Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Closing Remarks, Jay Yang

Value and Responsibility in AI Technologies

Closing remarks from director of Gonzaga's Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology, Dr. Jay Yang, with a reception to follow.

Hats: Communication Through Various Creative Modes, Lauren Derscheid, Kali Jo Wacker

Celebration of Research

This project began as a single word: trend.

Hats, a children’s story, attempts to reveal the negative impact of trends by creating a world where each day brings a new trend in the hottest accessory—hats. As new hats are donned, the hats of yesterday are quickly discarded. The story highlights, alternately, the value of unique personal expression.

At the start of ENG176, this project simply aimed to define the word ‘trend’ through story. Throughout the remainder of the class further layers were added. The visual, auditory, gestural, spatial, and material modes were used to supplement the linguistic mode. These …

Costuming Hamlet, Marissa Leraas, Robert Hubbard

Celebration of Research

Combining elements from both Medieval and Renaissance eras, while mixing in a little Nordic flair, I want the costumes of Northwestern's production of Hamlet to be a representation of the times while avoiding ordinary drabness. The costumes will be clear silhouettes that speak to the history of the play, but be built in colors that bring Shakespeare's story to a vibrant life. Color schemes will help tell the story through family tree connections and bring a rare pop to this tragedy. Throughout each piece there will be a unique combination of historical accuracy and the touch of a designer's imagination.

"Taking" Photographs: Settler Aesthetics In 20th Century Hawaiian Postcards, Elena Lee, Rebecca Koerselman

Celebration of Research

Due to colonization, Hawaii’s economic, political, and societal structure were changed to fit the white American standard. Colonization also caused a shift in their aesthetics, including the exclusion from participation in the creation of art, and poor visual representations of Hawaiian culture in settler art, which is known as “settler aesthetics.” Settler Aesthetics is a term and theory that seeks to define how a culture’s art and beauty has been influenced by settler colonialism. Many historians have analyzed this theory in Hawaiian literature, music, and visual art, but have left untouched the field of deltiology; the study of postcards. Though …

Home Away From Home, Isaac Ferguson, Kali Jo Wacker

Celebration of Research

A story 10,000 Blocks away from the overworld, exploring a galaxy of new ideas and a journey of restoring a broken sci-fi-ridden world. Home Away from Home is a story of triumph in hardship, about tenacity all wrapped into a tasteful and family-oriented package. This book blends the classic sci-fi feeling with Minecraft's exciting world, perfect for those unfamiliar and for those who have read much sci-fi before. This book is a springboard for the Curious and a love letter to Isaac Fergusons' imagination of his younger days in Minecraft.

This story is a must-read story in our current time; …

Interpretive Development In The Binding Of Isaac, Josiah Troutner, John Vonder Bruegge

Celebration of Research

Despite unimportance within the Pentateuch, the Binding of Isaac (the Aqedah) became central to later Rabbinic Jewish theology. In this essay, my goal was to identify early literary developments of that change in the Aqedah narratives of Jubilees, Philo and Josephus using the methodological premise that where sources of disparate backgrounds and rhetorical goals thematically overlap, they are more likely to represent more widely held beliefs – what I call “historical, cultural, and theological development in post-biblical self conception”. Was the Aqedah connected to the institution of the temple or Passover? Was Isaac thought to prefigure later Jewish martyrs? Was …

Missouri’S Manufacturing Difference During World War Ii, Jared Wortmann

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Tracing News Of The St. John Slave Rebellion Across The Atlantic, 1733-4, Milo Hathaway, Justin Pope

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

“You’Re Getting A Little Big For This”: Fat Characters In Disney Animated Films, Grace Brenner

Thinking Matters Symposium

How do Disney animated films depict fat characters?

2025 Rev. Cornelius P. Forster, O.P. Making History Conference Program, Rev. Cornelius P. Forster, O.P. Making History Conference Planning Committee

Rev. Cornelius P. Forster, O.P. Making History Conference

No abstract provided.

A Psychosociocultural Exploration Of Connection Among First-Generation Latina Undergraduates, Elizandra Sandoval M.S., Mary Dueñas Ph.D

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Using a narrative inquiry, we explored the educational experiences of first-generation Latina college students and highlight opportunities for integrating their educational wisdoms in resource and service development. We center notions of critical consciousness to focus on how students’ language identity kept them connected to their home pedagogies in higher education.

Session Iic: Religious Studies Presentation 1 - A Literary Analysis Of Job 1: 1-12, Crystal Aldridge

Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference

No abstract provided.

Session Iic: Religious Studies Presentation 2 - The Messianic Expectation Of The Psalms Of Ascents, Brock Nikkari

Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference

The presentation will look through the history and authorship of Books IV and V of the Psalms and their usage in Judaism. The main focus of the presentation will be on the defense for and against a messianic reading of the Psalms of Ascents. Then it will wrap up with a conclusion and a talking point of further research.

Session Iia: Social Issues Presentation 4 - Social Stories: The Groundbreaking Work Of Carol Gray In Communicating With Neurodivergent Children, Kristina Moore

Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference

No abstract provided.

Session Iia: Social Issues Presentation 1 - Portraying Appalachia: Comparing Two Shows, Morgan Lilly

Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference

Using the movie Deliverance, I analyze how the two shows, Beverly Hillbillies and Heartstrings portray Appalachia and how the scholarship reacts to the shows.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

Peace Engagement And Non-Negotiable Commitment Through An In-Depth Lens (P.E.N.C.I.L) Theory: A Film Perspective On Un’S Conflict Resolution, Edward Moses Sam Selvaraj

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

This paper introduces the P.E.N.C.I.L. Theory—Peace Engagement and Non-negotiable Commitment through an In-depth Lens—as a metaphorical and analytical framework for understanding the United Nations Security Council’s role in conflict resolution. Using the symbolic structure of a pencil, the theory critiques the Council’s decision-making power ("the lead") and its human consequences ("the eraser"), highlighting how failures in peacekeeping and diplomacy disproportionately affect civilian populations. Drawing on constructivist theory, the paper argues that norms and social narratives, especially those shaped by cinema, are critical in holding international institutions accountable. Through close analysis of films such as Hotel Rwanda, Sometimes in April, and …

Reading Sound: Freedom And Constraint Within Music Media Designs, Aaron Lohmeyer

CLASP Lecture Series

Dr. Lohmeyer’s presentation explores how emerging media designs (such as the phonograph) gave way to new musical practices in the 20th-century and beyond. The literacies emerging from various new media designs changed our orientation to music as technology shifted how sound would be represented, recorded, and transmitted by and for people. Dr. Lohmeyer’s talk examines how “the act of reading sound presents both freedoms and constraints for the reader” and carry important implications for self-expression and democracy.

Program: 2025 Featured Lecture, "Abandonment And Freedom A Philosopher Looks At The Religious Life", Zena Hitz

Frank Pack Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture Program

Program for the Twentieth Annual Frank Pack Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture Program with the featured lecturer Zena Hitz, tutor in the great books program at St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland.

Exploring Stressors And Coping Mechanisms Among Esperanza Community Residents Seeking Healthcare At The C.D. Doyle Clinic, Kashish Sawant, Alexander Carruth, Lucas Williams, Miriam Yampuler, Krishna Hariprasad, Pranavi Kolli

Research Symposium

Background: The C.D. Doyle Clinic (CDD) is a student-run free clinic that operates as an acute care center in the Esperanza Community (EC), a state sanctioned encampment in Southeast Austin supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. Residents of EC are provided with access to low-cost insurance, employment opportunities, and community support by The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF). However, studies have indicated that home-insecure individuals experience a heightened level of stress, due to causes such as social estrangement, systemic inadequacies in support structures, and financial instability¹. While CDD primarily addresses acute wellness needs, the clinic hopes to establish more collaboration with …

Sagallo : Russia’S Forgotten African Colony And Its Modern Implications, Kadee Swanson

Honors Council of the Illinois Region Spring Symposium

Imperial Russia is infamous for its rapid and unrelenting colonization efforts in central Asia and Western Europe. However, an oft-overlooked aspect of the Russian Empire’s colonial aspirations was its interest in establishing overseas colonial holdings in North America and Africa. One such holding was that of the colony of Sagallo, or New Moscow, in modern-day Djibouti, established in 1889 during an ill-fated mission led by notorious Cossack Nikolai Ivanovich Ashinov and a group of accompanying Russian Orthodox pilgrims. The mission was religious in nature and held the primary goal of establishing both an ecclesiastical and economic connection with the Orthodox …

Collection Of Self-Research Papers Analyzing The Enhancement Of Uae-China Cooperation Through Public Policy Lenses, Jiaming Lu

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

As a research combination, this thesis is concerned with how UAE public policy can align with China’s overseas interests to deepen the current strategic partnership, focusing on the bilateral business cooperation including diplomacy, free zone trading, and corporate governance in energy sectors. The main objective of this thesis is to analyze whether this relationship can be maintained or upgraded to an all-weather strategic partnership amidst global challenges. Multiple research models are used to investigate specific public policies and their implementation, including historical analysis, policy dynamic framework, socio-legal research, and network governance examination. The results of this thesis indicate that aligning …

Nafis Program In Its Third Year: A Public Policy Analysis, Sara Almessabi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Emiratization in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands at the forefront of government priorities, with policymakers placing significant emphasis on it as a fundamental pillar for providing citizens with a dignified life and enhancing their participation across various economic sectors. Emiratis are considered integral contributors to driving their country's economic development. Recognizing this importance, the UAE government has focused its efforts since the country's establishment on enacting public policies that enable Emiratis to integrate into both the public and private labour markets. However, these policies have faced several challenges, most notably citizens' preference for public sector employment due to factors …

Cripistemology And Creative Practice: Disability, Aesthetics, Digital Art, Generative Ai, Talan Memmott Phd

CLASP Lecture Series

Dr. Memmott’s presentation will showcase “Introducing Lary”—an ongoing AI project that explores the re-invention of the self following life-changing cancer surgery and treatment. This talk profiles the artist’s experience with a laryngeal cancer diagnosis and the medical interventions that follow. Utilizing a variety of AI platforms for both video and image production along with journal entries and medical reports as text prompts, the resulting work is a set of distinctive media that range, in Dr. Memmott’s words, “from the mythic to the horrific; the historical to the speculative.” Though at times the resulting media may emphasize the emergent body horror …

Recent Artwork By Bethel's Art + Design Professors, Michelle Wingard Wingard, Amanda Hamilton, Jessica Henderson, Evelyn Kim, Lex Thompson, Kenneth Steinbach, Laura Wennstrom, Jeff Wetzig

Day of Scholarship

Each artist in the Art + Design Department are makers as well as teachers. This slide deck shows recent work from each of the professors and instructors in our department.

Undergraduate Human Subjects Research Lab Experiences In Humanities, Gvantsa Kiknavelidze

Symposium of Student Scholars

Amid concerns for the coming enrollment cliff as well as enrollment attrition in humanities programs, one sector of higher education that continues to grow is international students. In view of growing concerns about enrollment attrition and shrinking resources for sustainable international learning experiences, short-term programs grounded in institutional partnerships may offer opportunities of mutual benefit to international participants and domestic stakeholders. This exploratory case study examines the effects of a six-weeks English language learning program in which seventeen German adults participated in Spring semester 2024. This project investigates the program’s impact on participants’ language proficiency and intercultural competence development and …

Thor: An Evolution, Regan Cerlanek, Rachael Vause

Symposium of Student Scholars

Mythology today serves as a vehicle for storytelling, just as it did for ancient societies. These sacred tales continue to provide role models, express the core values of their respective cultures, answer timeless questions and serve as a moral guide for each generation. Myths are rewritten and retold time and time again, evolving to encapsulate modern beliefs, but often still staying true to their core. Many myths have made their way into popular culture and the heroes in these tales of old become icons, fan-favorites, and household names; namely, Thor the God of Thunder. This study explores and compares the …