Digital Commons Network^™

Cultural Negotiations In Revisionist Mythmaking: Comparative Reading Of Bahram Beyzaei And Mary Zimmerman, Sepehr Karimi Mr., Bahee Hadaegh

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

 Although more than fifty years have passed since feminist scholars pioneered revisionist mythmaking, drama remains underexplored in this field despite its unique potential for cultural and social reinterpretation. This study offers a comparative analysis of revisionist mythmaking in Iranian and American drama, specifically examining Bahram Beyzaei’s play, One Thousand and First Night alongside Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses as examples. This research aims to establish general principles for revisionist mythmaking within drama, spotlighting the complexities that emerge in transnational contexts. It explores how Beyzaei and Zimmerman negotiate cultural narratives and try to reshape traditional stories and reflect contemporary issues, emphasizing gender dynamics …

Between Revolutions: The Leftist Reception Of American Literature In Iran (1905-1979), Behnam Mirzababazadeh Fomeshi

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

This paper examines the reception of American literature in Iran during the period between the Persian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911) and the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Divided into four distinct phases (1905–1922, 1922–1941, 1941–1953, and 1953–1979), this study explores how political and ideological dynamics shaped the interpretation and translation of American literary works. Central to this reception was its inherently political nature, driven by the dominance of leftist ideologies within Iran’s intellectual landscape. The influence of the Tūdih Party and other leftist movements profoundly impacted the ways American literature, particularly the works of Walt Whitman, was translated, interpreted, and disseminated. By …

Christian Motifs In Forough Farrokhzad’S Works: A Comparison With T.S. Eliot’S Poetry, Mona Monsefi

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

Forough Farrokhzad’s (1934–1967) film The House is Black (1962) is a visual poem set in a leprosarium in Iran. Farrokhzad was a prominent modernist poet who merged poetry with contemporary art forms, primarily cinema. In this film, she employed a camera to express her poetic vision, highlighting her signature style that prioritizes unique imagery. This emphasis on visual and literary images is often intertwined with themes such as religion. Notably, Farrokhzad recomposed verses from the Old Testament, infusing them with her poetic language to enrich the film’s narrative. This article explores her unique, Western-influenced interpretation of Christian motifs in …

Vision And “Sur-Vision”: Intermediality And Alterity In The Frames Of Abbas Kiarostami, Marjan Mohammadi

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

Abbas Kiarostami’s cinema, often compared to Italian neorealism, oscillates between documentation and fiction. Kiarostami’s worlds, replete with a complex network of incomplete and self-reflexive frames, create a new site for perception, reflection, and intervention. This paper studies the intermedial aspect of Kiarostami’s cinema in “The Koker Trilogy” (1987; 1992; 1994), Close-Up (1990), and “Taste of Cherry” (1997). It explores how these moving images are shaped by the specific context of Iranian cinema and how they turn to reshape it. First, it examines Kiarostami’s framing techniques, which expand Iranian cinema and its engagement with Western visual conventions. …

Memory And Identity: A Comparative Analysis Of “Iranian Cultural Identity” In Asghar Farhadi’S Adaptation Of Arthur Miller’S Death Of A Salesman, Raed Faridzadeh

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

Recent cultural studies examine the intersection of cultural identity and memory, often viewing culture as a symbolic sign system or "culture as text." Jan Assmann defines "cultural memory" as essential to shaping societal identity. Literature and film contribute to this process by transmitting and evolving cultural meanings, not only reflecting but also constructing knowledge and reality. Iranian cinema has become a powerful medium of cultural expression, particularly post-revolution. Filmmakers like Abbas Kiarostami, Sohrab Shahid Sales, Dariush Mehrjui, and Asghar Farhadi explore the dynamic relationship between literature and film in shaping cultural memory. This article analyzes Asghar Farhadi’s adaptation of Death …

Willy Loman’S Desperate Affair Challenges The Iranian Censorship: Asghar Farhadi’S The Salesman, Adineh Khojastehpour

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

This study examines resistance in cross-cultural adaptations, focusing on Asghar Farhadi's The Salesman (2016), an adaptation of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (1949). This research investigates how Farhadi's rewriting of Miller's play within post-revolutionary Iran engages in a dialogue with the Islamic Republic and its dominant discourses. It explores how this adaptation addresses Iran's social, cultural, and ideological complexities by reframing Miller's narrative of 1950s societal change and the failure of the American Dream within the context of post-revolutionary Iran. This analysis uses Bakhtin's concept of the chronotope to reveal how The Salesman uses Miller's unique concept of a …

Cineture: The Trans(Inter)Mediality And Socio-Cultural Mobility Between Iran And The Us, Naghmeh Esmaeilpour

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

Literature and film have proven to be influential socio-cultural mediums, facilitating interactions and counteractions between nations where politics often fail to do so. Introducing cineture as a transmedial genre, this article is situated at the intersections of glocalized culture, and Iranian-American studies by considering literature and film as the contact zone between Iranians and Americans. Cineture, the combination of cinema and literature, refers to the circulation of cultures through its specification of film-text transmediation. The application of cineture demonstrates the combination and blending of literary and cinematic works leading to cross the “center and periphery dichotomy.” To study cineture …

Cineture: Shared Narratives And Cultural Exchanges Between Iran And The Us (Introduction), Naghmeh Esmaeilpour

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

No abstract provided.

Attend The Tale: Scenic Design For Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street, Andrea Imsland

Honors Theses

I designed the set for Western Michigan University’s 2026 production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street written by Steven Sondheim and directed by Jay Berkow. My thesis advisor was Prof. Dave Nofsinger and my thesis chair member was Dean of the College of Fine Arts Dan Guyette. I began my design process in September of 2025. The show ran from April 10th through April 25th. This was my final scenic design as a Theatre: Design and Technical Production undergraduate student at WMU.

Stories We Become (April 23, 25, 2026), Lindenwood University

Student Dance Programs & Brochures

Event program for Stories We Become (April 23, 25, 2026), Lindenwood University.

The Boys From Syracuse, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, George Abbott

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of The Boys from Syracuse with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, and the book by George Abbott.

Performed April 23-26, 2026 in the Mitchell Theatre at Taylor University.

The Boys from Syracuse by Rodgers and Hart is based on the play The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare, likely written in the late 16th century. As is common for many Shakespearean plays, he adapted an older story, Plautus' Menaechmi, into his classic farce about two sets of twins, separated by a tragic sea accident, who find each other after many …

Artura: Dance And Algorithmic Composition Informed By Motion And Spatial Processing, Aidan Byrnes

2026 Student Academic Showcase

This project is an experimental performance exploring dancers as musical instruments. With funding received through the Lindenwood PRIDE Mini-Cycle grant, a network of custom-built wearable sensors will be worn by two dancers to send data regarding orientation, motion, and position in 3D space. This data will be processed in custom software to translate this data into sound or other musical information in real-time. Rather than acting solely as accompaniment, the music will be derived directly from each dancer through gestures and motion. The generated musical material that one dancer creates will be responded to with improvisation by the other dancer. …

Stories We Tell (April 22, 24, 2026), Lindenwood University

Student Dance Programs & Brochures

Event program for Stories We Tell (April 22, 24, 2026), Lindenwood University.

Implications Of Ecologicial Collapse And The Climate Crisis Explored In Spanish Theater Ecocriticism, Alexandra Saneff

World Languages and Cultures Student Scholarship

Planeta vulnerable. Teatro ecológico del siglo XXI showcases the ways in which contemporary Spanish theatre participates in cultural and dramaturgical (re)generation. These works reclaim the space of the stage as a site of ecological imagination where catastrophic realities are reframed as opportunities for collective resilience, solidarity, and renewal. In doing so, they align with global movements where art and activism converge, demonstrating the capacity of theatre to cultivate awareness, inspire action, and envision generative futures in the face of planetary vulnerability.

Bright Star: A Scenic Design, Sariah M, Roberts

Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film: Theses, Student Research, and Creative Work

This thesis documents the process and paperwork of the scenic design and ends with a reflection on how the process affected the final product.

Director, Bobby Pieranunzi

Stage Manager, Savannah Stermer

Lighting Designer, Dean Bressler

Costume Designer, Jamie Bullins

Technical Directors, Bryce Allen, Hayden Honomichl, and Shelby Hindman

Thesis advisor: JD Madsen

Sunday In The Park With George Poster, Providence College Department Of Theatre, Dance, & Film

Playbill and Promotions

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance, & Film

Angell Blackfriars Theatre

Sunday in the Park with George, Music by Stephen Sondeim, Book by James Lapine

April 17th - 26th, 2026

Sunday In The Park With George Playbill, Providence College Department Of Theatre, Dance, & Film

Playbill and Promotions

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance, & Film

Angell Blackfriars Theatre

Sunday in the Park with George, Music by Stephen Sondheim, Book by James Lapine

April 17th - 26th, 2026

Director, Dan Foster

Music Director, Dr. Eric Melley

Lighting Design, Jessica Winward

Sound Design, Gabriel Luxton

Movement, Nina Kossler

Voice & Dialect, Megan Chang

Scenic Design, Trevor Elliott

Costume Design, Jessie Darrell Jarbadan

Hair/Makeup Design, Michael Dates

Voice Coach, Elizabeth Heath

Assistant Director, Lia Chernysh

Cast: Jade Bocciarelli - Celeste #2/Elaine; Jack Cormier - Jules/Bob Greenburg; Claire Dancause - …

Water Feature Design For An Enemy Of The People, Rae Outland

Celebration of Research

The hot springs in the show An Enemy of the People is a crucial piece that is the main focus of the issue for the duration of the show. As the hot springs are never actually seen in the play, it was brought up in a design meeting that a water feature of sorts be made to show what the springs would look like, incorporate the audience, and invite them into the space we are creating.

This project took my blood, sweat, and tears--- all literally speaking. I had the privilege of unexpectedly getting to design in my freshmen year, …

Projection Design For The Little Prince, Melissa Thompson

Celebration of Research

As the projections and scenic designer for Northwestern's February 2025 production of The Little Prince, I encountered many challenges and much unfamiliar territory. This project taught me complex projection mapping, digital media design principles, and communication in a team setting.

Properties Design For The Little Prince, Ruthie Zimmerman

Celebration of Research

In designing properties for Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince, I aligned with the director's vision of lush minimalism by using clear silhouettes with rich color and texture. Props design is the thread holding together the work of the scenic designer, costume designer, and for this show, the puppet designer, so I followed their aesthetic choices and repeated colors, textures, and materials in order to build a tactile, believable world.

Programming Lights For Storytelling In Live Theatre: Technology, Collaboration, And Creativity, Jeremy Pitts

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

This project explores how theatrical programming supports creative storytelling in live performance while collaborating closely with a professional Lighting Designer. My primary focus is acquiring theatrical programming skills, with the already foundational knowledge of theatrical electricity that supports theatre productions. Throughout the thesis process, I will learn to operate the ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls) Ion Classic console via structured tutorials and hands-on production experience. This practical approach will guide me comprehensively to understand the console's capabilities and real-world application. As part of my capstone project, I take on a role as a Co-Lighting Designer, co-designering with a professional lighting designer …

Dramaturgical Research On Studs Terkel's “The Good War”, Emma K. Mcangus

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

This presentation reflects in-depth dramaturgical research and archival curation developed in support of Pepperdine University’s fall production of “The Good War.” Adapted from Studs Terkel’s oral history of World War II, the production uses verbatim theatre to stage lived experience with historical and ethical complexity. Grounded in Terkel’s interview-based methodology, the project examines not only wartime testimony but also the post-war trajectories of the individuals represented in the script, revealing the long aftermath of conflict and its enduring effects on personal and collective memory. A key component of the project involved compiling biographical information for each interview subject and transforming …

Still Within Reach, Lauren Matz

Honors Theses

For my Graduating Presentation and Honors Thesis, I created a piece based on my two sister and me, as I found myself yearning for our moments together while growing up but recognize that we will never be that age and all together again. The idea of being apart is scary, but inevitable, and rather than dwell on the idea of it, I wanted to create a piece of reflection and growth for all three of us.

During the development of my concept, I revisited old home videos and journaled out a path of how the piece would progress. The first …

Technical Director Of Sweeney Todd, Alexander Matthews

Honors Theses

My honors thesis focused on my work as the Technical Director for Sweeney Todd and the process of turning a scenic design into a safe, buildable, and functional production. Through this project, I explored how technical direction is not only about constructing scenery, but also about drafting, budgeting, problem-solving, and adapting when challenges arise. One of the most important moments in the process was a set change that happened several weeks into the build because of safety concerns, which forced me to rethink parts of the design and respond practically. I also included a CAD drawing of the full set …

Promoting Participation In Adults With Intellectual Disabilities (Id) Through Inclusive Theatre Education And A Professional Theatre Partnership, Lila R. Clark

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Intellectual Disabilities (ID) are characterized by a deficit in intellectual and adaptive function that affects between 1% and 3% of the general population (Patel et al., 2020). As young people age out of the school system between 18 and 21 years of age, opportunities for meaningful participation in their community drop drastically (Codd & Hewitt, 2020). This lack of opportunity can lead to decreased overall mental health and quality of life, possibly explaining why adults with ID are disproportionately affected by mental illness when compared to their typically developing peers (Hall, 2017; Pinals et al., 2022). The purpose of this …

A Midsummer Night's Dream (April 8-11, 2026), Willliam Shakespeare

Student Theatre Programs

Event Program for A Midsummer Night's Dream (April 8-11, 2026), Lindenwood University.

Amplified Voices: Zines, Theatre, And Open Pedagogy, Bethany B. Mickel, Amy Hunsaker

All Things Open

This interactive presentation highlights a collaborative open pedagogy project implemented in an undergraduate vocal theatre course. The scaffolded assignment guided students through research practices and source evaluation, culminating in the creation of student-authored zines focused on vocal warmups. Students explored the history of zines as small, often hand-designed publications rooted in self-expression, community knowledge-sharing, and alternative publishing, values closely aligned with open education practices.

Rather than producing a traditional research paper, students synthesized their findings into creative zines that center voice both pedagogically and literally. Throughout the project, students engaged in discussions about open licensing, authorship, and consent, making informed …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership Tenets On The Soft Skills And Self-Efficacy Of Individuals From A Performing Arts Program: A Phenomenological Study, Carissa Hawksworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of university students who develop soft skills and self-efficacy while working with a director who utilizes transformational leadership qualities to direct a performing arts event. The theory guiding this study was Bass’s theory of transformational leadership, which encourages leaders to develop as individuals, thereby enhancing the performance of the entire group. The central research question was, “What are the lived experiences of university students who participate in a performing arts program led by a transformational leader?” This qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenology study focused on understanding the lived …

Media Center Gets New Studio, Name, Timesdaily

Documents

New Media Center and grand opening for the new Communications Building (former Gymnasium) in 1988

That’S Sooo Povo!, Sophie O'Toole, Trudy Nolan

Irish Communication Review

When Chantelle and Craoí, two working class Dublin drama students, lock horns over The Plough and the Stars, their combined rage brings forth Queen Povo, a drag-drenched larger-than-life entity who forces the girlos and the audience to examine what they’re thinking about when they think of class. From D'Girlos Theatre, this riotous, razor-sharp debut crashes through class, art, and authenticity with wit, grit, and glitter. A juicy-tracksuit clad call to arms for anyone who’s ever felt too loud, too real, or just too povo.