Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Only Duck I’Ve Ever Loved Is Daffy In Drag: A Textual Analysis Of Gender Norm Reinforcement In The Looney Tunes Show, Sara Bahaji

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

In 2011, Warner Brother’s latest attempt to make Looney Tunes appeal to modern audiences was released, The Looney Tunes Show. This was a departure from classic Looney Tunes, from its slice-of-life sitcom setting to the changes in the characters. But one of the ways it stood out in not just classic Looney Tunes but contemporary cartoons, was its treatment of Daffy Duck. This thesis is a textual analysis of the show’s presentation of Daffy Duck’s gender. Different frameworks were used to build the analytic tools: signifying theory, as presented by Savoy (1995), gender accountability from West & Zimmerman (1987) and …

International Students Experience Show: A Television Content To Prepare African Students For Study In The United States., Eric Atsu Senyo

Masters Theses

For many African students, studying in the United States begins with hope but often leads to confusion, isolation, and unmet expectations. This creative thesis presents International Students Experience Show, a 26-minute television shows designed to prepare African students for the realities of studying in the U.S. Grounded in Uses and Gratifications Theory, the project positions media as an active tool for empowerment through storytelling, practical guidance, and emotional engagement.

The series addresses key challenges, housing, transportation, mobile communication and daily life experiences through a hybrid format of personal testimonies, panel discussions, expert interviews, and field segments. Featuring nine African international …

The Final Boys' Club: Conceptualizing A Final Boy Of 1980s Horror, Ej Newton

Masters Theses

Carol J Clover’s (2015) Final Girl, the female slasher protagonist who survives to the end of the movie, has become a staple of horror scholarship, providing insight into the function of gender within the genre as well as our cultural beliefs surrounding femininity. Given the attention paid to horror’s leading ladies, however, another fascinating figure has gone unexplored: the Final Boy. This project analyzes nine horror films from the 1980s with young male protagonists in order to conceptualize and critique this previously unidentified trope. Utilizing McKerrow’s (1989) critical rhetoric as a guide, this research not only provides a thorough definition …

“To Hell With Words, [Say] Something!”: An Expressivist Manifesto For The Revival Of Authentic Voice Amid Robocolonial Echoes Of Llms In Composition Studies, Dani Rose Fitch

Masters Theses

This article explores the intersection of composition pedagogy and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), arguing that large language models (LLMs) impose a robocolonial standardization of language. By mass-producing algorithmically predictable text based on Standard American English (SAE), LLMs threaten the tenets of Students’ Right to Their Own Language (SRTOL) and drown out diverse linguistic identities. The author distinguishes between the embodied, intentional discovery of meaning in human intelligence and the voiceless echo of formulaic LLM generation.

Applying Baudrillard’s theory of simulation, the author positions GenAI-produced texts as pure simulacra—copies that have lost all connection to a human referent. By synthesizing Baudrillard’s …

Shadow Of The Rising Sun: How Japanese Culture Was Transferred To The United States Via Foreign Policy, Alex Pearson

Masters Theses

Post-World War II U.S. economic foreign policy towards Japan aimed to revitalize the war-torn country’s economy and spread democracy to the East. The economic foreign policy enacted by the United States to revitalize the Japanese economy resulted in an increase and “normalization” of Japanese culture in America. This thesis explores the connection of post-war American foreign policy to the increase of American exposure to Japanese culture that sparked normalization. By focusing on the efforts of U.S. policymakers and the positive media coverage of Japanese culture in the United States, a clear correlation between economic foreign policy and the normalization of …

Lucretius, Ovid, And Milton In Seventeenth-Century England: First Matter, Creation, And Food Of Angels, Conny M. Pfeifer

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Paradise Lost is a complex poem that not only contains John Milton’s rendition of the Genesis creation narrative and the Fall of humankind but also provides a voice for his unique theology. This dissertation argues that Milton’s creative use of the three disparate concepts of consuming and digesting knowledge, chaos, and the night sky allows him to respond to Lucretian atomism, to address questions regarding the mortality of the soul, and to navigate the scientific discoveries of the seventeenth century, especially the astronomical discoveries of Galileo Galilei. An examination of digestion, chaos, and night helps shed light on Milton’s unique …

1941 Manchester University Air Squadron Group 15 April To 15 October 1941 Record Of Names In Book Of Remembrance, St Clement Danes, London 1993, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

Record of those pilots who joined the Manchester University Air Squadron (MUAS) on April 15,1941 for a six-month short course for the RAF and are included in the Books of Remembrance held by the Church of St Clement Danes, The Strand, London, the central church of the Royal Air Force. Written in 1993 by Dennis Luke, MUAS 15 April – 15 October, 1941 and 5BFTS Course 5.

5bfts Grove At The Nma 03 Newsletter July 2001, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The UK National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is at Alrewas, Staffordshire. The 5BFTS Association gave donations to the NMA which provided a Grove of five trees (five for number 5) comprising two English Birch trees and three American Birch trees and a Plaque. The Grove was dedicated in October 2002. Document 03 ‘5BFTS Association Newsletter July 2001’ informs members of the amount donated by the Association and individual members towards a 5BFTS memorial at the NMA

5bfts Grove At The Nma 05 Plans For Annual Reunion 2002, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The UK National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is at Alrewas, Staffordshire. The 5BFTS Association gave donations to the NMA which provided a Grove of five trees (five for number 5) comprising two English Birch trees and three American Birch trees and a Plaque. The Grove was dedicated in October 2002. Document 05 ‘Plans for Annual Reunion 2002’ informs members about the proposed weekend in September 2002 which will include the Dedication of the 5BFTS Grove at the NMA.

5bfts Grove At The Nma 01 Planting For The Millennium, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The UK National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is at Alrewas, Staffordshire. The 5BFTS Association gave donations to the NMA which provided a Grove of five trees (five for number 5) comprising two English Birch trees and three American Birch trees and a Plaque. The Grove was dedicated in October 2002. Document 01 ‘Planting for the Millennium’ explains how the NMA was conceived and the design for the RAF area.

Resistance And Innovation: The Cultural Work Of Popular Romance Novels, Chelsee M. Niebergall

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Popular romance fiction is the highest-grossing genre in contemporary publishing, yet it remains one of the least examined in academic scholarship. As this thesis argues, while texts of this genre have been marginalized and stigmatized for their perceived lack of literary sophistication, they prove to be some of the most radical in terms of cultural impact. Their dismissal is not incidental but symptomatic of the very systems of oppression the romance novels work to disrupt. This thesis will examine these radical texts and uncover the cultural work they perform on their readers by using an analytical framework newly developed here, …

Approaching The Wine Tasting Lexicon, Angela Dumford

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

There has been an increase in demand for wine knowledge in all sectors of the business. Whether you are a sommelier striving to improve your extensive comprehension of the world of wine, a server aiming to provide guests with a more personalized wine experience, or a simple customer that is curious about learning the basics; wine can be explored and enjoyed by anyone. Despite this, understanding where to begin in the wine world can be extremely intimidating. There are countless books, articles, and infographics available to the average wine enthusiast, but the intensity and quality of information varies dramatically. Furthermore, …

Hershey Vs Mars: The Rise Of Chocolate In America, Jasmine Lutz

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

From the early Americas to the chocolate houses of Europe, chocolate has a long history of being exclusive and expensive. This analysis will show how Milton Hershey and Forrest Mars changed the chocolate industry making it accessible to all, regardless of income. Both these giants got their start during the turn of the turn of the 19th century, a time of industrialization, innovation, and the rise of consumerism. The economic structures of the time allowed for both of these men to build their business into household names. Milton and Forrest’s early lives shaped who they were and how they did …

The Customer Is Always Right Philosophy, Gbassah Doman

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

The philosophy “the customer is always right” has long influenced customer service practices by emphasizing attentiveness, satisfaction, and loyalty. While originally intended to promote respectful engagement and trust‑building, contemporary interpretations of the philosophy often encourage unconditional customer accommodation, raising concerns about employee well‑being, ethical boundaries, and organizational sustainability. This study examines the historical foundations, strengths, limitations, and ethical implications of philosophy within modern business environments.

Using a qualitative research approach, the study analyzes academic literature, industry research, and organizational case studies to evaluate how rigid customer absolutism affects employees, customers, and organizational performance. Case studies of Amazon, Ritz‑Carlton, and Southwest …

Open Wide: Examining Dental Narratives In The Age Of Tiktok, Steve Jacob

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

Over the past few years, TikTok has emerged as a major conduit for health-related information through its wide array of short, emotionally charged videos that shape public perceptions. Within that broader category, this thesis evaluated dental-related content. Studies have investigated educational dental-related content on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook; however, no literature has explored how TikTok’s unique, narrative-driven content characterizes dentistry. For this study, primary research was conducted via content analysis of recently uploaded dental-related TikTok videos across 10 popular oral health-based hashtags. Results underline the dominance of patient voices, the use of personal experience as a messaging format, …

Rest Or Rot: Gen Z’S Search For Meaning, La'tasia Love

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

This thesis explores the cultural phenomenon known as “bedrotting,” and its prevalence among many members of society, but particularly Gen Z. Through an extensive content analysis using thematic coding, this study will look through the lenses of psychology, sociology, and philosophy to investigate the opinions, motivations, and impacts of this phenomenon. The results show that the main motivations behind it are depressive tendencies, an aversion to the current state of our society, and existentialism. The research concludes that bedrotting is a spectrum, and though it is often talked about in a neutral or even positive manner by those who participate …

The Sound Design For The Women Of Troy, Anastasiia Didenko

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This Thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the Masters of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts: Sound Design at Minnesota State University, Mankato. This thesis provides an account of Anastasiia Didenko’s process of work on sound design and research for The Women of Troy by Euripides. The show was produced and performed in the Ted Paul Theatre in November of 2025.

The first chapter consists of preliminary research, thoughts on the production and plans for the implementation of the sound design. The second chapter is a historical and critical perspective of the play, which explores the playwright's ideas and …

Creating The Role Of Aunt Eller In Oklahoma!, Phyllis Horridge

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts with concentration in Musical Theatre. It is a detailed account of author Phyllis Horridge’s artistic process in creating the role of Aunt Eller in Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Fall 2025 production of Oklahoma! This thesis follows the actor’s process through pre-production analysis, an historical and critical perspective, journals detailing the rehearsal and performance process, a post-production analysis, and process development. Appendices and works cited follow the process development.

A Few Words From Our Staff

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

True Love, Thaily Jeanty

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Bucket List, Eddie N. Hammans

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

American Gal, Nicole M. Gomez

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Echos Of Renewal, Jasmine Diaz-Marquez

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Sedona, Az, Inchara Kumar

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Antelope Canyon, Auston Hsieh

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Full Issue

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

This House Is Not The Same, Daniella M. Acosta Reyes

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

When Sailboats Fly, Salarah Seymour

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Woman In Silk, Roseline Jean-Pierre

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Mystery Boxes, Grace K. Wong

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.