Digital Commons Network^™

If I Could Choose: Internalized Homophobia Of The Queer Cinema Movement, James Joseph Flaherty

Master's Theses

This thesis offers a critical examination of essentialist and constructionist theories of queer identities, with emphasis on portrayals of internalized homophobia in film. The thesis examines three films released at the latter part of the first New Queer Cinema movement (1991 - 2000) - American Beauty (1999), Urbania (2000) and Velvet Goldmine (1998). Using criticisms of Queer as performativity, as theorized by Judith Butler, in addition to the works of Gregory M. Herek, Harry M. Benshoff, Jeffrey Weeks, and other theorists and academics, the thesis analyzes the use of characterization, mise-en-scene, and spatial and temporal relationships in these films as …

Who Am I?: The Reflexivity Of Self-Identity Through Tourism, Matthew Lee Milde

Master's Theses

This study has set forth to close gaps, explore innovative methods, and create a better understanding of "Who am I?", in tourism research. Few studies in tourism research focus on how experiences gained from traveling shape self-identity through personal biographies. Building on the work of seminal authors on self-identity, personal narrative, and tourism, this study explores the reflexivity of self-identity as represented in travel narratives. The lived experiences offered through narrative condition spontaneous instances of self-discovery allowing for the (re)creation of new self-identities.

Participants were selected through a snowball sample; in-depth interviews were held with fifteen (15) adults born and …

Difference And Accommodation In Visigothic Gaul And Spain, Craig H. Schamp

Master's Theses

This thesis examines primary sources in fifth- and sixth-century Gaul and Spain and finds a surprising lack of concern for ethnicity. Authors in the fifth century expressed concern for the sanctity and safety of the church, their patria, and themselves, but seldom mention any issues that could be related to ethnicity. Even the Arian Christianity of the Goths seems to be of little or no concern. This changes in the middle of the sixth century, when Arian Christianity becomes an overarching issue in Visigothic history. The sources portray nearly every political concern in the second half of the sixth century …

Energetic Path Finding Across Massive Terrain Data, Andrew N. Tsui

Master's Theses

Before there were airplanes, cars, trains, boats, or bicycles, the primary means of transportation was on foot. Unfortunately, many of the trails used by ancient travelers have long since been abandoned. We present a software tool which can help visualize and predict where these forgotten trails might lie through the use of a human-centered cost metric. By comparing the paths generated by our software with known historical trails, we demonstrate how the tool can indicate likely trails used by ancient travelers. In addition, this new tool provides novel visualizations to better help the user understand alternate paths, effect of terrain, …

Avini's City: "Shahri Dar Aasemaan"., Mehrzad Karimabadi

Master's Theses

This thesis examines the documentary Shahri dar Aasemaan (i.e. A City in the Sky) by the late filmmaker Sayyed Morteza Avini's in order to establish its key elements and argue for Avini as an auteur with a unique cinematic style that includes strong personal and ideological ties. Shahri dar Aasemaan, which was Avini's last documentary, covers the initial forty-five-day battle leading to the Iraqi occupation of the Iranian city of Khorramshahr when the Iran-Iraq war broke out in October of 1980. In order to better comprehend Avini as an auteur and his work, this study begins with a brief introduction …

Host Majority Group Members' Acculturation Attitudes Towards Immigrant Groups., Kanako Miwa

Master's Theses

One out of every four individuals residing in the U.S. lived in another country before moving to the U.S. Such an individual has to face acculturation. Research has consistently shown that immigrants differ in how they go about their acculturation. However, little is known about what acculturation strategies the majority group members believe immigrants should adopt in the host country. Therefore, the present study examines the host majority group members' (Euro-Americans) acculturation orientations toward two immigrant groups (Mexican and Japanese) on different life domains and identifies individual difference factors (e.g., social dominance orientation, social distance, and self-efficacy) that are related …

Historical Archaeologists' Utilization Of Archives: An Exploratory Study, Elizabeth Ann Borchardt

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Gender, Status And Shellfish In Precontact Hawaii, Robin Helene Connors

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Native Californian Prehistory And Climate In The San Francisco Bay Area, Stella D'Oro

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Assessing Forearm Fractures From Eight Prehistoric California Populations, Diane Marie Digiuseppe

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Tahoe : Bridging The Economic Gap, Gabriel Reuben Valle

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Rise Of Mormon Cultural History And The Changing Status Of The Archive, Joseph M. Spencer

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Work, Organizations, And Built Environments : An Ethnographic Approach, Sarah J. Clementson

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Evidential Weight Of Considered Moral Judgments, Christopher Michael Cloos

Master's Theses

The input objection to reflective equilibrium (RE) claims that the method fails as a method of moral justification. According to the objection, considered moral judgments (CMJs) are not truth-conducive. Because the method uses inputs that are not credible, the method does not generate justified moral beliefs. The objection is solved by reinterpreting RE using contemporary developments in ethical intuitionism. The first half of the thesis sets up the input objection, explores potential responses to the objection, and uncovers the best way to solve the objection. The second half of the thesis solves the input objection by defining key terms, detailing …

Crazy Or Hungry: Oral Accounts Of Continuity And Change In A Mississippi Gulf Coast Commercial Fishing Fleet, Natalie Brooke Roberts Cruthirds

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Disability, Advocacy And Coping : An Autoethnography On Non-Visible Disability, Dana L. Morella

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Analysis Of A Japanese Film And Its American Remake, Shogo Miura

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Engineering In The Making : An Ethnography Of Product Development, Armineh Noravian

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Osteoporosis In A Prehistoric Bay Area Population, Melynda Leigh Atwood

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Who Owns Ethnography? : The Practitioners Of Contemporary Business Ethnography, Mary Honodel Mccuistion

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Customary Marine Tenure And Traditional Ecological Knowledge In Palau, Robin Putney

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Experiences Of Ethnic Acceptance And Prejudice In English Language Learning: Immigrants' Critical Reflections, Jeffrey T. Labelle

Master's Theses

Digitized thesis

Buddhas & Bratwurst: Ethical Identity In Global Contexts, Patrick Mcdonnell

Master's Theses

Digitized thesis

Ngo Narratives Of Human Rights And Rehabilitation In Cambodia: A Transnational Advocacy And Policy Framework For Appropriating Identity Amidst A Quest For Transitional Justice, Henrik J. Mann

Master's Theses

Digitized thesis

Making The Connection: Art And Community, Daliah Khoury Massehian

Master's Theses

This study examines the role of the community arts in addressing social issues in communities. Using data gathered from community arts organizations in two San Francisco neighborhoods, this study examines the histories, missions, methods for measuring results and ideologies of San Francisco community arts organizations for the purpose of uncovering the development of the community arts movement in San Francisco, prevalent perceptions among practitioners about community art's ability to impact civil society and theories around why the community arts are an effective agent for effecting social change.

This study uncovers that the community arts grew out of a grassroots movement …

Text And Transformation: Refiguring Identity In Postcolonial Phillipines, R Edmund Lacson

Master's Theses

Digitized thesis

The American Association Of Museums' Accreditation Program: An Analysis Of Benefits Perceived By Museums, Sara Wendt

Master's Theses

This study conducted a mail survey of 210 museum directors whose institutions had undergone accreditation through a program sponsored by the American Association of Museums. The study sought to ascertain directors' perceptions ofthe overall benefit and cost of the program, as well as their perceptions of the degree to which their museums both expected to receive and actually received 16 individually specified benefits. It further sought to determine the extent to which museum size and accreditation history may have impacted their perceptions.

The study found that while the time burden associated with the accreditation process was considered fairly high, most …

Ombudsman As Translator: A Critical Hermeneutic Interpretation Of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Elaine M. Lutkitz

Master's Theses

Digitized thesis

Poetry And The State: The Politics Of Nabat Tradition In Kuwait, Abdullah Alajmi

Master's Theses

This thesis analyzes the relationship between the practice of an old tribal Bedouin oral tradition (Nabat poetry) and the politics of the nation-state in Kuwait. The historical context of this tradition, its development within modern state boundaries, and its current role in the politico-cultural exchange are all examined. Anthropological, ethnohistorical, and Arabic local printed resources are used. In addition, Bedouin oral traditions and personal observation are employed for final analysis. Unlike the pre-state Nabat, the current practice is institutionalized to become an essential aspect of state modern processes. A connection is suggested between the emphasis (in the current practice of …

The Niles Project Remembering Essanay, Kristy Joelle Sorensen

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.