Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Music In Its Social Context: Fiji In A Microcosm, Alexander Greene

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The music of Fiji flows throughout the country as rich as the food and as omnipresent as the kava. Music touches all aspects of the Fijian way of life. Whether one is Indo-Fijian, Indigenous Fijian, from another pacific island, kylomo, or a kavailagi, there is no escaping music while in Fiji. This paper looks to explore the different social settings and context that music is created and then in turn listened to, and how the social setting of Fiji has shaped what music is created here. This paper also attempts to gather in a cohesive manner, what music is being …

Playing Past The Troubles: Theatrical Expression In A Post-Conflict Society, Jayce Hafner

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This report is the result of a month-long study on theatrical expression in Northern Irish Communities. Data was obtained by way of qualitative methods using semi-informal interviews, observation, participant observation, and academic research. It is concluded that theatrical expression can contribute to building peace in Northern Ireland. Recommendations for potential future studies include comedic performance in a post-conflict society, and social development and the Belfast Community Circus.

Visualizing Tagore: A Visual Study Of Rabindranth Tagore's Writings And Philosophies, Galen Koch

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper describes my experience "Visualizing Tagore. " It presents the objective of my study, to create a series of art pieces inspired by Tagore's writing and philosophies, and relates the project to Tagore's theories about the nature of art and the creative ideal. In order to conduct this study, I traveled from Kolkata to Santiniketan and then to Darjeeling, creating artwork and researching Tagore 's personal history and accomplishments. This paper gives a brief description of Tag ore 's lifo in relationship to his world view and philosophies. It presents his philosophies of art and education, and relates these …

Outside The Black Box: “Found-Transformed” Czech Theatres, Michele O'Brien

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study was designed to investigate the recent trends of non-traditional theatre spaces in the Czech Republic. By profiling four theatres, called “found-transformed” spaces for the purposes of this paper, the study‟s original aim was to draw a conclusion about the impulses for the creation and use of these spaces within the Czech context. The four spaces were: Divadlo Tramtarie in Olomouc, Moving Station in Plzen, Divadlo Těchonice in Těchonice, and Kulturní Dům Rozkrok in Varnsdorf. Methodologies employed include personal interview, observation of both the spaces and some of the work performed in the space, and research of theoretical texts …

Lost Wax: An Exploration Of Bronze Sculpture In Senegal, Kevin Bell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The goal of this Independent Study Project was for the researcher to develop an in-depth understanding of the techniques involved in the production of bronze sculpture via a short apprenticeship at the foundry at the Village des Arts in Dakar, Senegal. The researcher also sought to gain an understanding of the cultural context of the medium, including its history and social and economic significance through formal and informal interviews with artists and visits to various art galleries and workshops. Over the course of the ISP period, five works of art were produced by the researcher at the foundry. The researcher …

“It’S A Ripple Effect”: Global Mamas In A Developing Ghana, Mara Dold

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

My research took place almost entirely in Cape Coast but was supplemented with time in Krobo-Odumase and Accra. I worked exclusively with the nonprofit and fair trade international organization Women in Progress, specifically focusing on the women working for their brand name product line Global Mamas. I was a part of 2 batik workshops and 1 bead making workshop, led by Ghanaians hired by Global Mamas. Participant observation and informal interviews went hand in hand during the workshops. I had many an informal discussion and just 5 formal interviews overall. Book research was key to my more general findings and …

Shifting Focus: Redefining The Goals Of Sea Turtle Consumption And Protection In Bali, Audrey Jensen

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Many would say that the environment and human culture consists of an evolutionary process, complete with necessary adaptations to current situations and the availability of resources. However, religion is usually thought to be a constant, an entity that grounds the individual believer in a “truth” that transcends time. Ultimately, the boundary between culture and religion is especially hard to decipher, particularly in the daily rituals of the Balinese. While religious beliefs are often rooted in history, they too transform through inevitable reinterpretation. The following paper describes the tremendous environmental and cultural impact of the controversial turtle trade in Bali, specifically …

“Toliki Taa Ub’Ookin.” “Tell Them Everything.” The Changing Sexual Practices Of The Maasai Women Of Engare Sero, Adrienne Rosenberg

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In this study I spent 13 days between November 6-18, 2009 in the village of Engare Sero. My sample frame is the Maasai community of Engare Sero, specifically girls and women over the age of around six. I went from boma to boma, organizing informal “focal groups” with a total of approximately 100 women and girls. I spoke to them about the cultural rules governing sexual practice, how their sexual practices changed over the course of their lives, how sexual practices have changed over time, what changes they hope for or expect for their daughters and the roots of those …

Flamenco Y Género: ¿Amigos O Enemigos? = Gender In Flamenco: Friends Or Enemies?, Maya Hislop

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

For the past few months I have attended classes of flamenco dance at a gymnasium near the Alcampo. The class is one hour long, every Tuesday and Thursday night and the name of the dance teacher is Isabel Madrid. The class usually consists of nine female students, although the number changes every now and then. The majority of the female students are older than age 40 except for myself and another exchange student from Quebec, Canada. The class serves as an excellent introduction to flamenco dance because the professor teaches three relatively easy dances every class: 1) paso doble 2) …

Rising Buddhism In Vietnam, H. Rebecca Lockwood

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The religion in Vietnam has come to a turning point. Buddhism has been revived and the people of this country are taking interest in this renewed Buddhism. I visited several of the revitalized Truc Lam Zen monasteries and discussed with monks their current practices. I also read an article that addresses this new phenomenon in Vietnam and criticizes its origination. I interviewed two laity about their experiences and opinions about the rising Buddhism in Vietnam today. I found that there are several factors contributing to this new attraction, particularly in the younger generation. I concluded with agreeing with my last …

The Phoenix, Catherine Jean Pond

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Poetry inspired by Vietnam

Churning The Ocean Of Milk: The Role Of Vocal Composition In Tibetan Buddhist Ritual Music, Gabriel Gordon

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Ritual music is a significant but often misunderstood aspect of Tibetan Buddhism. Specifically, vocal music serves a variety of purposes that distinguish the genre from Western music. In order to understand and appreciate ritual vocal music from a Western perspective, there must be firm understanding of the importance of melody and the source of its value. The author has studied with members of the Tibetan Buddhist monastic community, focusing on ritual vocal music and the process of composition. Through an examination of the vocal music composition and of concepts of inspiration and creativity, this paper will shed light on the …

Chinese Painting: Philosophy, Theory, And The Pursuit Of Cultivation Through The Dao, Elizabeth Reynolds

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Chinese painting and painting theory have roots within China’s major philosophies significantly including Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. Chinese painting while not exclusively adherent to the beliefs and practices of a single belief system instead reveals to overlap these beliefs in the thought process and execution of painting. There is a strong precedent of Chinese painters and their styles embodying Daoist philosophy in not only the appearance and practice of painting but in painting theory as well. Searching for the truth, or the Dao, was a key goal of many artists who through cultivation of one’s intellect or artistic skill could …

Marriage In Conflict: Formerly Abducted Women’S Struggles With Marriage Upon Return, Julie Bailey

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

With the end of the twenty-year war in Northern Uganda, the area has begun the long process of rehabilitating, rebuilding, and reintegrating. For women who have now returned from abduction and forced marriage, reintegration has proven difficult, specifically in regards to these women’s desires to marry upon return. The experiences of these formerly abducted women in the bush as well as the conflict-induced changes to traditional marriage often limits their ability to remarry and thus prevents them from fully regaining their place in Acholi society. Ultimately, this study sought to examine these difficulties by looking at the societal norms for …

Spirits & Sacred Sites: A Study Of Beliefs On Unguja Island, Julie Bardenwerper

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The spiritual beliefs and mizimu, or sacred sites, of villagers were studied in Mangapwani, Makunduchi, and Muungoni on Unguja Island. Through semi-formal interviews, a better understanding of the prevalence and tenets of spiritual beliefs and mizimu use in present Swahili culture was gained. It was found that belief in the existence of spirits is very widespread still today, although these beliefs include many variances. Mizimu are generally being kept in tact for traditional purposes, but the spiritual belief behind them is fading. It was recommended that further study of this topic is done, particularly on mizimu, as it is an …

Relájate Y Disfruta: Lecciones De Una Vida Musical Y Temporal En El Zaidín = Relax And Enjoy: Lessons About A Temporal Musical Life In Zaidin, Granada, Laura Westman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the following paper, I describe the volunteer project that I conducted during my fall 2009 semester in Granada, Spain. I spent a few hours each week accompanying voice lessons in a music school located in the neighborhood in which I lived while I was learning Spanish. This paper chronicles the importance of language and communication to my work, including problems that I had with the language barrier in communicating with people in the school before I was comfortable with the language. Though I originally planned to analyze relationships between teachers and students as a major theme in my project, …

Know Your Enemy: Tibetan Perceptions Of And Approaches To Chinese Studies In Exile, Katherine Mechling

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Achieving peaceful dialogue between Chinese and Tibetans is the crux of the Tibetan community in exile’s strategy to regain its homeland. Yet despite the recognized importance of cross-cultural communication the Tibetans, ideologically unwilling to separate “China the Oppressor” from “China the Neighbor” or even, potentially, “China the Co-Collaborator,” have largely avoided studying their adversary. Although increased literacy in Chinese language, knowledge of Chinese history and understanding of Chinese culture would enable the Tibetans to engage with China more effectively and productively, few initiatives exist in exile that facilitate the spread of such information. Receiving only a basic overview of Chinese …

Integrating Identities: Negotiating The Religious Lives Of Homosexual Christians In The Netherlands, Scott Mitchell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper explores how homosexual Christians experience their religious life, as well as the various methods used to negotiate any difficulties or conflicts between these two identities. Data for this study consists of in-depth interviews with homosexual Dutch adults who participate in worship services at a Catholic congregation in North Holland which ministers specifically to the homosexual community. Findings reveal that respondents describe their religious life as taking place on three different levels: the denominational, the individual, and the community level. These descriptions were characterized by an overall rejection of official denominational doctrine concerning homosexuality, an isolation of religious practice …

Weaving And Scheming: Adventures On Planet Mosuo, Melissa Judson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This past month, not only did I learn to weave fabric, but also I learned to weave lies about why I couldn’t eat any more chicken feet, weave tales about American culture and weave clouds of smoke to mask my inability to drink copious amounts of alcohol, though nearly all of my handiwork was shoddily crafted. I studied weaving in a small Mosuo village about an hour outside of Yongning, on the borders of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. Although the Chinese government classifies the Mosuo as a part of the Naxi minority people, they have many of their own distinctly …

L’Abandon De L’Excision Au Sénégal D’Ici 2015: Une Analyse De La Collaboration Entre L’Ong Tostan Et Le Ministère De La Famille, Karen Kirk

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The practice of female genital cutting (FGC) in Senegal continues today despite a law banning its practice. This study is a discussion of the collaboration between the NGO Tostan and the Senegalese government (Direction of the Family) as they work toward their goal of complete abandonment of FGC in Senegal by 2015. It examines the different roles of these two entities and how this collaboration will make this goal a reality. Key interviews with representatives from Tostan, the Direction of the Family and a third party provide opinions about this collaboration and whether or not this goal is realistic. La …

Doctors And Imams: Investigating The Integrated Schools Of Mombasa, Kenya, Beth Ann Williams

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Since the arrival of Europeans in the 19th century there has been tension within the Swahili community between the traditional Islamic madarasa system of education and the new Western model they brought. In recent decades a new dimension has been added to this struggle through schools which combine the two different institutes. There are two types of integrated schools currently operating within Mombasa. The first is a network of integrated nursery schools founded by the Madarasa Program. The Program works through their schools to empower and educate impoverished Muslim areas using ideas of community ownership and development. The Program, and …

Critical Mass Representation In Uganda, Daisy-Cynthia Nneamaka Adi

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In general, most societies of the world are patriarchal and as a result women’s participation in politics has historically been minute. To correct this fault, proponents of critical mass representation advocate for explicit quota systems that create special seats for women (e.g. women’s MPs), reserve spots for women or those which mandate the inclusion of women on national party lists. Proponents advocate critical mass with the expectation that female Members of Parliament (MPs) will enhance women’s rights. However, little is known about the actual contribution of female MPs to the enhancement of women’s rights in the countries where critical mass …

The Significance Of Music Education In The Primary Curriculum, Mina Won

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

I arrived in Ireland with very little knowledge of what the ‘Transformation of Political and Social Conflict’ semester would entail. As music major, I had to be prepared to study and learn about particular subjects that were completely foreign to my normal area of concentration. During my experiences throughout Ireland, however, I was surprisingly able to soak up even more of my two passions in life: music and children. After one afternoon with children from the Foundation Project, I realized how my two areas of interest are universal and that studying about music and children is never-ending. I recognized that …

Reserved Women: The Implementation And Efficacy Of A Reserved Seat Quota For Women In The Tibetan Parliament In Exile, Carolyn Griffiths

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

By studying a specific example of a system which requires women to be part of the government, policy makers can better understand how to use tools such as a quota to improve the lives of women. I researched whether and how women gain political agency through the quota system implemented by the Tibetan government in exile. I used in-depth interviews from both parliamentary members and those affected by the decisions made by the Tibetan Government in exile to discover the social climate surrounding the quota system. I gained an understanding of how the condition of women’s lives has changed as …

La Historia Y La Educación: El Fomento De Una Identidad Nacional, Mira Kohl

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This project focuses on how history classes in a public highschool in Quillacollo, Bolivia, affects imaginaries of the nation and the student’s national identity. The work addresses both content of the current history curriculum, as well as methodology and pedagogy as a theory and its practice in the classroom. The questions addressed come together to shed light on the current reality of the school as influencing student’s understanding of their relation to the world and the underlying problems of the educational system. Furthermore this work hopes to enlighten future attempts at reworking the educational system, as well as political intentions …

Graffiti En Managua: Una Expresión Democrática De La Juventud Nicaragüense, Katie Laroque

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Semiotics, or the philosophical study of signs and symbols, makes us rethink the familiar and the things we take for granted. If someone walks to work everyday on the same street, after time he will probably stop thinking about the graffiti on the corner. Graffiti is probably something that most of us take for granted, or hardly see anymore, but I argue that its role in society must be rethought. What does graffiti on the wall represent? It is a manifestation of the ideas and beliefs of the artist, as well as a reflection of his artistic talent. When several …

The Secrets And History Of The Madaniyya Sufi Of Ksibet Al-Mediouni, Tunisia, Ryan Heisler

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

No abstract provided.

“Fusion” Musics And Tunisian Identity In The Age Of The Global Stereo, Rachel Colwell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Introduction (excerpt)

In this paper I will explore how contemporary Tunisian musicians have engaged with and adopted various “foreign” or “external” musics by melded them in myriad intricate and often controversial ways with the tunes, rhythms, and symbolic meanings of their own historically local musics. Equally, or perhaps more importantly, I will address how audiences throughout Tunisia have received these musical “fusion” projects and movements and will touch upon the responses of Tunisian diasporic communities and cosmopolitan cultural formations within and beyond the borders of the country.

I will present two case studies, the work of Anouar Brahem and the …

Learning The Kora In Two Senegalese Contexts: As A Tradition Vs. As A Religion, Emily Merkert

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The kora, a traditional instrument rooted deeply in the culture of West Africa, was originally only played for nobility by a caste of oral historians called “griots.” In the past few decades the use of the use of the kora has broadened, and among many more modern venues, has been adapted to the Gregorian Chants of the Catholic monks at the Monastery of Keur Moussa, who have not only changed the instrument’s use but its physical makeup as well. As an artist and musician I set out to explore the methods of instruction of the instrument in the two different …

Redrawing The Walls: Street Art In Belgrade, Emily Levitt

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research examines street art in Belgrade as a means of changing the political, social, and cultural atmosphere of Belgrade, Serbia. Street art is examined as a means of breaking down consumer/producer binaries, an alternative to dominant culture, as part of the contemporary city, and as a transformative use of and re-appropriation of imagery. The research data was collected through semi-structured interviews in the Spring of 2009. Students, artists, and former artists were interviewed in order to collect data. In addition, participant observation and visual analysis contributed to and gave context to the interview based data. Ultimately, it was discovered …