Digital Commons Network^™

Public Art And Military Technology At The Mexico-U.S. Border: Disrupting Boundaries On Battlegrounds, Anna Luise Kaunert

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how contemporary artists Rubén Ortiz Torres, Chico MacMurtrie, rafa esparza, and Cassils transformed military technologies into powerful artworks that interrogate the Mexico-U.S. border as a battlefield. Together, their works illuminate militarization and surveillance technologies at the border and the violent enforcement of U.S. immigration policy.

Air Pollution And Self-Reported Health Outcomes In The United States, Alina Dervisevic

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between short-term PM2.5 exposure and self-reported health outcomes among U.S. adults using BRFSS data from 2000 to 2012 linked to county-level pollution and weather data. Results show that PM2.5 exposure is associated with worse mental health and gender specific behavioral responses.

A Fine Arts Program For No. 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, Paul Richert-Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reads Chase Manhattan's 1959 art program as a reconstitution of ornament. The spatial and affective work historically performed by murals, carved stone, and mosaic was now performed by collecting—contemporary art, ethnographic holdings, folk art—deployed by committee across a corporate modernist master plan stripped of the handcraft tradition.

Medusa, Myths And Mascarons, Claire Weaver-Zeman

Theses and Dissertations

Claire Weaver-Zeman’s work constructs an alternate mythology and decorative language based on classical mythology, biblical characters, and paganism. Paintings, dolls, frames, and other sculptural objects populate this imagined realm. This paper outlines how this reality and its inhabitants question the traditional limited roles assigned to women and children.

Carved In Grief, Crafted In Power: The Alabaster Mourner Of Fernando De Antequera And Late-Medieval Royal Propaganda, Teresa D. Kinley

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the alabaster mourning sculptures from the tomb of King Fernando I de Aragón at the Monastery of Santa María de Poblet.  Through formal analysis, material culture, and political theology, I argue that the ensemble functioned as a coordinated instrument of dynastic legitimacy, translating ritual grief into a durable technology of royal memory.

Landscaping The Exotic And The Ancient Through Picturesque: Reconsidering The Impact Of David Roberts’S Egypt And Nubia, Sophie Cooke

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis considers David Roberts’s use of picturesque art for imperial Britain and analyzes the ways Egypt and Nubia played an influential role in the cultural transmission of ancient Egypt. By confronting both antiquity and modernity, his Egyptian landscapes are evidence of how Western picturesque artworks influence historical narratives.

Real Mom Fake Mom, Marisa Kriangwiwat

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis exhibition examines how contemporary photographic perception is conditioned by digital interfaces and attention economies. The thesis artwork I make tries to trace an understand the bodily affects of looking at mass images online.

Building Artistic Identity, Visual Heritage, And Contemporaneity Of The Arab World: Case Studies Of The 1974 Arab Art Biennale And 'Calligraphy In Contemporary Arab Painting' At The 1989 Havana Biennial, Amanda Msallem

Theses and Dissertations

The 1974 Arab Art Biennale held in Baghdad, Iraq, and the exhibition Calligraphy in Contemporary Arab Painting of the 1989 Havana Biennial in Cuba are unique biennial initiatives that represent a decisive transitional period of modern art of the Arab world, during which Arab artists moved from the aspirations of the Pan-Arab collective and toward increasingly individualized, experimental practices with local cultural specificity.

From Guyana To Queens: The Formation Of The Indo-Guyanese Ethnoburb In New York City, 1970-1990, Lianne R. Persaud

Theses and Dissertations

Expanding on Li’s concept of ethnoburbs, this study examines Indo-Guyanese settlement in Little Guyana, Queens (1970–1990). I propose the Vertical Enclave Model, which suggests that multi-family homeownership and internal rental markets facilitated the residential permanence of working-class individuals. The IPUMS Census microdata corroborates this community’s reliance on metropolitan integration, thereby refuting traditional self-sufficient ethnic enclave theories.

Isabel I Of Castile And Her Portapaz: A Queenly Expression Of Sovereignty, Legacy, And Piety, Alina Cui

Theses and Dissertations

What is a pax, and why does it matter to a queen? I argue that in the Portapaz Gótico at the Royal Chapel of Granada, Queen Isabel I of Castile drew from Rogier van der Weyden’s Miraflores Altarpiece to craft a new iconography, reflecting her unique political and devotional interests.

Containment, Quin Mittelstead

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores “containment" (the act of keeping something within limits) as both oppressive control and a mode of self-regulation, grounded in the author’s experience with epilepsy. Paintings deploy grayscale grounds, restrained palettes, and contrasting rapid/slow gestures; emergent color, texture, and altered substrates map psychological states, bodily impulses, and reactive processes. Research into witchcraft, remedial items, and eugenics (notably Buck v. Bell) informs works that link historical censorship and institutional violence to contemporary stigma. Sculptural installations (nets, jute, flawed Faraday-like enclosures) and cannibalized studio materials probe systems that restrain thought, media, and bodies. By introducing unpredictable variables with found supports, …

The Creek And The Cave, Zoe Geltman

Student Theses

A play.

Tropical Hardware, Shane Chase

Student Theses

A collection of poetry.

Preface: In the spring of 2022 I lived in Bethnal Green, a once working-class neighborhood in East London. I grew attached to the area as it gave me a life I couldn’t have back in Florida. Everything needed to subsist was contained within walking distance. My connection to the place grew strong each time I walked through Middleton Green or passed Keeling House rising up out of the fog as I made my way to work. Gradually, I developed a sense of isolation, smelling the salt from the gulf, an ocean that wasn’t there. The threat …

Another Inconsistency: A Collection, Christy Luong

Student Theses

A collection of stories.

Selfown, Richard Hollman

Student Theses

A play.

Scenic Design: Ariadne Auf Naxos, Riley Lathrom

Student Theses

riadne auf Naxos was made in collaboration between librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal and composer Richard Strauss between 1911 and 1916. While it was not the first or last project the pair would do together, it was one that dared to reinvent the form of early 20th-century German opera. Both artists understood that, in order to evolve with the modern world, their art form needed to reflect the changing culture around them. Hofmannstal envisioned “a totally unified creation of the contributing art forms, harmoniously and inseparably blended into a superior vehicle of expression” (Davidsen et al.) I find this mindset one …

Fascism Usa: Class And Identity Politics In The Age Of Trump, Marc Edelman

Publications and Research

This essay argues that Trump’s triumph in the 2024 presidential contest represents the consolidation of an oligarchical authoritarian project, backed by a multi-class and (surprisingly, for some) multi-racial electorate. It brought intensified state and freelance attacks on immigrants, labor unions, women, LGBTQ+ people, journalists, civil servants, assorted “political enemies,” and other groups that the MAGA movement targets. It is institutionalizing authoritarian governance structures in ways that will be exceedingly difficult to undo. The paper first addresses the experience of growing up in the shadow of fascism. It analyzes various sectors that supported Trump and the impacts of inflation, incumbency, economic …

Moderating Effects Of Defense Mechanisms On The Link Between Dark Triad Traits And Stress: A Replication With Addition Of Early Trauma, Ngayin Cheng

Student Theses

Literature suggested Dark Triad traits, comprised of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, are linked to adverse childhood environment and maladaptive coping that contribute to negative mental health outcomes, but Richardson and Boag's study (Richardson & Boag, 2016) was one of the few studies that first found Dark Triad traits are associated with immature defenses and higher perceived stress simultaneously. This replicated study aims to verify the original findings of their research by examining how defense mechanisms moderate the relationship between Dark Triad traits and perceived stress. A sample of 199 participants completed self-report measures assessing the Dark Triad traits, defense styles, …

A Meta-Analysis On Joinder Effects: Do They All Have The Same Magnitude?, Amelia M. Tisk

Student Theses

The present meta-analysis examined whether different forms of joinder and procedural consolidation produce varying levels of prejudice in adjudicative decision-making. Although joinder procedures improve judicial efficiency, psychological research has suggested that combining charges, defendants, or plaintiffs within a single proceeding may increase conviction likelihood, liability judgments, and broader perceptions of wrongdoing. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted across 22 independent study effects examining charge joinder, defendant consolidation, plaintiff consolidation, multiple-complainant procedures, and related aggregation paradigms. Effect sizes were converted to Pearson’s r whenever possible. Overall, procedural aggregation produced a moderate effect on adjudicative outcomes, r = .27, 95% CI [.22, .32]. …

Chemical Variability In The Unregulated Opioid Supply In The South Bronx, Yeireline Rodriguez

Student Theses

The unregulated drug supply in the United States has become increasingly unpredictable, contributing to persistently high overdose mortality, particularly in structurally marginalized communities such as the South Bronx. While drug adulteration has long been present in illicit markets, the number and pharmacological diversity of adulterants remained limited for much of the twentieth century. Over the past decade, however, the drug supply has undergone a significant transformation marked by the proliferation of potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and its analogues, frequently combined with novel sedatives and chemically diverse adulterants. These shifts have introduced increasing chemical complexity into the street drug …

Facsimiles, Russell Soh

Student Theses

An excerpt:

Hi Everyone, I’m currently in the process of organizing and sketching out a series of prose proems based on a small multitude of notes I’ve accrued over the last six months. These notes are essentially notes towards the writing of various poems (around 8). The idea is basically to turn these notes, or these would-be poems, into a series of abstracted ‘facsimiles’, like tangible ghosts trapped in a simulacrum of the poem. I need to be reacquainted with the prose poem, or at least my idea of it.

Wellness By Design: Leadership And Learning Practices For Well-Being In Arts Management, Ashleigh Olander

Student Theses

Leading with a culture of care is the art of wellness-based design. The arts are often seen as places for healing and community connection; however, arts institutions themselves frequently function in ways that undermine well-being. The systems in place do not promote wellness, nor do they dedicate resources to maintaining the vitality of staff. Wellness initiatives in the arts are ordinarily based on programming, rather than embedded into the foundation of the organization. Although engaging with the arts as a whole elevates wellness, it is challenging to find an arts institution designed with wellness practices in mind. There is a …

Is Less More? An Analysis Of Microblogs Vs. Discussion Forums As Tools For Understanding The Public, Marco Castillo

Publications and Research

Social media platforms offer valuable tools for public administrators seeking to assess public sentiment on policy issues, especially in urban areas with diverse stakeholder interests. This study investigates how public administrators can leverage social media by comparing communications on Reddit’s discussion forum platform with X’s microblogging platform. I hypothesize that Reddit fosters more subjective, nuanced discussions, providing richer insights into public sentiment. To test this, sentiment and regression analyses are conducted on communications about urban cycling on both platforms. Results indicate that while Reddit facilitates deeper exploration of public issues, X also effectively assesses public sentiment. The study concludes by …

The Role Of Otto In Indecent By Paula Vogel, Ben Turchiarelli

Student Theses

Between December 5th and 9th, 2025, Brooklyn College’s Department of Theater presented Indecent by Paula Vogel, directed by MFA directing candidate Sam Plattus. It was my privilege to play the role of Otto, a member of a troupe of dead actors, tasked with presenting a nearly coextensive play-within-a-play describing the controversial Broadway production of The God of Vengeance, by Sholem Asch. Otto presents several older male characters, including real-life figures; among them author I.L. Peretz, and actor Rudolph Schildkraut. Some of these scenes are depicted in the story as a play-within-a-play-within-a-play, and there are numerous musical interludes throughout wherein Otto …

Autoantibody Reactivity In Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Characterizing Keratinocyte And Apocrine Gland Targets Across Disease Progression And Anti-Tnf-Α Treatment, Talla Hamouche

Student Theses and Dissertations

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with impaired quality of life, representing one of the highest burdens among dermatological conditions. This debilitating disorder primarily affects apocrine-gland-bearing and flexural skin areas, most commonly the axillae, breast, buttocks, and groin. As lesions recur and new sites emerge, surgical excision does not guarantee prevention of disease reestablishment. Despite its substantial burden, HS remains among the least understood and most treatment-resistant inflammatory diseases. The mechanisms underlying this chronicity and the frequent failure of conventional anti-inflammatory therapies remain unresolved. An underappreciated autoimmune dimension may contribute to HS pathogenesis: the clonal …

We Are Not What We Think: Solipsism & The Concept Of Mind, Michael Marcoux

Student Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I argue that the persuasiveness of solipsism—understood as skepticism of the existence of anything or anyone outside of one’s own private mental life—rests not on its intrinsic argumentative force, but on the degree of commitment to a certain philosophical dogma. I use the problem of solipsism to tease out this dogma, which I dub the Primacy of Privacy. It is characterized by the conviction that in dealing with what there is and what we know, the mental, be it construed in terms of perceptions or thoughts, is the only certain datum from which most if not all …

A Writer’S Notebook And Journal Entries: Student-Centered Guide For Engl 102 (English Composition Ii), Tanya Zhelezcheva

Open Educational Resources

This open educational resource provides a complete homework assignment system for ENGL 102 (English Composition II) at the City University of New York. Designed as a companion to Writing Workshop Journal: A Student-Centered Guide for College Composition (Zhelezcheva 2025), it offers detailed instructions, templates, and a curated bank of writing exercises that support students in developing ideas for their major essays through sustained, low-stakes writing practice.

The booklet is organized around three core assignment types — the Homework Assignment, the Reply to the Homework Assignment, and the Research Log — each structured as a four-component journal entry: Opening Freewrite, Exercise, …

How Visual Art In Fatty Legs And A Stranger At Home Deepens The Understanding Of Historical Atrocities And Colonial Violence Inflicted On Indigenous Children In Residential Schools In The United States And Canada, Beth Rocco

Student Theses

“I can fix my own hair,” I protested in Inuvialuktun, but she held tight and, with the same motion a bird makes to pull a piece of flesh from a fish, clamped the jaws of the shears down on my braid and severed it” (Pokiak-Fenton 31). This scene in Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton, was a deep cut into the soul of a child. The first slash was being taken away from her parents and family. Next was chopping off her hair, a symbol of identity and tribal pride for Indigenous people. The children began their residential …

Long Work Hours, Suboptimal Diabetes Management, And Differences By Sex And Race/Ethnicity, Nhanes (2011-2018), Tailisha Gonzalez, Margrethe Horlyck-Romanovsky, Terry T.-K. Huang, Sandra E. Echeverria

Publications and Research

In the United States (US), occupational segregation by sex and race/ethnicity can contribute to health disparities. Although work schedule characteristics have been previously linked to elevated cardiovascular risk, little is known about the effects on chronic disease management in women and minoritized workers. We examined the association between work hours and diabetes management among US workers, testing for differences by sex and race/ethnicity. We utilized 2011–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data on working adults (age ≥20 years) with diagnosed diabetes (n = 1041). Suboptimal diabetes management was defined as HbA1c ≥7%. Work hours were categorized per WHO …

The Other Tradition Of Modernism: Writing Contemporary Chinese Architecture, Guanghui Ding Dr

Publications and Research

The Other Tradition of Modernism emerges from a pedagogical experiment at the City College of New York, where the editor taught a course on modern and contemporary Chinese architecture to upper-level undergraduates and graduate students. Combining thematic lectures, student presentations, writing workshops, and intensive editorial mentoring, the course sought to illuminate an alternative trajectory of architectural modernism. Geographically, it introduced modern Chinese architectural practices that developed outside Western modernist paradigms; culturally, it foregrounded context-based approaches that resist the hegemony of iconic, spectacle-driven architecture under contemporary neoliberal market logics.

This edited volume, composed of student contributions, articulates several key insights. First, …