Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions And Localization Of The Chinese New Year : A Case Study Of Celebrations In Bangkok, Liqian Peng

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigates how Chinese residents in Bangkok perceive the preservation and localization of Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations, focusing on how traditional heritage and adaptive practices coexist in a multicultural environment. A total of 226 valid questionnaires were analyzed from participants who celebrated the 2025 CNY in Bangkok. Results across five perception dimensions—traditional practice, cultural pride, community status, localization acceptance, and cultural identity—show that respondents generally hold moderately positive attitudes toward both traditional and localized elements of the festival. Participants express strong attachment to rituals such as family reunions, ancestral offerings, and lion or dragon dances, underscoring the continued …

How To Transform The Concertgoers To The City Explorers:The Case Study Of Jincheng Rock Music Festival, Ruiling Liu

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Music festivals are recognized as key drivers of local tourism and cultural engagement. They offer immersive cultural experiences and stimulate local economies, but attendees often focus mainly on the event itself. This study examines how to convert festival audiences into “city explorers” at the Jincheng Rock Music Festival, addressing attendee perceptions and post-event tourism. We collected public comments from Douyin and Xiaohongshu (leading Chinese social media platforms) and applied text-mining techniques (sentiment analysis and topic modeling) to analyze thousands of comments. After cleaning the data, we extracted key topics (transportation, lodging, local attractions) and quantified sentiment polarity to identify audience …

Unlocking Hanoi's Lgbtiq+ Tourism Potential : A Supply-Side And Stakeholder Analysis, Thu Ha Phan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The niche LGBTIQ tourism is a high-spending segment in the global tourism market, opening new opportunities for welcoming destinations that possess existing LGBTIQ-related resources, such as Hanoi. However, LGBTIQ tourism in Hanoi is still underrecognized, understudied, and seriously lacks a tool for potential assessment. This research aims to assess Hanoi’s potential for LGBTIQ tourism development, utilizing three main pillars: Resource Availability, Demand Alignment, and Stakeholder Potential. The objective is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of this tourism landscape and provide recommendations for systematic development. Through interviewing seven key supply-side stakeholders in the field, this research …

From Going Viral To Creating Sustainable Value : Short Videos And Place-Making In Food Tourism, Tiantian Ni

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigates the mechanisms underlying the rapid rise and sustained cultural influence of the “Zibo barbecue” phenomenon, which became a nationwide tourism sensation in China during the spring of 2023. Drawing on 100 highly engaged Douyin short videos and 421 user comments collected through keyword-based sampling, the research combines high-frequency word analysis, sentiment analysis, and semantic network analysis using ROST CM6 to identify visitor motivations and narrative structures. The findings show that tourists were initially attracted by sensory satisfaction, affordability, and the lively street-based dining atmosphere. Semantic network results reveal a two-layer city image system: an experiential-food layer centered …

Emotional Translation Mechanisms Of Cultural Brands In The Digital Era : The Ft Rose Case Study, Xia Gao

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study explores the emotional disconnect between cultural heritage brands and Gen Z users in the digital environment, seeking to create online emotional connection without compromising the abundant cultural legacy. Focusing on the FT Rose brand, firmly established in Qiang culture and unique rose advantages, it utilizes digital ethnography, interviews, and grounded theory. The Emotional-Digital Misalignment (EDM) model pinpoints four primary disconnects: aesthetic, emotional tone, narrative, and platform grammar. The study hereby recommends the E-STP model for Gen Z users’ emotional segmentation with a package of strategies, the ESR model for emotional social responsibility, and the ESM model for emotional …

The Management Of Cultural Brand : A Case Study Of The "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition For College Students In Thailand, Xiaoxuan Ding

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study explores the awareness of the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for College Students in Thailand among Thai college students studying Chinese and examines the motivational and influential factors that affect their willingness to participate. A mixed research method was used. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire, interviews and onsite observations, supplemented by secondary data from research papers and online sources. In total, 170 valid questionnaires and 10 interviews were analyzed. The 7W communication theory and the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) served as the theoretical framework, while SPSS was employed for quantitative data analysis. The findings reveal …

A Comparative Study On The Development Of "Meditation Tourism"; Putuo Mountain In Zhejiang, China & Suthep In Chiang Mai, Thailand, Xingyu Liu

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

AbstractThis study uses Mount Putuo in Zhejiang, China, and Mount Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as case studies to compare and analyze the development models, cultural connotations, and tourist experiences of "meditation tourism" in the two countries. The research aims to explore the resource composition, development path, and the tension between commercialization and sacredness faced by meditation tourism within the context of Buddhist culture.The study finds significant differences between meditation tourism in China and Thailand: Mount Putuo adopts a "government-led, standardized management" model, while Mount Doi Suthep follows a "community self-governance, natural development" path. Regarding commercialization, tourist acceptance does …

Managing Independence : Diy Practices, Authenticity, And Cultural Sustainability In Bangkok’S Indie Music Scene, Xinyi Wang

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Based on the changing context of “DIY”, the study further explores the perspectives of independent artists and independent labels in Bangkok, with the aim of mapping the current value chain and business model of Bangkok’s indie music scene. The study is qualitative research. Semi-structured interviews are selected as the primary data collection method, and the secondary data collection is retrieved from academic journals and on-site observations. The key informants are 3 musicians from indie music scene of Bangkok, and 2 managerial staff from indie music organizations of Bangkok. Findings show that DIY is now treated more as one of the …

Cultural Brand Identity And Tourism Attractiveness : The Case Of The Bai People's "Rao-San-Ling" Festival In Dali, Xiyao Liu

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study uses the Rao-san-ling Festival of the Bai people in Dali as a case to examine how festival tourism contributes to the transmission of Bai intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and the creation of sustainable economic value. A qualitative research approach is employed, drawing on literature review, archival materials, and semi-structured interviews with 11 inheritors, organizers, community members, and tourists in the festival area for data collection and coding analysis. The findings reveal that the Rao-san-ling Festival features a complete ritual structure and prominent cultural elements—such as Dabenqu and the Bawangbian dance—which form significant cultural symbols of the event. Active …

Immersive Theatre And Cultural-Tourism Integration In China : A Case Study Of “Only Henan”, Yao Li

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This paper examines the developmental context, stage characteristics, and shortcomings of “Only Henan: The Dramatic Fantasy City”, immersive theater in China through literature review, case analysis, and online text analysis. Research findings indicate that Only Henan achieves strong audience immersion and cultural dissemination through its narrative construction, spatial design, and operational model. However, it still faces issues such as insufficient textual depth, spatial homogenization, and a lack of industry standards. The study concludes that the sustainable development of China's immersive theater requires striking a balance between cultural expression, audience interaction, and industrial standardization to achieve dual enhancement of artistic and …

Museums In The Digital Age : Social Media At The Bangkok National Museum, Yueling Lan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study examines the social media communication strategies of the Bangkok National Museum (BNM) and evaluates their effectiveness in engaging Chinese audiences within a “producer–consumer” framework. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research integrates a questionnaire survey of 200 Chinese respondents with a semi-structured interview with the Museum Director. Quantitative results show that audiences hold highly positive cognitive and emotional evaluations of BNM’s Facebook and Instagram content, particularly its educational and cultural value; however, behavioral intentions, including interaction, recommendation, and cultural product purchase, remain comparatively low. Regression analysis further indicates that emotional resonance and brand perception, rather than knowledge acquisition alone, …

The Integration Of Intangible Cultural Heritage And Cultural Tourism : A Case Study Of Traditional Thai Massage, Yuhan He

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study examines how intangible cultural heritage (ICH) integrates into cultural tourism through the case of traditional Thai massage. Employing qualitative methods in using interviews and field observations, it delves into Chinese tourists' motivations, perceptions, and authenticity evaluations. Findings reveal tourists are driven by multiple factors—psychological escape, physical recovery, health consciousness—while strongly attracted by UNESCO heritage status and ritualized spaces. Results indicate tourists often transition from seeking relaxation to experiencing cultural immersion and embodied learning, highlighting Thai massage's dual function as both a health practice and cultural expression. Despite prioritizing authenticity, participants accept moderate modern adaptations. Concerns over commercialization and …

Storytelling In Traditional Ips And Consumer Engagement : A Case Study Of Blackmyth:Wukong, Yuqing Liu

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigates how storytelling elements within a traditional cultural intellectual property (IP) drive consumer engagement in the global context. Using Black Myth: Wukong—a modern adaptation of Journey to the West—as the central case, the research examines how plot, character, and verisimilitude influence the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions of player engagement.A hybrid thematic analysis of 431 comments from Bilibili and YouTube reveals that narrative components activate engagement through distinct mechanisms: plot induces a cognitive–affective–behavioral loop, characters trigger emotional–behavioral transformation, and verisimilitude creates a cognition–behavior bridge. Crucially, cultural background moderates these processes. Chinese players engage through cultural proximity, collective memory, …

Healing Communities With Police Divestment: Seeking Abolition Through Transformative Reform And Community-Government Collaboration, Jessica E. Gillson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Concerns about the efficacy and sustainability of the U.S. carceral system have persisted throughout the country’s history, recently fueling renewed activism and bipartisan calls for reform. However, proposed solutions remain divisive. This thesis first defines the current status of our prison systems, then explores collaborative alternatives to incarceration and policing that support communities and break cycles of incarceration.

Focusing on partnerships among local governments, community organizations, justice-involved individuals, and law enforcement, this study examines holistic approaches to crime prevention, reentry, and reintegration. Using an interdisciplinary framework incorporating restorative justice, community resilience, and systems theory, it investigates how community-based strategies can …

Threats To Democracy: A Danger To Social Justice For All, José Luis Irizarry, Rajade M. Berry-James, Duchess D. Humphrey, Rachel Emas, Bruce D. Mcdonald Iii, James Nordin, Michael Lee, Lindsey L. Evans, Anthony M. Starke Jr., Jay M. Grosflam

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

This essay argues that threats to democracy—both global and domestic—pose an existential risk to the advancement of social justice. It explores how democratic backsliding undermines efforts to achieve social justice for all, examining anti-democratic practices such as misinformation, voter suppression, institutional dismantling, and the politicization of public service. Highlighting the interdependence between democratic institutions and social equity in public governance, the authors propose a multilevel response framework to foster democratic resilience through civic engagement, institutional accountability, and collective action. In this essay, members of the Board of the Section on Democracy and Social Justice (DSJ) of the American Society for …

The New Urbanism In New York City: A Case Study Comparing Battery Park City And Alphabet City, Lena Farley

Pomona Senior Theses

This thesis examines two Manhattan neighborhoods, Battery Park City and Alphabet City, through the lens of New Urbanism—an urban planning approach developed in the 1990s. New Urbanist principles prioritize walkability, connectivity, mixed-use development, diversity, varied housing options, architectural quality, green transportation, sustainability, and accessible green spaces. While Battery Park City represents a top-down, master-planned New Urbanist neighborhood based on a 1979 plan, Alphabet City emerged from the 1811 Manhattan grid with significant community-driven design, notably through community gardens and grassroots initiatives. Using a mixed-methods approach including residential surveys, qualitative, and quantitative analyses, this research investigates how these neighborhoods embody New …

Space For The Departed: Burial, Land Scarcity, And Bone-Ash Apartments In China, Xinyi Wu

Pitzer Senior Theses

The rise of bone ash apartments in China reflects a layered response to urban land scarcity, shifting funeral policies, and real estate speculation. As the state mandates cremation and restricts private cemetery development, traditional burial customs are increasingly reshaped by spatial limitations, economic pressures, and political regulation.

For some families, bone ash apartments function as modern ancestral halls—domestic spaces for remembrance and ritual continuity. For others, they represent a pragmatic investment strategy, offering long-term storage of ashes within assets that retain market value.

This thesis examines how urban planning, state funeral policy, real estate dynamics, and the disintegration of neighborhood …

Farming As Life: Reframing Smallholder Farming As A Site Of Self-Sufficiency And Cultural Heritage In Botswana, Natasha Yen

Pitzer Senior Theses

Dominant neoliberal frameworks often frame smallholder farming through a deficiency lens, reducing it to metrics of productivity, efficiency, and profitability. These perspectives overlook the deeper material, cultural, and social significance that farming holds in the lives of smallholder farmers. In Botswana—where approximately 70% of the rural population engages in smallholder farming—farming remains a vital part of everyday life, yet few studies adopt a culturalist or holistic lens to examine its meaning. To center smallholder farmers’ lived experiences and perspectives, this study is based on semi-structured interviews with ten smallholder farmers in southeast Botswana. Grounded in a culturalist framework and critical …

The Impact Of Class Size On Students’ Learning Outcome And Educational Experience: A Comprehensive Examination Of Students At Msu, Mankato, Yakubu Ali

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The topic of class size and its relationship to students' learning outcomes and educational experiences has been extensively examined in the field of education. While prior research has explored associations between class size and academic performance, less is known about how class size shapes professor-student and student-peer interactions and how these interactions relate to students' perceived learning outcomes and overall educational experiences. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study conducted a comprehensive examination of undergraduate students at MSU, Mankato, combining quantitative survey responses with qualitative reflections. Findings suggest that class size is closely tied to patterns of engagement, with smaller classes …

Exploring The Role Of Bingocize® Workshops In Enhancing Health And Well-Being In Older Adults, Kaitlyn Gray

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

As the population of older adults grows, the need for better health and well-being also grows, making it necessary to implement effective strategies for healthy aging to improve the length and quality of life of older adults (CDC, 2024). This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Bingocize^® Workshop in improving the physical health of older adults. Bingocize^®, a unique program combining bingo with exercise, is designed to increase physical activity. Eleven (11) participants aged 68.55 ± 6.235 attended a ten-week workshop, two times per week focusing on physical exercises tailored to their abilities. The primary objective was …

"Expert" Versus "Subjugated" Knowledge In Political Sociology, Marisa Tramontano

Open Educational Resources

In this assignment, created for a 2025 seminar on OER-based Active Learning, Dr. Marisa Tramontano made an open, "low-tech" active learning module comparing excerpts from the book, "Poverty of Philosophy" by Karl Marx with the song of the same name by Immortal Technique. The assignment uses a remixable Google doc to guide students' analyses and comparisons of these texts. The assignment can easily be adapted to other courses or disciplines.

Impact Of High School Racial Composition On Intercultural Competence Of Undergraduate Students, Ryuto Hashimoto

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Since the US population continues to become more diverse, it is important to foster students' intercultural competence (ICC) so that they can work collaboratively with people from different backgrounds. The existing studies have examined the impact of socialization at school on youths' development in their attitudes and behaviors in the context of classroom. However, we know little about whether or not the organizational and individual characteristics have an impact on students' ICC development. This study explored the impact of high school racial composition and individual factors such as gender on the ICC of undergraduate students. The study used the course …

Growing Up Online: Children, Family Vlogs, And The Monetization Of Childhood, Jenna Anderson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

As family life continues to enter and unfold on YouTube, the boundaries between intimacy, entertainment, and monetization have become strikingly blurred. This thesis examines how YouTube family vloggers construct and monetize their families through curated portrayals of authenticity, care, and morality. Using a qualitative content analysis of 100 videos from ten of the most popular YouTuber family channels of 2023, this study investigates how families and children are presented, how performances of authenticity are constructed and perceived, and how advertisements and sponsorships shape the narratives that these families produce. The analysis considers how parents act as both narrators and producers …

Writing Back To Empire: Anticolonial Petitioning And Decolonisation In Postwar British West Africa, 1945–1960, Bright Alozie

Black Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article reexamines petition writing as a strategic form of anticolonial resistance and negotiation in British West Africa between 1945 and 1960. Focusing on Nigeria and the Gold Coast (now Ghana), it argues that petitions – often regarded as apolitical or ineffective – were in fact deeply political texts through which colonised individuals asserted rights, challenged imperial authority, and participated in shaping decolonisation discourse. Drawing on new archival petitions, colonial correspondence, and administrative records, the study analyzes how a wide range of African actors – including trade unions, veterans, women’s organisations, and youth groups – appropriated colonial bureaucratic norms to …

Investigating Dimensions Of Social Vulnerability To Wildfire: A Case Study Of Western Montana, Ella Brodowski

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Communities across the US are facing increased wildfire risks due in part to historic fire suppression efforts, a warming climate, and an influx of people residing in wildland urban interface (WUI) landscapes. Because of these increasing risks, there have been growing concerns about the social factors that can increase individual and community vulnerability to wildfires. This research adds to the discussion of social vulnerability by examining how people living in a geographic area with heightened wildfire risk think about the ways in which people can be more or less vulnerable to wildfires. Using semi-structured interviews, round table discussions, and field …

Recovering Twice: An Autoethnographic Account Of Healing As An Injured Athlete, Aleksa Allen

Master of Liberal Studies Theses

This autoethnographic thesis explores the deeply personal and culturally embedded experience of injury, recovery, and identity as a collegiate athlete. It foregrounds the psychological toll of physical injury, the silence around disordered eating in athletics, and the gendered dynamics that render certain injuries and bodies invisible. This narrative is not meant to stand in for every athlete’s experience, but to ask what one individual experience reveals about the broader systems collegiate athletes inhabit. These systems are shaped by performance-based expectations, disposability, and silence. Drawing from lived experience, I trace my own trajectory as an athlete through the tightrope of recruitment, …

Challenges And Effects: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Unique Challenges Faced By Black Male Care Givers In Long-Term Care, Qudrat Oluwatimilehin Olufemi-Dirisu

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The existing literature on caregivers working in long-term care focuses on the challenges ranging from being overworked, mental stress, low wages, and abuse. However, little is known about the unique intersectional experiences of Black male caregivers, particularly regarding how race and gender shape their professional encounters, societal perceptions, and coping strategies. The present study analyzed unique stressors of Black male care givers in long term care using their personal experiences and how these stressors impact their mental health. The effects of societal expectations, client biases, and workplace stereotypes significantly affect Black male caregivers are also examined against the background that …

An In-Depth Review Of Euthanasia-Related Practices, Arguments For/Against Them, And Proposed Solutions For Their Most Glaring Legal/Ethical Problems, Macon Plecha

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper’s goal is to cover the topic of euthanasia-related practices at great length. Terminology, history, and current programs around the world are discussed first, with the last point covering a wide geographical range: Colombia, Japan, Israel, and Africa, to name a few outside of the Western world standard. Arguments for and against euthanasia-related practices are explored. Within these arguments, several pressing legal and ethical issues arise, and the most severe of these are expanded on through the offering of potential solutions: how to handle stand-alone psychiatric cases, how to improve advanced directives and poor reporting rates, and how to …

“Democracy,” Usa, Marc Edelman

Publications and Research

What does it mean to be an effective citizen in a democracy? Answering this question requires unpacking “democracy” and an analysis of institutions that systematically disempower and alienate citizens. This paper briefly examines the contributions of psychoanalysis to understanding democracy and authoritarianism. It scrutinizes U.S. governance institutions and points to democratic deficits and backsliding present even before Trump 1.0 and 2.0. These range from the Electoral College, the Senate, and the Supreme Court to the Federal Communications Commission. All contributed to institutionalizing minority rule and elite capture. Governance institutions failed to deliver what the American people tell opinion pollsters they …

Feminist Digital Center: Building An Online Hub For Undergraduate Feminist Scholarship, Julie Shayne, Tessa Denton, Denise Hattwig

Journal of Feminist Scholarship

This paper is about The Feminist Digital Center (FDC). We begin by briefly theoretically situating our project in discussions of feminist and open pedagogy, high impact practices, and digital scholarship. Next, we discuss how the FDC came to be, institutionally and digitally, with particular emphasis on the assignments students did to fill the site. We close with why the site matters. We hope readers will attempt some version of this project at your institutions and find value in the model we share.