Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Columbus Monument: A Hermeneutical Analysis, Basil Ugorji

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

Christopher Columbus, a historically revered European hero to whom the dominant European narrative attributes the discovery of America, but whose image and legacy symbolize silenced genocide of the Indigenous Peoples of America and the Caribbean, has become a controversial figure. This paper explores the symbolic representation of the statue of Christopher Columbus for both sides of the conflict – the Italian Americans who erected it at the Columbus Circle in New York City and in other places on the one hand, and the Indigenous Peoples of America and the Caribbean whose ancestors were slaughtered by the European invaders, on the …

Crises Beyond Nationalities, J P. Linstroth

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

The aim of my presentation titled, Crises Beyond Nationalities, is to discuss the topics of “immigration and racism”, “nationalism and terrorism”, “genocide”, “racial trauma”, “biology, neuroscience, and humanity”, and “empathy, love, and peace” so as not only to theorize about these complex issues but to point to ways forward with some progressive thinking. If the topics of “racism and immigration” are isolated without discussing their broader associations such as with nationalism and violence, or in the most extreme with genocide, then the arguments are not broad enough. As an anthropologist and peace activist, it is important to analyze such …

Promoting Peace Through Gender Equality: A Study On Cultural Alternatives To Counter Stereotypical Patterns Of Gender Inequality, Anshu Subedi Ms

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

The proposal provides a basic outline of cultural alternatives for peace for stereotypical patterns of gender inequality.

The Failures Of Power-Sharing Agreements And The Necessity For Trust Building: The Case Of The South Sudan Peace Process, Sam A. Onapa, Sam Angulo Onapa, Phd

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

Using a case study of the South Sudan peace process, the proposal discusses the failures of power-sharing agreements after violent conflicts and the role of trust building in bridging the gap.

It explores various forms of institutional trust mechanisms in building both impersonal and interpersonal trust following estranged political relationships. It goes further to examine transitional justice mechanisms as a basis for trust-building to address the estrangement in political relationships towards sustainable power sharing agreements.

The Rainbow Nation Vision: (Re)Constructing & (Re)Imagining South Africanness, Riley Crouthamel

Capstone Showcase

“Rainbowism” or the new form of nationalism inspired by Mandela’s “Rainbow Nation vision” emphasizes unity, equality, and non-racialism, and has become the dominant myth and metaphor by which South Africa is recognized in the post-apartheid era. Through an application of a theoretical framework that emphasizes the mythological and imaginative aspects of constructive nationalism and an analysis of Rainbowism’s rise to mythical dominance and evolution in the South African imaginary over the span of the past three decades of democracy using ANC “Rainbowist” discourses in both explicit and inexplicit ways, this thesis argues that Rainbowism arose as a counter myth in …

Community Of Creation: A Documentary On Finding Community Through Art, Sidney Thompson

Student Academic Conference

Community of Creation is a documentary project created under the film production program. The documentary itself focuses on the ideas of local art, fellowship, and adaptability throughout a small community gallery located in Rochester, MN named SEMVA. This presentation will focus on the communal influence of local art and the impact it had on the unique production of the documentary.

North Korea: How Fear Is Used To Control A Nation, Ashley Clisby

Capstone Showcase

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, more commonly known as North Korea, is most commonly known for its possession and testing of nuclear weapons and threatening to use these weapons of mass destruction. Less commonly talked about are the human rights violations that are being experienced by the citizens of North Korea. Most, if not all, of the information regarding North Korean human rights that have been reported on comes from individuals who have escaped the Kim regime. There is very limited information traveling in and out of North Korea that is not heavily monitored by the government. These individuals …

Gaming And Culture: How Videogames Can Affect Global Players' Preception And Understanding Of Japan's History And Culture, Garrett Davies

Capstone Showcase

Video game developers have the ability to create synthetic worlds. These are places where players have the ability to immerse themselves within a culture presented to them by the creators. This allows a global audience to participate in the expression and learning of culture but that may come at a cost. Focusing on Japan, I want to dive into how culture is presenting within video games, why it is presented in such ways, and what that means for players' perception of the country through play.

Podcasts, An Increasingly Effective Media Tool, Katherine Haines

Capstone Showcase

The importance of the world staying connected and up-to-date on current news and new information is only going to continue as technology improves and people look for new sources of education. As we see so many things shift online during the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s only natural that news would continue to shift that way as well. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, podcasts were an alternate source of information that was becoming more and more popular. While the information distributed by podcasts and social media may not be as complete as news from stereotypical sources, they are much more effective because …

Backfire: How The Rise Of Neoliberalism Facilitated The Rise Of The Far Right, Jacob Fuller

Capstone Showcase

The U.S. far right has become increasingly mainstream in contemporary American politics. In this paper, I analyze the theory that the far right has gained ground due to a backlash from neoliberal policies beginning in the 1980s under Ronald Reagan. Using Process tracing, I operationalize claims made by those arguing that the white working class has moved towards the far right due to their loss of status, as well as the theory that specific wealthy actors have mobilized these groups and altered the movement against neoliberalism to suit their interests. I find that these arguments have merit, and further the …

The Manifestation Of Inner-Gender Oppression In Margaret Atwood’S The Handmaid’S Tale As Results From Intentional Patriarchal Power Structures, Aliyah Browning

Capstone Showcase

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale has long been studied for its cautionary warnings about sexist ideologies that exist between men and women; seldom has it been so closely analyzed for instances of inner gender oppression. Inner-gender oppression, which this thesis seeks to define and highlight through the novel’s context, offers artificial forms of power to those in oppressed classes, enough to attract women themselves to participate in the indoctrination and policing of their own sex. This essay highlights the ways in which Atwood’s dystopian society parallels sexist beliefs held by societies past and present.

Art Imitates Life: The Representation (Or Lack Thereof) Of Black Women In Video Games, Bug Gadson

Capstone Showcase

The key focus of this essay is to compare the representation of black women in media, primarily in television and film, to the representation of black female characters in video games. Using black feminist theory, this essay illustrates the treatment of black female characters in gaming. The particular and deliberate methods of writing black female characters in video games are used to highlight white video game characters and their narratives, instead of giving life and dimension to the black female characters themselves. The hostile and unsafe environments in gaming spaces are cultivated through upholding these harmful stereotypes of black women, …

Disney Princess Films And Their Effects On Gender And Body Image Through The Social Learning Theory, Jessica Yakubovsky

Capstone Showcase

Many of us grew up watching Disney Films and throughout the last decade and prior, the Walt Disney Company has created a variety of characters whom we grew up alongside. As we watched these films we found ourselves within the characters and learned things through them. This thesis paper aims to analyze Disney Princess Films and their profound effects on Gender and Body image through the theoretical perspective of the Social Learning theory. I will analyze Classic Disney princesses such as Snow White and Cinderella, and modern princesses such as Mulan(1998) and Merida (2011). My critical analysis indicates that Disney …

Girls Can’T Like Star Wars: An Analysis Of Feminism Within Fandoms, Julia Neff

Capstone Showcase

Finding the intersection between feminist theory and fandom theory, this paper analysis how women are regarded within a fandom community by their peers and how they are dismissed in a societal context. This paper specifically compares what is "accepted" by society about young women being a fan of a boy band versus an adult man as a fan of a sports team.

"The Greek Gods Don't Exactly Show Up For Their Kids' Basketball Games": Adapting Epic Convention Through Family Dramas In Rick Riordan's The Last Olympian, Hannah Mcginnis

Capstone Showcase

Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians saga bridges the gap between ancient myth and modern coming-of-age. In this article, the assertion that The Last Olympian is essentially an epic for the new generation invites an examination of the Homeric-heroic tropes and characteristics which are attributed to Riordan's characters. This analysis explains that through the combined motifs of time, age, and family, Riordan actively adapts and subverts these Classical conventions into a modern mythography for young readers.

#Aminext: The Link Between European Colonization And Gender-Based Violence In Contemporary South Africa, Jenna Meredith Pagel

Capstone Showcase

Alarmingly, the female murder rate in South Africa is five times the global average (BBC News 2019). According to data from 2017 and 2018, a woman is murdered every four hours in South Africa (Wilkinson 2019). More than 30 women were killed by their spouses in August 2019, and at least 137 sexual offenses are committed per day in South Africa (Francke 2019).

For this thesis, and in order to understand why South Africa has some of the highest rates of violence against women in the world, I consult a number of scholars who conclude that the overall issue of …

Real Rap, Does Authenticity Even Matter In Hip Hop?, Amin Allam

Capstone Showcase

Rap and Hip hop has evolved tremendously since its inception. The collective genre has been catapulted to global influence, where in the United States it represents the largest genre based on market share. After reviewing the history of rap music there is a perceived relationship between hip hop and authenticity. To which the question arose of whether hip hop could maintain authenticity in a commercial sphere. To explore this relationship, after reviewing the literature on authenticity, a model of analysis created by Newman and Smith was used to explore 5years worth of data dealing with the Billboard top 100 list. …

Dispassionate Damming: Site C And The Inertia Of Colonial Development, Elizabeth Rudderow

Capstone Showcase

Historically, massive hydroelectric projects have caused irreparable harm to ecosystems and resulted in the dispossession and displacement of indigenous peoples worldwide. Such development projects prioritize wealth wrought from material extraction over the total health of ecological systems. The case of the Site C dam in British Columbia is another settler-colonial development project which is set to destroy a valley in the name of energy production. Treaty 8 First Nations argue that the dam will impede on treaty rights, as the clogging of the river and partial flooding of the valley will negatively impact indigenous ways of life. BC Hydro, the …

Stuart Hall & Theory Of Representation In The Media: Exploring Get Out And Candyman, Lashanna Bryant

Capstone Showcase

Media representation has aided in creating a toxic manifestation of what it means to be Black in America. More specifically, the exploration of Black characters in horror films has opened many doors to hidden racism, discrimination, and oversimplification of their culture and their value in society. In looking into the films Candyman and Get Out there is a clear progression throughout the early 1990s to the mid 2010s that detail a very rapid change from taking a Black character from a background role to the main character.

Out And Proud: The Significance Of Jojo Siwa’S Coming Out And Why Queer Representation In Children’S Media Is Important, Savannah Munholland

Capstone Showcase

Queer representation in the media is slowly improving but children's media still severely lacks diversity, especially LGBTQ+ representation. This paper explores JoJo Siwa, a popular children's influencer and entertainer, and how her coming out will effect the integration of queer representation into children's media.

Education, Migration And Development Panel, Henri Boyi

Africa-Western Collaborations Day 2020

8 graduate students/recent graduate presentations on education, migration and development. Moderated by Dr. Henri Boyi. Reporting of panel done by current GHS students of the 2021 class. Abstracts can be found under "Africa-Western Collaborations Day 2020 Abstracts". Presenters as follows:

Jemima Nomunume Baada, "Experiences of Social Reproduction among Migrant Women in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana"

Elmond Bandauko, "This is a Good Place to Live! Narratives and Counternarratives on Territorial Stigmatization in Harare's Informal Settlements"

Chinelo Ezenwa, "A History of 19th Century European Missionaries in Colonial Africa with Specific References to the Impact of Missionary Schools"

Rebecca Jackson, Jade Rozal, …

Artist Talk: Malcolm Fife, Malcolm Fife

Scholars Week

MALCOLM FIFE

RECENT WORK

Artist Talk

Art 399

Ethnomathematics: Art, Culture, And Social Justice, John R. Jungck

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Intertextuality And The Twin Phenomenon Between The Thirteenth Tale And The Turn Of The Screw, Silvishah Miftari Goodspeed

UBT International Conference

The Thirteenth Tale is a contemporary Gothic novel written by Diane Setterfield, in which the author included various elements of the original 18 th century genre, building up her plot and basing her characters on different classic works that are scattered throughout the storyline. This essay deals with the intertextuality between the book and one of the classic narratives it references, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. The main focus of the paper is on the phenomenon of twins that characterizes both fictions. For attentive readers both the analogy and dichotomy between the two novels are evident, though …

A Passage To India, A Novel About The Two Contrary Ways Of Contemplation, Between The Indians And The British Throughout The Reign Of The Raj In India, Vlera Bytyqi

UBT International Conference

From the very creation of the human beings, history makes us, the human beings, almost never satisfied with each other, thus, instead leaving a ’wonderful’ spiritual and physical inheritance to humanity, which like it or not, mainly can be defined as disastrous, due to the ancient desire to possess more than we deserve. In a magnificent way the author of this novel, Edward Morgen Forster, extremely realistically described the occupation of India by the British Raj-rule- dating from 1858 – 1947. The main idea prevailing throughout the whole book is the tendency of the Indians to show hospitality of their …

The Development Of Intercultural Competency Through English Language Learning, Alma Lama

UBT International Conference

Culture shows the life people live and as of this fact, we see that the term culture refers to beliefs, ideas, values, and knowledge of one nation. On the other side, we also can say that culture and language are bonded together and they cannot be separated when learning takes place as it develops standard communication skills. Otherwise, if languages are taught without their cultures, students are only the visitors of the language who aren’t familiar in detail about the origin of a particular language. Therefore, one of the strategies to learn English as a foreign language is if we …

Interference Mistakes And Learning Difficulties During The Teaching Of German Language To Students With Albanian Mother Tongue At Ubt College, Drita Xhemaili

UBT International Conference

The focus of this research paper is in the analysis, description and the explanation of the interference-related mistakes in the field of morphosyntax of students with Albanian as mother language and the difficulties of learning the German language as a foreign language. The research paper describes the theoretical and practical aspect of the interference-related mistakes in the paper-written exams and in the oral articulation of the students learning German. In the field of morphosyntax, it is important to determine the structural differences and the similarities between two languages in order to, on one hand, to determine the difficulties of acquiring …

The Metaphorisation Of ‘Vegeta’ In The Albanian Political Discourse, Jetmire Aliu, Arbër Çeliku

UBT International Conference

Metaphor, as a stylistic figure, finds use in both professional and everyday discourses. It serves as a weapon of expression, as a means of expressing the ninth, figurative and ornate meaning. In our communication space, recently, metaphor finds a dense use even in political discourse. In the current circumstances of Albanian policy-making, it often happens that we have conceptual ambiguities in the expression of what is said, scandals and even linguistic distortions, which cause a visible confusion of the entire public opinion. The most recent example to illustrate this is the metaphor of the vegeta in front of the media, …

Translations Into Albanian Of The Novel “Don Quixote Of La Mancha” And His Reception By The Albanian Reader, Manjola Brahaj Halili

UBT International Conference

The object of this work will be the two parts novel by the writer Migel de Cervantes, translated into Albanian by two different authors. Through the analysis of the text, but also through the criticisms that have been made for these translations, we will highlight its values and the great importance it had for the Albania of that time. How it was received by the reader and how much it was appreciated by the critics. This is where the originality and value of our work lies, as no scientific research has been done about this topic before. The methods used …

Why Are Certain Students Further From Achieving Their Desired Level Of English Proficiency?, Fellanza Canolli Mallet

UBT International Conference

This study deals with proficiency of students towards English Language Learning. It includes ELT strategies that can properly motivate students to learn the language without betraying where they come from. Although many of them are afraid that learning English might assimilate them, therefore, they hesitate to learn English due to their Educational system which makes them fearful of losing their identity.