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Masters Theses

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“Who Do You Say That I Am?”: Literary Portrayal Of Religious Experience, William Wood May 2024

“Who Do You Say That I Am?”: Literary Portrayal Of Religious Experience, William Wood

Masters Theses

Literature is one of the primary means through which God has revealed Himself to the world. Christian writers, therefore, should be bold to portray their God in and through the religious experiences of their characters. Evaluating classic and contemporary literature, four distinct methods of portraying religious experience may be described, each with varying levels of flexibility and faithfulness. Works of literature such as fantasy fiction may include any and all of these methods, even while that literature pursues other themes. In this thesis, an Artist Statement describes the included work of fiction, with its literary context, impetus, and personal significance. …


Thesis Proposal And Project: Transplanted, Sarah Estok May 2024

Thesis Proposal And Project: Transplanted, Sarah Estok

Masters Theses

This manuscript is a work of fiction in the mystery/thriller genre. Detective Joy Livingston is led to learn why God allows evil to exist in the world. Everything happens for a reason and this work seeks to represent loss, organ donation, and evil in a way that exhibits this.


The Persistence Of Truth And Figs, Adrienne M. Krater May 2024

The Persistence Of Truth And Figs, Adrienne M. Krater

Masters Theses

The following thesis will go through an artistic statement, an exploration of the novella form through different stories, and it will lead you to a novella that explores truth through a fictional story based loosely on a forgotten aspect of history. If you want to explore how truth impacts the world through both an analytical and a creative fictional lens, then please read on. Jack Audubon is a man seeking a new species, but he ends up having to fight for the truth. My aim is that the research half of this paper properly prepared me to write a novella …


Mi Ofrenda, Bonita Vasquez May 2024

Mi Ofrenda, Bonita Vasquez

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the role of the Dia de los Muertos holiday in wasteful spending, food waste, and environmental waste in the United States due to its food-centered traditions and commercialized competitions. As the holiday has become more mainstream, the once-homebound practices have expanded into large, drawn-out festivals nationwide. Articles on the holiday’s traditions, as well as studies on waste, have been reviewed. The analysis showed that the traditions have evolved and that food waste directly affects financial and environmental waste. This paper concludes that the holiday’s practices can be adjusted to help reduce food, financial, and environmental waste.


God's Endangered Animals: Awakening Conservation For Future Generations, Stefan R. Sanford May 2024

God's Endangered Animals: Awakening Conservation For Future Generations, Stefan R. Sanford

Masters Theses

Poaching and illegal hunting have brought several endangered species to the brink of extinction. The elephant population in Africa has been depleted from millions to less than 500,000 known to live in the wild. Ocean species are seeing grave losses with whales having been hunted for so many years, and their numbers not returning to the levels they once were. The purpose of this thesis is to create a body of work through research and creativity which will demonstrate how the protection of these animals is essential to the earth that God created. All the animals God created were of …


The Importance Of Being Your Authentic Self, Aleathea G. Higginbottom May 2024

The Importance Of Being Your Authentic Self, Aleathea G. Higginbottom

Masters Theses

The vision for this paper is to encourage others through the references, expert advice, and a memoir full of experiences. Also, to dive into the realm of self-discovery and be the best version of the authentic self-possible and allow those beautiful pixels of gifted expression to shine through that have been pushed back or forgotten. There is a freedom that authenticity brings which cannot be described. Breaking free from a life of the expectations of others and living true to oneself brings forth a happier person, spirit, soul, and body.


Poetry As A Means Of Adding Depth To Character In Memoir, Kasey Brianne Carr May 2024

Poetry As A Means Of Adding Depth To Character In Memoir, Kasey Brianne Carr

Masters Theses

The sections of this thesis proposal were written in a natural progression as the author pursued a yet-to-be-known truth she believed could be found within herself. The artist’s statement details the domino effect of questions that led her to ultimately pursuing the concept of writing a memoir. It roots the reader in the mind of the author as she establishes exactly what it is she is wanting to do with her manuscript: to finally find her place in the world. In her critical theory paper, the author investigates the best way to tell her story by studying the impact of …


Design History Revised: Inspiring A New Generation Of Designers By Celebrating Women In Graphic Design History Through A Collection Of Zines, Sierra Skye Schneider May 2024

Design History Revised: Inspiring A New Generation Of Designers By Celebrating Women In Graphic Design History Through A Collection Of Zines, Sierra Skye Schneider

Masters Theses

College-aged students are unaware of the rich history of women in graphic design due to their work being omitted from the accepted graphic design history textbooks, leading to a perception that women did not have significant contributions. This project has a multifaceted goal of investigating the inception of graphic design history, the representation of women, and what methods would help Generation Z become invested in this topic. a solution of crafting an engaging collection of visually captivating zines with stories of the remarkable women who helped shape the history of graphic design.


A Generation Of Sexually Explicit Addiction: How Sexually Explicit Material In The Art, Design, And Entertainment Industries Are Damaging Adolescent's Quality Of Life, Hannah Moore May 2024

A Generation Of Sexually Explicit Addiction: How Sexually Explicit Material In The Art, Design, And Entertainment Industries Are Damaging Adolescent's Quality Of Life, Hannah Moore

Masters Theses

Adolescents around the globe are increasingly being encouraged to view sexually explicit materials. Access to such materials is damaging to their well-being. Research shows in a variety of studies and countries that sexually explicit material is being viewed by adolescents at an increasingly alarming rate and causing adolescents to perform sexual acts at younger ages. This is not only dangerous to adolescents physically but also diminishes their quality of life as a whole. The research performed to come to this conclusion consists of case analysis, visual analysis, and reading through studies previously done on the topic.


What’S This Feeling? Understanding Elementary Music Performance Anxiety, Nathaniel Scott Estes May 2024

What’S This Feeling? Understanding Elementary Music Performance Anxiety, Nathaniel Scott Estes

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was a qualitative analysis of how elementary general music teachers adapt their instruction to meet the needs of elementary students with anxiety disorder in Virginia public schools. The phenomenological research design described the meaning of the shared experiences by students with performance anxiety. The participants for this research consist of elementary music teachers in central Virginia. Through a survey, phenomenological information was collected about how elementary music teachers teach students with anxiety disorder. Data was collected through a survey of elementary school music teachers in central Virginia. This qualitative study employed thematic coding to look …


The Psychology Of Realistic Characters: Utilizing Psychological Theory In The Character Creation Process, Sophie Mcfarlane Holmes May 2024

The Psychology Of Realistic Characters: Utilizing Psychological Theory In The Character Creation Process, Sophie Mcfarlane Holmes

Masters Theses

When creating characters for a story, authors should seek to make them as realistic and relatable as possible to their respective audiences. In order to achieve that, authors need to understand humanity and why humans behave the way they do. Psychology offers insight into the human mind, and covers all aspects of personality, socialization, and development within humanity. These same three areas can be used when crafting characters for a story. By utilizing personality tests, social backgrounds, and developmental life stages, authors gain an understanding of how and why people may act the way they do. This knowledge can in …


Thesis Proposal And Project: The Christmas Fiddle, Tamara N. Canty May 2024

Thesis Proposal And Project: The Christmas Fiddle, Tamara N. Canty

Masters Theses

The thesis discusses how Christian creatives can create art that glorifies God, while shining light into a dark world by highlighting the contributions of Christian creatives in the entertainment industry. The research heralds the testimonies of several notable Christian creatives and how they have successfully navigated their way through a largely secular industry.


A Tree Away From The Forest, Deborah Ann Ebert May 2024

A Tree Away From The Forest, Deborah Ann Ebert

Masters Theses

Naomi, a young teen, moves with her family to a small town in Pennsylvania. As Naomi and her family adjust to their environment, Naomi discovers the beauty and adventure that often come with new beginnings.


Ownership Behaviors In Children's Music Culture, Sarah Dworjan May 2024

Ownership Behaviors In Children's Music Culture, Sarah Dworjan

Masters Theses

Adults may demonstrate cultural ownership of music in various ways, but children are limited in their artistic expression by the restrictions of youth, parental authority, and financial subordination. This project evaluates the ownership behaviors demonstrated by 60 third and fourth grade female students in Albany, NY. Considering self-reported behaviors and the completion of creative activities in the general music classroom, the study also examines a secondary question: is there a difference in the way children interact with music of their own choosing as compared to the music of a teacher’s choosing? Results from this project indicate that students naturally respond …


Who Reads Young Adult Fiction Anyway? (Teenagers Or Adults), Terri Ann Perret May 2024

Who Reads Young Adult Fiction Anyway? (Teenagers Or Adults), Terri Ann Perret

Masters Theses

As the popularity of Young Adult Fiction grows, it's becoming clear that the traditional age divisions for readers are no longer so clear-cut. While this genre was initially intended for readers between thirteen and eighteen, recent market research has shown that adults of all ages are increasingly drawn to these books. It is now quite common for adults to enjoy books that were once considered exclusively "young adult." This raises some interesting questions: why are older adults drawn to this genre? Is there data to support the idea that readers of all ages can enjoy Young Adult Fiction? And what …


Mazed: Inconsistency In International Web Design And How To Navigate It, Claudia A. George May 2024

Mazed: Inconsistency In International Web Design And How To Navigate It, Claudia A. George

Masters Theses

Over the past few years, web design has undergone significant advancements, resulting in user-friendly and visually appealing websites. However, this rapid growth has forced companies and countries to adapt quickly, leading to diverse design elements that may cause inconsistency and confusion. In particular, Foreign web users struggle to navigate Japanese websites due to dated web design and lack of coherency, leading to a loss of tourism, business, and expatriation. I experienced this firsthand when living abroad in Japan for two years. Many websites were difficult to navigate because of the differences in design and navigation, often leading me to give …


You Are Here: Experiencing Place Through Poetry, Janet Reeves May 2024

You Are Here: Experiencing Place Through Poetry, Janet Reeves

Masters Theses

This thesis contains a collection of poems about Whidbey Island, its plants, wildlife, landscape, character, historical and community events, legends, and landmarks. I have written these out of curiosity about my new location as I begin to claim this place as my home. Imagery will help readers understand the place. Yet some aspects of the place may also, sometimes, function as analogies to help readers understand something else. I have used my knowledge of Whidbey Island in a way that I hope will help readers grasp more than what people can see, hear, touch, smell, or taste in this place. …


Organic Chemistry In Virtual Reality: Bridging Gaps Between Two-Dimensional And Three-Dimensional Representations, Scott Vayakone May 2024

Organic Chemistry In Virtual Reality: Bridging Gaps Between Two-Dimensional And Three-Dimensional Representations, Scott Vayakone

Masters Theses

The traditional two-dimensional representations in organic chemistry education highlighted the lack of depth and interactivity, impeding student learning, engagement, and comprehension. By emphasizing on the limitations of conventional educational materials, the research advocated for integrating Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies, which enhance organic chemistry visualization. The main objective was to bridge the gap between two and three-dimensional perspectives, offering a more dynamic and interactive learning experience. The thesis aimed to assess traditional teaching methods in organic chemistry—lectures, textbooks, and laboratory exercises. It also aimed to identify their challenges in conveying complex molecular structures and reactions effectively. Additionally, …


The Narrative Matters: Depictions Of Mental Health And Suicide In Fiction, Ashlee Cierra Garcia May 2024

The Narrative Matters: Depictions Of Mental Health And Suicide In Fiction, Ashlee Cierra Garcia

Masters Theses

The following thesis submission includes an Artist's Statement that shares the origin and plan for the creative manuscript. A critical paper follows that which discusses the importance of the fiction narrative when discussing sensitive topics such as mental health and suicide. With a focus on the Werther and Papageno Effects, different fiction texts are discussed and analyzed to show the negative effects that can come from a hopeless narrative as well as the positive effects that can come from a hopeful narrative. The creative manuscript that follows is the story of a young man, Jayden Walker, who has his own …


An Examination Of The Geographical And Archaeological Evidence Which Supports The Historical Reliability Of The Gospel Of John, Alan R. Peterson May 2024

An Examination Of The Geographical And Archaeological Evidence Which Supports The Historical Reliability Of The Gospel Of John, Alan R. Peterson

Masters Theses

The question of the historical reliability of the New Testament is one of the central issues in Christian apologetics. This is an area that keeps agnostics and atheists from believing in the Bible and hence God. Few are willing to undertake an in-depth study to ferret out the truth; a simple Google internet search to confirm their secular presuppositions. For example, the top search result using Google for “historical reliability of gospel of John” brings up the following reply “The Gospel of John is a relatively late theological document containing little accurate historical information that is not found in the …


Lessons From Jesus’S Table Talk A Survey Of Selected Texts In Luke’S Gospel, Claudine D. Rogers-Wright May 2024

Lessons From Jesus’S Table Talk A Survey Of Selected Texts In Luke’S Gospel, Claudine D. Rogers-Wright

Masters Theses

Luke uses food related motifs to set the scene for controversial, direct, and confrontational conversations about the Kingdom of God through the use of the table talk that Jesus engaged in several texts in his Gospel. The topic, dialogue, and message around the table varied depending on the dining partners. This thesis aims to perform a responsible examination of food and banqueting related passages in Luke, to understand the context and circumstances, the people involved, and the lessons Jesus taught around the table.


Lost And Captured Warriors Still Missing: Raising Awareness And Support Through Design, Caitlin Martin Frost May 2024

Lost And Captured Warriors Still Missing: Raising Awareness And Support Through Design, Caitlin Martin Frost

Masters Theses

Over the years the search for prisoners of war and missing in action has faded from the spotlight in media and social focus, yet there is still a need to help families find their loved ones that are unaccounted for. This research is aimed to investigate the knowledge of prisoners of war (POW) and those missing in action (MIA) and what current organizations are doing to support the search for the missing. Specifically, it investigates methods that would aid in the spread of bringing awareness to this topic to the public. The following research questions were asked: 1. Who are …


Operation Shark: Addressing The Negative Portrayal Of Sharks In Media, Michael R. O'Shea May 2024

Operation Shark: Addressing The Negative Portrayal Of Sharks In Media, Michael R. O'Shea

Masters Theses

Sharks are some of the most well adapted and effective animals in the animal kingdom. Unfortunately, they are also some of the most feared. For many people the word shark evokes images of vicious attacks like those seen in movies such as Jaws. Sharks have also been negatively portrayed in the media. This negative portrayal of sharks has led to misconceptions about sharks that have damaged their populations. Efforts have been made to raise awareness and fight common misconceptions of sharks. However, many people still hold on to the incorrect ideas they have about sharks. This thesis will examine the …


The Communal Table: A Wholistic Perspective On Food And Social Development, Sarah Cook May 2024

The Communal Table: A Wholistic Perspective On Food And Social Development, Sarah Cook

Masters Theses

In order to address issues of isolation in the wake of a global pandemic, this thesis examines the nature of the connection between food and community through commensality. “Commensality” is defined as the practice of eating together, which has demonstrable health benefits on personal, interpersonal, and psychological levels. Research reveals that, while commensality has been a foundational tenet of society since civilization’s beginnings, instances of commensality appear to be at an all time low for modern Americans. The results are diminished mental health, undeveloped support networks, and missed opportunities for emotional connection. All of these may be thought of as …


Shining Lights In A Crooked Generation: The Experiences And Impact Of Soviet Evangelical Youth, Abigail Coker May 2024

Shining Lights In A Crooked Generation: The Experiences And Impact Of Soviet Evangelical Youth, Abigail Coker

Masters Theses

Despite facing severe pressure from their secular surroundings, Soviet evangelical youth displayed resilience and creativity throughout the Soviet era, becoming key figures in the preservation and growth of the Russian Baptist church. Up until now, western scholars have largely ignored this story or treated it peripherally. This research seeks to address this gap by examining the experiences and impact of Soviet evangelical youth. Throughout the Soviet period, the content of the evangelical youth experience remained essentially unchanged, focusing on fellowship, service, and Bible teaching through preaching, singing, and poetry readings. The period from 1908 – 1929 became a foundational one …


The Illusion Of Perfect Mothering: How Society's Expectations Affect Women, Victoria Ann Del Valle May 2024

The Illusion Of Perfect Mothering: How Society's Expectations Affect Women, Victoria Ann Del Valle

Masters Theses

This research seeks to investigate the societal stigmas and misconceptions of ideal motherhood, aka “intensive mothering,” the repercussions associated, and the support systems both in place or missing. In addition, it seeks to contribute to fostering a healthier societal perception of motherhood. Methods include a literature review of existing research, case studies and analyses of other artists’ contemporary work in the field, and a visual solution in the form of an art exhibition. This research found that intensive mothering is a pervasive idea, ingrained in current society and detrimental to mothers’ mental health and well-being. Through the research and visual …


Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum, If You Want Peace Prepare For War: The U.S. Army And The War Of 1812, Schuyler C. Ogden May 2024

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum, If You Want Peace Prepare For War: The U.S. Army And The War Of 1812, Schuyler C. Ogden

Masters Theses

When thinking of the War of 1812, many people may think about Fort McHenry and the Star-Spangled Banner. They may also think about the only time when the American capitol was burned. Or they think about Andrew Jackson and his triumphant victory at New Orleans. Other than these, most Americans do not think about the War of 1812. In fact, the war is all but forgotten in most American minds. Despite this, this early American conflict is still worth looking at. Not because it was a success, but because it brought up much needed changes to American policies. Some of …


An Exegetical Evaluation: Believers’ Differential, Works-Based Heavenly Rewards In The New Testament, Emma Griffith May 2024

An Exegetical Evaluation: Believers’ Differential, Works-Based Heavenly Rewards In The New Testament, Emma Griffith

Masters Theses

While no Bible-believing Christian would deny that salvation comes only through the work of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, several New Testament passages appear to teach that there will be additional, works-based heavenly rewards. This interpretation has become somewhat of a default position within modern Christianity, especially American Christianity. Moreover, it has had very few scholarly challengers, and none have done so from a contextually-based exegesis of the relevant NT texts. Therefore, this thesis exegetes the major NT texts to argue that these specific passages do not teach varying, proportional heavenly rewards for believers in the eschaton, but rather that …


Isaiah 53: Grammatical, Structural And Exegetical Observations, Felipe Braz Federson May 2024

Isaiah 53: Grammatical, Structural And Exegetical Observations, Felipe Braz Federson

Masters Theses

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is a famous passage from the Tanakh that contains important grammatical constructions in Hebrew which, if translated incorrectly, can lead to erroneous exegetical and theological conclusions. Among these problems, the Servant’s relationship with the other characters in the passage is addressed. Through an analysis of the literary context and the structure of the text, not only are several exegetical possibilities substantiated, but two prototype translations are also provided, one based on the Leningrad Codex and another based on the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa).


Lost Communication: A Generative Criticism Of How Parental Communication Towards Children Affects How Children Communicate With Peers, Gabriel J. Gaus May 2024

Lost Communication: A Generative Criticism Of How Parental Communication Towards Children Affects How Children Communicate With Peers, Gabriel J. Gaus

Masters Theses

This study aimed to determine the effect parental communication towards three characters on the TV show Lost had on how these characters interacted with their peers. The researcher details the history of Lost and other scholarly information that led to this analysis. To determine the effect of parental communication on peer communication, the researcher coded all six seasons of Lost using a generative criticism method. This study showed that the characters Jack, Kate, and John used communication mechanisms displayed by their parents to judge their value and place in peer communications and interactions.