Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Between The Buffer And The Black Box: Ed(1), Invisible Text, And Delegation In Word Processing, Kai Prenger

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis provides a media archaeological and theoretical examination of ed(1), the Unix line editor developed by Ken Thompson at Bell Labs in 1969, arguing that its approach to "invisible text" processing established lasting patterns of human-computer collaboration that persist in contemporary digital systems. Through historical research, technical analysis, and critical interpretation, this study demonstrates how ed(1) embodied a particular epistemology of text processing that appears alien in a contemporary context, but proves insightful in the age of generative text creation.

ed(1) emerged from the unique convergence of Bell Labs' collaborative research culture, severe hardware constraints of early Unix systems, …

Re-Envisioning Digital Agency: From Representationalism To Interpretant-Driven Epistemology, Michael C. Lee

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis examines the epistemological and ethical foundations of digital technologies, particularly code and algorithmic systems, by considering their entanglement with representationalism. Arguing that code now functions as a dominant social agent and epistemic subject, through the concept of the Code’s-eye view, I explore how automated datafication reduces human experience to quantifiable inputs, reinforcing epistemic closure and social fragmentation. Drawing on pragmatist philosophy, including Peirce’s semiotics, Dewey’s democratic ethics, and Rorty’s conversational inquiry, I propose an interpretant-driven epistemology grounded in communal inquiry and interpretive openness. This alternative framework resists the binary logic of algorithmic rationality by emphasizing conflict and the …

Love Amid The Rage: Feminist Affect In Women's Life-Writing, Genesis Siverio

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The aim of this thesis is to show the ways women’s emotions or affect, particularly rage and love, are described by women writers in their most intimate stories. I discuss the way emotion has been demeaned, and how feminist scholars have instead viewed the body as a place of insight, reclaiming a knowledge from the senses. In the midst of white supremacy and heteropatriarchy, women give voice to their affectual experiences and cultivate the feelings they have so often been denied. Focusing on the particular ways women’s anger manifests in their lives and in their bodies, I zoom in on …

Walking On Burning Ground: A Neo-Calvinist Cure To Climate Apathy, Beatrice Shackleford

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Longing For Transcendence: Olympic Gold And Christian Virtue, Matthew Vos, John B. White

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Historical Research And Conservation Treatment Of An Oversized 19th-Century Subscription Family Bible, Charlotte Starnes

Art Conservation Master's Projects

This paper briefly examines the construction, materials, and conservation challenges of 19th-century subscription Bibles, focusing on the treatment of an 1885 Thomas Kelly Latin Vulgate Family Bible. These large-format, heavily decorated volumes represent the unique intersection of industrialized book production and traditional hand-binding techniques. Through the visual comparison of multiple subscription Bible structures and canvasser’s sample books, historical research, and survey responses from conservators, this project identifies key structural features, including hybrid board attachment methods, varied sewing techniques, and the sculpted two-board coverboard structure. X-radiography, microscopy, and preliminary XRF analysis provide further insights into material choices, such as the use …

Generative Ai (Genai) For Co-Creating User Personas, Douglas Strahler

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Integrating Generative AI into communication courses can really enhance the development of user personas, making the process smoother and encouraging critical insights into audience analysis. This G.I.F.T.S. presentation shows how tools like ChatGPT can support students in developing user personas while encouraging creativity and efficiency for the students. Students will be creating two personas, one human-created and one that is AI-generated, followed by conducting a comparative analysis of similarities, differences, and any potential biases. The activity underlines basic competencies in the development of user personas and ethical considerations that prepare students for the responsible use of AI with a full …

From Chatbots To Thought Bots: Teaching And Learning In The Age Of Ai, Stephen J. Mcconnell

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Dr. Stephen McConnell’s keynote address took place on Friday, October 18, 2025, at the 82^nd Annual NYSCA Conference. In this personal but scholarly discussion, Dr. McConnell explores how various AI technologies do more than “assist” us – they also socialize us. He describes and explains several case studies that were part of his course at New York University entitled “Communications and AI,” and provides us with ten principles for teachers and students to become active participants with the tools of AI.

Dr. McConnell is a media scholar whose research focuses on the intersection of AI, digital communication platforms and …

Does Writing Have A Future?, David J. Gunkel

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Professor David J. Gunkel is the Chair of the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University – but that is his latest achievement in an extensive list of accomplishments. He is an award-winning educator, researcher, and the author of more than ninety scholarly articles and thirteen books. And it is his latest book, AI for Communication, and his latest thinking about what we have called artificial intelligence and writing that brought him to our 82^nd annual conference.

In his keynote address on Saturday, October 9^th, 2024, Dr. Gunkel argues that AI does not signal the “end …

Harry Potter And The Queering Agenda*, Krisha K. Vania

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

The Marauders Era, a newfound sub-fandom of Harry Potter, focuses on a group of characters set years before the original series. This community has allowed for alternative ‘safe’ spaces for fans to ‘queer’ the source material and find personal and social leverage. A survey was conducted to research how queer-identifying fans build and maintain virtual communities using the Wizarding World and Harry Potter mythology. The data and subsequent analysis reinforced the creation and maintenance of a participatory community through the use of multiple entry points, fans acting as textual poachers, and a community offering its users a form of leverage. …

The Evolution Of Women Behind The Wheel, Gabrielle Iorio

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

This paper places the current state of women in motorsports in conversation with scholarship focused on media and cultural identity by providing historical context for women in motorsports while analyzing media representations of Danica Patrick and current racers Hailie Deegan, Toni Breidinger, and Tatiana Calderon. While great progress has been made in acceptance of women as professional race car drivers and in media representations of them, stereotypes still face these drivers when it comes to obtaining sponsorships and the types of sponsorships they receive.

Shaping Youth Ministry: Exploring Influences On Youth Pastors’ Approaches To Programme Design, Timothy A. Mullen, Trudi Cooper

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The literature on youth ministry practices is mostly anecdotal, and empirical research into the practices, goals, and meanings of youth ministry to youth pastors is rare, especially in Australia. In this study, 20 youth pastors in Perth, Western Australia, were interviewed about their goals, priorities, practices, training, and what influenced them. This study forms part of a larger doctoral research project. The interview data were analysed utilising a phenomenological approach, drawing upon Goffman’s framing analysis to examine the link between ‘meaning making’ and explicit and tacit motivations for youth ministry practice. The research found that youth pastors were most often …

The Disappearance Of The Popular Song: Authenticity In The Age Of Ai Generated Music, Leah C. Kinzer

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

In the past several years, the prevalence of AI has become undeniable. From AI features on Google to ChatGPT, AI is providing us with instant knowledge and answers. But what happens when AI enters the creative sphere? Specifically, what happens when AI is used to create music mimicking the style and voice of artists who already exist? Is this stealing? Can this be described as true, authentic art? This paper discusses difference instances of AI generated music (AIGM) in pop culture as well as the philosophical and legal implications in an attempt to further the discussion about the role of …

Ai, Celebrities, And Their Fans: The Cyber-Pseudo-Event*, Gabbie Iorio

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Tech companies often use celebrities to facilitate adoption of new technologies, and they’re doing the same with AI. For example, Meta is employing celebrities to attract users to their AI products, not only to adopt the technology, but to provide the company data for testing and optimizing the products. Fan communities, such as Nicki Minaj’s Barbz, have also taken up AI technology as a new medium for fandom expression. This paper will explore the varying degrees of success of these applications of AI technology, while putting them in conversation with scholarship on images, celebrity, and fandom.

*Top Graduate Paper

Good Vibrations: Folk Circles As Communication Environments, Missy Alexander

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

For over 25 years, I have participated in the creation of music and community through what are commonly called folk circles. Typically run as monthly gatherings, participants who range from complete beginners to seasoned pros, join together and share their favorite songs. These environments have clearly defined rules for participation (although rarely stated overtly), a strong ethos of mutual support, and frequently function as a path to friendships for people new to a community. This essay examines the folk circle as a communication environment and posits an explanation of why it is impervious to digital invasions.

From Homeland To Hostland: Language Ownership Of Heritage Dialect And Narratives Of Third Culture Kids Of The Gulf, Maryam Aref

Theses and Dissertations

The main purpose of this study is to examine Arab Adult Third Culture Kids’ sense of heritage language ownership and their identity constructions in relation to their transnational Arab Gulf context. The present study has three main aims: to ascertain their sense of ownership towards their heritage dialects, to understand the basis for their claimed or denied ownership, and to investigate the positions they ascribed to themselves and others in relation to their belonging and transnational and linguistic experiences. The study aims to fill the gap where there is a scarcity of sociolinguistic research around Arab Third Culture Kids in …

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Christian Character Formation In A Culture Of Anger, Rebecca Konyndyk Deyoung

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Anger is a hot topic, perhaps especially for Christians. We might concede that it’s OK to be angry sometimes—for example, when human rights are violated. It’s not right to be complacent or indifferent in the face of that kind of intentional injury! At the same time, we might be wary of justifying anger, given how many times we’ve been harmed—or seen others harmed— by people who get too angry. No one who has encountered Christians ranting on social media thinks we need more of that kind of witness.

What Are The Limits To Smart Innovation? The Digital Underground Initiative And New Frontiers Of “Smartness” In Singapore, Prerona Das, Orlando Woods, Lily Kong

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This paper argues that the emergence of new frontiers of smart transformation, such as underground spaces, can pose significant challenges to the implementation of “smart” technological solutions. Exploring the case of Singapore’s Digital Underground initiative, we show that elements such as material complexity, co-ordination between stakeholders, and the availability of appropriate regulatory and administrative frameworks can problematize the implementation of subterranean smart initiatives. By considering multistake-holder perspectives on these “more-than-technological” factors, this paper offers lessons for urban planners, policymakers, and developers in cities around the world that are keen to leverage technology to unlock the potential of underground space.

Moral Worth And Motivational Demands, Spencer Heitman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

It has become a philosophical commonplace to distinguish actions that are merely right from actions that possess moral worth. To be right, an action needs only to accord with the demands of morality. To possess moral worth, an action needs not only to be right, but to be non-accidentally so. While this much is uncontroversial, what is involved in this sense of non-accidentality is a matter of ongoing debate. This thesis lies at the heart of that debate. Many parties to this debate agree that actions with moral worth must be properly motivated. Suppose someone speaks respectfully to a colleague …

A Security Worth Having: The Pursuit Of Happiness Through Reading Burney, Radcliffe, And Austen, Samantha Meeks

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the works of three female authors of female protagonists in the long 18th century: Frances Burney’s Camilla and Evelina; Anne Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho and The Italian; and Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice. By following the paths to security the female protagonists of these novels fashion, and identifying the elements of Stoicism and related Hellenism and the aspects of cybernetics, this dissertation delves into the choices female protagonists make along the way regarding their security and how such choices lead to agency and self-fashioning for these women. Emotional, economic, and …

Reasons For Cheating In Online Assessments And Strategies For Mitigating It: A Specific Study From The Perspectives Of English Language Teachers In Jeddah Governorate, Abdulelah M. Alqarni

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Arts and Humanities

Assessment is one of the challenges facing online education, as academic integrity can be compromised due to students' cheating behavior. The current qualitative research sought to examine English language teachers' perceptions of the reasons why students cheat on online assessments. It also sought to find strategies to reduce cheating in these assessments. Thirteen teachers (seven males and six females) with at least five years of teaching experience in various secondary schools in the Jeddah Education Governorate participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using MAXQDA software, version 2024. Data analysis revealed several reasons for cheating …

Propositional Instances Rejected By Al-Farra: A Grammatical Study, Hind Abdulaziz Alsolyman

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Arts and Humanities

Al-Farra’ was concerned with grammatical examples and adapted them for various purposes. This research discusses hypothetical grammatical examples rejected by Al-Farra’ in his book Ma'ani al-Qur'an, which serves as a source for Kufan grammar. The study focuses on instances which Al-Farra' explicitly rejected as total refusal, deeming them incorrect, or prohibiting their use through expressions such as “La Taqool and La Taqul” ("Do not say" in Arabic) or similar terminologies, such as "Ni`ma Mithloka Zaydun” (Zayd is as excellent as you!) and “Darabtu Illa Akhaka” (I hit but your brother). The researcher adopts both …

Deixis In Pragmatic In Royal Speeches: The Speech Of His Highness The Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman At The 33rd Arab Summit As A Model, Mansour Salah Alrehili

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Arts and Humanities

Deixis in pragmatic in modules or linguistic markers consisting of contextual communication elements: speaker, addressees, content, time and place of word. This research therefore aims to study the Deixis in pragmatic in royal discourses by monitoring their types and functions, in the address of His Highness the Crown Prince at the 33rd Arab Summit. The research was based on the deliberative approach using the analytical descriptive approach. The research reached a series of outcomes, the most important of which was the diversity of the Deixis in pragmatic in His Highness' Because his speech strategy aims to achieve security, stability, and …

Virtual Currencies From A Fiqhi Perspective, Musleh Abdulhai Alnajjar, Nawal Minawir Almutairi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Arts and Humanities

This research comes to address the issues, problems, and emerging financial realities of the era, as each era has its own renewed issues that previous jurists did not talk about. It is necessary for students of knowledge with well-established jurisprudential abilities to strive hard in it, otherwise this will lead to the isolation and freezing of society. This research also contributes to laying one of the building blocks in the foundation of the close bond between the science of jurisprudence and the emerging jurisprudential developments in our current era. It highlights the role of Islamic jurisprudence and its principles as …

The Role Of Digital Media In Enhancing The Cultural And Civilizational Value Of Camels In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia: "The Year Of Camels 2024 As A Model", Mohamad Jebreel Alzilaei

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Arts and Humanities

This study aimed to explore the role of digital media in enhancing the cultural and civilizational value of camels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, using the "Year of the Camel 2024" as a case study within the framework of the theory of media richness. The study falls under the descriptive research category and employs an applied methodology. It utilized a survey conducted on a sample of executive master's students in digital media at King Abdulaziz University. Additionally, content analysis was performed on the content related to the Year of the Camel 2024 from December 17, 2023, to January 16, …

The Possibility Of Taxing Robots, Salah Hamed Hasanien, Yazeed Mohammed Al-Raddadi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Arts and Humanities

The research addressed the nature of robots and the development of the AI phenomenon to the scope of its applications. It then discussed the idea of granting legal personhood specifically to AI technologies and robots. The research concluded that the existing tax laws do not assist in this regard and do not provide comprehensive solutions. It further explored the possibility of imposing taxes on robots, reviewing the doctrinal disagreements and various suggestions in this regard, as well as the stance of comparative legislation on the feasibility of such a measure.

The Terms "Sā’Igh" And "Aswa’Gh" Concept And Usage In Linguistic Studies, Tayel Mohammed Ahmed Al-Sarayreh

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Arts and Humanities

This research examines the terms Sā'igh (acceptable) and Aswagh (more acceptable) in the Arabic language. Despite the frequent use of these terms in evaluative grammatical judgments within linguistic studies, they have not received a thorough study to clarify their concepts and dimensions in Arabic. Therefore, this research aims to explain the terms both linguistically and terminologically and seeks to uncover the ways in which they are used in the Arabic language and the rules governing this usage.

The significance of this research stems from its discussion of a common issue in evaluative grammatical judgments, which has not been sufficiently explored. …

The Noble Qur’Ân’S Approach In Promoting Social Responsibility―Sûrat An-Nisā’ As A Model, Kholoud Bint Mohammed Al Sayari

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Arts and Humanities

This study aims to clarify the concept of social responsibility as stated in the Noble Qur’ân, and to explain the Noble Qur’ân’s approach in promoting social responsibility by clarifying the role of the individual towards society and the role of society towards its individuals. The study relied on Sûrat An-Nisā’ as a model. The study adopts three different approaches. First, it uses the inductive approach to analyze and trace the verses of Sûrat An-Nisā’, including the rulings related to Muslim society. Second, it uses the analytical approach to survey and analyze these verses in the books of exegesis. Finally, …

Molding Leominster's Plastics Industry: The Impact Of Italian Immigrant Labor, Kimberly M. King

Graduate Masters Theses

This thesis examines the centrality of Italian immigrant labor in launching Leominster, Massachusetts’ transformative plastics industry. The study traces the arc of the immigrants’ stories from their arrival at the turn of the twentieth century, when their unskilled labor helped Leominster transition from artisan comb production to industrial celluloid manufacturing, to their rise as new technical experts and company owners in the 1940s. They endured hazardous work conditions and social marginalization to create better lives for themselves and their families.

Ultimately, their efforts were critical to the expansion and global recognition of Leominster’s plastics industry. Yet the role of immigrant …