Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Rutledge, Middleton, Heyward, And Lynch: Founding Fathers From South Carolina, Clayton Alexander Moss

Masters Theses

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in history. It established the American colonies as independent states, and its philosophical ideals regarding freedom guided the United States and other nations worldwide. Fifty-six men signed the Declaration as representatives of their respective colonies, and each contributed to this historic document and the Revolution. The four signatories representing South Carolina, Thomas Lynch Jr., Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge, and Thomas Heyward Jr., were a group of young men who contributed their names and ideals during the American Revolution and the work they did before, during, and after the Second …

The Canonical Development Of Zion Symbolism And Its Transformation In Jesus Christ, Jared Micah Blair

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Zion symbolism developed through the canon of Scripture primarily as a reflection of God’s presence among his people and was transformed in Jesus Christ as the Church becomes a reflection of the heavenly Zion on earth. Building upon the imagery of Eden, Israel’s experience at Sinai, and the temple in Jerusalem, Zion emerged as the primary symbol denoting God’s presence among his people and as a reflection of God’s covenant promises to King David. As the symbol developed through the Psalms and Prophets, an emerging image of the coming Messiah produces a hope that once again mankind will dwell in …

2024-2025 Performance Forum - February 7, 2025, Caroline Dratnal, Ingryd Herrera, Sheng Yuan Kuan, Hoon Chang, Keegan Neely, Jenna Salliman, Amanda Rearden, Juan Fernandez Villegas, Daniel Cruz, Santiago Moreno, Michael Shipps, Patrick Hengstler, Devin Foster

Performance Forum

No abstract provided.

Cultivating The Sabbath Today: Christian Insights On Rest, Work, And Worship, Kyle J. Dieleman

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"How might Reformed Christians navigate Sunday observance in ways that are theologically informed, spiritually fulfilling, and culturally relevant?"

Posting about how to faithfully follow the fourth commandment from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Cultivating the Sabbath Today

Comparing The Efficacy Of Artificial Intelligence Immersion And Human-Led Workshops For Enhancing Researchers' English Language Skills: A Randomized Control Trial, Ndubuisi Friday Ugwu Phd, Raphael Ezamenyi Ochiaka Phd, Ugochukwu Simeon Asogwa M.Sc, Adewumi Segun Igbinlade Phd, Kamorudeen Taiwo Sanni Phd, Toyin Segun Onayinka Phd, Obinna Iroegbu Phd, Michael Olayinka Irewole Phd, Jacob Kehinde Opele Phd, Abiodun Oyetunde Oloyede Phd, Ndidi Christiana Ibenyenwa Msc, Oladipo Adeyeye Olubodun Phd

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: Our study aimed to compare the efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI)-based immersive training with human-led workshops to improve the English language skills of non-English early career researchers (NEECRs) in a Nigerian public university.

Methods: Our study employed a randomized pretest/posttest control group design. A total of 124 NEECRs in Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria, who met the eligibility criteria participated in the study. NEECR participants were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of self-directed AI immersion (n = 62) or human-led workshops (n = 62). A 56-item questionnaire collected data pretreatment, posttreatment, and at a 3-month follow-up. Repeated-measures …

Financial Illiteracy Elimination Through The Development Of A Biblical Financial Literacy Curriculum For New Life Sda Church, Christopher L. Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at New Life SDA Church is biblical financial illiteracy, caused by a lack of scriptural understanding of stewardship; the existence of knowledge gaps pertaining to modern, personal financial management practices; and substandard education across generations. As a result, there is a cascading effect of sustained cross-generational scarcity, difficulties fulfilling daily commitments and responsibilities, problematic family landscapes, and non-fulfillment of church-related stewardship. Protection against financial illiteracy is for New Life Seventh-day Adventist congregants to study and utilize biblical stewardship principles, along with modern financial concepts and practices in their lives. Therefore, this research project’s purpose was to train this …

Child Sexual Abuse And Mental Health: The Role Of Intrusive Thoughts And Spiritual Warfare, Sheriese S. Sanchez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A number of psychological issues are experienced by individuals who have experienced CSA, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, as well as intrusive thoughts contribute to the perpetuation of the mental health problem. Studies have shown that spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, reading the Bible, and reciting scripture affirmations, can improve mental health, improving one’s psychological well-being. Further, intrusive thoughts may be initiated by dark spiritual influences. Despite ongoing research, there is a lack of integration between disciplines of science and biblical truth concerning the impact of immaterial spiritual dimensions on psychological states. To understand intrusive thoughts, one must …

Deepening Relationships With God At Crosspoint Church Through Understanding Covenantal Heritage, David J. Ogurek

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research project addressed the problem of Crosspoint Church’s members not understanding their heritage as God’s covenantal people, which impeded deep relationships with God. The project designed and delivered a six-week sermon series with small-group discussion guides to help participants deepen their relationships with God through understanding their covenantal heritage. The project utilized a multi-week sermon series that employed a teaching method involving biblical history to show how God’s story continually points toward Christ and is relevant to Christianity. Data were collected using surveys before and after the sermon series and a focus group of small-group leaders. The research …

The Fallen, Ann Rose

Masters Theses

The thesis, Free Association as a Means for Fictional Character Development, is a study of how to use the technique of free association to build a character with a mind, mannerisms, and a physique. The method is a way for an author to draw upon real life people in the past to meld their characteristics and psyches into a well-developed fictional character. The components of this chapter discuss how certain people have influenced the author’s childhood and resultant character building in creative writing. The individual mentioned from the author’s childhood is relevant to the creation of the character in the …

2025 Sundance Film Festival Introduction, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

Introduction to our coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival

Ragamuffin, William L. Blizek, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of the short film, Ragamuffin (2025), directed by Kaitlyn Mikalya.

Evolution Of Lyrics Of Egyptian Songs In The 20th Century, Omar Abdelrafe

The Undergraduate Research Journal

Despite the extensive research by western countries on the song lyrics, almost nothing is known about the evolution of Egyptian song lyrics. The previous studies in the U.S. and U.K. revealed that lyrics were more pessimistic as time passed. In this study, 1891 Egyptian songs from 1920 to 2022 were analyzed using a sentiment analysis tool while searching for offensive words and retrieving their popularity scores from Spotify. The results aligned with those of the other regions in which the negativity of songs and the percentage of songs containing offensive words increased. However, there is a substantial increase in neutral …

Stereotypes Of Female Characters In Disney, Merouge Hazem Elboraie

The Undergraduate Research Journal

The depiction of female characters in Disney films has undergone a significant transformation throughout the decades, reflecting societal shifts and changing perceptions of gender roles. As young girls tend to idolize fictional female characters, ensuring a healthy portrayal of women in animated films is crucial. This paper aims to discuss the portrayal of female characters in Disney movies within certain frames and their impact on the general public through a case analysis of literature reviews. It underscores the dynamic interplay between societal change and cinematic narratives, particularly in Disney. The research’s findings indicate that the negative portrayal of Disney female …

Analyzing The Impact Of Societal Perceptions Of Honor On Women's Involvement In The 1919 Revolution And The 2011 Revolution: A Comparative Study, Haya Shalaby

The Undergraduate Research Journal

Women have always been a part of the political sphere, visibly so or not. It was when they started getting more seen in the streets and protests that issues began to rise. The main factor behind that is honor, a complicated and multilayered subject, especially in the Middle East. The way it has been defined, at every point in time, relies on political and religious motives, with the ultimate goal of restricting and controlling the lives of women and their involvement in powerful, fundamental changes. Society perceives honor through its relation to biased religious perceptions, therefore, we find that public …

Beyond Pink And Plastic: A Critical Analysis Of Barbie (2023) Through The Lens Of Gender Performativity, Intersectionality, And Diverse Cultural Perspectives, Nelly K. Abdelwahed

The Undergraduate Research Journal

This paper critically examines Barbie (2023), directed by Greta Gerwig, through the frameworks of Judith Butler’s gender performativity and Kimberlé Crenshaw’s intersectionality. By analyzing qualitative data from interviews with Egyptian university students, the study explores how the film challenges traditional gender norms while addressing its polarizing reception globally. While Barbie (2023) succeeds in sparking conversations about gender, identity, and societal expectations, its Western-centric narrative limits its resonance with non-Western audiences, particularly in the Middle East. The findings reveal a dichotomy: the film effectively critiques systemic inequalities and empowers women but simultaneously overlooks intersectional and diverse lived experiences. This analysis highlights …

Period Poverty In Egypt, Amina Hani Boudah

The Undergraduate Research Journal

Period poverty or Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) is a critical issue that affects women and girls globally. This study examines the socioeconomic and cultural barriers that contribute to period poverty in Egypt and proposes solutions to address these challenges. One survey was conducted among nursing schools across various regions in Egypt, yielding a sample size of 2,228 respondents. The study explores constructs including sanitary product accessibility, distress surrounding menstruation, affordability of sanitary products, and knowledge on menstrual hygiene. Results indicate significant challenges faced by females in accessing sanitary products, experiencing emotional distress due to insufficient access, and feeling embarrassed when …

Factors Related To Employment Of Previously Incarcerated Individuals, Toni Victoria Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employment amongst previously incarcerated individuals is a concern of the criminal justice system because being employed is considered a mitigator of reincarceration. While there is research about the stigma of incarceration in gaining employment, little is known about the factors associated with individuals being able to find employment. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to identify whether there is a direct correlation between individual demographic features and employment status of individuals after 1 year or more of previously being incarcerated in North Carolina. General strain theory was the theoretical framework. The key research question focused on how release …

20250205: Marshall Artist Series, 2016-2024, Marshall Artist Series

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the office of the Artist Series at Marshall University from 2016-2024. Items were received in 2025. Items include movie-sized posters of the programs from the Artist Series, including Piff the Magic Dragon, Mikey Day, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and more. Please download the finding aid for a full list of contents.

Clarice Smith Davis

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

B(L)Ind The Sacrifice, William L. Blizek, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of the short film, B(l)ind the Sacrifice (2025), directed by Nakhane.

Trokas Duras, William L. Blizek, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of the short film, Trokas Duras (2025), directed by Jazmin Garcia.

Death Education, William L. Blizek, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of the short film, Death Education (2025), directed by Yuxon Ethan Wu.

Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting, Monica Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of the short film, Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting (2025) directed by Alex Thompson.

Paradise Man (Ii), William L. Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a review of the short film, Paradise Man (II) (2025), directed by Jordan Michael Blake.

Last Days, Sheila Nayar

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Last Days (2024) directed by Justin Lin.

The Things You Kill, Sheila Nayar

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of The Things You Kill (2024), directed by Alireza Khatami.

Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), Sheila Nayar

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) (2025), directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade.

Luz, Sheila Nayar

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of LUZ (2024), directed by Flora Lau.

Khartoum, Sheila Nayar

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Khartoum (2025), directed by Anas Saeed, Rawia Alhag, Ibrahim Snoopy, Timeea M. Ahmed, and Phil Cox.

Endless Cookie, Sheila Nayar

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Endless Cookie (2025), directed by Seth Scriver and Peter Scriver.