Digital Commons Network^™

Exegetical Analysis Of The Vision In Daniel 10-12, Sydni M. Howard

Masters Theses

The thesis examines the visions and divine communications described in the Book of Daniel, particularly chapters 10-12. The study demonstrates that God gave his wise people supernatural insight and revelation of his plans to aid and give hope in perilous times .

The research employs an exegetical approach to analyze Daniel 10-12, utilizing a detailed review of prominent scholarly interpretations by Adolf Leo Oppenheim, John Joseph Collins, Tremper Longman III, J. Paul Tanner, John T. Willis, John Walvoord, and John C. Whitcomb. The study focuses on understanding the historical, literary, and cultural contexts of the visions, exploring the mechanisms of …

Are You Really Qualified? Overcoming The Challenges Of Authentic Voice In Characterization Across Race And Gender, James B. Myers

Masters Theses

This thesis challenges the idea that writers lack the qualifications to write in authentic voice across race and gender. The artist’s statement explains the origin of the novel and the driving forces that contributed to the creative manuscript. The desire to develop a piece of historical fiction with characters of different races and genders necessitated an in-depth critical analysis. In the analysis of the obstacles associated with writing across race and gender, the thesis identifies challenges, the psychological aspects of character development, and the solutions to overcoming inherent problems. God’s Word and unwavering love is woven throughout the work to …

When The Tide Comes: A Critical Examination Of The Novel-Screenplay Hybrid With Example Chapters, Morgan F. Taylor Moore

Masters Theses

This thesis presents my research on the psychological realism genre, the stream of consciousness narrative technique, the usage of second person and the present tense, the biblical reasoning behind depicting the ordinary as extraordinary, the role of the demonic in domestic violence, the incorporation of screenplay styles, the scientific reasoning and personal findings of my project’s formatting, the examination of primary sources (novels) that have inspired my project, and finally, the research on ADHD, PTSD, and C-PTSD as the results of domestic abuse. Sample chapters of my project are included.

Lanthanide-Dependent Methanol Metabolism In Sinorhizobium Meliloti, Enish Pathak

Masters Theses

Lanthanides, also known as rare earth elements, were thought to be biologically inert. However, the recent discovery of XoxF, a lanthanide-dependent methanol dehydrogenase, shed new light on the roles of lanthanides in biology. Lanthanide-dependent methanol metabolism was even found in bacterial genera that previously have not been described as methylotrophs, including Sinorhizobium. A homolog of the xoxF gene was found to be present in Sinorhizobium meliloti. S. meliloti is a soil bacterium that undergoes a symbiotic relationship with alfalfa plants by fixing atmospheric nitrogen within root nodules. While many studies on lanthanide-dependent methylotrophy have been performed mainly in the model …

Impact Of Body Dissatisfaction And Selfies And The Effect Of Self-Compassion: A Mixed Methods Study, Amelia Jing Zhen Cheah

Masters Theses

Social media has become one of the most widely consumed platforms worldwide—specifically, the act of taking pictures of oneself otherwise known as selfies. Previous research has demonstrated links to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders about social media usage. There is a lack of research on the selfie-editing process, from taking to selecting and editing the pictures before uploading them. In turn, social media may become a risk factor for young individuals engaging in selfies and experiencing body dissatisfaction. Given how rapidly the use of social media has evolved within society, there is a constant need to address and overcome body …

A Qualitative Study And Comparative Analysis Of Japanese And American Music Education Methodologies And Philosophies, Mallory Elaine Flory

Masters Theses

This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study investigated the differences that studies have yet to explore between Japanese and American music education methodologies in terms of teaching music literacy through foundational keyboard skills, world music incorporation, repertoire, and life enrichment philosophies. This study utilized a qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological research design and examined the effects of Japanese music education methodologies and philosophies through data collection and qualitative interviews conducted with nine students whose music education consisted of these elements. The researcher interviewed two Japanese music educators, two American music educators, two Japanese music students, and three American music students. This study helped to …

Living A Life Behind Filters And Smiles, Lisa K. Bohler

Masters Theses

This thesis is built on the authentic life stories of a family that endured the painful realities of child abuse and neglect. The artist's statement provides insight into the origin of the memoir-style story and why it is appropriately labeled as autofiction. The limitations in the research were not hindrances but rather a testament to the veracity of the stories, which are true memories. The critical research paper aims to determine whether the popularity of autofiction is a genuine reflection of society.

The Patriarchal Framework Of Extreme Religious Cult Communities And The Post-Exit Affect On Families, Pamala M. Schievelbein

Masters Theses

The Lies We Keep is a screenplay about Pinnacle, a patriarchal cult community that employs mind control and narcotics to subjugate the women in the community. They follow a false religious doctrine and community framework that were created during the Victorian era when the Mormons migrated west and ended their culture of polygamy to avoid prosecution. This thesis brings to light the many facets of extreme religious cults and their daily lives within a controlling framework including specific gender roles, abuse, manipulation, and inequality. Government intervention and Freedom of Religion are also discussed in parallel to the Branch Davidians in …

The Persuasiveness Of Point Of View, John Brandon Keever

Masters Theses

An obsession with the point of view, POV, as a craft element, drove the impetus of this research. The artist's statement highlights a love affair with escapism through the written word in fiction. The critical paper reviews evidence of the persuasiveness of point of view, POV, as a critical craft element as seen in the nuances of POV in The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and A Time to Dance by Karen Kingsbury and in first-person testimony in journalism. While some research into POV exists for literary classics, like Pride and Prejudice, this …

Changes In Colonial Perspectives On Native Americans And Native-Christian Hybridity, Thomas Kelly Hassani

Masters Theses

The American West of the late nineteenth century is too often exhibited by scholars who study it from the point of view of the westward expansion of European settlers on to Native land. However, the nuance of this short period should be examined with careful consideration. With westward expansion came the proselytization of Christianity to the Native populations who retained their own religious ideology. Historians and anthropologists have studied extensively the viewpoints of Christians and practitioners of Native faiths on topics of faith, prayer, and spirituality. However, similar examinations have yet to examine the more accepting and permissive attitudes that …

Ornamental Archives Of The Recursive Loop, Prithi Khalique

Masters Theses

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Codex Occultus, Aya Abdallah

Masters Theses

The occult reveals itself in ruins, ruptures, and rituals, evoking a melancholic sense of loss that invites revelation and reenactment. CODEX OCCULTUS is an investigation into divinatory practices, namely coffee reading, as a methodology of speculating fictions and realities embedded in contested time-spaces. The method relies on a ‘failure to capture’ geopolitical sites using traditional technologies of seeing. Codex Occultus operates in different mediums and takes shape as a video, a sculpture, a machine, a talisman, and an archive emphasizing that an excess of imagery in both physical and digital spaces is necessary.

Community Engagement In Art & Design Colleges, Mah Rukh Raja

Masters Theses

This thesis titled ‘Community Engagement in Art & Design Colleges: Case Studies from Pakistan’ highlights the importance of community-engaged practices in education, specifically within the realm of art and design, and examines the effect of community engagement on student learning. It focuses on the importance of creating opportunities for reciprocal, community-engaged learning where responsibilities, roles and credit are shared equally among students, community partners, and educational institutions to develop projects that are in the best interest of communities.

This research coincides with the introduction of community and civic engagement in undergraduate education in Pakistan. Its primary objective is to serve …

Move Or Die, Jiho Park

Masters Theses

This paper traces the process of digitizing artwork, exploring the image processing techniques involved in digitizing art, including image compression, pixel technology, and display. It examines the complex relationship between digital and physical spaces, questioning the approach of digitizing various forms of art—ranging from traditional media to digital works—in the same manner to preserve and increase accessibility. Additionally, the paper discusses how these image-processing methods reflect and impact socioeconomic values.

Also, this paper covers JPEG compression methods, the form and history of pixels, the displays that materialize images, and additionally, the Image generator tool in AI in the appendix. It …

Umbrella And Jellyfish, Yanran Bi

Masters Theses

Rainy season arrives as soon as the summer begins in Shanghai. For some reason, I rarely remember to bring an umbrella with me. I have a lot of umbrellas, most of them are transparent ones bought at subway stations. When it suddenly starts pouring rain, umbrella vendors in Shanghai gather at each crowded exit of the subway sta- tions to sell umbrellas to people like me. The cheapest umbrellas they have are always the transparent ones. The whole city is turned upside down by the rain with its reflections on every street. Then a transparent umbrella opens up, then another, …

Garment Making As A Practice Of Freedom, Emily Bennison

Masters Theses

This Thesis investigates sewing education in schools as a transformative experience for teenagers. Through teacher-based research methodology, this study delves into the implementation of fashion design classes aimed to foster creative expression. Critical thinking, and social engagement among teens. The research draws upon scholarly work that engaged with home economics, community sewing classes, and trauma informed pedagogical approaches. The qualitative data gathered from classroom observations and the teacher reflections have informed a socially engaged sewing zine that comprises lesson plans. The findings shed light on the potential of fashion design education to empower students, cultivate their artistic skill, and encouragement …

Half Dawn, Catherine Ashley

Masters Theses

By presenting these words on paper, I have given entry into a microcosm of recent research, questions, and creative explorations. There is potential for disconnection when trying to turn your head inside out and present it in a way that feels beautiful for other people. I’m trusting the moments of authenticity I’ve found in my wandering. Segue. Relationship. Gesture. Illusion. My musings all stem from notions of temporality. Time dances on the farthest ends of both immensity and desolation. I’ve spent stretches of time asking the people, texts, and experiments around me to define time in a way that I …

Things I'Ve Learned From Doing Cosplay: An Investigation On Incorporating “Atypical” Creative Practices Into Art Education, Yvonne Liang

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the pedagogical value of cosplay through a focused case study and autoethnography, highlighting its influence on identity formation and community engagement among youth. The autoethnographic component provides a personal perspective, enriching the empirical data collected from participants in a cosplay workshop. The case study delves into how cosplay encourages skill development, creativity, and emotional resilience, facilitating a supportive and dynamic learning environment for young adults. Insights from this research demonstrate the significant benefits of integrating cosplay into art education, suggesting it can greatly enhance student engagement and promote diverse educational experiences. This study contributes to the understanding …

Growing Together: Cultivating The Social-Emotional Effects Of Art Education Through Trauma-Informed Pedagogy, Kaitlyn Lawrence

Masters Theses

In many societies, the process of art is recognized as a healing and transformative practice. In recent years, it has been emerging in tandem with social emotional practices and procedures in American education. However, it is also a fact that social emotional learning (SEL) does not account for all students due to its inability to account for the needs of all students in the classroom. SEL alone aims to teach healthy development and emotional management skills, but fails to account for students with varying experiences. While there are those who can and do integrate the skills from the Social Emotional …

Creative Connections: Building Empathy To Foster Ecoliteracy Through Art Education, Jocelyn Salim

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates the potential positive impact of fostering empathy and understanding for the natural world through art education. Through action research, this study examines various teaching approaches, such as incorporating scientific knowledge, employing literature to discuss ecological themes, and engaging in participatory storytelling activities to cultivate empathy among elementary school children. The objective of this thesis is to explore empathy as a potential pathway to encourage children to foster connections with the natural world and develop compassionate traits, attitudes, and behaviors towards nature as they grow. The findings of this study reveal that children exhibit high levels of enthusiasm …

Rejected Manuscripts, Yangqi Deng

Masters Theses

Rejected Manuscripts is a series of visual metaphors reconstructed from hyperlink research. It explores the representation, perception, and processing of information as fact across three projects, highlighting the pervasive influence of fiction throughout each stage. It investigates forms of fact versus fiction to bring awareness to multi-perspective and from that explores the intricate interplay between reality and imagination.

This thesis consists of three chapters. Chapter 1 falls into an abyss of fictional imagery intertwined with factual information. From there, the second chapter explores how we observe the world and how technology affects our vision. Chapter 3 discusses how this information …

Re-Touch, Yuxin Jin

Masters Theses

Many special moments are fleeting and buried in our memories. In the hustle and bustle of modern life, people are always pursuing efficiency, and as we move forward, we gradually lose some of our perceptions of life.

I explored the role of memory in establishing the emotional connection between newly designed objects and people. Shared experiences and feelings can evoke emotional resonance and a sense of collective experience. When harnessed in design, these feelings can facilitate a deeper understanding and connection to the product. Therefore, objects transformed from these shared experiences can not only carry memories but also become carriers …

Technocene, Vir Joseph Naidu

Masters Theses

Embodied human communication within the Anthropocene. Existing at the intersection of technology, and the body.

The design industry has developed technology that is, paradoxically, isolating. The exposure to a vast audience in the digital sphere has introduced new societal pressures, leading to a disconnection from our immediate surroundings, detached, and donning metaphorical masks. Technocene lives on the fringes of the discipline by blending conceptual thinking with practical application. Through curious, experimental artifacts, it prompts us to shed our masks and embrace vulnerability. Technocene endeavors to reimagine the human experience by acting as a discursive design project. It probes the boundaries …

America, Dreaming., Sarah Meftah

Masters Theses

There is a version

of America

that exists

only in dreams,

a kind of folklore,

shrouded in images,

technicolor interiors,

wrapped in plastic,

ghosts of recent past

to haunt and guide;

a constant reminder.

Wishful thinking

a constructed imaginary,

one I can hold in my hand.

Popular culture and spectacle, America and the domestic ideal, capitalism and the collective unconscious of a national identity. As an artist, I am interested in the myriad images that manifest for a viewer when they think of the spectacle of American pop culture, its domestic archetypes, and the material worship it revolves around. My …

Unfurling Blue Carpet Memories, Sara Ahli

Masters Theses

Glass is an amorphous solid, existing in a liminal space, embodying indeterminacy. Its states of transformation from viscous flow to structural solidity carry the imprints of bodily influence. With the direct intention of using glass as a conduit to explore materiality, memory, and self-awareness, I construct a language of embodiment that arises through a series of performative encounters between my physicality and glass in the hot shop.

The mediating process I employ to create and arrive at the glass artwork I make is as necessary as its final form. Motivated by the desire to claim agency over my personal narrative, …

Discovering The Lightness Of Being, Yuemeng Dai

Masters Theses

As an adjunct to industrial advancement and urban sprawl, subways play a critical role in the daily logistics of transporting countless passengers. While they offer an efficient mode of commuting, they also introduce new potential issues that can suppress passengers' subjective behaviors. In Beijing, the subway lines, extending 519 miles and buried 70 feet underground, encircle the city, resulting in daily commutes of 1-2 hours. The extremely high passenger flow during peak times leads to rapid movement speeds within stations, and the complex subway architecture causes long walking distances and multiple transfers between spaces. Passengers, swept along by the flow …

Emotional Factory, Yukun Cui

Masters Theses

该项目设想将上海一个历史悠久的仓库改造成一个创新的、以情感为主题的联合办公空间，超越传统的办公环境。在工作环境质量深刻影响生产力和幸福感的时代，该项目旨在创造一个协调身体、心理和情绪健康的空间。该设计融合了促进健康的元素，例如健身设施、美食和丰富的绿色植物，确保居住者在整个工作日中保持动力和灵感。该项目涉及个人与其环境之间的动态互动。认识到传统的办公室布局往往会限制移动和空间感知，我们的设计引入了一个固有的动态工作空间。灵活的布局，可调节的家具和可移动的隔板使空间能够适应各种活动和需求。互动元素和视觉刺激全天变化，鼓励探索和互动，而不需要持续的身体运动。使用不同的纹理、颜色和照明方案创造了一种多感官体验，使空间充满活力和不断变化的感觉。通过结合这些元素，该项目旨在重新定义现代工作空间，创造一个不仅能提高生产力，而且能丰富人类工作体验的环境。这种创新方法旨在为全球联合办公空间设定新标准，培养社区意识、创造力和幸福感。最终，该项目旨在创造一个开创性的环境，增强人类的工作体验，展示工作空间设计在广泛影响和改善情绪和心理健康方面的潜力。

Sweet Relief, Aaron Feltman

Masters Theses

Relief holds both an emotional and a physical connotation; both the lifting of a burden or emotional baggage and the description of an object with forms that protrude from a planar surface. This thesis explores the ways in which these connotations can co-mingle and inform each other through the creation of hand-carved wooden reliefs. The relief becomes a vessel through which an emotional connection can be formed between viewer and maker by way of a shared sense of labor.

Wood, a material grown from the earth, is transformed into an entirely human-created form, the car; embodying the just-as-human desire for …

-Ing: Heritage As A Verb, Eunji Park

Masters Theses

Museums, adept at collecting and documenting tangible artifacts from the past, often struggle to connect the ways these tangible artifacts relate to living culture within contemporary life. There has been a growing recognition of the importance of preserving intangible heritage, as these are the assets which requires ongoing community engagement and interaction for their preservation and development.

However, current attempts to exhibit cultural practices, rituals, and traditions mimic those used for tangible artifacts, limiting the potential for dynamic displays due to the inherently different nature of objects and actions. This raises the question: What should exhibitions for such cultural phenomena …

Jugaatronics, Monica Bhyrappa

Masters Theses

Jugaatronics is a body of work that aims to address the current e-waste issues by designing consumer electronics that are repurposable, creating new electronics and objects. This project is born from the cultural practice of 'Jugaad' - the practice of repurposing everyday objects to extend their usability, a form of frugal innovation deeply embedded in my upbringing in India.

Most electronic devices are often discarded at the first sign of malfunction—deemed unnecessary. My thesis highlights this throwaway culture by integrating the concept of Jugaad(repurpose) into the lifecycle of electronic products, demonstrated as a hairdryer.

By showcasing potential repurposing opportunities at …