Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Formational Living: A Blueprint For Spiritual Formation Within A Virtual Church Community, Darcy Lynn Shepherd

Doctor of Ministry

An opportunity exists to design and develop an educational and experiential spiritual formation website for the virtual E-Church community at The Potter's House to create safe fellowship space, offer formational resources and inspire the community to "Live More Like JesusTM."

Three key insights emerged upon completion of the research: (1) 100% of respondents found The Daily Clay to be a helpful resource to learn more about spiritual formation; (2) 100 % of respondents thought The Daily Clay would be a helpful resource for a church community; and 100% of respondents indicated that they would subscribe to The Daily Clay. Collectively, …

A Discipleship Model For Oral Preference Learners: Specifically Related To The Turkana People Of Kenya, Theresa Lynn Pottenger

Doctor of Ministry

The Turkana people of Kenya are primarily oral learners, processing information in oral ways. Oral learners are completely reliant on what they hear, see, and experience because they cannot or choose not to read.¹ Missionaries from highly literate western cultures unwittingly burdened these oral learners with literacy dependent teaching methods and discipleship practices. This has particularly left Turkana Christian leaders with few options for deepening their own Christian spirituality or leading others in discipleship. Additionally, a cultural disconnect between western spiritual categories taught by the missionaries and Turkana spiritual categories have left several Turkana spiritual needs unmet. The Turkana …

The River Flowing, Bailey Storm

English and Creative Writing | Senior Theses

This piece is set in Kittery Point, ME, where my cousins lived, a place in which I spent many summers growing up. I define these summers as pinpoints in my youth that helped me discover the first touches of independence away from my home in Pennsylvania. All of the time I spent alone was prominent for what I remember of this time. I was incredibly shy and detached from my cousins' friends. Though I loved being a young teenager in Maine, I could never quite grasp the social life similar to Wyatt when he is back home in Kittery from …

Cycles Of Life, Maggie Ellis

English and Creative Writing | Senior Theses

“Before,” “In Existence,” “After,” is a collection of poetry that explores the cyclical nature of human existence through three distinct phases. Each section reflects a unique aspect of life’s journey: “Before” imagines a pre-existence state where souls reside in stillness, untouched by pain or desire; “In Existence” captures the raw experience of living, from birth to growth, struggle, and loss; and “After” reflects on endings, transformation, and the possibility of rebirth. While the poems draw from personal experiences, they are crafted to evoke universal emotions, inviting readers to confront themes of fear, hope, love, and grief. The collection is inspired …

Spaced Out: Exploring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Through Animation, Alyssa R. Klapka

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Spaced Out is about a 16-year-old high school student named Penny, who arrives home from school after a long day. She has astronomy homework that is due, and she is determined to sit down and get it done as fast as possible so that she can have some evening time to herself. This all goes awry when Opal, a dragon who is a manifestation of her ADHD, shows up to distract her. Penny must find a way to finish her assignment, not by ignoring Opal and pretending she isn't there, but by embracing the fact that she is a part …

Hagwon: Shadow Education In The Korean American Community, Minkyu Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Asian and Asian American students are achieving academic success at disproportionate rates, even when faced with low social capital (i.e., English is not the primary language spoken at home) and high rates of poverty (especially in urban settings like New York City). A contributing factor to their academic success is shadow education. Shadow education (SE) is defined as systemized learning that occurs outside of compulsory schooling, at private cost, with the objective of guiding students through and providing them with a competitive edge in school admissions—often with a focus on high-stakes standardized academic exams (Bray, 1999, 2013). In Korean, shadow …

What Motivates Authors To Include Religious Identity In Children's Picture Books?, Kenneth J. Eiker

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores children's authors' experiences of and motivations for including religious and spiritual themes in their picture books. It investigates the intricate connection between authors' backgrounds, including their cultural, spiritual, or religious, and familial roots, and how these elements permeate their writing. The study examines these authors' lived experiences and personal narratives, uncovering how their unique identities shape the portrayal of complex spiritual or religious themes in children's literature. Across the interviews, several themes were identified, including family teachings, religious upbringing, and personal spirituality. Authors draw from a wealth of personal experiences, such as Matt de la Peña's Christian …

American Public Diplomacy And Propaganda Efforts To Change “Hearts And Minds” In A Soviet Satellite State (Bulgaria) During The Cold War, 1945-1991, Kristian Kafozov

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates and demonstrates the nature and impact of public diplomacy and propaganda efforts employed by the United States of America across Eastern Europe throughout the Cold War, focusing on the People’s Republic of Bulgaria as a case study. Bulgaria's unique position as a steadfast ally of the Soviet Union underpinned by a deep-rooted Russian-Bulgarian “special relationship” (based on shared cultural, religious, and political ties forged over the course of a century), makes it an especially compelling subject for understanding the effectiveness of American initiatives in penetrating even the most loyal Soviet satellite states during the Cold War. This …

Nostalgia For The Never Was: Ideals Of Family, Nation, And Masculinity In The Blockbuster Films Of The Reagan Era, Patrick M. Zwosta

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation offers a cultural history of the symbiotic relationship between consumerism, nuclear war and the ideal of the nuclear family as these concepts are reflected in popular film franchises launched in the 1980s during the heyday of Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Each chapter studies the strong correlation between blockbuster film and Reagan’s militarism, his invocations of family values, and most importantly, his investment in turning American politics into a nostalgic movie promising a happy Hollywood ending. Chapter One discusses James Cameron’s The Terminator as a warning for what can happen if a society is too reliant on technology and consumption …

Survival Of Regional Theater In A Post-Covid America, Sasha Brätt

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of the qualitative narrative study is to better understand the innovative strategies and programs used by regional theaters to bring their audiences and revenues back to pre-pandemic levels in a post-pandemic world. 11 current artistic leaders from across the United States were interviewed for this study using a semi-structured interview protocol. The leaders chosen for this study had been associated with a regional theater from the onset of the Covid-19 shutdowns through the various stages of re-opening thereafter. Nine themes emerged from the data: (1) Loyalty; (2) Financial Stability; (3) Adapting and Staying Relevant; (4) Navigating Obstacles; (5) …

“We Are All Sort Of Figuring It Out Together”: A Case Study On How An Experiential Learning Course Shapes Career Readiness For Photography Students, Rebecca Reuland

Dissertations of Practice

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand how participation in an experiential learning course fosters career readiness for photography majors. Data was collected through observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis of course-assigned reflection papers. Using a conceptual framework of NACE’s (National Association of Colleges and Employers) career readiness competencies, this study investigated how the course structure and working with models and peers fostered career readiness. This study also explored how students described their career readiness. Overall, three findings surfaced from the data that showcased that experiential learning courses can: foster interpersonal communication skills, foster collaboration, and confidence …

The Hip Hop Collective, Veronica Bjorkman

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

THE HIP HOP COLLECTIVE

Veronica Bjorkman, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Gudrun Nyunt, Director

This qualitative case study, guided by Gloria Ladson-Billings’s culturally relevant pedagogy, examined the pedagogical approaches in a Hip Hop music course called the Hip Hop Collective, at a large Midwestern predominantly white public institution. Data was collected via interviews and focus groups with 13 university students, one university faculty member, and two community members along with in-class and out-of-class observations. Three primary themes emerged from the research: (a) the Hip Hop Collective course fostered students’ collaboration skills and their …

Sexuality And Service: The Intersectionality To The Black Church Serving The Lbgtqia+ Community, Kwaun Felton

Doctor of Ministry

v ABSTRACT The term “Black Church” may seem old and outdated, however during the civil unrest in the 1960 were racial divide between European Americans and African American threatened the economic stability and existence of a country. The phrase black church represented hope in a heavenly change to come for people of color. In the discussion Sexuality and Service, the intersectionality to ministering to the LBGTQIA+ community you will discover how the black church can better serve a community of diverse sexualities in the manner Christ intended for the institution called black church was designed to service all people seeking …

Empowering Kokal: A Decolonized, Community-Led Development Model In Homa Bay County, Kenya, Kennedy Miruka

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

In Homa Bay County, Kenya, a community-led development initiative called the Power Centre is transforming the fight against poverty and powerlessness. Grounded in principles of decolonization and participatory action, this project addresses the root causes of marginalization by empowering residents of Kokal Village to become active agents of change. Through a robust mixed-methods research approach, the project identifies systemic challenges and leverages existing social networks to build a sustainable, locally-owned model for development. The Power Centre implements a three-pronged strategy, focusing on increasing community participation, strengthening existing groups, and fostering collaborative networks to weave a robust support system. By addressing …

Power Centres: A Collaborative Development Proposal For Addressing Poverty And Related Challenges In Rural Communities In Kenya, Kennedy Okello Miruka, Kennedy Okello Miruka

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

In Homa Bay County, Kenya, a community-led development initiative called the Power Centre is transforming the fight against poverty and powerlessness. Grounded in principles of decolonization and participatory action, this project addresses the root causes of marginalization by empowering residents of Kokal Village to become active agents of change. Through a robust mixed-methods research approach, the project identifies systemic challenges and leverages existing social networks to build a sustainable, locally-owned model for development. The Power Centre implements a three-pronged strategy, focusing on increasing community participation, strengthening existing groups, and fostering collaborative networks to weave a robust support system. By addressing …

Dna-- Do You Know Who You Are? A Curriculum For Mentors Of Emerging Adult Young Women, Cristina Joy Davis

Doctor of Ministry

The transitional phase of emerging adulthood signifies a pivotal period for young women as they embark on the journey of self-discovery, distinct from their familial roots. This developmental epoch significantly challenges their faith formation and the establishment of a Christ-centered identity, often influencing decisions to depart from their Christian faith and congregations in pursuit of acceptance and purpose elsewhere. In response, this project seeks to facilitate mentored development of Christ-centered identity in emerging adult Christian women ages 18-25, congruent with their faith, while navigating transitions and influences challenging their professed and lived out faith in Jesus Christ.

Research underscores the …

Rhythms For Reformation: Guiding Missionaries To Find Healing From The Trauma Of Spiritual Abuse, Nancy Raatz

Doctor of Ministry

The NPO statement which guided this Doctoral Project is missionaries need a safe space and attuned guidance to renew spiritually from spiritual abuse suffered in the course of vocational missions work. Key insights which emerged from research found that spiritual abuse happens among missionaries while serving overseas which causes a deformation of their spiritual life. That deformation results in doubting or dismissing the relationship they once experienced with Jesus. Spiritual healing, a reformation of their spirituality, is possible in a safe guided community. At the start of this doctoral program my ministry context was as a twenty year veteran of …

The Impact Of Body Image On Self-Confidence In Elite Dancers, Carissa Bethel

Applied Sport & Performance Psychology | Literature Reviews

In athletics and the performing arts, athletes and performers are expected to maintain a healthy, strong, and athletic physique. Specific professions foster a thin body image amongst athletes, which are expected to be maintained. Pressure to maintain low weight or an athletic body has been considered a risk factor for developing body image dissatisfaction (Nascimento, Luna, Fontenelle, 2012). Previous research has shown that from a health perspective body satisfaction is one of the crucial factors in the prevention of unhealthy, weight related behaviors, especially in female athletes (Kantanista et al., 2018). The research addresses body image concerns in elite performance …

To Strengthen The Words Of The Sages: An Analysis Of Rav Elyakum Getz’S Rappeduni Ba-Tappuḥim And Its Consonance With Seventeenth-Century Polish Rabbinic Thought, Mushka Steinmetz

Student Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines Rappeduni Ba-Tappuḥim, Rabbi Elyakum Getz’s 17th-century commentary on the Aggadic passages in BT Bava Batra 73a-74b, known as the Aggadot of Raba Bar Bar Ḥanbna. The study positions Elyakum’s work within the broader tradition of Aggadic exegesis and defines its uniqueness. To achieve this, Rappeduni Ba-Tappuḥim is compared with two earlier 16th-century works on the same Aggadot: Rabbi Shmuel Eidel’s Ḥiddushei Aggadot and Ephraim Luntchitz’s Olelot Ephraim. While both were written in Poland, they represent contrasting approaches—Eidel's commentary is a sincere Talmudic exegesis, whereas Luntchitz’s work reflects his role as a preacher, using the text as a …

Judicial Rhetoric And The Rhetoric Of Myth In "Till We Have Faces", Maria Wilkening

Master of Arts in Classical Studies

C.S. Lewis is unquestionably one of the more enduring influences in the 20th century, due in part to his personal popularity during his lifetime, as well as to his prolific and approachable oeuvre in wide-ranging genres such as apologetics, fiction, and public debate and address. Lewis has only become more popular since his death, with continued interest building after the more recent development of movie interpretations depicting both his fiction and life. C.S. Lewis’s corpus is certainly vast, and even more has been written about C.S. Lewis and his writings since his death. Strong scholarship exists, particularly in the areas …

Suzanne Valadon And The Active Nude, Sophia Foster

Honors Program Theses

This thesis explores how French Modernist artist and prior model Suzanne Valadon disrupted the traditional, phallocentric expectations surrounding the nude genre during the twentieth century. Theorizing on the relationship between the erotic, female nude, and the gaze, it can be concluded that the historic, repetitive visual correlation between women’s nude bodies and eroticism entangles the two concepts so tightly that women’s nude bodies became inherently erotic. The male gaze upon women’s bodies has restricted and policed their identity, since male artists inscribed their bodies as erotic symbols existing for male pleasure and conquest, particularly through the nude genre.This visual media …

Escaping The Peripherality: Local Experiences Of The Us Military Presence In Northeast Thailand, Wipawee Srifa

CGU Theses & Dissertations

From 1964 to 1976, the United States military deployed troops to Thailand as part of its strategic operations during the Vietnam War. Most of these military personnel were stationed in Isan, a northeastern region of Thailand, due to its proximity to key bombing targets in Indochina. Historically, Isan was affiliated with Laos and was assimilated into Thai governance in the late eighteenth century. Until the 1950s, most of Isan’s population resided in rural, agricultural communities and were politically, economically, and culturally marginalized by mainstream Thai society. The Thai state’s internal colonization exacerbated socioeconomic disparities for Isan peasants, severely restricting avenues …

การแสดงเดี่ยวขับร้องระดับมหาบัณฑิตโดยโซปราโนชาย ภาณุ ภัสสร์ บุนนาค, ภาณุ ภัสสร์ บุนนาค

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

วิทยานิพนธ์ฉบับนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาการขับร้องของนักร้องโซปราโนชาย โดยเน้นการวิเคราะห์เปรียบเทียบเทคนิคการขับร้องของนักร้องชายและหญิงในช่วงเสียงเดียวกัน และประยุกต์ใช้เทคนิคของนักร้องโซปราโนเพื่อพัฒนาศักยภาพของนักร้องชายเสียงโซปราโน การวิจัยประกอบด้วยการศึกษาข้อมูลจากแหล่งวรรณกรรม คัดเลือกบทเพลงที่เหมาะสม วิเคราะห์เทคนิคการขับร้อง ตลอดจนฝึกซ้อมและแสดงเดี่ยวขับร้องในระดับมหาบัณฑิต รายการบทเพลงครอบคลุมผลงานทางวรรณกรรมจากยุคบาโรกจนถึงยุคโรแมนติก อาทิ งานของ เฮนเดล บาค โมสาร์ท ปุชชินี และ ชูเบิร์ต ผลการศึกษาชี้ให้เห็นว่านักร้องชายสามารถนำเทคนิคบางประการของนักร้องหญิงมาปรับใช้ได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ โดยเฉพาะการควบคุมลมหายใจ การวางเสียง และการใช้เสียงศีรษะ ซึ่งส่งผลต่อคุณภาพของเสียงและการถ่ายทอดอารมณ์อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ นอกจากนี้ ยังเสนอแนะแบบฝึกหัดเฉพาะทางที่เหมาะสมกับนักร้องชายเสียงโซปราโนเพื่อใช้ในการพัฒนาทักษะการขับร้องในระดับสูง

ประวัติและนโยบายด้านศิลปะของกลุ่มอีเลิ้งในบริบทของศิลปะชุมชน, ธารินี รัตนเสถียร

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

วิทยานิพนธ์ฉบับนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อสำรวจประวัติและนโยบายด้านศิลปะในบริบทของศิลปะชุมชนของกลุ่ม "อีเลิ้ง" (E-Lerng Artists Collective) ซึ่งเป็นกลุ่มศิลปินที่ทำงานอยู่ในย่านนางเลิ้ง เขตป้อมปราบศัตรูพ่าย กรุงเทพฯ ตั้งแต่ปี พ.ศ. 2551 - 2567 ก่อตั้งขึ้นเพื่อตอบสนองต่อความท้าทายทางสังคมและวัฒนธรรมที่ชุมชนต้องเผชิญ และได้พัฒนาแนวทางจากการทำโครงการศิลปะชุมชนแบบดั้งเดิมไปสู่การเป็นตัวอย่างสำคัญของศิลปะชุมชนในประเทศไทยที่ริเริ่มโดยคนในชุมชนเพื่อตอบสนองต่อปัญหาของชุมชน โดยใช้วิธีการเก็บข้อมูลแบบพรรณนา การทบทวนเอกสาร งานภาคสนาม และการวิเคราะห์บริบททางสังคมและการเมืองที่กลุ่มศิลปินดำเนินงานอยู่ และนำข้อมูลที่ได้มาวิเคราะห์และสรุปผลการศึกษา รวมถึงสำรวจวิธีการที่เป็นเอกลักษณ์และยั่งยืนในการแก้ไขปัญหาต่าง ๆ ในชุมชน กระบวนการคิดและการดำเนินงานของกลุ่มอีเลิ้งได้สร้างองค์ความรู้ที่มีคุณค่าในสาขาศิลปะชุมชน (Community Art) ที่มีประเด็นร่วมกับศาสตร์สาขาอื่น ไม่ว่าจะเป็นประเด็นด้านสังคม การเมือง คุณภาพชีวิต ไปจนถึงประเด็นทางประวัติศาสตร์ มรดกภูมิปัญญาทางวัฒนธรรม สังคมวิทยาและมานุษยวิทยา ซึ่งสามารถใช้เป็นข้อมูลสำคัญในการพัฒนานโยบายศิลปะในประเทศไทยที่เกี่ยวข้องกับรูปแบบของศิลปะชุมชน (Community Art) ศิลปะที่มีส่วนร่วมทางสังคม (Socially Engaged Art) ศิลปะแห่งการมีส่วนร่วม (Participatory Art) และศิลปะแบบกิจกรรม (Activity-based art)

ประมวลศัพท์ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับยารักษาโรคมะเร็ง, อัจฉรียา คุ้มญาติ

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

สารนิพนธ์ฉบับนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อนำเสนอประมวลศัพท์ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับยารักษาโรคมะเร็ง ซึ่งประกอบด้วยศัพท์ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับลำดับการรักษาโรคมะเร็ง วิธีการรักษาโรคมะเร็ง ยารักษาโรคมะเร็ง ตัวชี้วัดผลการรักษา โดยมีจุดมุ่งหมายเพื่อศึกษาทฤษฎีที่เกี่ยวข้อง และกระบวนการจัดทำประมวลศัพท์ และนำประมวลศัพท์ที่ได้มาใช้อ้างอิงสำหรับผู้ที่ต้องทำความเข้าใจข้อมูลยารักษาโรคมะเร็งในระดับที่เกี่ยวข้อง เช่น อาสาสมัครโครงการวิจัยยามะเร็ง นักศึกษา นักแปล และผู้สนใจ การจัดทำประมวลศัพท์ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับยารักษาโรคมะเร็งนี้ได้อ้างอิงจากทฤษฎีและแนวทางการทำประมวลศัพท์ที่นักศัพทวิทยาเสนอไว้ โดยแบ่งการทำงานออกเป็น 5 ขั้นตอน ได้แก่ 1) การกำหนดหัวข้อ วัตถุประสงค์และขอบเขตการศึกษาในการจัดทำประมวลศัพท์ 2) การทบทวนวรรณกรรมทางศัพทวิทยาและการศึกษาข้อมูลยารักษาโรคมะเร็ง 3) การสร้างคลังข้อมูลภาษา และการดึงศัพท์จากคลังข้อมูลภาษา 4) การกำหนดมโนทัศน์สัมพันธ์ของศัพท์ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับยารักษาโรคมะเร็งและ 5) การบันทึกข้อมูลศัพท์เบื้องต้น การบันทึกข้อมูลศัพท์ และการเขียนคำนิยามเพื่อกำหนดศัพท์เทียบเคียงในภาษาไทย ประมวลศัพท์ที่เกี่ยวข้องกับยารักษาโรคมะเร็งประกอบด้วยศัพท์ทั้งหมด 30 คำ โดยจัดเรียงตามกลุ่มมโนทัศน์สัมพันธ์ และลำดับของมโนทัศน์ในมโนทัศน์สัมพันธ์ การนำเสนอศัพท์แต่ละคำประกอบด้วยศัพท์ภาษาอังกฤษ ศัพท์ภาษาไทย ขอบเขตข้อมูลที่พบศัพท์ มโนทัศน์สัมพันธ์พร้อมคำอธิบาย บริบทที่พบศัพท์ นิยามศัพท์ รูปศัพท์อื่น ประเภทของคำทางไวยากรณ์ และข้อมูลอ้างอิง

Continuities And Transformations: The Tiwanaku Component Of The Site Of In Copacabana, Bolivia, Stanislava R. Chavez

Wayne State University Dissertations

The site of Cundisa in Copacabana (Copacabana Peninsula, Bolivia) was occupied almost continuously for the past 2,500 years. The oldest occupation includes a Yaya-Mama religious tradition semi-subterranean temple with some associated burials. Later, the whole site, including the interior of the Yaya-Mama temple, was used as a Tiwanaku cemetery. Subsequently, the Incas reused the site, as they incorporated Copacabana into their empire as a major pilgrimage site. After the Spanish conquest the site continued to be occupied, including an oven where glazed tiles for the Copacabana Basilica were fired. This dissertation focuses on the Tiwanaku component of this complex site. …

The Spiritual Experience: Mysticism, Asceticism, And Sobriety, Corinne Cuddeback

Master of Liberal Studies Theses

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of people who help each other recover from the disease of alcoholism. The AA program is spiritual in nature but insists it is not religious. It encourages each member to discover a relationship with a Higher Power of their understanding and live by spiritual principles to maintain their daily reprieve from alcohol. Research has been conducted on the efficacy of Twelve Step recovery programs and the correlation of one’s religious or spiritual beliefs with long-term sobriety. However, little has been done to explore the spiritual content of the AA program. The purpose of this …

Metaphors Of Nature In Zen Buddhism By Thich Nhat Hanh, Usana Larbprasertporn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigates the nature metaphors employed by Thich Nhat Hanh, a renowned Vietnamese monk and Zen Buddhist master, in his teachings of various abstract Zen Buddhist concepts. It further examines the conceptual metaphors underlying those expressions by applying the theoretical framework of Lakoff and Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory. Data were collected from 14 of Thich Nhat Hanh’s best-selling English books. The findings reveal two main groups of nature metaphors—living and non-living entities—comprising ten subgroups: plant, human, and animal metaphors (living); and water/bodies of water, place, fire, light, celestial objects, earth, and wind metaphors (non-living). These metaphors reflect eleven core …

Remixing Community Cartographies: Mapping Community Engagement, New Media, And The Composition Classroom, Christopher W. Susak

Wayne State University Dissertations

Community Writing has emerged as a relatively new subdiscipline that spans elements of larger fields such as Rhetoric and Writing Studies, Technical and Professional Communication, and Composition Pedagogy. Despite this recent emergence, teacher-scholars are still grappling with three major problematics traditionally associated with Community Engaged Learning (CEL) writ large: (1) this work frequently fails to address the real needs and basic material realities of community partners in favor of (2) a repetitive cycle of short-lived educational “experiences” for students, often without tangible and/or sustainable results, which is further exacerbated by (3) a shortage of useful data-driven assessment conducted on curriculum, …

Preserving Wonder And Welcoming Boredom: The Importance Of Quietly Incredible Adventures In Today’S Rushed Childhood, Amalia Hillmann

Children's Book Writing and Illustrating (MFA) Theses

Once upon childhoods past, children’s early years were filled with exploration of and delight in the world around them. They learned through independent play and chasing curiosity without the micromanagement of intervening adults. Inter-generational relationships grew character and knowledge via shared stories and skills and encouraged collaborative experiences and tasks. Today’s culture is losing this inquisitive, play-filled heart of childhood. Children are increasingly pulled through their earliest years and pushed into adolescence prematurely by impatient communities, unrealistic academic expectations, and distracted parenting. The loss of slightly-wild, unstructured adventures and rooted parent-child relationships in pre-teen years should be of interest to …