Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Making A Dent, Emily Morwood

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

West Virginia’s opioid-related death rates have surpassed any other state since 2014, with projections that it will continue to do so. With the epidemic, largely negative and stereotypical accusations have come, which have led to “othering,” or the concept of making groups ‘other’ due to their differences. This documentary project’s purpose is to address those that have been put in those othered groups through the concept of Standpoint Theory, which argues that insiders to a situation should tell their stories, rather than outsiders. The project aimed to allow the participants to tell their perspectives on the epidemic as insiders in …

Music And Politics In Figure Skating: American And Soviet Nationalism, Cultural Diplomacy, And Identity At The Winter Olympics, 1968–1988, Mary Bridget Golden

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis situates figure skating, music, and Cold War politics during three separate Winter Olympic Games held in 1968, 1976, and 1988, examining the impact of this intersection on the sport of figure skating. Through a survey of seven Olympic medal-winning figure skating programs in the men’s and women’s single divisions and the pairs’ division, evidence of the relationship between politics and music is examined in the musical selections of the skaters’ programs. This thesis also explores the overwhelming prominence in skating programs of musical selections that appealed to the tastes of an elite majority during the Cold War, while …

Sergei Prokofiev's Third Piano Sonata, Op. 28: Stylistic Analysis And Performance Suggestions, Youngju Lee

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was one of the greatest Russian pianists and composers of the twentieth century. He established his own musical style by combining classical form and modern compositional techniques. He composed a variety of piano music including nine piano sonatas. This paper is a study of the third piano sonata in A minor, op. 28.

Prokofiev’s music can be classified into three periods: a Russian Period, a Foreign Period, and a Soviet Period. It is possible to identify Prokofiev’s compositional styles by studying his piano sonatas because he composed piano sonatas during the entire course of his life. In …

An Appraisal Of The Evolution Of Western Art Music In Nigeria, Agatha Onyinye Holland

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nigeria has greatly evolved as an intercultural society given her history of colonization, the influence of foreign religion (Christianity and Islam, primarily) and the impact of globalization. Africa had her socio-cultural practices and art idioms before these foreign influences. For instance, music existed in everyday Africa as part of culture, religion, vocation, and drama. However, music never existed as an entity on its own. The culture of stage performers and audience never existed. This status quo changed with the introduction of Western art music through Christianity and education by the missionaries; since then, music assumed a bi-cultural status. This research …

"Treading On The Footprints Of History": American Catholic Pilgrimage As Public History, Charlotte Vester

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this thesis, I demonstrate how Catholic pilgrimage is a public history phenomenon. I define public history as public engagement, understanding, and use of the past. While I assert that pilgrimage is a public history phenomenon both in the past and in the present, my thesis will focus on American Catholic pilgrimage at the turn of the twentieth century. Each individual chapter will demonstrate that through pilgrimage, the faithful are engaged in public history in its various forms. Catholics actively took part in past-making and identity-construction in their roles as pilgrims. Through pilgrimage, Catholics were involved in the preservation and …

Light And Shadow In Kaija Saariaho's Maan Varjot, Benjamin M. Cornelius-Bates

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Kaija Saariaho’s work Maan Varjot is a relatively new addition to a set of repertoire that includes the organ as a part of the orchestra. This commission from the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre National de Lyon, Southbank Centre, and the Philharmonia Orchestra, was premiered in 2014 and features the organ as a timbral enhancement and contrast to the orchestra. The 52nd Stanza from the poem Adonais, written by Percy Shelley and dedicated to John Keats, provide an important insight into the analysis and interpretation of the work. Two lines in particular are important: “The One remains, the many change …

Objects Of Communication, Tyler Stonestreet

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis is a description and analysis of the ceramic work of Tyler Stonestreet. This thesis includes images and a description for the thesis exhibition Objects of Communication as well as a discussion regarding the conceptual, technical, and formal content of the work.

Disquiet Depictions, Olivia L. Oddo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written document is the accompanying thesis for my Master of Fine Arts exhibition - Disquiet Depictions. Presented within the exhibition was a collection of paintings, ranging from acrylic to mixed media. As someone living with both anxiety and panic disorder the symptoms that I have experienced, as well as the coping mechanisms that I have practiced, all influenced the paintings displayed within this exhibition. Imagery included self-portraiture across a variety of emotional expressions felt during moments of sporadic fear and happiness, vibrant geometric patterns serving therapeutic purposes, and subtle medication symbolism. Collectively, these paintings provide a visual journey into …

Accumulation, Erin Mccarty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written Thesis is the supporting documentation for Accumulation, a Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition at West Virginia University. This exhibition creates an environment in which a viewer can enter. This installation environment is created based on formal elements combined with fantastical elements from the imagination of the artist. The formal choices in the work provoke a positive otherworldly and whimsical response in the viewer. The environment is designed to provide relief from problems in the everyday world through patterns, forms, colors and surfaces. These elements are harvested from the natural world and recombined in a fantastical way. …

Respectable Women, Ambitious Men: Gender And Family Networks In Victorian Sheffield, Autumn Mayle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

“Respectable Women, Ambitious Men: Gender and Family Networks in Victorian Sheffield” offers a family study of Nonconformist manufacturers in nineteenth-century Sheffield through several thematic case studies on such subjects as gender, family networks and businesses, bankruptcy, piety, and charitable work. This project focuses on the Reads, a family of middle-class Congregationalist smelters who owned a smelting works, named Read & Co., in nineteenth-century Sheffield. The Reads’ experiences contribute to recent scholarship on gender and kinship studies by addressing the role of nineteenth-century conceptions of masculinity and femininity on family, charity, and business and the enduring influence of nuclear families and …

Recalling The Georgic: Land, Labor, And Literature In American Ecological Consciousness, Sam Horrocks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation argues that environmentalism and the environmental humanities are limited by an overinvestment in the discursive mode of pastoral, which provides the ecological logic of industrial urbanization by viewing the environment from the perspective of a leisured and alienated spectator. The pastoral mode enables environmental injustice by separating the realms of ecology and economy through a conventional elision of issues of labor and economics, rendering environmentalism unable to effect change within the spheres most important to ameliorating the pollution crisis. The pastoral mode thus frustrates the overarching goal of ecocriticism and environmentalism: we seek an ontological reunion of nature …

Dreams Of Industrial Utopias: Leading Manufacturers Of The Deep South And Their Mill Towns During The Civil War Era, Francis Michael Curran

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Broadly speaking, this dissertation explores the intersection of industrialization and social reform in the nineteenth-century American South. It focuses on leading manufacturers of the Deep South and their mill towns during the Civil War era. More precisely, it investigates the relationship between these industrialists, their mill towns, and social reform efforts of the period. In the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s, William Gregg, Daniel Pratt, and Barrington King created and managed some of the largest and most financially successful manufacturing establishments in the entire South. These men, however, were more than simply industrialists. They were also idealistic and steadfast social reformers …

The Civil War In Indian Territory, 1861-1865, Zachery Cowsert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the American Civil War in Indian Territory, with a particular focus on the experiences of the Five Tribes—Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole. Throughout the dissertation, I offer three overarching arguments. First, the Civil War in Indian Territory was truly an Indian civil war, shaped by Native American politics and culture. Second, the Civil War constituted a forgotten but immensely destructive moment in Native history, the second great trauma endured by the Five Tribes in the 19^th century following westward removal. Third, the Civil War marked the violent crescendo of older Southeastern issues of removal and …

Comparative Study Of The Fife And Drum Blues Traditions Of Othar Turner And The Preservation, Development, And Innovation Of Sharde Thomas And The Rising Stars Fife And Drum Band, Donnie Ryan Jobe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Othar Turner held the Fife and Drum Blues traditions of North Mississippi for decades. Since his passing in 2003, his granddaughter Sharde Thomas has taken over as the keeper of these traditions. The musical characteristics of Othar are still present in Sharde’s music today, however her interpretations have shaped these current traditions. This research discusses heritage and folklore theories of scholars Rodney Harrison, Martha Sims, and Martine Stephens as a lens to evaluate Sharde’s musical interpretations and compares them to Othar’s last recordings before his passing. This document provides a model for how these musical characteristics and interpretations relate and …

A Multifaceted Performance Model For The Multiple Percussion Performance Practice: Performance Analysis Of Select Works Toward Developing A Graduate Curriculum, Mitchell Joseph Greco

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this document is to articulate the various dimensions of the solo multiple percussion performance practice, the primary objective being to construct appropriate graduate curricula. It was found that the necessary skills and concepts could be categorized into four dimensions that make up the multi-faceted model: (1) equipment and setup, (2) notational style, (3) technical demands, and (4) conceptual performance. Requisite skills were posited from performance analyses of over fifty solo works that range from intermediate to advanced difficulty. Representative works are described that might effectively introduce and challenge these requisite skills and concepts, as are exemplary pieces …

Regional Variation On Loanword Adaptation In Japanese, Yuki Hattori

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis examines the variations of loanword abbreviations in Japanese dialects. When adopting foreign words into Japanese, phonological grammar is applied creating loanwords. When loanwords are introduced, Japanese phonological rules determine how to pronounce the new words; Japanese truncation styles are applied to shorten and abbreviate loanwords. Much like native Japanese words, regional variations can be observed in loanword abbreviations. In order to discover how variations are created, this study compares two dialects: the eastern Japanese dialect (standard dialect) and the western Japanese dialect (Kansai dialect). Despite a recent decrease in popularity, the Kansai dialect is still one of the …

Exercises In Developing Bebop Scale Language For Collegiate Jazz Students, Lars Swanson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this document, major, dominant and minor bebop scales are introduced and engaged through a series of etudes for C instruments, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Trombone and Bass. The methodology used is derived from a series of private lessons in which bebop scales were introduced and then engaged over chord progressions. Backing tracks are utilized and linked.

The Spatial Historian: Creating A Spatially Aware Historical Research System, James P. Schindling

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The intent of this study is to design a geospatial information system capable of facilitating the extraction and analysis of the fragmentary snapshots of history contained in hand-written historical documents. This customized system necessarily bypasses off-the-shelf GIS in order to support these unstructured primary historical research materials and bring long dormant spatial stories previously hidden in archives, libraries, and other documentary storage locations to life. The software platform discussed here integrates the tasks of information extraction, data management, and analysis while simultaneously giving primary emphasis to supporting the spatial and humanistic analysis and interpretation of the data contents. The premise …

Synchrony: An Aspect Of The Abilities Of Steppe Horse Archers In Eurasian Warfare (525 Bce – 1350 Ce), Chris Hanson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Animals moving in unison as a group are quite intriguing to observe. Horses can run across terrain and change directions without jostling each other. They appear to move as if they know how to avoid crashing into others and run fluidly through their environment. This ability to maneuver without hindering herd is called synchrony and also extends to other animals including fish in schools and birds in flocks. Humans, on the other hand, need to create orderly formations in battle to move without interfering with adjacent warriors. For example, the Romans, Greeks, Persians, Chinese, and Byzantines trained their infantry and …

Developing A Decision-Making Framework For Assisted Migration: Applying This To The American Pika And Whitebark Pine, Mia Kimya Hedayat-Zedah

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

ABSTRACT

Hedayat-Zadeh, Mai Kimya, Degree, May 2020 Environmental Studies

Developing a Decision-Making Framework for Assisted Migration: Applying this to the

American Pika and White Bark Pine

This paper analyzes a novel conservation strategy: assisted migration (AM). AM is the practice of moving a highly vulnerable (i.e., endangered) species impacted by climate change and other exacerbating factors (e.g., land use), out of its historic range to a recipient site. Ideally, this site would be one where the species would have migrated, were there no barriers to dispersal or anthropogenic stressors. The paper is concerned with the readiness of the conservation community—particularly …

Buffalo Renaissance: The Northern Plains Tribes' Path To Self-Determination, Elizabeth Louise Johns

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This long-form journalistic story and photo essay is about the Blackfoot Tribes in the United States and Canada and their efforts to restore bison to their land, their diet, and their culture. In 2014, ten tribes from the United States and Canada came together at Blackfeet Nation in Browning, Montana to sign the Buffalo Treaty, a commitment to bringing wild buffalo back to parts of their historical range. The Treaty signing marked the first time in more than 150 years that a diverse group of tribes, some historical enemies, came together in the name of restoring the animal they evolved …

Exploring The Influence Of Racial Diversity On Church Growth: A Case Study Of Buffalo Suburban Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Lancaster, New York, Luis A. Mancebo

Dissertations

There is a growing phenomenon in the United States of America: multiracial churches. While earlier research indicates that church growth typically happens in more homogenous congregations, more and more churches are growing that are multiracial. This case study focused on the growth of Buffalo Suburban Seventh-day Adventist Church (BSSDAC), a multiracial church in Lancaster, New York. Data collection was done through focus groups of church leaders and members, and a review of any available church and membership records.

BSSDAC started as a White congregation in Buffalo in 1885 and moved to the suburbs in the 1980s where the initial transition …

Red Towers, Sean Kisch

Graduate Thesis Collection

Red Towers is named after Bratislava Castle in Bratislava, Slovakia. I spent the summers of 2017 and 2019 traveling to different cities in Slovakia, and since my own heritage is Slovak, I began thinking about the idea of "home." What makes a home a home? Where was home for me? Red Towers is divided into two sections. In the first section I tried to capture the feeling of excitement that comes with leaving home, exploring the unknown, and experiencing new things. The second section is much more gentle and contemplative, and expresses the longing to return home. I decided on …

Marielle Franco, Rhaissa Sanches

Faculty Curated Undergraduate Works

Marielle Franco was a Black, Brazilian activist (1979-2018) who rose from the favelas (poor areas) of Rio de Janeiro to be elected as a councilwoman in Rio's election of 2016. Franco was known for exposing the violence waged in the favelas by Brazil's military and police under the "pretense of maintaining law and order," as well as how the militia wields power over those who live in the favelas. In addition to detailing Franco's life, activism and death, this paper also explains the history and development of the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, as well as the negative attitudes held …

Spectrum 2020, Saint Mary's College Of California

The Undergraduate Spectrum

No abstract provided.

The Museum Of Queer Curiosities, Reba "Feliks" Kay Pyron

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This paper documents the research, personal motivations, and processes that make The Museum of Queer Curiosities (TMOQC). The installation, exhibited in the Paul Mesaros Gallery, uses the manipulation of traditional techniques in printmaking, sculpture, and craft, to create a space in which authority, labels, confusion, and compassion are discussed. Through the synthesis of familiar visual art installation techniques and museum display, the work attempts to provide a foothold for the viewer to navigate queerness and ephemeral identity. The body of work that occupies TMOQC creates the surreal simulation of a scientific museum, transforming the art gallery into a stage where …

A Survey Of Selected Classical Chinese Art Songs For Solo Voice And Piano From 1920 To 1950, Tingting Chang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study aims to provide a repertoire guide of Chinese art songs for the pedagogical and research needs of musicians and scholars. Chinese art songs are derived from Western art songs. This work provides a valuable resource outside the scope of the standard art song repertoire. There are very limited studies with annotated lists of Chinese art song repertoire in English. Therefore, it is difficult for teachers to search for specific Chinese art songs to utilize with students who have different voice types and learning levels. This study will provide a practical tool that will meet these pedagogical needs.

All …

The Costume Design Process For The Phantom Tollbooth, Chloe Elizabeth Cappuccilli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis will give an account of the costume design process for The Phantom Tollbooth at West Virginia University. Specifically, the responsibilities of the role of Costume Designer, from initial meetings to final production. This document will include research about child psychology that inspired the primary design process, specifically the influence of children’s dreams, and their relationship to toys. This information was utilized to create designs explicitly for children’s theatre audiences. I will present and evaluate the costume designs, including the design evolution until the final production. Detailing the process of costume construction while working with a costume shop. Visual …

Voices Of PłaszóW: The Impact Of Schindler's List On A Former Concentration Camp, Jordan L. Riggs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List drew international attention to the site of Płaszów, a former Nazi concentration camp in Poland near the city of Kraków. This increased attention on the site impacted the area, leading to an increase in film-tourism, shown both in organized tours and published guidebooks. The site and film also held a personal connection to two sets of individuals, the descendants of Nazi commandant Amon Goeth and Holocaust survivors, which often prompted them to return to the site and push for more interpretation. This thesis addresses the lasting impact of the film on the site and the site’s …

The Roman Catholic Ordinary Mass From Circa 1750 To Circa 1820: A Selected Bibliography, Letícia Gabriele Grützmann Januario

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Orchestrated masses from the 18th century and early years of the 19th century provide a valuable source of repertoire for contemporary choral conductors. This project will explore composers and works from circa 1750 to 1820 to provide choral conductors with a list of works suitable for programming based on the practical size of vocal and instrumental forces.

Western choral music was born in a church setting. Among all choral genres, the mass is the only genre composed throughout all eras, from medieval until the 20th century. The mass remained a prominent genre during the 18th century despite the secularizing influence …