Digital Commons Network^™

The Horrors Of History: Gender, Folklore, And Puritanism In Robert Eggers’ The Witch, Trinity Stuckey

Undergraduate Scholarship

This paper examines Robert Eggers' 2015 folk horror film The Witch as a legitimate form of historical interpretation that illuminates the intersection of gender, folklore, and religious belief in 1630s colonial New England. Through analysis of primary sources including Cotton Mather's Memorable Providences, Samuel Willard's possession accounts, and Salem witch trial records, this study demonstrates how Eggers' meticulous attention to historical detail creates a narrative that captures the psychological and sociocultural dimensions of Puritan experience. The paper argues that by taking seriously the theological worldview of its subjects rather than dismissing supernatural elements as superstition, The Witch achieves a …

Metamorphosis And Fairy Tale Tropes In Christa Wolf’S Patterns Of Childhood, B. E. Lara

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study is a sociohistorical analysis of East German writer Christa Wolf’s use of fairy tale tropes in her novel Patterns of Childhood, first published in German in 1976 in East Germany as Kindheitsmuster. Wolf uses fairy tale tropes to explore themes that she could not write about openly under East German censorship, which prohibited East German authors from exposing their culpability for prior acts committed under the Nazi Regime. Furthermore, Wolf introduces metamorphosis to explore the intrinsic evil and subsequent guilt of her child protagonist, and she uses the child’s capacity for evil to illustrate the German people’s similar …

The Black Panther Party: From Militancy To Social Activism, De'andre Brown Jr.

History and Political Science | Senior Theses

This research project examines the ways in which the Black Panther Party (BPP) was negatively portrayed by the media and targeted by the government from the moment of the organization's inception in 1966. The BPP’s shift in rhetoric style from militancy to social activism is emphasized by examining the organization’s “survival” programs, such as the Free Breakfast Programs, Free Health Clinics, and Education Programs, and their impact on black communities around the country. Past scholarly opinions about the BPP were driven by a fear from white America toward the organization’s aggressive style of protest and social activism. The government looked …

Musical Analysis Of Chanting Melodies In The Teochew Chinese Yoga Tantra Ritual In Thailand, Rachan Sornchai, Narongchai Pidokrajt, Poonpit Amatyakul

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study explores the musical elements of the Dharma Sankhita chants in the Mahayana Teochew Chinese Yoga Tantra ritual at Kak Hang Niam Huk Lim Monastery, Bangkok, Thailand. It examines the ritual’s background and musical analysis. Practiced by both Teochew and Cantonese Chinese, the ritual known in Teochew as “Bang Iem Kao” is a profound act of filial piety and ancestor veneration, rooted in the Eight Cardinal Virtues of Chinese ethics. The ceremony is held to dedicate merit to deceased ancestors and preserve cultural traditions. It can be performed at both family and community levels, encouraging intergenerational participation and solidarity. …

An Initial Report On The Search For The Missing Gamelan Heritage Of The Sumenep Palace, Madura, East Java-Indonesia, Aris Setiawan, Zulkarnain Mistortoify

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This research endeavors to locate the long-lost heirloom gamelan from the Sumenep Palace. Since the abolition of aristocratic status in 1883, the Sumenep Palace has lost political and economic legitimacy. To maintain the luxurious lifestyle of the aristocratic court, valuable items, including gamelans, were sold. The heirloom gamelans in the Sumenep Palace are believed to have been gifts from the Mataram Palace, often exchanged during various events, such as marriages. Employing an investigative ethnographic approach, this study gathered data through in-depth interviews with cultural practitioners, palace descendants, and private collectors; direct observation of remaining artifacts; and analysis of historical documents …

Exploring National Identity Through Modern Monumental And Decorative Tapestry Of Kazakhstan, Baurzhan Doszhanov, Ainash Nauryzbayeva, Yerbol Kairanov, Mukhamejan Suleimenov, Malik Mukanov

Journal of Urban Culture Research

In the context of technical and global transformations, art persists in articulating national identity. The aim of this study is to analyze in depth the art of monumental decorative tapestry in Kazakhstan, with a focus on its contribution to the search for a new paradigm and national identity in contemporary visual arts. Methods of analyzing and comparing artistic works of tapestry artists of contemporary Kazakhstan were used. This research analyses chosen works and their impact on the cultural environment, demonstrating that current monumental and decorative tapestries in Kazakhstan serve not merely as aesthetic objects but also actively contribute to the …

The Battle Spirit : The Cultural Essence Of Buddhist Temple Murals In Northeast Thailand, Ya-Liang Chang

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The murals found in Buddhist temples across Thailand play a significant role in the country's social fabric and are integral to the safeguarding efforts of Thailand's intangible cultural heritage. The research aims to explore the essence of murals in 24 Buddhist temples in Isan, delving into the principles guiding their creation. The author explores the intrinsic meanings embedded in these murals and deconstructs the cultural essence of Isan through a qualitative study. The investigation reveals the core essence of Isan's murals as the “battle spirit,” intricately woven across individual, societal, and national levels. Serving as conduits for Buddhist teachings on …

Nature Contained – A Practice-Led Art Project : Within The Principles Of Ikebana And On The Nature Of Harmony, Cherie Chai Tze Lo, Sone Simatrang, Eakachat Joneurairatana

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This research redefines unity between art, design and urban architecture, and wellbeing as an active reconciliation and conscious construction. The findings resonate with contemporary creative practices prioritizing audience engagement. A practice-led and process driven design/art project, it explores the notion of harmony through the Japanese Zen of Ikebana (flower arrangement) and Chasitsu (Tea room). Situated in Bangkok, the process incorporates cross-cultural interactions between Thai business life and Japanese meditative traditions. The methodology re-traces Ikebana flowers into static lines of a steel sculpture. Placed within a furniture design showroom’s internal courtyard, the installation is activated dialogically through a survey that probes …

New Generation Of Sangkhalok Figurines, Chanakarn Semachai

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This research on the New Generation of Sangkhalok Figurines aims to investigate the history and craftsmanship of Sangkhalok production, highlighting its distinctive features to guide future developments. It seeks to collect contemporary concepts that resonate with today's audience by engaging the younger generation to establish set guidelines for creating figurines of the new generation. The study employs participatory learning theory, involving a group of Generation Z participants aged 8-15 from three schools. These participants designed figurines based on their ideas, which were then evaluated by experts to determine the best design principles. The refined designs are being incorporated into the …

Ensemble Music For Social And Emotional Development : A Case Study Of Primary School Children In A Suburban Malaysian Chinese Community, Florence Kuek, Siew May Cheng, Anna Phang, Wen Fen Beh

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Music forms part of the Malaysian national curriculum for primary education, but music education is often compromised by low community interest, resulting in children’s underexposure to musical training. This qualitative study examines the inclusivity, creativity, and sustainability of a community-initiated children’s choral-instrument ensemble established as an after-school, weekly activity in suburban Malaysia, where members were recruited from lower- to middle-income families, and had little means to pursue music otherwise. Data were collected from class observations, children’s “before-after” drawings, and semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders. The trustworthiness and validity were ensured through inter-rating, member checks, and data triangulation. The findings revealed …

Problems Of Contemporary Art In The Regions Of Great Altai, Yelena Lichman, Mikhail Popandopulo, Abdrashid Raimbergenov, Abdulkhamit Raimbergenov, Adilgali Sagimbayev

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that at present the topic of modern art is studied all over the world. The purpose of study is the complex study of factors that influence the activities of young artists in the art sector, their genre preference and the choice of unique forms to convey their own thoughts. To achieve this goal, theoretical and empirical methods such as statistical analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction were mainly used. The result of the research was a full analysis of the works of modern Kazakh, Mongolian, Chinese and Uzbek artists working in …

Ancient Service Systems In Historic Houses And Their Contribution To Sustainable Urban Development : The Case Of Architect Sinan’S House, Gülşen Dişli, Gül Gediri-Gökçen

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The service systems of historic buildings, namely, heating, ventilation, cooling, lighting, and drainage play a critical role in the life cycle of buildings and sustainable urban development to preserve traditional knowledge systems. Therefore, a detailed investigation is required before, during, and after any preservation activity to ensure the historic integrity. Hence, this research aims to identify, investigate, and research the original service systems of a historic building, namely, the Architect Sinan's house in Ağırnas, Türkiye, to reveal and sustain these original passive survivability details to future generations and to learn from these details in present constructions. Main methods were site …

Femina: A New History Of The Middle Ages, Through The Women Written Out Of It, By Janina Ramirez, Jo Koster

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Promesas Incumplidas: The Reconfiguration Of Gendered Expectations And Relationships During The Bracero Program (1942-1964), Adriana Justo Ortiz

Undergraduate Research Awards

The Bracero Program led to the breakdown of domestic roles, disruptions of female and Braceros’ partnerships with women, and the creation of new friendships among the male Braceros themselves. After the Braceros left for their work contracts in the United States, Mexican women took on additional responsibilities that were customarily done by their husband. In contrast, the Braceros had to undertake domestic chores in their temporary labor camps that their wives would have generally done in Mexico. Because Anglo- American employers and entrepreneurs, specifically those from Tulare, California, as demonstrated by the work of historian Ana Elizabeth Rosas, had certain …

Processing Warfare And Navigating Defeat: The Mexican Narrative Constructed During The Mexican American War Of 1846-1848, Hailee Brandt

Undergraduate Research Awards

It is undeniable that the citizens of Mexico and the United States of America processed the Mexican American War as it occurred in exceedingly different ways, and wished to remember it differently. This thesis will delve deeper into the Mexican narrative that was constructed during and in the immediate aftermath of the war, about the war, and will highlight some of the most salient differences.

“A True And Broad Sympathy:” Thomas Hughes, Medievalism, And Social Justice In The Nineteenth Century, Sarah E. Stapleton

Theses and Dissertations--History

Thomas Hughes, author of Tom Brown’s Schooldays (1857), used medievalism to help solve social problems of the Nineteenth Century. This contravenes the traditional view of medievalism, especially Anglo-Saxonism, since others have used it to justify the subjugation of people of lower social status, namely the poor in England, enslaved African Americans in the United States, and Indians under British rule.

While the use of medievalism is veiled in Hughes’ work, the subtext of Tom Brown’s Schooldays demonstrated Hughes’ Anglo-Saxonism. Tom Brown and the intertextual material surrounding his narrative exhibit the characteristics of Anglo-Saxonism through cultural primitivism, the concept of allodial, …

The People Of The North: Influencer Histories And Miniaturization In Eleventh-Century Italy, Evan Anthony Simonetti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Norman invasion of Italy in the eleventh century was a process that required political support and legitimacy for its leaders, the Hauteville dynasty. The members of this dynasty either commissioned or financed three individuals as they wrote three respective histories of the Norman conquest in order to accomplish this legitimation. In these sources, each author took inspiration from the classic works of history and poetry of the Greek and Roman world and applied symbolism and direction from their understanding of medieval Christian theology. In addition, these works catalogued examples of events, people, places, animals, and behavior as exotic objects …

Indigenous-Industrial Heritage: Centering Indigenous Voices In Minnesota's Iron Range, Larissa A. Juip

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Industrial heritage refers to the material remains, sites, landscapes, and practices associated with industrial and extractive activities. As a field, it has historically been concerned with the conservation, management, and interpretation of industrial sites and activities and forms a central narrative within Minnesota's museums. Yet such accounts often privilege object-centered narratives while silencing the presence, knowledge, and contributions of Indigenous and Descendant communities, obscuring their enduring relationships to extractive landscapes. In recent decades, critiques of traditional industrial heritage approaches have identified gaps in the discipline related to the exclusion of marginalized populations, including Indigenous Peoples. Minnesota is home to eleven …

Athens, Jerusalem, And Places In Between: Secular Learning And Christian Faith In Historical Perspective, Arlin C. Migliazzo

History Faculty Scholarship

Author's preface:

This novella-length essay began life as an introductory chapter in the draft version of a text on pedagogical practices in church-related higher education. The project was made possible by a $25,000 grant received by the author in 1996 from what was then known as the Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts (now the Lilly Network of Church-Related Colleges and Universities). Fordham University Press expressed interest in publishing the book but required that the opening chapter be shortened considerably. Consequently, what eventually became Teaching as an Act of Faith: Theory and Practice in Church-Related Higher Education (New …

Campesino World-Building: Stories Of Migration, Memory, And Care In The Tension Of The Colonial Frame, Chelsea Ríos Gómez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Campesinos, often reduced to the label of “farmworkers”, are too often seen only through the lens of their labor within profit-driven systems. This thesis disrupts that limited narrative by illuminating the rich, expansive nature of vivencias campesinas, ways of being that transcend capitalist measures of value. These vivencias are lived, embodied experiences rooted in campesino lifeways, encompassing cultural, spiritual, and relational practices that nurture and sustain life.

My research is guided by four central questions: (1) In what ways have campesinos in pixley resisted exploitative labor systems, and how can this resistance be understood as a form of care labor? …

Power, Economy, And Food Systems In The Confederacy: A Material History Of The Confederate Subsistence Department, John Martin Mcmillan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation questions how human and non-human actors share power. By exploring Confederate logistics within the Subsistence Department, the collaboration between bureaucrats and the material world is revealed. Contributing to scholarship aimed at expanding the field of Civil War studies, this dissertation not only provides a more complex and interesting view of the conflict, but also an understanding that human beings are not solely responsible for the war’s results. By applying a materialist approach, the causes and outcomes of an event as complicated as a civil war can be better explained and understood. The choice to stockpile food for distribution …

The Figures Of (Sound/Noise) In The Thai Art Context, Haisang Javanalikhikara, Suebsang Sangwachirapiban

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study explores the evolution of sound art in Thai modern and contemporary art from the 1960s to the present. Early artists visualized sound using traditional elements, while the 1990s saw a shift toward media, video, and performance art, driven by global trends and new art spaces. The 2000s brought international recognition, with artists integrating interactive and conceptual sound elements. By the 2010s, those with music backgrounds introduced sophisticated sound systems and interdisciplinary collaborations. However, challenges persist, including inadequate exhibition spaces, limited funding, and a lack of technical expertise. These constraints slow down innovation and the broader recognition of sound …

A Digital Creative Industry, Webtoons : With A Focus On The Thai Webtoon Market, Sueun Kim, Kyungeun Park, Bongchul Kim, Hyeonwook Joo, Yangwon Hyun

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study aims to explore the current state and challenges of the webtoon industry as a unique creative industry, focusing on the case of Thailand. First, it examines the characteristics and trends of the Webtoon market in Thailand, and how it contributes to the cultivation of a new creative industry. The study’s findings show that there is a dynamic relationship between the entry of major Korean webtoon platforms and the Thai publishing companies aided by an influx of Chinese capital that entered the market and established themselves as latecomers. In addition, the Thai-drama adaptations of Korean webtoons in Thailand have …

Creative Thai Art Learning For Urban Society’S Well-Being, Apichart Pholprasert, Soamshine Boonyananta, Intira Phrompan, Suchart Imsamraan, Wanalee Chanrangsri, Priyasri Promchinda

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Lifestyles in crowded, fast-paced urban societies have created conditions that negatively affect physical, mental, and social well-being. This research aimed to develop and implement creative Thai art learning activities to promote well-being in urban communities. A mixed-methods approach was employed in four stages: (1) documentary research and community surveys, including interviews with 5 community leaders and 100 residents in the Rama IV area; (2) development of creative Thai art learning kits; (3) implementation of learning activities with a sample of 500 community residents; and (4) data collection involved satisfaction and well-being assessments and follow-up interviews; the resulting data were then …

Towards A Sustainable Play-Ground : Performance Ecosystems For A Livable Bangkok Neighborhood, Pornrat Damrhung

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This article examines an effort to turn urban research into creative placemaking by using performances to make a livable Bangkok neighborhood more vibrant. Research explored diverse stakeholders of Samyan-Banthat Thong in central Bangkok during COVID-19. This exploration found opportunities to link the neighborhood’s entrepreneurs, students, visitors and property managers, and discovered key characteristics of the complex and changing neighborhood. We used this knowledge to design a small festival bringing performing artists into the area’s main park and to important sites surrounding it for a weekend of live performances, workshops and demonstrations. By using performance to attract diverse publics to the …

Exploring Heritage Significance : A Study Of Traditional Chinese Architecture In Pontianak, Indonesia, Andi Andi, Emilya Kalsum, Zairin Zain, Raja Norashekin Raja Othman, Harun Siti Norlizaiha

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Heritage buildings in Indonesia face increasing threats of extinction due to a lack of public awareness and limited application of formal heritage assessment, especially for privately owned, unlisted structures. This study explores the significance of a traditional Chinese house located along the Kapuas River in West Kalimantan, emphasizing its worth for conservation. The research aims to demonstrate how national heritage criteria can be applied to evaluate such buildings and support their conservation. This study employs observation, site visits, digital documentation, and interviews with the house's owner to understand its usage and spatial arrangement. The study assesses heritage values of the …

Guanacos De Corazón, Ana Marcela Sinnett

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the intersections of indigeneity, mestizaje, and decolonial aesthetics through a mixed-media art practice rooted in Salvadoran history and identity. Drawing on ancestral traditions such as indigo dyeing and backstrap weaving, Guanacos de Corazón investigates how materiality, folklore, and handcraft function as forms of visual resistance, meaning art that disrupts dominant narratives, critiques systems of power, and reclaims erased cultural memory.

Through formal analysis, historical context, and interviews with Salvadoran artists, this thesis challenges ideas of mestizaje that promote cultural and ethnic superiority and contribute to the erasure of ancestral beliefs.

How do we rescue ancestral traditions that …

Preventing Chemical And Biological Attacks: Enhanced Threats Requiring Enhanced Solutions, Alex Elliot Ottoni-Belval

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Chemical weapons (CW) and biological weapons (BW) are becoming more dangerous for experts to employ and more accessible to amateurs. Despite CW and BW attacks throughout history that killed and maimed millions of people, the international community has failed to establish meaningful consequences to prevent them. Agreements such as the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention vow to eliminate and reduce the effects of CWs and BWs but lack respected response precedents and capabilities. The limited and inconsistent enforcement has inadvertently allowed CWs and BWs to become plausible weapons, especially to gain asymmetric advantages, while modern developments exasperate …

Quakerism At Whittier College: Faded But Still Ever-Present, Damian Garcia

Whittier City & College Historical Research

No abstract provided.

The Mule As Working Animal, Teacher, Soldier, Legend, Friend, Louis Medina

Eastern Sierra History Journal

Mules have played a significant role in the Eastern Sierra region of California, and far beyond. Louis Medina offers a warm appreciation of these legendary animals place in the region and its human community over time.