Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Researching The U.S. Senate Presidential Nominee Confirmation Process, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

The beginning of 2025 has seen renewed public attention and emphasis on the constitutionally mandated U.S. Senate confirmation process. This stems from the beginning of the second Trump Administration as its nominees navigate this process. The presentation provides historical background on this process, demonstrates what nominees, Senate oversight committees, and the full Senate in administering this process and enables readers to find out how to access information resources documenting this process. The confirmation process continues throughout presidential administrations and may involve little public attention and controversy or acute public attention and controversy. The contrasting 2025 confirmation experiences of Secretary of …

Charles W. Bolen Faculty Recital: February 27, 2025, Rachel Hockenberry, Mica Redden, Lu Witzig

School of Music Programs

Kemp Recital Hall

February 27, 2025

Thursday Evening

7:30 p.m.

Music Festival 2025 - Auso Showcase Concert, Andrews University

Concerts and Event Programs 2024-2025

The Andrews University Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Marc Elysee, presents a Showcase Concert during the AU Music Festival 2025. Featuring soloist Kristi Corbett, piano.

Carnival, Ritual, And Race-Thinking In The Bolivian Andes, Ximena Cordova, Adhemar Mercado

All Works

This paper explores the intersection of race, religion, and colonial legacies through the lens of the Oruro Carnival, examining its role in shaping Bolivian identity. Critical religion scholars argue that the entanglement of race and religion is a product of Western modernity and colonialism, which has influenced both historical and contemporary power relations. This framework is applied to analyse the Carnival, where religious practices and festive performances intersect, reflecting colonial efforts at religious conversion and racial categorisation. By focusing on the ethnography of Oruro’s embodied festive practices, this study investigates how the Carnival contributes to the construction of difference amid …

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.

The Forgotten Heroes Of Postman’S Park, John Price

Heroism Science

The Watts Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice in Postman’s Park contains fifty-three memorial tablets, each dedicated to an act of life-risking bravery, undertaken by an otherwise ordinary individual, largely in the course of their everyday life, and within commonplace surroundings. The memorial’s creator, G. F. Watts, was a pivotal figure in the conception and promotion of the idea of ‘everyday’ heroism in Britain. Where he led, others followed. On this basis, the Watts Memorial has come to inform our understanding of how everyday heroism as a concept was constructed. Further research has now identified eighty-four individuals who were intended for commemoration …

Of Cordial Ladies And Independent Women: An Analysis Of The Ceramic Assemblage Of The 19th Century Cooper-Frost-Austin House, Mikayla Roderick

Graduate Masters Theses

This thesis explores the transformation of Susan Austin’s (1807-1885) household in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from a private family home into a boardinghouse, challenging traditional distinctions between domestic and economic spaces. Using feminist and queer theoretical frameworks, it examines how Austin’s decisions blurred public and private boundaries, creating an intimate boardinghouse. Through ceramic analysis of two occupational phases and a documentary examination of the household members over time, this study identifies shifts in material culture that reflect changing household practices, social relationships, and status negotiation. Austin intentionally created an environment where commercial spaces took on a domestic appearance, integrating elements of familiarity …

Guest Artist Lecture-Recital: February 26, 2025, Patrick Rafferty

School of Music Programs

Kemp Recital Hall

February 26, 2025

Wednesday Evening

7:30 p.m.

Human-Ai Collaboration In Writing: A Multidimensional Framework For Creative And Intellectual Authorship, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

The integration of AI technologies into the writing process has significantly altered traditional notions of authorship, creativity, and intellectual labor. Historically, writing was seen as a human-driven cognitive and creative exercise, but with the rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude, the line between human and AI contributions has become increasingly ambiguous. This paper addresses the limitations of the current sliding scale model, which views AI involvement as ranging from “none” to “complete”. In its place, we propose a new multidimensional framework that more accurately reflects the complexity of human-AI collaboration in writing. The model includes axes …

Qualitative Study Of Sexual Orientation In Law Enforcement, Ruby Nelson Brockenberry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The experiences of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) persons working in law enforcement were examined in this qualitative research. While the workplace is often seen as a collaborative setting and efforts to accomplish shared objectives without discrimination or prejudice, this is not always true for LGBTQ law enforcement personnel. This research focused on gender identity and sexual orientation to highlight the difficulties as well as discrimination and harassment which can negatively impact LGBTQ officers’ general well-being. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews from a sample of 11 LGBTQ law enforcement officers in the Pee Dee Region. Date was …

Music Festival 2025 - Au Singers Showcase Concert, Andrews University

Concerts and Event Programs 2024-2025

The Andrews University Singers, under the direction of Prof. Stephen Zork, present a Showcase Concert during the AU Music Festival 2025.

Celebrating Tolkien’S Legacy: Essays (2024), By Nancy Bunting, Seamus Hamill-Keays, And Toby Widdicombe, Douglas Charles Kane

Journal of Tolkien Research

Book review, by Douglas Charles Kane, of Celebrating Tolkien’s Legacy: Essays (2024), by Nancy Bunting, Seamus Hamill-Keays, and Toby Widdicombe

Reimagining Imperfection: A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis Of Women Characters In Studio Ghibli Animated Films, Xue Yang, Roslina Mamat, Zaid Mohd Zin

Journal of International Women's Studies

This study aims to explore the representation of flawed women characters in Studio Ghibli animated films, focusing on the themes of environmentalism, anti-war sentiments, and personal growth. Utilizing a qualitative approach and multimodal critical discourse analysis (MCDA), the research examines five selected films—Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away—with some additional attention to Howl’s Moving Castle. The analysis employs Fairclough’s three-dimensional model, visual grammar, and feminist film theory to scrutinize the visual and verbal elements used to represent these characters. The findings …

Introducing A Non-Zero Post-Humanistic Framework For Problem Solving In Design Education, Louise Kolff, Robert Haubt

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This paper proposes an innovative framework within interdisciplinary higher education courses that integrates non-zero post-humanistic design thinking and the concept of embodiment for addressing problem solving. We explore how design education can move from a human-centered approach, to a post-humanistic more-than-human approach. Central to our approach is "non- zero" thinking, emphasising collaborative solutions that benefit all stakeholders—human and non- human—recognising our shared responsibilities within ecosystems. We also introduce the notion of qualia in design education, highlighting how immersive experiences can evoke deeper emotional responses, fostering empathy and a greater understanding of complex problems. This combined approach achieves three key outcomes …

Viola Studio Recital: February 25, 2025, Elaine Fine

School of Music Programs

Kemp Recital Hall

February 25, 2025

Tuesday Morning

11:00 a.m.

Symphonic Band: February 25, 2025, T.J. Mack

School of Music Programs

Center for the Performing Arts

February 25, 2025

Tuesday Evening

8:00 p.m.

Deronia Brown Jr.

African American Funeral Programs

Deronia Brown Jr.

Review Of Hayato Sumino’S First Round Performance For The 18th Chopin Competition, Riley Tollefsrud

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

A review of the piano performance by Hayato Sumino during the first round of the 18th Chopin competition on April 10, 2021 at the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall.

The Outsider: A Detailed Analysis Of The Portrayal Of The Character "Paige Caldwell", Katelyn Holstad

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

An analysis of the performance of the character of "Paige Caldwell" in Paul Slade Smith's The Outsider.

Reproductive Labour: Preventing Babies, Making Babies, And Growing Babies, Elizabeth J. O’Reilly

Journal of International Women's Studies

During her reproductive years, a Canadian heterosexual cisgender woman will likely engage in the labour of preventing pregnancy, trying to achieve pregnancy, and/or being pregnant. While each stage of reproduction involves significant time and energy, the labour tied to preventing pregnancy, conceiving, and growing life is undervalued, unrecognized, and rendered invisible. Much of the work around reproduction involves not just cognitive function, but also a mental load and emotional labour. It is assumed that women need to do this labour as a pregnancy exists within her reproductive body; however, this assumption fails to acknowledge the reality of how laborious each …

Cultural Representations Of Obstetric Violence In Contemporary Italy, Veronica Frigeni

Journal of International Women's Studies

This article is the first examination of a hybrid corpus of cultural narratives of obstetric violence in contemporary Italy. Adopting a reproductive justice approach, the paper considers obstetric violence as gendered, intersectional, and ontological violence against reproductive subjects over the course of their lived reproductive experiences. Combining personal and cultural narratives, the article examines the 2022 comic “Da Che Mondo È Mondo,” written by Irene Caselli and illustrated by Rita Petruccioli, Alberto Basaluzzo’s 2018 short film Si È Sempre Fatto così, and Antonella Lattanzi’s 2023 novel Cose Che Non Si Raccontano to assess how and to what extent they …

He Is The Master Of Wood, Water, And Hill: Is Tom Bombadil The True Key Keeper Of The Old Forest?, Noelia Ramos

Journal of Tolkien Research

Tom Bombadil, with his iconic singing―”Hey! Come merry doll! Derry doll and merry-o!―has captivated scholars worldwide, due to the enigmatic nature Tolkien intentionally left unexplained. This deliberate mystery has fuelled extensive debate, leading many to explore possible mythological and cultural frameworks that might decode Bombadil’s origins. Among these hypotheses, a Celtic interpretation has often been dismissed despite its potential relevance. This paper, thereby, seeks to analyse Bombadil’s function within the Old Forest and his interactions with the hobbits during their forest episode, presenting fresh insights into his role as a Celtic-inspired guide and druidic figure.

To support this analysis, primary …

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 …

Locally Stranded - Addressing Rural Cases Of Domestic Violence, Owen Phillips, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

Domestic violence is a nationwide crisis affecting millions of women each year and saw an increase in severity during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2022). In Georgia, 37.4% of women report experiencing physical violence by an intimate partner. The situation is especially dire in rural areas, where women experience 150% more incidents at a more intense level than their urban counterparts and must travel three times farther to access resources. Rural women are also nearly twice as likely to be turned away from services due to a lack of space, staffing, and resources. Existing shelters often fail to meet victims' needs because …

The English Apocalypse: A Fourteenth-Century Translation Of The Book Of Revelation From Columbia University, Ms Plimpton Add. 03, Ethan Campbell

TEAMS Middle English Texts

Before the Wycliffite Bible in the 1380s, one of the only complete books of the Bible to be translated into Middle English was the Book of Revelation. The English Apocalypse, translated from the French sometime in the early 14th century, must have been well known to the later translators, since it appears in 18 extant manuscripts, sometimes alongside Wycliffite material. This edition reproduces, for the first time, a copy of the English Apocalypse, which actually replaced the Book of Revelation at the end of a Wycliffite New Testament. Whether the manuscript compiler simply preferred this version or meant it to …

Encouraging Conversation: Sharing The Oral History Of Nepalese Refugees Through Dialogical Preaching To Inspire Intercultural Collaboration, Matthew Clark

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Clark, Matthew J. “Encouraging Conversation: Sharing the Oral History of Nepalese Refugees through Dialogical Preaching to Inspire Intercultural Collaboration.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2025. 286 pp.

The project attends to the context of Ascension Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri, where a minority group of church members are refugees from Nepal. As Ascension grows in ethnic diversity, however, much of the congregation has only a shallow multicultural level of engagement, where different cultural groups are only aware of each other as they exist parallel to one another with limited interaction.

The project seeks to answer the …

Lanthorn, Vol. 59, No. 12, February 24, 2025, Grand Valley State University

Volume 59, August 5, 2024 – April 14, 2025

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

An Essay Of Images From Playlab Inc., Playlab Inc., Archie Lee Coates Iv

Digital Laboratory: Publisher of Internet Journal

A series of images depicting the illustrious Playlab Inc. as a collection of projects in different mediums. The LA-based design studio has contributed to fashion, art, and urban culture through collaborations with major institutions and emerging artists. The photo essay highlights Playlab Inc.’s diverse projects and installations, embodying its core philosophy: no focus. This principle guides the studio to the cutting-edge of contemporary culture, where innovation meets execution. The creative powerhouse has demonstrated a capacity to engage with contemporary cultural movements through its projects. For instance, in the OTW Vans project, the firm acquired images from notable skate photographers Atiba …