Digital Commons Network^™

The Prideful Ass: Using Augustine's Neoplatonic Theory Of Sin To Investigate Curiosity In Apuleius' Golden Ass, Danielle E. Booth

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ancient discourse about the beneficial yet predominantly dangerous role of curiosity inattaining knowledge was prevalent in the Roman Empire around the 2nd century C.E. when the North African author, Apuleius, composed his Latin novel, the Golden Ass. Although there is no shortage of modern scholarship that focuses on how Apuleius dramatizes obsessive intrigue by means of his protagonist, Lucius, contemporary publications seldom reorient the discussion to consider how unclear he is about the unstated source of curiosity, as I do in the following thesis. Approaching this topic through the context of ancient Neoplatonism, I argue Augustine of Hippo – a …

Awful, Yet Awe-Full: The Sublime Dystopia Of Blade Runner 2049, Charles E. Butt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Blockbuster dystopian sci-fi features stories of environmental collapse, authoritarian governments, out of control corporations, unbounded consumerism, and other awful possibilities. Scholars of science fiction broadly agree that this genre explores collective fears, anxieties, and speculations about the present and future. At the same time, film scholars have established that dystopian sci-fi cinema is compelling, and audiences respond to their effects-driven visuals, photorealistic mise-en-scene, and dramatic narratives. This creates an apparent paradox: Blockbuster cinematic aesthetics portray undesirable worlds desirably. I resolve this paradox by arguing that the worldbuilding of spectacle-driven, dystopian sci-fi cinema is Romanticized. That is, the provocative style of …

Relating Sdgs To Esg: From A Global Context To A Framework In Academic Research, Maria Caridad H. Tarroja

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

No abstract provided.

The Bg News March 26, 2025, Bowling Green State University

BG News (Student Newspaper)

The BGSU campus student newspaper. March 26, 2025. Volume 104-Issue 22.

Mental Perceptions In The Novel Rushna By The Novelist Reem Abdul Karim Mohammed An Analytical Cultural Study, Fadhil Hamad Megwar

Uruk Journal of Human Sciences

The concept of mental image is one of the most concepts that has not been employed in a manner that is consistent with the problem it carries in the cognitive, psychological, cultural and semantic fields through which the creator can build and produce his creative text. The American writer and politician Walter Lippmann says: "Man gradually creates for himself or within his mind images that can be relied upon about the world that we cannot reach." This means that the images that the mind draws, whatever they may be, are not random, but rather through intentionality and a previously studied …

Reception Theory In Early Christianity, Michael Peeler '24

Furman Humanities Review

No abstract provided.

Volume 28 Issue 2

NEBO: A Literary Journal

This issue of Nebo: A Literary Journal, published in Fall 2014, is a diverse collection of poetry, short fiction, book reviews, and literary interviews, reflecting on the power of language, memory, and personal identity. The issue, archived as Volume 28, Issue 2, corresponds to the print edition labeled Volume 33, Issue 1. Due to necessary metadata adjustments in the digital archiving process, some volume and issue numbers in the online collection may not match those printed in the original journals.

In her editorial preface, Brittany Pickens, the editor of this issue, reflects on …

The Post-Millennial French Colonial Empire, Chase Plante

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

The French Colonial Empire of the Age of Imperialism was born in the apocalyptic fires of a millennial movement: the French Revolution of 1789. Millennial movements aspire to rapidly, often violently, achieve utopia by transforming their contexts. Revolutionary France went to war to liberate the world from tyranny and so began both French nationalism and the resurged French colonial empire. The crusade failed, but nationalism and imperial expansion remained. The French genuinely believed that, in their imperial and colonial expansion and domination, they were bringing the world closer to utopia. Assimilation, linguistic and cultural, was a key part of this. …

Beyond The Institution Of Motherhood: Shifting The Paradigm, Gabrielle Wilson

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

This paper explores declining birth rates as a global act of resistance and reclamation by women and birthing individuals against hyper-masculinized institutions, using South Korea's 4B movement as a case study. The 4B movement, which rejects marriage, childbirth, romance, and heterosexual relationships, represents a paradigm shift challenging entrenched gender norms, state control, and systemic inequities. It exemplifies a global phenomenon as similar movements gain traction in the U.S., Japan, and beyond, amidst rising conservatism and declining fertility rates. Framing this analysis with intersectionality, Feminist IR theory, and Kuhn’s paradigm shift model, the paper argues that this resistance signifies a transformative …

A Canvas Decolonized: An Exploration Of Haiti’S Colonial History Through Haitian Artists Philemon Obin, Jean Appolon, Sheilby Mecena, Flex Morisseau–Leroy, And Claes Gabriel, Dominique Dempsey

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

A Canvas Decolonized examines the complex realities faced by Haiti through the lens of its vibrant artistic heritage, highlighting the role of art in interpreting, preserving, and challenging narratives about the nation's history and identity. By exploring the works of Haitian muralists, photographers, painters, and poets including Jean Appolon, Flex Morisseau Leroy, Claes Gabriel, and Edwidge Danticat this study illuminates how these artists engage with themes of colonization, immigration, generational trauma, and cultural displacement. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Frantz Fanon and Benedict Anderson, the paper argues that Haitian art provides a powerful medium to analyze and contextualize the …

Research In Indigenous Historiographies: Oral History As Evidence For Federal Recognition Of Indian Tribes, Colette Haworth

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

Significant to the field of cultural studies is the identification of cultural artifacts, which enable scholars to analyze the complexities of societies, comprehend cultural dynamics, and investigate the ways in which individuals and communities construct meaning and identity in cultural contexts. Oral history, an intangible cultural artifact, has been an important cultural identifier, particularly for marginalized individuals and communities. The development of critical oral history (COH) methodology has alleviated some of the criticism toward oral history as a valid methodology. In fact, some scholars contend that COH has moved beyond the realm of academic research to “provide a policy relevant …

The Impact Of Religious Music On Psychological Well-Being: A Survey Study Of Chinese Christians In Hong Kong Churches, Ka Man Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This cross-sectional survey investigates the relationship between listening to religious music and psychological well-being among Chinese Christians in Hong Kong, addressing a critical gap in Asian studies. Data were collected from 243 participants through a survey comprising demographic questions, music-listening habits (weekly frequency, average duration, and music era preference), and the 24-item Chinese Ryff Psychological Well-being Scale. Multiple linear regression and ANOVA analyses reveal that the average duration of listening to religious music positively associates with overall psychological well-being and its six dimensions, while frequency shows a negative relationship. Traditional religious music (composed in or before 1980) is associated with …

A Comparison Of Two Worship Education Programs And The Relative Effectiveness Of Preparing Worship Leaders For The 21st Century Evangelical Church, John Dawson Kinchen Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines and compares the worship leadership programs at Liberty University and Union University, focusing on their curriculum design, development, and effectiveness in preparing worship leaders for the 21st-century modern evangelical church. Utilizing a multiple-case study methodology, the research traces the historical development of these programs, evaluates their curricular frameworks, and analyzes their alignment with the standards set by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The study identifies shared core learning competencies, including music theory, conducting, ensemble participation, and theological understanding, while highlighting unique strengths in each program's approach.

Liberty University’s curriculum emphasizes contemporary worship practices, integrating …

You Belong With Me: Examining The Relationship Between Engagement In The “Swifty” Fan Community, Feelings Of Belonging, And Social Identity, Jessica Leigh Webb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Belongingness and social identity shape human behavior and group dynamics, yet their relationship with fan engagement remains understudied. This study examines engagement in the “Swifty” fan community—fans of Taylor Swift—and its relationship with belonging and social identity. A quantitative, correlational design addressed three research questions: (1) the relationship between fan engagement and belonging, (2) the relationship between fan identification and belonging, and (3) the relationship between fan identification and social identity. Data were collected via an online Qualtrics survey incorporating the General Belongingness Scale, Three-Factor Model of Social Identity Scale, Popular Media Fan Identity Scale, and demographic items. The survey …

“What Do You Want?!”: Black Messianic Masculinity In Netflix’S Last Chance U: Basketball, Linsay M. Cramer, Andrew R. Donofrio

Communication, Media, and Culture

Focusing on Netflix’s Last Chance U: Basketball (LCUB) 2021–2022 docuseries, we interrogate how LCUB’s filmmakers frame the East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Huskies men’s basketball team’s performances of Black masculinity. At the intersections of race, gender, and class, we explore how LCUB’s storytelling invites its viewers to take a “good news” missionary orientation toward Black players and coaches and how that orientation contributes to a rhetorical economy of whiteness. The missionary orientation includes plotlines, religious motifs, and character arcs that work to veil the past and present structural inequalities that traumatize Black men in American society; further, the missionary orientation …

Readings From The Kenyan Constitution: A Critical Discourse Analysis On Legacy And Freedom, Sarah Marjie

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

One of the most important documents about historical realities is the Constitution. It establishes the principles of fundamental human rights and institutional provisions for governing a country. Given the above, the study explores the aspects of the 2010 Kenyan Constitution, focusing on the themes of legacy and freedom. It aims to explore the relevant articles and chapters to show how the principles of legacy and freedom are articulated. It does this by paying attention to the language employed, the historical and cultural contexts adopted, and the power dynamics at play in the Constitution. The purpose of the study is to …

March 19, 2025, Faculty, Illinois Wesleyan University

2024-2025

No abstract provided.

Enthesis Size And Hand Preference: Asymmetry In Humans Contrasts With Symmetry In Nonhuman Primates, Lucyna A. Bowland, Lesley H. Eason, Lukas Kyle Delezene, Michael J. Plavcan

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

ObjectivesHumans display species-wide right-hand preference across tasks, but this pattern has not been observed at comparable levels in nonhuman primates, suggesting the behavior arose after the panin-hominin split. Muscle attachment sites (entheses) are used to infer soft tissue anatomy and reconstruct behaviors within skeletal populations, but whether entheseal size asymmetry can reflect hand preference remains unclear. If entheseal asymmetry is linked to hand preference, we expect to see greater asymmetry in human hands, where hand preference is more pronounced, compared to nonhuman primates. We tested for bilateral asymmetry in the size of the opponens pollicis muscle flange using a sample …

An Interdisciplinary Analysis Framework For Found Object Experimental Music, Erin Demastes

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Found object experimental music consists of compositions and performances created with objects not intended for musical performance. Found objects can range from appliances and household items to power tools and consumer products to souvenirs and heirlooms. Although these objects are used with the intent of creating musical compositions, new characteristics that are not found in traditional music emerge. One major characteristic that differentiates found object music from traditional music is that the objects have inherent cultural associations and meaning outside of their use in the composition. While an analysis of the sonic structures and scores of found object experimental music …

Mirrors For Pacific Islander Children: Teaching Resilience Through Culturally Adapted Bibliotherapy, Isabel Medina Hull, Elizabeth Cutrer, Paul H. Ricks, G. E. Kawika Allen, Kendra M. Hall-Kenyon, Lorena Seu, Kristopher J. Urbina, Melia Fonoimoana Garrett

Faculty Publications

Pacific Islander youth face disproportionately high rates of suicide and mental health challenges, yet culturally appropriate interventions remain scarce. This study investigated whether culturally adapted bibliotherapy could effectively promote resilience in American Samoan children by incorporating culturally relevant stories and coping strategies. Through collaboration with on-island Samoan cultural brokers, we developed and implemented culturally adapted stories and lessons designed to resonate with the experiences of children in American Samoa. The study employed a mixed-methods approach with 34 American Samoan children aged 5–13 years, using observations, adapted card sorts, and forced-choice procedures to measure responses to the intervention. The results demonstrated …

Protracting The Immediate: Time As Form In Contemporary Horror, Kennedy Kelley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the expression and experience of temporality in horror films of the last decade. Whereas early twenty-first century horror was characterized by high-octane jump scares, current horror is marked by contemplative slowness. I argue that the elongated duration of recent horror extends an experience of indeterminate anxiety that attunes us to an expansive relationality, offering a corrective not only to contemporary logics of immediacy, but also to the frequently constricting nature of embodiment as a theoretical concept. Recent horror scholarship tends to center sensuous propinquity in response to a long history of gaze theory’s disembodied passivity. While these …

The Manosphere’S Reception Of The Women Auteurs Behind The ‘Man-Eating’ Jennifer’S Body (2009) And ‘Man-Hating’ Barbie (2023), Hilda Sheridan-Hewlett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Scholarship on women filmmakers has not significantly emphasized the burden women auteurs carry when bracing themselves for the reception from misogynistic community discourse online, the manosphere. Director Greta Gerwig and screenwriter Diablo Cody are not simply perceived as filmmakers but as birth mothers of their work: Barbie (2023) and Jennifer’s Body (2009) which convey inherently popular feminist narratives. I argue Cody and Gerwig faced the wrath of the men online because they are inextricably linked to their productions, the feminization of their work in the eyes of the manosphere equals personalization. Despite Cody having the freedom to write any film …

‘Malaysia’ Resurveyed: From Representation And Separation To Alternative Tropical Futurities, Wai Liang Tham

Research Publications (2021 to 2025)

This essay, in the form of a literary survey,revisits the idea of “Malaysia” by examining how the interlinked practices of representation and separation have been fundamental to the reification of tropicalityin the region once known as the Malay Archipelago: contemporary maritime Southeast Asia. It suggests how the two contradictory facets of colonial-era tropicality as envisioned in British Malaya (i.e., a fecund wasteland and inescapable degradation) have become embedded in the logic of governance in postcolonial Malaysia and Singapore. The persistent effects of this discourse in the present are discussed in terms of the challenges facing mobilization over issues of climate …

Aesthetics Of Mobility: Comparing Singapore’S Changi International Airport And Manila’S Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Juan Miguel Leandro Quizon

Mabini Review

Airports as gateways play an important role in our globalized society where intercontinental travel is an everyday occurrence. Airport mobilities have traditionally been measured through managerial and economic concepts. Hence, few scholars considered looking at the physical layout of an airport and how it affects the cultural understanding of passengers through an experience of mobility and efficiency. This paper explores efficiency as: (1) a system, (2) a trope, and (3) a privileged value in two Southeast Asian airports – Singapore’s Changi International Airport and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport. By analyzing their systems and politics of mobility, I maintain that …

Araling Pangmanlalakbay: Mga Komento, Puna, Atrekomendasyon Sa Isang Bagong Sublarangan Ngaraling Kabanwahan (Travelers’ Studies: Comments, Critique, And Recommendations For A New Subfield Of Araling Kabanwahan For International And Cultural Studies), Mark Joseph Pascua Santos

Mabini Review

Last April 20, 2023, the book Banwa at Layag: Antolohiya ng mga Kuwentong Paglalakbay ng mga Pilipino sa Ibayong Dagat was officially launched. Edited by Axle Christien Tugano, it contains 56 chapters written by 52 contributors about their own experience of traveling outside (and inside [in the case of one particular chapter]) the country. It is for this occasion of book-launching that this review was written. In particular, it focuses on the introduction of Tugano as the editor entitled “Kapookan ng Paglalakbay ng mga Pilipino sa Ibayong Dagat sa Konteksto ng Banwa at Layag sa Wikang Filipino,” especially on his …

The Relevance Of Cultural Transformationand Autonomy Of Thinking In Filipinophilosophy: A Critical Essay, Nathanael Navarro

Mabini Review

Problematizing the coming fruition of cultural transformation and autonomy of thinking, this essay attempts to give Filipino society a disillusioned view of its national character. Centering on Leonardo Mercado’s trite notion of a given and almost static culture, the essay argues that cultural change is possible and necessary in the formation of a culture of intellectualization. This essay also serves to expose the working assumptions at the core of Mercado’s brand of Filipino Philosophy to deliver a prompt reminder of the purpose of philosophizing as an emancipative act from any face of social oppression. Ultimately, it challenges the view that …

Remaking A Monument: The Troubled Meaning Of Fascist Remains In Contemporary Spain, David Divita

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

The Valley of Cuelgamuros, until recently known as the Valley of the Fallen, lies about 35 miles outside of Madrid. Inaugurated by the dictator Francisco Franco in 1959, this landmark comprises a vast underground basilica and houses the mostly anonymous remains of 34,000 Spaniards who died during the civil war (1936–1939) and its repressive aftermath. Since the early 2000s, the Valley has been a political lightning rod in a country that has long struggled with how to address the legacies of its authoritarian past. Ongoing debates among politicians, scholars, and journalists have revolved around the possibility of the Valley’s ‘resignification’ …

Hidden In Plain Sight: Chinos, Casta, And La Florida, Kylie A. Culver

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

"Hidden in Plain Sight: Chinos, Casta, and La Florida" looks at the origin and use of the term chino/a within the Spanish casta system, focusing on its role in the St. Augustine Parish Archives from 1693 to 1754. In the St. Augustine parish registers, there were thirty-two separate entries that consisted of chinos/as. The presence of multiple individuals identified as chinos in Spanish Florida highlights the diversity of colonial Spain and demonstrates crucial understandings of the legal effects of casta. A careful analysis of these individuals reveals that the term chino/a did not necessarily refer to people of Asian origin …

Stem Ability Perceptions, Basic Needs Satisfaction, And Intrinsic Motivation In Adolescents: The Role Of Inclusive Perceptions In Self-Determination, Angelina Joy, Adam Hartstone-Rose, Jerica Knox, Channing J. Mathews, Jacqueline Cerda-Smith, Kelly Lynn Mulvey

Purdue Center for Early Learning Faculty and Staff Publications

Current work suggests that basic psychological needs are related to higher intrinsic motivation, which in turn, can promote more positive academic outcomes. However, few studies have examined how perceptions around one’s abilities in science, engineering, technology, and math (STEM) are related to intrinsic motivation and what role needs satisfaction plays in this association. This study assessed adolescents’ (N = 285, 56.1% female, Mage = 15.76 years, SD = 1.24) STEM ability perceptions, basic needs satisfaction, and intrinsic motivation. A path analysis was used to examine the association between STEM ability perceptions, basic needs satisfaction, and intrinsic motivation in …

Resilience And Its Association With Hopelessness, Depression, Loneliness, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) And Suicidal Ideations And Behavior In A Cohort In The Nairobi Metropolitan, David M Ndetei, Victoria Mutiso, Christine Musyimi, Eric Jeremiah, Pascalyne Nyamai, Samuel Walusaka, Veronica Onyango, Kamaldeep Bhui, Daniel Mamah

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Comprehending resilience in the face of mental health issues is important, especially for young people who deal with a variety of psychological pressures. This study aims to investigate the co-occurrence of several mental health conditions and the role of resilience as a potential intervention in youth 14-25 years in the Nairobi metropolitan area. We recruited 1,972 youths. The following self-administered instruments were used: resilience (ARM-R), hopelessness (BHS), depression (BDI, PHQ-9), PTSD (HTQ), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) and suicidality (C-SSRS). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted on the data. The key findings are that depression and …