Digital Commons Network^™

In Our Glory: A Memory Exhibition, Dayquan Moeller

Whittier Scholars Program

When Susan Sontag wrote in 1977, “to collect photographs is to collect the world,” she could not have predicted how ubiquitous photography would become (Sontag 1977). Not only are we exposed to thousands of photographs each day, but we likely take dozens of them ourselves. In our photo-saturated world it is easy to take these candid images for granted, yet within them lies deep truths.

In Our Glory is an audio-visual installation that seeks to unravel these truths. It is based on interviews with individuals asked to describe a photograph of themselves, with one caveat: they are not allowed to …

On The Brink Of Transformation : Becoming Ones True Self, Jordan Lee Williams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

It brings me great joy to share with you the story of my journey through Academia. This thesis will cover some of the milestones I’ve reached throughout my studies here at the University of Arkansas, which led me to be able to attain an MFA in Theatre with an Acting Emphasis. You’ll be granted an all access pass into some of the works I’ve been able to produce while studying here at the U of A Including my one person show, statement of artistry, a link to my website, and information on my career as a professional stand-up comedian

Florida Gun Laws Weaken: Another Setback For The Mass Shooting Generation, Riley Kendall

Barry Law Review

While gun control has been a topic of controversy in the United States for decades, one area that has seemed undebatable is the protection of children from gun violence in our Nation’s schools. The methods of achieving this end goal vary from state to state. Some states have continued the longstanding tradition of designating schools as “gun-free zones,” while others have employed armed security guards. Florida has chosen the latter option for its public and charter schools. However, the Florida Legislature has taken a dramatic deviation from this path that will negatively affect students attending private religious schools: it passed …

The Theatrical Lighting Design For The Production Of The Moors., Austin James Bomkamp

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis paper, The Theatrical Lighting Design for the Production of The Moors documents the process of the lighting design for the production of The Moors written by Jen Silverman and produced at the Fine Arts Center University Theatre by the University of Arkansas Department of Theater. This document includes the research, process, implementation, and evaluation of the theatrical lighting design for this play.

Riot, Revolution, And Remembrance: Modern Memory Of The Haymarket Affair, Maggie Westover '23

Honor Scholar Theses

In this thesis, I combine several disciplines to analyze multiple types of sources in order to get a better understanding of how the Haymarket Affair has been remembered. In this thesis, I combine history, musical theater, and literature to show how the memory of the Haymarket affair has changed in the last 137 years. Relying on newspaper articles, a musical performance, an episode of a television show, trial documents, and a collection of primary sources about Haymarket made available by the Chicago Historical Society, I am able to track the memory of the Haymarket Affair and how it has changed …

A Screenplay With Critical Preface: 5150 Tarot Canyon, Jacob B. Phillips

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

5150 Tarot Canyon—a screenplay/dreamplay—anonymous twenty something, X, has left a deadend job, spent savings, and gone, in a last-ditch effort to follow a dream, to art school (in the middle of the desert and a pandemic) but struggles to cope once there with high stress and heavy deadlines. Exhaustion, fear, and loneliness begin to creep in—and, along with them, a stranger, a Walking Sam (possibly X’s double) always at a distance, but never far away. X can’t be sure, but it’s almost like someone’s started stalking them. X tries to ignore it, tries to focus, to grow—but things aren’t coming …

Some Stories From A Black Girl From The Bronx, Serenity Marshall

English Theses & Dissertations

The focus and purpose of this work is to create a collection of original stories both fiction and creative non-fiction, that detail my life while living in New York City, specifically the Bronx. This collection is the culmination of the work arising from the program and represents my attempt at a blended genre collection. My goal is to create a series of stories that reveal New York City’s underbelly, along with its beauty, and how those worlds collide.

Percussion Ensemble

Bailey School of Music Concert Programs

John Lawless, Director

Curriculum Of Control: Stories From The Student Perspective, Ryan Anderson

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In a time where the public school setting draws comparisons to warzones—bullets flying, students barricading themselves behind desks—it is crucial we examine the landscape in which this unprecedented destruction is taking place. The current public conversations held in our democratic nation tend to surround gun rights, administrative procedures, and inadequate police responses. Finger pointing has been the fallback time and time again. As leaders of the NRA, local police forces, and legislating bodies stand at the end of our fingers, our children remain standing opposed to the barrels of loaded guns—often wielded by their peers. The conversation hasn’t ventured into …

Exploring The Relationship Between The Growing Number Of Satellites And Space Debris In Low Earth Orbit, And People's Perception Of Space Debris Environmental Impacts, Muin Bogari

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The rapid increase of satellite deployments to Earth orbits is causing an increase to the numbers of space debris and inactive satellites in Earth's orbits which poses a growing threat of orbital collisions. Orbital collisions can trigger a domino effect, known as the Kessler syndrome, which can cause uncontrolled continuous orbital collisions. This research utilizes documented data on approximately 65,000 Anthropogenic Space Objects in Earth's orbit dating from the first ASO launched in 1957 to April 1st, 2022. The research study provides a comprehensive analysis of all monitored ASOs in Earth's orbit by presenting and exploring the current state of …

2023 Commencement Program, Columbia College Chicago

Commencement Programs

The commencement program of the 2023 Columbia College Chicago graduation ceremonies.

T. Hanks For Nostalgia: The Power Of Tom Hanks And Film Branding, Jacob Higgs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In March 2020, Tom Hanks announced he had contracted COVID-19 while shooting the Elvis Presley Biopic in Australia. On Instagram, he encouraged fans to take the disease seriously and be aware of how severe of a disease it was. Character brands and nostalgia have been found to foster trust in products and encourage relationships with those brands. Using the lens of nostalgia and uses and gratification to examine Tom Hanks as a character brand, the researcher analyzed five blockbuster films with Tom Hanks as the lead character. The study used narrative thematic analysis to observe Hanks and the depictions of …

Scanning The Digital: Using Survey Data To Support Digital Scholarship Initiatives At The University Of Mississippi, Abigail Norris, Adam Clemons, Alex Watson

The Southeastern Librarian

Digital scholarship (the use of digital technology in research or teaching applications) is a new and growing field but many Mississippi libraries, including the University of Mississippi, are not officially supporting digital scholarship. To change this, librarians at the University of Mississippi sent out an online survey to faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students in order to gauge their interest in and experience with digital scholarship methods and tools and how the library can best support digital scholarship on campus. The results showed a wide variety of interest and expertise across several fields, mostly in the humanities, with important data …

Irreverent Womanhood: The Healing Of Intergenerational And Cultural Trauma In The Chicanx And Latinx Sonic Poetry Of Amalia Ortiz And Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Yasmine A. Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

The connections between nontraditional forms of literature and spiritual activism lie within the resistive practices of Chicanx Feminism. This thesis argues that cultural healing and social change is dependent upon the recognition of trauma as a step towards enacting social justice. Additionally, this thesis focuses on the figure of Coyolxauhqui and indigenous motherhood to reveal procedures for change. Through the theory of trauma, this thesis examines the nontraditional Chicanx/Latinx poetry of Amalia Ortiz’s sonic rock opera, Cancíon, Cannibal, Cabaret, & Other Songs and Melissa Lozada-Oliva’s novel in verse, Dreaming of You.

My investigation into the breaking of gendered …

A Contemporary Dressing Of Henrik Ibsen’S Hedda Gabler, Heidi Rose Decaluwe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis describes the process of creating the costume designs for the production of Hedda Gabler that was produced at the University Theatre at The University of Arkansas in the spring of 2023. In this thesis, I will explain the process, from my initial response to the script to the final stage production. Included is a full script analysis, an extrapolation of the stages of design, from research to rough sketches and preliminary renderings, final color renderings, the process of turning renderings into fully realized costumes, and finally an evaluation of the entire process.

A Woman On Fire: A Character Study Of Hedda Gabler, Leah Paige Smith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis I will be discussing my process in preparing and performing my thesis role of Hedda Gabler, and how it is relevant to modern struggles of women surrounding pregnancy, motherhood, and body autonomy. This is paralleled with the topic of my one-person show, titled 6 Weeks. I will include the events of both plays, the script of 6 Weeks, my character analysis of Hedda, the rehearsal process, production photos, resume, headshot, program, and a link to my website.

Dressing The New World: Costume Design For An Unconventional Adaptation Of Jason Robert Brown’S Songs For A New World, Callie Lythgoe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis follows the process of designing the costumes for the University of Arkansas’ production of the musical Songs For A New World by Jason Robert Brown. The following will detail the steps taken to conceptualize and realize the costume designs for the full process of the production. Included in this thesis is the analysis of source materials and other dramaturgical research, my research images and process sketches, final costume renderings, and production photographs. Overall, this document will record the design process and my evaluation thereof.

The Lighting Design Of This Bitch! Esta Sangre Quiero, Zackary Mcjunkins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis serves to document the script analysis, lighting design process, and execution of the lighting design for the University of Arkansas’s Fall 2022 production of This Bitch! Esta Sangre Quiero, an original work by M.F.A. playwriting candidate Adrienne Dawes. Special care will be taken to address the unique challenges faced throughout the design process and implementation of the lighting design. This document contains all necessary paperwork to implement a lighting design, including a light plot, section, magic sheet, and other paperwork, as well as research imagery and photographs of the production.

The Scenic Design: Songs For A New World By Jason Robert Brown, Morgan Mcinnis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown was produced by the University of Arkansas Department of Theatre as the final show of the 2022-2023 season. The musical comprises sixteen independent songs taken from Brown's work on various projects, coming together to create a collection of scene-songs that examines life and the choices we make. While each song's storyline is different and musically distinctive, each presents similar stories of characters facing a moment of decision in their lives and an opportunity to transition from old to new. The result is neither an ordinary musical nor revue but a theatrical …

Promoting Cultural Arts Access Through Sensory-Friendly Theatre, Chanelle Bautista, Alyssa Cho, Jazmine Cunanan, Ariana Marino, Miko Ramos

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Children with sensory processing differences have “reduced participation in recreational and community activities compared to children with both typical development and other developmental disabilities” due to their difficulties with social communication, and strict social settings (Giserman-Kiss et al., 2020). Sensory-friendly theatre programs aim to dismantle social participation barriers for individuals with sensory processing differences by creating a relaxed theatre experience that includes preparatory materials, environmental modifications, and specialized training (Umeda, 2017). We implemented a pilot sensory-friendly performance of Willy Wonka, Jr. in collaboration with youth actors at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, CA on February 13th, 2022. Approximately 80 …

Swimming In The Third Stream: A Performance Guide For David Baker’S Singers Of Songs/Weavers Of Dreams For Cello And Percussion, Kelsey Linnea Smith

Dissertations

David Baker was an American composer, performer, and pedagogue who wrote over 2000 works during the course of his career. Baker’s output spans a wide variety of genres and styles, including compositions for jazz band, symphony orchestra, choir, and various chamber ensembles. Using elements from his background in both jazz and classical music, Baker’s musical language is one that creates a true synthesis of styles, especially when writing in a third stream context. Additionally, Baker was inspired by African American figures from his past, and often wrote music honoring those who came before him. In this way, Baker adds his …

Luciano Berio’S Six Encores Pour Piano: A Guide For Performance Preparation, Ivana Muncan

Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to provide strategies that can be used to prepare Luciano Berio’s Six Encores pour piano for performance. Each Encore is concisely analyzed with respect to five musical elements: sound (timbre, dynamics, texture), harmony, melody, time (tempo, meter, rhythm), and structure. From observations made during analysis, notable learning challenges are isolated, and learning strategies are devised to target the elements that pose significant challenges. Utilizing secondary sources, specific analytical procedures and technical exercises are crafted to aid the performer in expediting their mastery of the Encores. This document will be a valuable reference work for …

Dan Forrest’S The Breath Of Life: A Podium Guide With A Study Of The Compositional Techniques And The Integration Of Texts Used To Mirror The Emotional Arc Of The Human Life Cycle, Brian Keith Dukeshier

Dissertations

Dan Forrest’s the breath of life is a contemporary composition the author believes will be performed numerous times in future years after the extensive physical and emotional effect the pandemic had on the world. Although composed prior to the pandemic, the breath of life could bring comfort and a salve to the hurt and pain of humankind caused by the pandemic but will also affect the emotional state of loss for years to come for all humanity. This work exhibits Forrest’s use of acousmatic electronics with choir and orchestra. Biblical texts as well as poetry written by three poets from …

Social Justice Theatre And The Impact On Theatre Artists, Stevie Taken

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Theatre as an agent for social change has significantly impacted communities and entire countries. Examining how subversive theatre impacts those who engage with it to affect positive social change is a worthwhile endeavor. Theatre possesses the power to inspire empathy in people, which leads to progressive political action. This study explores the impact of participating in social justice theatre has on the artists who engage in it.

The literature reviewed in this study examines the impact attending subversive theatre has on audience members, its aim is to inspire empathy as a tool to create progressive social change. This study expands …

Embracing The Ugliness A Director's Journey Into Yasmina Réza’S "God Of Carnage", Huan Thien Bui

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, I detail my involvement directing Yasmina Réza's God of Carnage as my thesis show. This paper comprehensively covers every stage of the production process, beginning with pre-production tasks such as selecting a title, holding auditions, conducting research, and analyzing the script. It also encompasses the production procedures, including design meetings, rehearsals, tech week, and performances, before concluding with post-production activities such as self-reflection and analyzing audience feedback. Furthermore, I discuss the various insights I've gained about theatre practice over my four-year program in terms of acting, directing, and producing. This paper also serves as an intropective journey, …

Living As Past In The Present, Grace Taylor

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I will be discussing how I used my nine roles in A Christmas Carol at TheatreSquared to practice getting out of my head onstage and into the hearts of each character. I will also include the script of my original play, GORILLA, the composition and performance of which were some of the greatest challenges of my artistic career thus far. Additionally, I am including my artistic statement, show posters, program, photos, website link, headshot & resume, and proofs of permission for use of media.

“It’S Alive!” The Birth And Afterlife Of The Gothic Genre, Tanner Linkous

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the development of the Gothic novel in England throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This thesis establishes the Gothic as a literary mode of middle-class terror by analyzing Gothic novels within the historical context of the Industrial and Democratic revolutions. This requires an in-depth understanding of politics throughout both centuries and this thesis engages with several sources such as Maggie Kilgour’s The Rise of the Gothic Novel which adds important context to my claims. Additionally, I use several contemporary sources such as Godwin’s Caleb Williams, the writings of Edmund Burke, and On the Pleasure Derived from Objects …

Consuming The World: Poetic Appetite, Memory, And Identity In Li-Young Lee’S Food Poems, Claire Liszka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Food is a universal human necessity, yet food often serves more than a biological purpose as it informs individual and communal identities, and even facilitates memory. This thesis explores personal memory, the development of identity, and an almost reverential connection to nature in several food poems by Li-Young Lee in Rose (1986) and Behind My Eyes (2008). Born in 1957, Lee has been writing poetry since he was young, studying under Gerald Stern in the late 1970s, and he is known for writing sublime, transcendent yet incredibly accessible and expressive poetry. This thesis gives an overview of food studies and …

Espacio, Edgar Perez Peña, Edgar Perez Peña

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Edgar Perez Peña (He, Him, His) is a Queer, Chicanx contemporary figurative painter, who lives and works in the Los Angeles County. A native of Los Angeles, California, his paintings, and assemblages are a strong combination of process, materials, and content that displays his fascination on how physical/psychological space (from where he resides), reflects on the Queer Brown body and its comfort/discomfort in relation to public and private space.

Peña looks at his artistic practice as an opportunity to explore the human condition from the Queer and Brown perspective as well the beginning of healing through the meditative process of …

Regeneration: Restorative Theatre Practice In Theatre Education., Sarah Elston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regeneration: Restorative Theatre Practice in Theatre Education aims to harness the holistic benefits of theatre as a discipline and create an intentional restorative practice for performers. This thesis serves as a proposal; an attempt to prioritize restorative and self-care practices within the theatre industry, specifically pre-professional training programs. This proposal takes the form of a curriculum that builds upon the current model of theatre training (Voice, Movement, Acting) with the addition of Regeneration. Regeneration provides theatre artists with specific areas of study to offer the psychosocial support a theatre artist may need during their pre-professional training. This thesis will discuss …