Arts and Humanities Commons^™

An Ethnography Of Love Jihad: The Governance Of Interfaith Marriages In Times Of Hindutva, Snehal Sharma

Theses and Dissertations--Gender and Women's Studies

My doctoral research focuses on the violations of human and citizenship rights of women and religiously marginalized communities (based on religious differences) in the backdrop of right-wing movements in India. I assess the Hindu nationalist propaganda named “love jihad” to demonstrate the way it weaponizes religious exogamy. This propaganda legitimizes violence against Indian religious minorities and women as it claims that marriages between Hindu women and Muslim men are acts of terrorism against Hindus with the sole aim of increasing the Muslim population using Hindu women's bodies. I have used ethnographic research methods to explore the legal process of interfaith …

Church Attendance, Gender Roles, And Human Sexuality, Derek D. Goodrich

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

This research examines how the frequency of religious attendance impacts views on gender roles and sexuality in Christian subgroups in the United States. Prior research on the varying worldviews of American Christians has revealed a diverse group of opinions that cannot be explained solely by denominational affiliation. Based on social identity theory, this study explores whether the frequency of attendance at religious services influences congregants’ beliefs on six issues: legalization of gay marriage, the acceptance of homosexuality in society, the acceptance of transgender people, whether a parent should stay home with the children, which parent should stay home, and women …

Complexity Machines: New Histories Of North American Automobile Production, 1900-1950s, Kevin A. Moskowitz

History Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation examines the design and manufacture of the mass-produced automobile in North America from its inception at the start of the twentieth century through the height of production in the late 1950s. This network of producers constituted the single largest industry in North America. The success of this market required producing a product that was desirable to consumers in design, affordable to purchase, and could be built in high enough quantities to justify the realignment of the rest of North American society to serve this new method of transportation. This dissertation is a shift away from demand studies concerned …

The Alienated Self: A Solo Exhibtion, Kade Winterton

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Exhibiting works is an essential step for every artist; this capstone is a creative research project that explores feelings of alienation and otherness, as well as the multiple causes they stem from, resulting in a body of work ready for exhibition. First, research was conducted on exhibiting and curating works. Next, works by contemporary artists who also explored the same topic were examined. Completed works were curated, and an inventory of what was needed to create an exhibition-ready body of work was defined. After this was done, new works were uniquely created, each starting with an idea and a sketch. …

Orchestrating Brilliance In The Recording Studio: Mixing Music To Record Music, Adrian D. Carroll

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This paper is a report on a heuristic inquiry into music recording practice and workflow to arrive at the essence of experience. Through professional reflection on a music recording, we investigated the recording process and student experience; this was used to identify, explore and expose tacit professional practice. The central theme that unfolded revealed benefits in mixing music during a recording session. Other themes of workflow efficiency, and emotional expression, also emerged from the data collection. The research culminated in a creative synthesis in the form of a research question: Can live studio recordings be a viable option for artists, …

Critical Approaches To Climate-Induced Migration Research And Solutions, Rosalyn Negrón, David Hernández, Hossein Ayazi, Pablo Shiladitaya Bose, Nyingilanyeofori Brown, Elora Chowdhury, Janelle Knox-Hayes, Rajini Srikanth, Banu Subramaniam, Farhana Sultana, Patrick Sylvain, Carlos Vargas-Ramos, Charles Venator-Santiago

Sustainable Solutions Lab

In this commentary we explore the confluence of factors shaping climate-induced migration and the need for comprehensive solutions grounded in historical and systemic understandings. We argue that climate change, colonial legacies, and geopolitical policies significantly influence migration patterns, particularly for historically marginalised communities. We call for scholars to develop holistic frameworks that consider environmental, political, historical, and economic factors while advocating for the legal recognition and protection of migrants and people displaced by climate impacts. Drawing on examples of internal migration and displacement in the United States and refugee camps globally, we highlight the complexities of resettlement. We propose integrated …

Sights And Sounds Of Veteran Identity: The Use Of Photovoice Technique And Lyric Analysis In A Community-Based Participatory Action Research Framework, Stephanie Jett Ph.D., Laurie Peebles

Academic Affairs

Researchers often attempt to define what it means to be a Veteran; however, there is a dearth of research where that question is directly asked of Veterans. Instead, a traditional approach to research is taken where the experimenter defines the variables and asks the participants to provide responses without being included in the research process or reaping any direct benefit from participation. We assert that in order to better understand this unique population, it is vital that we elevate their voices by employing more qualitative, community-based participatory action research (CbPAR) models where Veterans are empowered to use their voices to …

Curated Bricolage: Questions Of Agency, Accuracy, And Complicity In Munich Holocaust Memorialization, Jamie Downing

Academic Affairs

As the birthplace of the Nazi movement, Munich has long struggled to reckon with its legacy from World War II and the Holocaust. While some museums in Munich document the rise of the Nazis, the war, and the Holocaust, unlike other European cities, Munich lacks a centralized Holocaust museum or memorial. Instead, across the city there are dozens of mini-monuments—plaques, sculptures, cobblestone markings—that reference different figures and events related to Munich's Nazi history. These sites comprise a decentralized, bricolage approach to memorialization, leaving individuals to happen upon these mini-memorials and make sense of them without much context.

While this approach …

Dyslexia Resource Support K-12, Matthew Forrest

Academic Affairs

The proposed project aims to develop a comprehensive hands-on workshop focused on an art activity, accompanied by written resources designed for local school teachers. This collaborative initiative involves key stakeholders, including The Deal Center, the Department of Art, and the Department of Education, working together to create a tailored experience for educators and parents to better understand dyslexia.

Reflections On Linear B, (Part 7): Sign 75, Which Looks Like A Backwards Letter S, Might Derive From The Ancient Egyptian Uraeus Figure, Gerald Leonard Cohen

Arts, Languages and Philosophy Faculty Research & Creative Works

Linear B sign 75 is evidently of unknown origin, both with respect to its intended portrayal and a rationale for its pronunciation /we/. And yet, like several other signs of Linear B, I believe this one too derives from ancient Egyptian, viz., the mythological cobra figure poised to spit fire to protect the god/goddess or sovereign on whose crown or headdress the cobra stands guard.

“A Safe Place”: Exploring Black Couples’ Perceptions Of Black Love And Relationship Coping In The Context Of Their Lived Experiences With Racism, Melinda Murdock

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Historically, Black couples have not been studied within the context of their lived experiences as it relates to the effects of racism on relationship health. Only in the last decade have relationship scholars begun to consistently link racism-related stressors to relationship processes and outcomes. Despite the growing literature, recent studies are primarily quantitative in method and rely on samples, theoretical models, and measures that predominantly represent White couples’ experiences. It remains unclear how Black couples’ perceptions of love and relationship coping lead to resilient outcomes despite the negative effects of racism.

Therefore, the goal of the present study is to …

Impacts Of School-Based Agricultural Education On The Resilience Of Senior Appalachian High School Students Living In Economically Disadvantaged Counties In Kentucky And Virginia, Ruth D. Toole

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Students in Central Appalachia, particularly those in economically disadvantaged (ED) counties, may face unique risks related to their geographic and socioeconomic circumstances. However, school-based and youth development programs have been shown to foster resilience among youth. This convergent mixed-methods study aimed to explore whether involvement in School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) can enhance youth resilience. Data were collected through a resilience questionnaire and semi-structured focus group interviews, which were analyzed, interpreted, and integrated to uncover key findings. Results indicated that participants living in ED areas exhibited relatively high resilience scores. Focus group discussions revealed that, despite the challenges they face, participants …

Discovering My Sonic Identity Through Intent And Self-Belief: A Portfolio Of Compositions, Addison J. Bird

Theses and Dissertations--Music

An analysis and overview of a master’s degree electroacoustic composition portfolio. These works represent significant benchmarks in terms of musical development and composer intent. Each piece is analyzed for its musical methods and inspirations as well as the non-musical ideas surrounding them. The pieces covered are a mixture of fixed media electroacoustic works and live electronic works incorporating popular and folk music influences.

Identifying Isaac Tabor's First Wife, Department Of Library Special Collections

Research Collections

Identifying the First Wife of Isaac Tabor b. 1770 NC – d. 1844 KY

Glitched Humanity: A Digital Media Arts Advocacy Project, Shelly Maloney

Teaching Resource Archive

This lesson includes an original sample project and website that directs students towards learning how to utilize digital glitch art to create advocacy or raise awareness for the social, cultural, environmental, or political issue of their choice. It is designed to engage students in critical thinking skills, cross-curricular connections, reflective writing, digital art making, group discussion, and peer review.

Artists can use video and other media sources to explore the self-destructive tendencies of human nature (i.e. violence/war, consumption, and/or carelessness/environmental neglect) or other social, cultural, or political issues using digital manipulation, layered imagery, sound, and video.

Layers Of Identity, Elizabeth Toffel

Teaching Resource Archive

Students explore identity, specifically that identity is layered, shaped by personal experience, cultural background, community ties, and unique traits. Students conduct interviews with peers, reflect on identity components, both individually and collectively, and create a layer artwork on transparent acetate sheets. When stacked the layers visually showcase the layers of the student’s identity and represent how identity is complex, constructed, and always shaped by multiple influences.

緣遊, Man Wa Fu

Dissertations from all years

在二零二四年九月十四日，從未踏足歐洲的我，獨自前往英國赫特福德大學（University of Hertfordshire），開啟交換生生涯。在陌生的國度裏，相遇與離別如同車窗外掠過的風景般稍縱即逝──我遇見許多人，經歷許多事，但終須離開。最後決定用文字記錄這段旅程，《緣遊》就此誕生。《緣遊》意指由緣分安排的旅行，隱含啟程的初衷。而在整理文稿時，某個身影始終若隱若現。我未曾刻意為之，或許，這正是「緣遊」最深邃的注解。

"No matter what form it takes, we will eventually meet."──法國友人A

Between Sde Boker And Mitzpe Ramon: Passing Bays, Highway 40, A-10140/2025, Nofar Lary

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In September 2025, a trial excavation was conducted on Highway 40 (Permit No. A-10140; map ref. 174894-9185/518274-31301; Fig. 1), within preparation for the construction of passing bays. The excavation, conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Netivei Israel, was directed by N. Lary, with the assistance of T. Sapir (photography, field director), Y. Alamor (administration), A. Montagu (GPS, plans, and model), D. Varga (pottery), D. Degen-Eisenberg (consultant), S. Talis, G. Seriy, I. Radashkovsky, and A. Fraiberg (Southern District), along with laborers under contractual employment.

Caesarea Industrial And Business Park (ʻAl-Domiry) A-10145/2025, Anna Khalatov, Yotam Tepper

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

On October 2025, a trial excavation (Permit No. A-10145; map ref. 194335–41/708123–30; Fig. 1) was conducted in an area of dune sands, south of the Caesarea Industrial Park and north of Highway 65, in advance of the installation of an Israel Railways track. The excavation, carried out on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Israel Railways, was directed by A. Khalatov (field photography) and Y. Teper (guidance), with the assistance of Y. Amrani and Z. Lotan (administration), S. Emmanuilov (surveying, documentation, and drafting), A. Dagot (GPS), A. Massarwa (sub-district archaeologist), A. ʻAzab (district archaeologist), and eight laborers.

The Best Children's Books Of The Year In Spanish [2025 Edition], Bank Street College Of Education. Children's Book Committee

The Center for Children's Literature

An annotated list of the best children's books in Spanish published or translated in 2024. In English and Spanish.

Spanish title: Spanish title: Los mejores libros infantiles del año 2025.

Jerusalem, Ramat Rahel (West, Kathisma Site) A-10036/2025, Rina Avner

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In early April 2025, a trial excavation was conducted south of the Kathisma site and south of the junction between Hebron Road and the main road descending eastward to the Har Homa neighborhood, approximately 200 m north of the Mar Elias Monastery (Permit No. A-10036/2025; map ref. 220137-51/627263-79; Fig. 1). The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Moriah – The Jerusalem Development Corporation, was directed by R. Avner, with the assistance of M. Chernin (field supervision), N. Sapir (Jerusalem District), S. Halevi (photogrammetry), M. Cimadevilla (drafting), and laborers.

Introducing Justice And Rights To Students Of Economics, Mark D. White

Publications and Research

Most economics instruction is focused on outcomes, whether evaluated in terms of individual or collective welfare or well-being. This is consistent with economics’ roots in classical utilitarianism, and no consideration is usually given to the process by which these results obtain, which is a deontological concern of right and wrong. This can seem odd to economics students, especially in the context of trade-offs in which one party is benefited at the expense of another, or aggregate welfare is maximized while some individuals are harmed, with no consideration in either of rights, desert, or justice. This chapter argues for the importance …

Lgbtq+ Maine Timeline (Sources Included), Megan Macgregor

USM Libraries & Learning Scholarship

This timeline is in no way complete. If you would like to add something to the timeline please reach out to Megan MacGregor ([email protected]) with the event AND a source showing that it happened.

《紅高粱家族》中男性角色的尋根與民族認同：以余佔鰲為中心的分析, Yuen Ying Tse

Dissertations from all years

本論文聚焦於莫言長篇小說《紅高粱家族》中男性角色，特別是核心人物余佔鰲的形象建構，探討其在「尋根文學」脈絡下的民族認同與文化身份再現。作為中國當代文學中尋根潮流的重要代表，莫言通過現代敘事策略重新審視歷史與個體身份。《紅高粱家族》以強烈的民間敘事色彩與語言張力，揭示個體生命與家國命運的緊密聯繫，並透過男性角色的敘事視角提供了對民族文化精神的深入反思。

本文首先從尋根文學與民族認同理論出發，探討其與男性敘事之間的關聯，並分析莫言如何通過對高密東北鄉文化的書寫，將「尋根」視為對傳統文化的回溯與現代民族身份的重構。其次，文章將深入分析余佔鰲在小說中的行動模式與文化象徵，探討其與土地、高粱、暴力與戰爭等元素的深層互動，如何展現出一種原始而激烈的陽剛生命力，進而成為民族精神與歷史記憶的承載者。

本研究旨在補足現有莫言作品研究中偏重女性角色與母權書寫的視角，強調男性角色在尋根敘事中作為文化主體的重要性。透過對文本的細讀與文化符號的深入分析，本文試圖揭示《紅高粱家族》如何在尋根文學框架中展現民族認同與文化身份的建構，並進一步探討莫言如何透過男性角色的形象塑造，對當代文化及民族認同的多重性與其轉型過程進行深層反思與詮釋。

The Mercury 2025

The Mercury

No abstract provided.

比較文學框架下，東西方女同志自傳式小說中女性書寫之平行研究──談《鱷魚手記》與《柳橙不是唯一的水果》, Yee Ham Ma

Dissertations from all years

此研究聚焦邱妙津的《鱷魚手記》與珍奈．溫特森的《柳橙不是唯一的水果》，並以女性主義與酷兒理論為分析框架，探討女同志群體的生命經驗及其挑戰異性戀文化規範的方式。文中探討兩個核心問題：其一，作者為何選擇自傳式小說作為「現身」的形式；其二，「現身」對作者及女同志群體的意義。研究方法包括文本細讀及符號學理論的應用。

研究指出，在各自的文化背景影響之下，《鱷魚手記》批判台灣社會中的恐同風氣，並反思媒體獵奇報導的傷害；而《柳橙不是唯一的水果》則解構基督教文化中二元性傳統對女性與同志的壓迫，並展示身份探索的多元可能性。這兩部作品皆通過自傳式小說隱匿作者身份，創造安全的發聲空間，兼具個人療愈與社會運動的意義。文本中隱含的寓言故事則呈現兩位作者對性別、身份、社會規範與文化壓迫所進行的反思，同時賦予文本更多樣化的敘事風格。

Chatgpt And Biblical Studies, James F. Mcgrath

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

The use of computers in the study of theology has a long and positive history, yet the level of concern in response to the latest AI chatbots is understandable. This article explores how education and preaching need to adapt to this new technology and what its limitations are, as well as how it may make a positive contribution. The study concludes with a brief exploration of the kinds of sermon materials GPTs produced for the author when given prompts about the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4.

Existential Resilience In The City, Shane Ray Epting

Arts, Languages and Philosophy Faculty Research & Creative Works

Severe weather continues to challenge cities worldwide. Typhoons, wildfires, floods, and extreme temperatures test urban systems, communities, and governments at all scales. To combat such effects, resilience has emerged as a term geared towards increasing their ability to address impacts, strengthen infrastructure, and deal with cleanup measures. Although this business sounds straightforward to non-philosophers, ethical and existential elements remain out of view for the sciences and require investigation. This article fleshes them out. The first step is to identify relevant stakeholder groups and competing interests. The second is discovering equitable ways to bring professionals and city dwellers together to develop …

La Razón De Ser De Los Metodistas Hoy: Una Lectura Del Sermón “La Gracia Libre” De Juan Wesley Para Nuestros Tiempos, Philip Wingeier-Rayo Ph.D.

Apuntes: Reflexiones teológicas desde el margen hispano

Almost three hundred years have passed since John Wesley began the Methodist movement in England, and some may question its relevant to our current context. This article explores the role of Methodism through a contemporary re-reading of John Wesley's sermon "Free Grace." In dialogue with the current state of social, economic, and spiritual crises, the author compares the Wesleyan doctrine of universal grace and free will with the Calvinist doctrine of predestination and affirms the live-giving doctrine of free grace, which offers hope and social responsibility in the face of inequality and social injustice. By affirming these Wesleyan doctrines, Methodism …

Cultural Society Branding, Gabriella Nieves, Katie Parrish

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Cultural Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring curiosity, improving education, and embracing diversity in our community. The presenters were tasked with creating a new brand identity for Cultural Society, as well as for its AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) History Museum, where people can learn about AAPI history, cultures, and impacts in Rhode Island. The branding was developed in a way that represents Cultural Society's values of creativity, personal action, learning without borders, personal growth, and resilience. Shortly after graduation, one presenter was hired part-time by Cultural Society to design environmental graphics and promotional items for the …