’s history. Carter’s words were both poignant and pointed as he calmly, yet directly, addressed the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels and engagement in narcissistic practices that led to a coveting of material goods. In an examination of the events that shaped this historical moment, this dissertation contends that, despite President Carter’s attempt to steer America in a more environmentally and socially conscious direction, the nation instead acquiesced to Ronald Reagan’s …
A Catholic Ethic For Smartphones In Tanzania,
2020
Duquesne University
A Catholic Ethic For Smartphones In Tanzania, Faustine Tarimo
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This project is a synthesis of Church documents and papal encyclicals to form a Catholic ethic for the smartphone use in Tanzania. The research question for this project is how a Catholic communication ethic shapes the use of smartphones for human communication in Tanzania. The problem I want to address is the perceived danger of losing connectivity or ‘real’ face-to-face encounters between people in “let’s talk culture” in Tanzania. The goal of this project is to appreciate the use of smartphones, at the same time to attend to a Catholic ethic to integrate into a “let’s talk culture” some digital …
#Metoo: Why Twitter Doesn't Do Enough,
2020
Chapman University
#Metoo: Why Twitter Doesn't Do Enough, Tara Mann
Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters
In 2017 actress Alyssa Milano sparked the #MeToo movement as most people know it today. Unbeknownst to many, however, a black woman named Tarana Burke began the Me Too movement a decade earlier after working with survivors of sexual assault. As more and more injustice through discrimination comes to light, it is important to recognize privilege where it exists and what it allows to happen. This project is an analysis of the rhetoric of the #MeToo movement that aims to prove that this privilege is the problem with the movement. I intend to demonstrate how the use of Twitter to …
Climate Change Games As Boundary Objects: Fostering Dialogic Communication Within Stakeholder Engagement,
2020
Old Dominion University
Climate Change Games As Boundary Objects: Fostering Dialogic Communication Within Stakeholder Engagement, Megan L. Mckittrick
English Theses & Dissertations
Rising waters and the increasing devastation of flood events make coastal resilience a significant issue in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, particularly in the city of Norfolk. Enhancing resilience requires ongoing stakeholder engagement designed to invite dialogue while encouraging cross-jurisdictional collaboration and comprehensive problem-solving. Climate change games have been employed to support these endeavors. This dissertation provides a response to the following research questions: 1) What is the origin of the climate change game genre? 2) Why are key stakeholders in coastal resilience using climate change games? And 3) how do these games operate for these key stakeholders? To …
Exploring The Rhetorical Power Of Speculative Fiction Through Jewelle Gomez’S The Gilda Stories And Octavia Butler’S Fledgling,
2020
California State University - San Bernardino
Exploring The Rhetorical Power Of Speculative Fiction Through Jewelle Gomez’S The Gilda Stories And Octavia Butler’S Fledgling, Monique Dixon
Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations
There are apparent similarities between Jewelle Gomez’s The Gilda Stories and Octavia Butler’s Fledgling. However, this thesis will demonstrate that they share more than similar subject matter and yet differ in substantial ways. Utilizing Black feminist theory and alternative rhetoric this thesis examines how Gomez and Butler harness the potential of speculative fiction to critique the world around them and imagine an alternative world for those who are intersectionally marginalized.
The Power Of Non-Compliant Logos: A New Materialist Approach To Comic Studies,
2020
University of South Florida
The Power Of Non-Compliant Logos: A New Materialist Approach To Comic Studies, Stephanie N. Phillips
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation seeks to understand how an image becomes a meaning-making actant. By tracing the lifecycle of an image starting with its production, I analyze how the image changes and transforms as it circulates and enters into new and sometimes unexpected relationships. Specifically, I look at the NC logo, an image found in the popular comic book Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine de Landro. The NC logo, which stands for “non-compliant,” is a fictitious symbol used on prisoner uniforms in the science-fiction comic series, and marks women who have failed to conform to societal guidelines set by …
Chicanx Murals: Decolonizing Place And (Re)Writing The Terms Of Composition,
2020
Chapman University
Chicanx Murals: Decolonizing Place And (Re)Writing The Terms Of Composition, Nora K. Rivera
English Faculty Articles and Research
Drawing from an interpretive decolonial framework that understands multimodal writing as the act of creating co-composed knowledge, this article analyzes Chicanx murals as multimodal compositions that exemplify the continuation of the Aztec tlacuilolitztli practice of writing with images. This work also invites rhetoric and composition scholars to reexamine Western understandings of history, particularly the history of writing.
