Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of The Jester: The Subversive Power Of Humor And Performance In Challenging Misogyny, Sarah E. Price

Expressive Therapies Theses

Humor has long occupied a complicated place in systems of power, sometimes reinforcing oppressive norms and other times offering a way to push back against them. This thesis explores how the archetype of the jester can be used in drama therapy to help individuals reclaim agency within misogynistic structures. Drawing from role theory, feminist performance studies, and Theatre of the Oppressed, the project examines how jestering, through satire, parody, and play, can act as a vehicle for resistance, healing, and empowerment. A review of existing literature shows that while humor has historically been used to uphold patriarchal norms, it has …

Couples In The Playspace: Community Engagement With Developmental Transformations, Amanda Roberts

Expressive Therapies Theses

Couple therapy is an evolving field in the modern therapeutic landscape. With that evolution comes an opportunity to study the application of drama therapy with couples. Although there is limited evidence supporting the use of drama therapy with couples, there is no research on the use of Developmental Transformations (DvT), a play-based improvised form of drama therapy, with couples. As a first step in exploring this gap, this community engagement project invited two monogamous couples to engage in two separate brief DvT sessions. Given that this project was community-oriented rather than clinical, the focus of this capstone was self-reflective in …

Practical Jokes: A Drama Therapy Process Between Comedians, Therapists, And Those Affected By Grief/Loss On The Ongoing Development Of Therapeutic Humor, Abby T. Michel

Expressive Therapies Theses

Previous studies on humor in therapy suggest that some types of humor are more beneficial than others. This author found humor to be an essential part of coping with the loss of her mother and wondered why humor is broken down into good and bad parts, when humor can be subjective and dependent on culture and context. Using Robert Landy’s Role Theory and Dintino’s theory of Playing with the Unplayable, the author aimed to neutralize humor by exploring the roles that humor plays in therapy and hoped to find a practical definition of humor that could be appropriate in a …

Playing With Fire: Exploring Burnout In The Mental Health Field Through Developmental Transformations Play, Abigail E. Dufresne

Expressive Therapies Theses

Although professionals from many different fields experience the phenomenon of burnout, it is especially prevalent amongst human service workers. This is concerning because it not only impacts the professionals themselves, but potentially also the clients they work with. Burnout is a complex phenomenon due to the variability of each individual and workplace; however, it is commonly characterized by exhaustion, cynicism/depersonalization, and a reduced sense of professional efficacy. This community engagement project sought to gain deeper insight into burnout by exploring the lived experience of mental health professionals using the drama therapy technique of Developmental Transformations (DvT). The research consisted of …

More Than Dress-Up: A Literature Review Of The Function Of Costume In Drama Therapy, Bretny M. Seamon

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review examined the role of costume as a therapeutic tool in drama therapy; an area that, despite its potential, remains underexplored. The studies located focused on how costume may facilitate identity exploration and emotional expression. The paper synthesized existing literature on drama therapy's core processes, particularly embodiment and dramatic projection, while expanding the definition of costume to include masks and puppets. The literature illuminated the psychological and cultural significance of dress and identity, with studies that investigated how costume influenced both self-perception and external perception. The literature addressed the evolution of costume use in virtual therapy settings, illustrating …

Development Of A Method: Expressive Arts Therapy As A Means Of Transformation For Incarcerated Individuals And Carceral Institutions At Large, Morning Amani-Roe

Expressive Therapies Theses

This thesis examines the transformative potential of expressive arts therapy within carceral settings as an alternative to punitive approaches. As the United States maintains the highest incarceration rate globally with high recidivism rates, this research proposes rehabilitation through creative expression rather than punishment. This study details a six-week pilot program at Whatcom County Jail incorporating dance/movement therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, and visual arts with incarcerated individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness. The curriculum focused on nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, relationship-building, and conflict resolution through experiential learning. Qualitative observations revealed three key outcomes: increased emotional vulnerability, improved impulse control, …

Using Expressive Arts Therapy With Autistic Children To Help Regulate And Build Coping Skills: A Literature Review, Swara Swaminathan

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review is about whether we can use Expressive Arts Therapy with autistic children to regulate and build coping skills. The author could not find articles that covers the entire topic, but she split the topic in terms of autism in India and various application of Expressive Arts Therapy globally. She was able to find Expressive Arts Therapy or Creative Arts Therapy was helpful to autistic children, or children with trauma. She could also notice the stigma of autism in India in some of the articles.

Therapeutic Alliance In Psychotherapy And Multidimensional Relationship In Drama Therapy: In And Out Of Dramatic Reality, Erin R. Burdete

Expressive Therapies Theses

Abstract

The therapeutic alliance is a well-studied, empirically based phenomenon with much research evidencing its importance in successful therapy. The triadic multi-dimensional relationship present in drama therapy, one of the seven core processes at work in drama therapy, has been identified as a significant agent contributing to the client’s therapeutic change. However, no data specifically compares the therapeutic alliance to the multi-dimensional relationship. As a foundational base for further exploration, this research project, qualitative and self-reflective, explored specific moments of connection between therapist and child client within two sessions. This research was presented from data recorded in journaling, thematic analysis, …

As If We Could Get Along: Dramatic Reality’S Influence On The Prosociality Of Adolescent Boys With Problematic Sexual Behavior, Joel David Bender

Expressive Therapies Theses

There is a strong need for novel treatment approaches for adolescents with problematic sexual behavior (PSB), considering that historically, treatment approaches for adult sex offenders have been blindly applied to youth. Adolescent boys with PSB are at risk for poor treatment outcomes when they engage in anti-social behaviors and group hostility. Dramatic reality, a core process in drama therapy, may assist in transforming the experience of boys in their capacity to exhibit prosocial behavior, given that dramatic reality inherently augments reality. This community arts workshop used purposive sampling in a day treatment center for adolescent boys with PSB and explored …

The Interplay Of Poetry And Musical Style In Ned Rorem's Song Cycle Aftermath: A Reflection Of His Quaker And Pacifist Beliefs, Brianna Marie Reilly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This document is an analysis of the contemporary ten-movement song cycle Aftermath, written by Ned Rorem. Aftermath was composed in 2002 as a commentary on the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, in the United States of America and explores themes of loss, grief, survival, and reflection. This document includes historical information about the attacks of September 11, 2001, biographical information on Ned Rorem, information on the texts and the poets whose works Rorem integrated into Aftermath, and an analysis of the musical and textual elements utilized. As Rorem is a Quaker and a Pacifist, each song in …

The Echo: May 5, 2025, Taylor University

2024-2025 (Volume 112)

No abstract provided.

Modeling Literary Connections: Exploring Transregional Resistance In Dalit Poetry, Antara Bhattacharyay

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

Structuring socio-political identities, the caste system (a graded form of hierarchy) remains entrenched in contemporary Indian society. Dalits, marginalized by the caste system, have expressed their resistance through literature, envisioning substantive equality and social change. In this thesis, I draw on digital humanities methods to examine regional variation in translated Dalit poetry from Bengali, Hindi/Urdu, Marathi, and Tamil languages. I utilize topic modeling—a machine learning algorithm that detects latent semantic structures in a text—as a point of departure for poetry analysis. I observe how topic modeling enables newer readings of the poems, revealing regionally resonant and broader Dalit themes.

Fantasy Exchange, Ella Tunis

Theses

Fantasy Exchange is a visual and written examination of the perpetuation of violence against women and the influence it has on the performance of femininity within structural patriarchy. After briefly working with the Rochester Police Department in Rochester, New York, I found myself incredibly struck by the everyday violence that I was made to watch people endure. During my time there, I made note of everything I witnessed and noticed the way that women's pain always seemed to have such a profound impact on me. Through image and text, this body of work explores visual metaphors of abuse found in …

Commencement 2025 (Program And Video), Illinois Wesleyan University

Commencement Ceremonies

No abstract provided.

Charles W. Bolen Faculty Recital: May 4, 2025, Elizabeth Thompson, Tuyen Tonnu, Daniel Baer

School of Music Programs

University Galleries

May 4, 2025

Sunday Afternoon

2:00 p.m.

Outside Text Elements And Their Effect In Re-Thinking Standardized Translations: Elmessiri’S Choices In Translation As A Case Study, Khawlah Khalawi, Zainab Abuelmaatti

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

Abstract. As far as Elmessiri's translation process is concerned, it can be seen that he considered the influence of power and ideology and its influence on the translation of the Arab world. He tried to solve the problem and understand the words in the context, rather than impose them. The purpose of this paper is to show how out-side text elements such as the historical, cultural, political, and philosophical backgrounds of terminology, can affect translation process and lead to re-thinking about world-known translated terminology. Elmessiri choices in translation are taken as a sample for this research. This study demonstrates some …

Disciplinary Literacy In Preschool Classrooms, Mckenna Beam

Graduate Teacher Education

The research questioned the potential impact disciplinary literacy may have on academic growth in early childhood classrooms and considered how preschool teachers can implement developmentally appropriate practices focusing on disciplinary literacy to support academic readiness skills. Schools emphasize a need for early intervention in the math and literacy domains to combat the academic achievement gap, but Chapin (2006) recognized a need for early intervention in the science and social studies domains as well. With this knowledge in mind, specific developmentally appropriate methods for integrating science, social studies, music, and art instruction in preschool classrooms were highlighted. Systemic methods of implementing …

Ignite, Morgan A. Mcguire

Theses and Dissertations

Ana, a perfect, popular star student and cheerleader, starts questioning the essence of her life. She finds a glitter-covered apparition, a Christian Youth Group, and a murky new friendship. Set against the omnipresent patriarchy of the early Oughts, Ignite explores the harsh realities of girlhood and growing up.

Card Tables Are A Dime A Dozen, Art Is Rare, Shannon Pritchard

Theses and Dissertations

In this text, through the categories of truth and mimicry, discomfort, repetition, and bureaucracy, Shannon Pritchard dissects her studio practice. With a dedication to high craft, she investigates the world through the lens of the Freudian Uncanny, linking eerie subject matter to conspiracy mindset, mid-century politics, and personal relationships.

Displaced Nostalgia, Nava Derakhshani

Theses and Dissertations

Exploring themes of identity, displacement, gender, and belonging, this paper examines the artist's work and her approach to her art. She covers the many influences that she has access to while unable to visit her ancestral homelands. Acknowledging the translation that comes from this removal, her art is in conversation with other diasporic, exiled, marginalised groups. She makes art with various materials such as clay, shadow, light, and paint, to work on the themes that she is pursuing.

Board Of Trustees Meeting Minutes 2025-05-02, Bowling Green State University

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

The official meeting minutes of Bowling Green State University's Board of Trustees.

Rotunda - Vol 104, No 7 - May 2, 2025, Longwood University

Rotunda

No abstract provided.

Doc 2010-04 (Amended) The Common Academic Program, University Of Dayton. Academic Policies Committee

Senate Documents

The University of Dayton first adopted its General Education Program for all undergraduate students in the Fall of 1983 when Senate Doc #81-2 was approved. Its stated purpose was to make “students aware of the diversity of intellectual thought and theory represented by the sciences, the humanities and the social sciences. In addition, the general education component offers the students an opportunity to synthesize and evaluate information from various disciplines and thus enhance the study of a specific profession.” In 1991 significant curricular revisions were made to the General Education Program including the introduction of the Humanities Base and Thematic …

2025 Umn Morris Student Leader Awards Announced, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

Inherited Fervor: Maternal Archive, Maria Angela Talavera Tejeda

Theses and Dissertations

Inherited Fervor: Maternal Archive investigates the deconstruction of the non-verbal language of Catholic ecstasy rituals to develop a choreographic language. Through the piece Doves Don’t Fly at Night, it explores the expansion of dancers’ physical range, positioning the body as an archive that embodies memories and mirrors the audience’s humanity.

Aquí Y Ahora A Dance Tribute To Gustavo Cerati And The Expression Of Hispanic Immigrant Identity In New York City, Karina Terán

Theses and Dissertations

This Thesis explores how dance serves as a language of cultural identity among Hispanic immigrants in New York City. Through a multidisciplinary performance and research, it reflects lived experiences, blending movement and music to celebrate legacy, resilience, and community, while honoring the influence of Argentine rock icon Gustavo Cerati.

The Past In The Present: Photography, Vietnam War, And Memory, Yuya Kawata

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on three contemporary artists—An-My Lê, Dinh Q. Lê, and Harrell Fletcher—who use photography to explore the contentious memory of the war in Vietnam. Addressing different contexts in which the war is remembered, their works invite careful reflection on how to approach the elusive past.

Raised Spirits The Visceral Journey Of Black Generational Female Trauma And The Transcendent Healing Power Of Spiritual Dance, Wendy Ann Powell

Theses and Dissertations

Black female bodies have endured sustained trauma globally since the transatlantic slave trade, and it continues into 2025. The collective consciousness has carried the generational burden and mobilized it within the womb. Powell uses this intergenerational knowledge to frame the basis for spiritual dance practices as a healing praxis.

Modernism Unwoven: Art Deco, Brasilidade, And The Erasure Of Regina Gomide Graz, Antonia Machado Oliver

Theses and Dissertations

“Modernism Unwoven: Art Deco, Brasilidade, and the Erasure of Regina Gomide Graz” explores the life and practice of the Brazilian artist Regina Gomide Graz, whose textile works contributed to introducing Art Deco to Brazil. Regina is associated with many of the events that marked Brazilian modernism in the 1920s and 1930s and was engaged with the concerns of her milieu, for instance, the synthesis of European artistic developments with themes regional to Brazil and the development of a national aesthetic identity. Despite this, her work has scarcely been studied. This thesis examines the sociocultural, economic, and personal conditions that …

Black America, Ethiopianism And Ethiopians: Tizita (ትዝታ), And The Longing That Binds, David Brunberg

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis maps the concept of Ethiopia within the development of Black American peoplehood and Pan-Africanist thought, while shedding light on the deep influence of an American-inspired Pan-Africanist ethos on the works of two Ethiopian-American bridge artists, Julie Mehretu and Aïda Muluneh specifically, and on art production more generally as expressed within contemporary Ethiopia. They are “bridge” artists because they straddle an international space between Black American and Ethiopian identities. It explores the following questions: How did an American Ethiopianism morph into or become synonymous with Afrocentrism? What crosscurrents can one see in contemporary art production in Ethiopia, and its …