Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Giants, Dragons, And The Confrontation With "Den Schrecklichen Mystischen Naturkomplexen" – Apocalyptic Intertextuality In Alfred Döblin's Berge Meere Und Giganten, Nathan J. Bates

Theses and Dissertations

Berge Meere und Giganten (BMG) by Alfred Döblin is a fictional account of future events in which humanity brings about the ruin of western civilization by its own technological hubris. Although BMG has been examined considerably for its literary merit in light of the Döblin corpus, few scholars have identified Döblin's work as an apocalyptic text especially after the Judeo-Christian tradition. The apocalyptic nature of BMG implies a profound religious experience on the part of the author, which in my view offers at least one plausible explanation for Döblin's repeated fixation with BMG. In my thesis, I explicate the …

Thawing The Frozen Heart: Turning To Antonio Machado To Overcome The Silence In El Corazón Helado By Almudena Grandes, Richard A. Henricksen

Theses and Dissertations

In an attempt to demonstrate Spain's obligation to recover its ignored historic memory, Almudena Grandes evokes the poetry of a man whose past itself has been manipulated, misused and partially forgotten: the great poet Antonio Machado. In this study I examine the use of the famous "two Spain" imagery from Machado's "Españolito" as a tool for subverting many erroneous concepts about the war that, according to Grandes, are still prevalent in Spanish society. I also examine how this "two Spain" conflict demonstrates the crossroads that faces the third generation of Spaniards after the Civil War: that of collectively remaining in …

Mary Wingfield Scott: A Rebel With A Rubble Cause, Kay Peninger

Theses and Dissertations

Mary Wingfield Scott (1895-1983) was a leading figure in the historic preservation movement in Richmond, Virginia. Scott demonstrated a preservation philosophy that transitioned from the sentimental, patriotic focus of early preservation efforts to a modern, academic approach that valued the built environment for its relationship to the city and its history. Scott educated persons on the value of preserving houses that were architecturally significant or connected to the city’s heritage. She documented the antebellum housing of Richmond in two books, founded the William Byrd Branch of the APVA, conducted walking tours throughout the city, wrote a newsletter for the William …

The Influence Of Israelite Temple Rites And Early Christian Esoteric Rites On The Development Of Christian Baptism, Ryan T. Wilkins

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis seeks to answer the question of the origin of some of the most fundamental additions made to early Christian baptism. Christian baptism began in a relatively simple liturgical form, but became, by the fourth century, a much more dramatic set of initiation rituals. Among the added elements to baptism were washing ceremonies in the nude, physical anointing with oil, being marked or signed with the cross on the forehead, and receiving white garments. Scholars have proposed different theories as to the origins of these baptismal rituals. Some claim the elements existed in the New Testament practice of the …

The Reconstruction Of Historical Buildings: A Visitor And Historical Site Study, Alyssa Holland

Theses and Dissertations

The reconstruction of historical buildings has been debated by preservationists, archeologists and historians, both with each other and within their own fields. But no matter how intensely scholars discuss and disagree on the subject, professionals at historic sites still continue to reconstruct historical buildings. The questions surrounding historical reconstruction include: is it ethical to reconstruct historical buildings? Is it worthwhile to reconstruct historical buildings for the benefit of the general public? I surveyed historical site workers from across the country and visitors from Red Hill National Memorial, the last home of Patrick Henry. From the survey, visitors seem to remember …

Revisiting "Hapworth": The Catharsis Of Buddy Glass, Brian Mctague

Theses and Dissertations

J.D. Salinger's "Hapworth 16, 1924," his last published work, is notorious for the initial critical silence it received, as well as the subsequent general consensus that it was a text to revile if not avoid. This thesis proposes that while "Hapworth" is a difficult and perplexing piece, there is a good deal about it that deserves if not outright praise, then a close critical re-examination. Assuming the "author" of the story is not the seven-year-old version of "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" suicide Seymour Glass, as the story purports, but his grieving younger brother Buddy, who has spent the years …

The Portable Art Gallery: Facilitating Student Autonomy And Ownership Through Exhibiting Artwork, Jethro D. Gillespie

Theses and Dissertations

In an attempt to help a class of high school AP Studio Art students find a more authentic sense of autonomy and ownership with their own art projects, the author has constructed a portable art gallery space designated for the exhibition of student artwork. Through a theoretical framework of post-structuralism, as well as a hybrid methodological approach, including tenets of both action research and grounded theory, he was able to explore how de-centralizing traditional, pedagogical notions of power in the classroom and utilizing contemporary art education practices affected AP Studio Art students' experience in the art classroom. By placing an …

Sign Language Word List Comparisons: Toward A Replicable Coding And Scoring Methodology, Jason Parks

Theses and Dissertations

This study describes and evaluates a methodology for sign language word list comparisons. The purpose of this sociolinguistic research tool is to identify similarity relationships among sign language varieties by assessing similarities of lexical items. Similarities are calculated using the Levenshtein distance metric which measures the number of differences between signs.

In this study, the methodology was refined for optimal efficiency through an analysis of: which parameters of a sign should be compared, which values should be included in each parameter value inventory, and which items should be used in the word list. As a result of the study, I …

An Analysis Of Selected Trombone Ensemble Music By Dr. Eric Ewazen, Gregory S. Brandt

Theses and Dissertations

Dr. Eric Ewazen is a prolific, and celebrated composer, having written over fifty works for brass, thirty-one of which include trombone. His contribution to trombone repertoire is significant and wide-ranging. Research papers and doctoral dissertations have been written about Dr. Ewazen's instrumental compositions, however none of them have thoroughly explored his homogeneous chamber music for trombone or articulated his unique method of composition. Various people with numerous backgrounds listen to, perform, conduct, and teach the music of Dr. Ewazen. Due to his unique compositional style, it is imperative that one analyzes and reflects on his works to aid understanding. By …

From Bendinelli To Arban: Styles Of Articulation Within Selected Trumpet Method Books, Nate Locke

Theses and Dissertations

The earliest known trumpet method book to be compiled was Tutta L 'arte della Trombetta (The Entire Art of Trumpet-Playing) in 1614 by Cesare Bendinelli. This book proved to be the pioneer for six that followed by: Girolamo Fantini (1638), Johann Ernst Altenberg (1795), Joseph-Gebhardt Kresser (1836), Raniero Cacciamani (1853), Francois Georges Auguste Dauverne (1857), and Jean Baptist Arban (1864). These books alone attest that articulation was a worthy topic of discussion during this 250-year period. The purpose of this paper is to address how articulation developed through the above seven method books as well as consider how articulation is …

A Core Knowledge Based Curriculum Designed To Help Seventh And Eighth Graders Maintain Artistic Confidence, Debbie Ann Labrum

Theses and Dissertations

How do we as art educators help adolescents maintain artistic creation as a way of visual expression? This study reviews artistic approaches among kindergarten through eighth grade students as they relate to the U-curve model of development (Davis, 1997; Pariser & van den Berg, 1997). As an art educator, my observation has been that as students approach seventh and eighth grades they lose confidence in their art making abilities as they try to draw in a realistic manner. When asked if they think they are artists, most are certain that they are not. This lack in confidence is in stark …

Classroom Community: Questions Of Apathy And Autonomy In A High School Jewelry Class, Samuel E. Steadman

Theses and Dissertations

Student motivation is investigated in this study as a means of abrogating apathy within a public high school Jewelry course. The study is an attempt to answer a personal question of whether students could be internally motivated to a level of excitement that they would take ownership for their personal learning and the learning of their classmates. The study also addresses four main points that cause apathy, or are caused by apathy, they are: zero sum competition, compassion and support for classmates,ownership of the physical facilities, and the development of a conscientious public. Through a desire to test data on …

Indigenismo In The Mexican Photographs Of Tina Modotti: The Revolutionary And The Indigenista, Shannon Dame

Theses and Dissertations

During Tina Modotti's time in Mexico in the 1920s, much of her photography and political activities focused on and fought for the rights of those who had been previously overlooked and marginalized, namely the indigenous people of Mexico. Many government officials, artists and intellectuals at the time believed that it was through the indigenous culture that Mexico could redeem itself and create its own national identity. Indigenismo, the philosophy that supported this claim, was of interest to Modotti and was a recurring theme throughout her photography. Following the Mexican Revolution of 1910, indigenismo appeared to be the solution to …

Preparing Young Children To Respond To Art In The Museum, Nancy L. Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes a research study which the Investigator prepared and documented. It involved two groups of five kindergarten children who were prepared by the Investigator to view one artwork in a museum. Children were prepared to view the artwork by exploring and solving open-ended design problems with large shapes, one-third the size of those in the artwork. The Investigator guided children to respond to the artwork through inquiry and discovery activities related to the artwork's specific characteristics. Findings revealed that kindergarten children enjoyed exploring large shapes and were capable of solving collaborative design problems with the shapes, which prepared …

Eternal Security: The What If's And The Word Of God, Jason Rutherford

Theses and Dissertations

Eternal security is the doctrine that teaches that a redeemed individual will remain in a redeemed state, regardless of his or her action following conversion. God is the author and finisher of salvation, never a work of the individual human, either before or after belief. This doctrine rests upon both explicit teaching in the Scripture and in a clear understanding of what actually occurs in salvation. This thesis also contains an afterword that examines the effect of postmodernism on Biblical communication in the 21st century.

Sticks And Stones: A Memoir And Analysis Of Abusive Relationships, Erin Siobhan Lynch

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the role of language and its' power in abusive relationships. The thesis consists of two sections. The first section is a personal narrative. It is composed of chapters focusing on the author's extensive history in abusive relationships. Each chapter reveals a different relationship, including the abusive language used in it. Dialog used in such relationships plays a crucial role throughout the piece. The second section is a theoretical analysis of abuse. The focus on dialog is reiterated in this part. The power of language in abusive relationships plays a key role. Focus is also drawn on the …

Corot's "Lyrical" Landscapes After 1850: Inspiration And Interpretation, Eileen Leila Turan

Theses and Dissertations

Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot was a prolific painter of the French landscape in the nineteenth century. Corot's landscape style had two distinctive periods: a classically inspired period prior to 1850, and then the dramatically different style after 1850. Characterized by the emphasis on light and atmosphere through a painterly approach, Corot's late landscapes have been neglected by scholars who routinely emphasize the early landscapes and his role in the development of Impressionism. This research clearly defines the late landscape style, details the existing scholarship, and offers new interpretation of the landscape style of Corot after 1850. Considering the stylistic influence of …

Editing Choices In Narrative Oral History: A Case Study On Representation And Attribution, Deann Eldredge Hubberd

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the popularity of narrative oral history projects, there is a lack of discussion about the process involved in crafting an oral history transcript into a cohesive and engaging narrative oral history. The editing decisions made in this process impact the ethos of the narrator, placing the responsibility of representation on the oral historian, and complicate attribution. This thesis broadens the discussion of the ethical and methodological dilemmas encountered when creating a narrative oral history and will elucidate current theories on the effects editing choices have on representation. This discussion is illustrated by a case study of my experience as …

Posted And Painted, Emily Wood

Theses and Dissertations

My works are painted directly from photographs posted on the social media website Facebook in an attempt to explore how the reading of an image can be altered when it is painted. By working from these particular photographs I make my work relevant to my time. Through translating these images into paint, I draw attention to, and bring life to, images that have become lost in monotony. Painting an image on wood places it on an organic surface that takes it far away from its digitally contrived and mechanical origin. Furthermore, the expressive application of paint is an integral part …

Privies, Politics, And Public Schools: Public Health And Education Reform In Arkansas, 1908-1917, Myra Suzanne Easley

Theses and Dissertations

From 1908 until 1914, Arkansas education administrators, public health officials, and women's associations participated in Southern campaigns for hookworm eradication and the improvement of public school systems. This thesis examines the activities of these three groups in relation to school sanitation and health education as well as the results of their cooperative efforts. Local school improvement associations and the Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs publicized the poor conditions of Arkansas schools, solicited community participation, and achieved tangible improvements in the sanitation and appearance of individual school environments. State education and public health officials used these volunteer organizations to distribute disease …

The Effects Of Classical Background Music On The Behavior Of Children In The Elementary School Classroom: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Justin Thomas Anders

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to research the effects of classical music on the behavior of elementary school children. Based upon data collected from an exhaustive literature review, the researcher asserted that classical music was capable of modifying the mood, emotions and performance of elementary students. Classical music was presented to students in a classroom setting as background music and their resulting behavior patterns were noted and measured. As the data from these studies were analyzed, the researcher asserted that classical music was capable of modifying behavior. This study concluded that both student and class behavior improved as a …

A Proposal For Creating A Sports Themed First-Year Writing Course For Student-Athletes, Christopher Osborn Bell

Theses and Dissertations

A sports themed writing course could be a good start to helping student-athletes with their college writing. Studies have indicated that the majority of student-athletes are academic underachievers and are considered to be at a high risk of dropping out when they reach the college level. Many institutions are struggling to find ways to help their student-athletes succeed because colleges depend upon athletic programs to generate revenue and prestige which can also lead to higher enrollments. There is a general agreement that student-athletes aren't getting the same value out of their education as non-student-athletes, but there seems to be a …

A Technical Writer's Guide To Search Engine Optimization, James Arrowood

Theses and Dissertations

Search engine optimization is a process that requires extensive technical writing skills. Technical writers are well poised to fill the role of search engine optimizer due to a strong background in rhetorical analysis of web text, audience analysis, document indexing, and copywriting. The search engine optimization techniques discussed in this thesis demonstrate the writing processes involved in search engine optimization and serves as a guide to technical writers that may one day find themselves in a search engine optimization role.

Becoming A Professional Indexer, Robyn Dewall

Theses and Dissertations

Indexing is an important, yet behind-the-scenes, rhetorical activity that provides readers with quick access to information. The format and creation of the index, since its inception, continues to evolve with the transforming format and mode of information. Although professional freelance indexers come from all walks of life, the journey to become such always progresses through the same three stages--gaining an introduction to the profession, followed by learning an indexing methodology, until finally, gaining enough confidence in their abilities, they can announce to the world that they are open for business. After becoming a professional, indexers use the skill of textual …

Shaken And Stirred: Tactile Imagery And Narrative Immediacy In J. D. Salinger's "Blue Melody," "A Girl I Knew," And "Just Before The War With The Eskimos", Angelica Bega-Hart

Theses and Dissertations

J.D. Salinger’s ‘A Girl I Knew,’ ‘Just Before the War with the Eskimos,’ and ‘Blue Melody,’ contain key thematic and narratological elements that contribute to the development of character through repeated reference to tactile imagery and through each character’s reaction to the sensations associated with tactile images. Salinger’s descriptions of tactile interaction allow readers to see his characters connected in ways that were increasingly difficult in the 1950’s, where widespread cultural changes contributed to increasing physical and emotional distancing. Critics have argued that “vision” is at the heart of many of Salinger’s characters’ struggles, since they “seek” a level of …

Portuguese As A Foreign Language: Motivations And Perceptions, Desiree Oliveira

Theses and Dissertations

Portuguese enrollments have been on a continuous rise at universities in the United States. Due to this increase it is important that teachers and department administrators understand what the motivations of Portuguese students are. This study reports on the findings of a survey conducted with lower-level Portuguese students at Brigham Young University regarding their motivations to study the language and compares these motivations with those of students of French, German, Italian, and Spanish. In addition, the study reports on students' perspectives on Portuguese in contrast to their perspectives on these other four European languages. Other issues considered include Portuguese students' …

Homage To Everyday People, Sang Ja Chun

Theses and Dissertations

Influenced by an ever-growing sense of alienation with my homeland, I have been determined to discover through my art practice an ability to challenge conventional notions of home, identity, communication and miscommunication. Exploring these themes, I became increasingly aware of the parallels between everyday life and art practice. By creatively connecting with a diverse amount of local people and their communities, I fulfilled desires to discover a sense of belonging and generated opportunities for others to break through traditional social boundaries and roles.

Alghe Mist, Jeffrey Kenney

Theses and Dissertations

This is an overview of the source material, methodologies, artistic influences, and conceptual decisions that inform the sculptural and the photographic means of production that characterize my art practice. Research topics include model-making, the indexical relationship of the photograph and object, and a brief phenomenology of accidents, alchemy, and ambivalence in relation to specific artworks.

An Evaluation Of The Implementation Of A Call Program In A Pilot Curriculum At The Provo Lds Missionary Training Center, Amberly Patch Betteridge

Theses and Dissertations

The current study examines the implementation of one computer-assisted language learning program (CALL) called Technology Assisted Language Learning (TALL) in a pilot language curriculum at the LDS Missionary Training Center. Because CALL implementation is determined in large part by how successfully users are able to use the computer program to learn language, a primary purpose of this study was to investigate which implementation issues affected the language learning success of the missionaries that used TALL in the pilot curriculum. A survey was, therefore, designed and administered to 86 missionaries from French, Spanish, German, and Mandarin language areas in order to …

Taking The Gospel To The Lamanites: Doctrinal Foundations For Establishing The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints In Mexico, Matthew G. Geilman

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a study about the influence of the Book of Mormon message to the Lamanites upon the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico, primarily focusing upon the years 1875-1950. Several important events, people, and publications from the first seventy-five years of the Church's history in Mexico are evaluated as historical case studies in order to examine the extent to which the message to the Lamanites influenced the beginnings of the Latter-day Saints there. These case studies include the first mission to Mexico in 1875, early publications in Spanish, the dedication of Mexico …