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Odor And Power In The Americas: Olfactory Consciousness From Columbus To Emancipation, Andrew Kettler

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation analyzes discourses concerning odor within the Atlantic World from approximately 1492 until 1838. Numerous historians and philosophers have described how the Reformation’s emphasis on texts and an increased concentration on visual science during the Enlightenment influenced Western Europeans to heighten the importance of the eye to the detriment of the lower sense of smell. This dissertation begins by thinking about materialist contours of this olfactory decline through a linguistic analysis of sulfur within seventeenth century England. It then proceeds to examine how in the early Americas such a repudiation of the sense of smell did not occur. The …

Obsidian In Sand: A Reflection On Tokenism And The Fight For Visibility In Predominately White Spaces, And A Declaration That Black Lives Matter, Dimitri Jai Woods

Theses and Dissertations

As with most art in academia, the term “Abstract”, as a sort of summation of the proceeding discussion, does not quite fit. What you may experience in the following pages is more akin to my attempt at staying true to the artistic nature of my thesis project, while “reflecting” on it in a pseudo-academic tone. I put the word reflecting in quotation marks, as I do not truly feel as if this project is, or ever will be complete. It is (rather, intends to be) an ever-growing, ever-evolving experiment in expression. Luckily for you, this is being written after some …

Faustus Revisited: A Cultural, Historical, And Artistic Study, Ryan Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines plays by Christopher Marlowe, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and David Mamet about Faustian figures. All three authors use the idea of a “deal with the devil” as an inspiration to examine human nature and hubris, but did so in distinct ways shaped by their personal styles, historical eras, and personal philosophies. By examining the common ground, and the areas of deviation, in these three plays separated by hundreds of years, this study will isolate and identify the key aspects of a Faustian Pact. Whereas Marlowe views Faustus as a rebel, whose fall from salvation comes due to …

Where The Light Shines Through, Rachel A. Sheets

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is an analysis of my journey as a lighting designer studying at The University of South Carolina’s graduate program. This paper examines to the successes and failures of my realized practicum productions while attending the university and my concluding professional internship at The Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

Costume Design: Communication Through Dress, Rachel Amanda Harmon

Theses and Dissertations

Costume Design: Communication Through Dress represents my experience as a candidate in the University of South Carolina’s Master of Fine Arts program in Theatre Design, with an emphasis in Costume Design and Technology. During my time in this program, I worked closely with Professors Lisa Martin-Stuart and Nic Ularu to practice text and character analysis, rendering techniques, communication and the execution of designs from concepts on paper into three fully realized productions.

This thesis explores the design process behind three shows produced by the University of South Carolina’s Department of Theatre and Dance: Translations by Brian Friel, Blithe Spirit by …

The Conclusion, Neda Spalajkovic

Theses and Dissertations

The Conclusion is a final exploration of discoveries I have made in the process of designing three different stories in three different forms. This thesis examines all creative and analytical processes I have gone through as a designer in theatre. It also highlights the collaborative process, its importance, and at the end, speaks about the final product, its sustainability and influence. The design works included in this thesis are: costume design for The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht directed by Steven Pearson in Fall 2015, scenic design for The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, directed by Robert Richmond in Spring 2016, …

The Reflection, Tamara Joksimovic

Theses and Dissertations

The Reflection– focuses on analysis of two realized Production of University of South Carolina Theatre, and my learning experience during my Professional Internship in The Theatre Company- La Fura Dels Baus, Barcelona, Spain. The Productions that will be the subject are Scapin, written by Bill Irwin and Mark O'Donnell, and directed by Louis Butelli, school year- 2015/2016; and Grounded, written by George Brant, and directed by Robert Richmond, school year- 2016/2017. The analysis will explore the importance of collaboration within the Production process and an understanding of the text and its transposition to theatrical space. It will deal with important …

The Thought. The Force. The Love. The Joy. The Hope: An Ode To The Seldom Heard, Candace Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the methods used in creating my original solo performance piece entitled The Thought. The Force. The Love. The Joy. The Hope: An Ode To The Seldom Heard. I will describe in detail what specifically inspired the spine of my work, the research performed, the writing process, and how I hope it will grow in the future. Included in the body of the thesis is the script as it was performed on December 2nd thru December 4th, 2015 at the Center for Performance Experiment on the University of South Carolina campus in Columbia, South Carolina.

Arvo Part, Sieben Magnificat-Antiphonen: A Transcription For Wind Ensemble, Julian Hartridge Sconyers Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Amongst late twentieth and early twenty-first century music, Arvo Pärt’s compositional style is a unique musical voice and has led to the composer becoming the most performed living classical composer for multiple years. His unmistakable tintinnabuli style is often labeled as part of the post-modernist movement, the minimalist genre, sacred minimalism, or even as neo-medieval. Despite any label, his music is as distinctive as it is revolutionary, and many of his works are considered cornerstone works of the late-twentieth and early-twenty-first centuries. However, despite the popularity of his works, most of his music is written for choir, orchestra, small chamber …

The Hanging Of A Very Tall Man, Matthew Cavender

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to illuminate and give context to the development, performance, and future evolution of The Hanging of a Very Tall Man. More specifically, within this document you will find the plays script, an apology for its somewhat bizarre conception, as well as a description of how it has grown, and how I hope for it to develop in the future. As opposed to some scholarly articles which are written with the intent to dissociate themselves from the reader in an attempt to adhere to some kind of imagined etiquette, this document has been written rather …

Persons: A One Woman Play, Rachel Kuhnle

Theses and Dissertations

The contents of this paper include the complete script of Persons: A One Woman Show and a description of the research, editing, rehearsal process and performance experience with analysis. I will expound on the ways in which the writing and producing of a solo show utilized the skills obtained by my Master of Fine Arts program.

We Sit As Kings, Josh Jeffers

Theses and Dissertations

We Sit As Kings is a solo performance piece that explores the exclusion of certain peoples in 1515 London, 2015 Europe, and the potential rise of power of those who choose to exploit the inbred fear of these people. The piece uses texts from Thomas More, partially written by William Shakespeare and transcripts from BBC news. The play was inspired by an accidental discovery of Sir Ian McKellen performing the final monologue.

April 26th., Carin Bendas

Theses and Dissertations

April 26th. is a solo theatre piece that takes the audience on a journey through a few moments in the lives of seven Jewish individuals across space and time. It is inspired by the struggles and survival of the Jewish people throughout history, with special inspiration from the playwright’s Bubie and Zadie, Ruth and Morry Hecht.

The Impact Of Repeated Reading On The Comprehension Level Of Eight Eighth Grade Students At The Middle School Level, Elizabeth C. Dotson-Shupe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of repeated reading on the comprehension level of eight 8th grade students. Incorporating an action research design, data was collected through utilizing a pretest and posttest, timed repeated readings, a reading semi-open ended questionnaire, a Likert-scale questionnaire, observation and the taking of field notes, and weekly assessments. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected for a total of eight weeks for a period of 20 minutes two times per week, each Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Participants were a combination of eighth-grade regular education and special education students, with the majority …

Laban For The Actor: The Mind/Body Connection, Margaret C. Buckner

Theses and Dissertations

When it comes to actor training in higher education, an extremely strong emphasis is placed on understanding the voice and interpreting the text. While some institutions do incorporate movement courses into the curriculum of the students, many do not serve the learning actor in the most effective way. The work of Rudolf Laban is a way to strengthen the curriculum taught to actors, specifically in regards connecting actors to their bodies. This thesis discusses and analyses the use of Laban’s movement theory in the movement classroom, and focuses on the most effective way of presenting the material to the student. …

Gomds - Grumpy Old Men Doing Shakespeare; The Comedy Of Errors As Metaphor For Life, Aging, And Building Community, Elizabeth B. Pedersen

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the process of building community over time, through collaboration, to rehearse and produce a portable production of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, looking at the elements of time, trust and age with an ensemble of ten men, all actors over the age of 55. The building of trust over time was vital to the production process and the actors had the time to embody their roles and the language of the play. We look at the questions “why this play,” “why all men?” and “why theatre?” and investigate the physical nature of the play and its …

Process Metamorphosis, My Choreographic Journey, Brianna J. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

Process Metamorphosis, My Choreographic Journey describes the journey from my initial interest in choreography to where I find myself as a choreographic artist today. Throughout the paper I look at different productions I have worked on, both professionally and within an educational setting, and different people I have collaborated with. Included will be thoughts from peers and mentors as well as my own observations from rehearsals and meetings. I will also be pulling information from my notes and journals while working on shows over the last twelve years.

Theatrical Texts And Contexts: Poe And Hawthorne’S Fictional Women, Savannah M. Singletary

Theses and Dissertations

Edgar Allen Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne are arguably two of the most highly read and heavily debated nineteenth-century antebellum authors in America. Their writings fascinate readers, while their character depictions, particularly their characterizations of fictional women, prompt intense academic debate. This thesis examines the previously less-studied historical developments surrounding Poe and Hawthorne in the antebellum era that shaped their approach to writing fiction. In particular, this study scrutinizes the effects of the development of a newly popular art form, ballet, the ascendency of female authorship, and the impact of American theatrical reform upon antebellum authors’ authorial faculties, especially Hawthorne and …

Open / Close: Assimilating Immersive Spaces In Visual Communication, Anika Sarin

Theses and Dissertations

I am interested in two spaces obverse to each other: open and closed. An open space develops organically based on how people inhabit it. Interacting with an open space is a dynamic, sporadic, multisensory, immersive, and subjective experience. In such spaces, we are confronted with an alternative aesthetic, one that is in conflict with the seamlessness of a closed space. A closed space is anchored on definite variables like structure, use and boundaries. While interaction between people and space is important, the space is tightly controlled and interaction is designed. Through this thesis project, I present a method that metaphorically …

Archival Resistance: A Comparative Reading Of Ulysses And One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Maria-Josee Mendez

Theses and Dissertations

Much of the comparative scholarship on the works of Gabriel García Márquez assumes the position that he was most significantly influenced by the works of William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway. However, beyond the citation of techniques shared extensively by other Modernists and dependence upon superficial comparisons between texts, the connections between García Márquez and these writers frequently remain tenuous. I suggest that to privilege Faulknerian or Hemingwayan readings of García Márquez is to overlook his position as a postcolonial Latin American novelist; I therefore consider in relationship with García Márquez the Irish writer James Joyce. Both writers participate in what …

Theme Park Demand, Theme Park Attractiveness, And Visitors’ Theme Park Choices, Yingsha Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the relationship among theme park demand, theme park attractiveness, and visitors’ theme park choices. It consists of three studies reported through five chapters. Key data were obtained from the website of an online travel agency, TripAdvisor, using web scraping techniques. The first study developed a new approach to measure tourist source markets’ theme park demand and theme park attractiveness by solving a reverse gravity model via particle swarm optimization. Findings from this study should help theme parks to evaluate more accurately the demand market and their own competitiveness compared to other theme parks. The second study explored …

An Exploration Of Characterizations In Jac Redford’S Oratorio The Martyrdom Of Saint Polycarp, Melanie Cross Buckner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this document is to highlight the fundamental musical features J.A.C. Redford employs to create characterizations within his oratorio The Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp. Analysis of melody, harmony, texture and rhythm demonstrates Redford’s methods of underscoring the principles of good and evil while demonstrating a Christian worldview.

An examination of each character reveals unique music that highlights specific aspects of their individual personalities. Redford employs a variety of techniques to accomplish the diverse personae. These techniques also illuminate elements of his compositional style. Special features include melodies with natural speech rhythms and inflections, extended tertian harmonies, and rhythmic …

Narrating Pain And Freedom: Place And Identity In Modern Syrian Poetry (1970s-1990s), Manar Shabouk

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines poetry of Daʿd Ḥadād, Sanieh Ṣālḥ, and Ryāḍ Ṣālḥ al- Ḥsīn and the dominant role of place in their poetry. My dissertation is specifically interested in nonconformist modern Syrian poetry, especially women’s poetry and poetry focused on place and space. I approach my analysis from an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective and hence will draw on theoretical frameworks from Arabic studies, poetry discourse, and theory of place. Drawing on these different critical frameworks, my research analyzes representations of modern Syrian poetry with a focus on the writing of women and the poetry of nonconformity in its expression of …

Finding Voice, The Body Speaks: Original Work And Counter-Hegemonic Performance And Practice, Matthew Paul Thornton

Theses and Dissertations

Graduate study in theatre has allowed me to understand my work as an artist and educator from a critical academic perspective. I have researched Butoh as a model for original work that employs multiculturalism against hegemonic control of personal identity. From my own training experience, I am recognizing Capoeira, Contact Improvisation, and Devising processes (co-creation or collaborative creative process in dance) as counter-hegemonic forms and techniques that share a physical/philosophical emphasis on communal engagement, improvisation, circularity and repetition. Looking at them together provides points of intersection for me to examine them as an artist, while posing questions for cross-cultural investigations. …

Cabaret Story-Telling: Building Your Act, Timothy A. Fitz-Gerald

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis adduces the benefits in teaching undergraduate theatre majors the competency to create a cabaret. It expostulates that doing so during college gives students an advantage in marketing themselves professionally. It substantiates the general lack of cohesive undergraduate training in this area. The results of a survey of casting directors, assessing the worth of implementing the study of cabaret into theatre curricula, are incorporated.

Those that responded agreed that performing cabarets can play a role in a performer’s career, even if the opinions varied as to what that specific role is. There was general agreement that the study of …

Yi, Observational Documentary Aesthetics, And The Identity Politics Of Transcultural Migrancy, Jiacheng Xu 4159187

Theses and Dissertations

There is a moment in Edward Yang’s acclaimed film Yi Yi (2000) in which a young boy in a conversation with his father observes that he cannot see what his father sees and that his father cannot see what he sees, prompting two questions: “How can I know what you see?” and “Can we only know half of the truth?” Unable to provide adequate answers, his father instead offers his son a camera. Later in the film, the same boy presents his uncle with a picture he took of the back of his head. When asked why, the boy responds …

The Fractured Memory Of A Mind’S Eye, Russell G. White

Theses and Dissertations

The work I create is informed by questioning reality/identity, the fractalizing planes

of existence our essence occupies, and the artifacts of memory experience navigating

through space time. While existing in this realm of oversaturated media and neon

glow, I question the effects of pervasive data systems overloading or programming the

mental software we possess. My work includes humor as a means of exploring these

conventions while also displaying psychedelic surrealist imagery to help break away

from the conscious prison this existence births our concept apparatuses within.

A Dull Soldier And A Keen Guest: Stumbling Through The Falstaffiad One Drink At A Time, Emma Givens

Theses and Dissertations

Theatre history has long interwoven with the production, consumption, and peddling of alcohol. While the seedier aspects of our past generally go unremembered, we can find traces of them in the culture of the times. If we read Shakespeare through the lens of drinking culture, what can we discover about the play and what can that tell us about how to produce his works today? By looking at the rules and customs surrounding alehouses during the English Renaissance I have analyzed the three plays contained within the Falstaffiad (1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, and Merry Wives …

Should We Straighten Up? Exploring The Responsibilities Of Actor Training For Lgbtq Students, Matthew B. Ferrell

Theses and Dissertations

Gay actors have a long history with the notion of “straightening up” to remain castable and economically feasible in today’s market. Searching to find answers for young acting students while strengthening their own self worth, I will explore the history of gay actors in film, television and theatre and in society to understand this notion more fully. By interviewing working actors and managers in the business I will explore how I can address this question of “straightening up” to the future generation of actors and analyze how we can face the future with integrity and self-respect.

Women Self Actualization: A Narrative Of A Performative Gender Constitution, Hala A. Gabr

Theses and Dissertations

In a traditional Middle Eastern society, men and women have been confined within society’s gender definitions. Those imposed social constructs condition men differently from women by dictating expected behaviors, establishing a hierarchy of gender positioning and enforcing definitions that limit abilities and potential.

Based on postmodernist philosopher, feminist and social theorist, Simone de Beauvoir and postmodernist American philosopher and gender theorist Judith Butler, gender is not an inborn role, but rather created through stylized repetition of acts informed by society, named performative acts. For de Beauvoir and Butler, gender can never be a stable identity (Butler 1988).

Informed by Butler’s …