Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Cybernetic Hustle A Hard-Boiled Science Fiction Short Story, Eric Morris

Theses

In a world where body enhancement technology, or "cybernetics," should allow for exponential human progress, the gap between social classes is as wide as ever. A team of cybernetic bootleggers seek to even this playing field by providing low-cost implants to the working poor. Their operation becomes threatened when other underworld groups begin to raise police suspicions, but in this world, the cops may be more corrupt than the criminals. It is up to the team to expose the threat to their business, stay under the radar of the law, and risk their own futures in order to preserve their …

Multitudes, Madison Otter

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Identity is a fluid and layered experience enriched by contradictions, the power of interpersonal relationships, and continuous growth. Recognizing oneself as a blend of opposing traits—strong and tender, contemplative and restless—reveals that humanity is anything but black and white. With each passing day, we evolve, bringing new perspectives and insights with us. As Walt Whitman wrote, "[we] contain multitudes.''

Although no single artistic medium can fully capture this for me, using multiple modes of expression allows me to explore and approximate it. This realization was the origin of my thesis.

The process of creation itself, whether quick or deliberate, is …

Bridging Beliefs: The Senses As Mediators Of Religious Syncretism In Nineteenth-Century Finland, Starla Rajavuori

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

This thesis examines the role of sensory experiences in religious syncretism in nineteenth-century rural Finland, focusing on how pre-Christian elements were incorporated into Christian traditions through communal rites of passage and seasonal festivals. By analyzing the sensory aspects of rituals and practices, this study demonstrates how sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch mediated the complex relationship between pagan and Christian beliefs, enabling the persistence and transformation of older practices within the framework of new religious beliefs. Drawing upon sources including oral poetry, folk accounts, and songs from the Suomen Kansan Vanhat Runot (SKVR), it provides insights into the sensory and …

The Role Of Shopping Orientations And Intrinsic Experiential Value In Consumer's Willingness To Follow Embodied-Ai's Advice In Fashion Shoe Stores, Christina Soyoung Song, Ji Young Lee, Dooyoung Choi

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This study employs a synthesis of Intrinsic Motivation Theory with three shopping orientations, namely “adventure,” “idea,” and “personalized” shopping, in order to examine their potential influence on individuals' motivation towards shopping. We proposed that consumers’ experiential value of intrinsic enjoyment is an indispensable mediator that affects their willingness to follow EAI’s advice. The study offers novel insights into the way that consumers’ characteristics of influencing others’ clothing consumption affect their shopping motivations to find adventure and stimulation, keep up with new fashion trends and products information, and their preference to patronize stores and interact with store staff on a personal …

Underuse Of Pragmatic Markers Among Non-Native English Speakers: Causes And Suggestions For Interventions, Arwa Abdullah S. Alqahtani

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Pragmatic markers (PMs)—those optional markers used in conversations to facilitate communication—have been gaining attention among researchers in the field of pragmatics in the past three decades or so. Proper use of PMs contributes to the success of any interaction in real-life conversations. However, they are often underused by non-native English speakers (NNSs). This paper critically reviews the existing research literature to investigate the causes of the underuse of PMs among NNSs, focusing on linguistic and extralinguistic factors that might contribute to the limited use of PMs. The findings of this study show that the distinctive nature of pragmatic development in …

Retracing Their Tracks: The Rediscovery And Memorialization Efforts Of The National Orphan Train Project, Joanna Lockwood

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Between 1854 and 1929, the placement system that became known as the orphan trains in modern scholarship, removed neglected and orphaned children from the dangerous streets of New York City and attempted to place them into homes across America that would benefit their futures. While this charity-run program was well-intentioned, the estimated two hundred fifty thousand children of the orphan trains experienced a mix of encounters upon their placements. Although many homes provided a caring environment for these children, others did not. After years of struggle during their early childhood, numerous children had not only lost their parents and were …

Spatial Degradation And Livelihood Diversification In The Ever-Changing Landscape Of Pastoralist Kajiado, Kenya, John A. Paine

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study centers on both internal and external pressures on Maasai communities, such as environmental changes and socio-economic shifts, all of which are rapidly changing. It further examines the historical colonial context in Kajiado that has led to spatial degradations - a decline in an objective geographic area's function, usage, or ecological health. Such degradation has taken on different forms based on varying cultural, environmental, and livelihood-centered understandings and motivations. Understanding this is particularly important to investigation of how the cultural identity of the Maasai shapes realities and informs decisions about livelihoods. This idea is especially relevant when, out of …

Piano Wisdom From Two Great Masters: Heinrich Neuhaus And Walter Gieseking, Xiaohan Hu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the pedagogical insights and piano techniques of Heinrich Neuhaus (1888-1964) and Walter Gieseking (1895-1956), two iconic figures in 20th-century piano performance and education. Through a detailed analysis of their writings and teaching methods, the research highlights their shared focus on the foundational principles of piano technique, as well as their unique contributions to interpretation and musical expression.

Neuhaus’s The Art of Piano Playing provides an in-depth discussion on the importance of artistic imagery, posture, sound production, and emotional depth in performance. Gieseking, along with his former teacher Karl Leimer, emphasizes ear training, mental visualization, and technical precision …

It's Written All Over Your Face: A Cultural And Gender History Of The Face In The Middle Ages, 1170-1500, Lacey N. Bonar Hull

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

At a time of vast social and cultural shifts, people living in western Europe from the late twelfth to the late fifteenth centuries developed and employed methods to “read” the faces of others. This practice promoted the interpretation of inner qualities from external appearances, often used to communicate adherence to or deviation from boundaries of gendered behaviors. My project explores medieval understandings concerning this particular feature of the human body, analyzing discourses concerning the face as a site of symbolism for inner character. While scholars have studied understandings of the self and the “Other” during this period, the role of …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Development Toward Teaching Mathematics For Social Justice, Catherine Lynne Manley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While some might say that mathematics is neutral, free from political and social bias, social justice concerns can be found in the day-to-day actions of teachers in mathematics classrooms. Teaching mathematics for social justice requires teachers to gain knowledge of the world and systems of oppression as well as current efforts to both address systemic issues as well as the fight for those in power to maintain their cultural capital. Mathematics teachers also need to learn the pedagogical practices that support social justice in education and the specific ways in which mathematics content can be used as a tool to …

Using Critical Place-Based Pedagogy To Build A Bridge Between College Students’ Home Literacies And Their Academic Literacies In A Composition Class In West Virginia, Michael Vozniak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the use of place-based pedagogy as a tool for teaching for transfer in a college composition class in West Virginia. Although existing composition scholarship indicates that themed classes (such as a place-based class) are unlikely to facilitate transfer among the students, this is mostly due to instructors of themed classes not explicitly teaching for transfer. The literature suggests that the most effective way to facilitate transfer is to encourage students to reflect on how what they learned in one situation is similar to and different from what they need to learn in another situation. The aim of …

Contentment And Control: The Stonega Coke & Coal Company & Pioneering Welfare Capitalism In Southwest Virginia, Christopher Lloyd Tomlinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Founded in 1902, the Stonega Coke & Coal Company was the largest coal operator in Virginia throughout the twentieth century, becoming even larger through its merger with the Westmoreland Coal Company in 1964. Over the course of this long history, the company used a brand of welfare capitalism aimed at keeping miners and their families satisfied enough with their living and working conditions that the workers would develop a sense of loyalty to the company. Management at SC&C termed these practices “contentment sociology.” While many coal operators began shifting away from such practices during the New Deal, SC&C maintained and …

At The Table, Payton Olivia Brown

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written document is the accompanying thesis for my Master of Fine Arts exhibition, At the Table. This document, as well as my artwork, investigates the profound impact that food has on one’s life by strengthening connections with others, upholding traditions, and cherishing memories. It also elaborates on the inspirations, research, and experimentation utilized in the process of creating the exhibition. Through an array of paintings, mixed media, and sculptural work, this exhibition is intended to depict my own personal experiences and memories in relation to food.

Although I am making autobiographical artwork, I am also trying to portray the …

Through The Keyhole, Anna Higgins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Through the Keyhole derives inspiration from the lyrical styles of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. The transformational form of the piece follows an organic growth process leading up to a true climax. The piece stops, yet it does not end, leaving the listener to feel incomplete. Two melodic themes shape the piece alongside timbral developments. The harmony helps to portray the emotional journey of the piece, changing slightly throughout.

That Garden Of Hope, Bhavika Sicka

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

The poem explores themes of freedom of speech, the power of words, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Mentoring Latinas On Doctoral Journeys: Testimonios Of Cultural And Gender Identity, Jacqueline Rangel

CGU Theses & Dissertations

In the United States, Latinas are underrepresented in obtaining PhDs that lead to high level professional careers and academia. This may be due, in part, to patriarchal academic institutions and approaches that have historically devalued the cultural experiences and identities of marginalized populations, including Latinas in higher education. However, research suggests that mentorship can support Latinas in successfully obtaining PhDs and disrupt institutional norms and practices. Framed by LatCrit, Mestiza Consciousness, and Mujerista Mentoring, this study sheds light on the experiences of twenty-four Latinas who earned PhDs-with or without mentors during their doctoral journeys. As such, the purpose of this …

The Whispered Crimes Of Sexual Violence In The European And Pacific Theater Of World War Ii, Channing N. Morrison

History Theses

This thesis addresses sexual violence in World War II in both the European and Pacific Theater. Often, the violence of these War Crimes tends to be overshadowed and not talked about. This thesis examines the stories of women, children, and men who suffered from sexual brutality in World War II and how nations try to hide or justify acts of rape and violence. By using as case studies the nations of Japan, Germany, the United States of America, and the Soviet Union, and how they either committed sexual acts of violence or handled rape cases when it came to the …

The Unseen River And Infrastructural Silences: The Santa Ana River And The Ontology Of Floods, Cooper Lennon Crane

Pomona Senior Theses

This article discusses the history of land development and infrastructure along the Santa Ana River in Southern California. The river plays a significant role in the landscape of many of Southern California’s cities and urban geographies but has been relatively underdiscussed in literature. This article approaches the river using a combination of historic ethnography and sociocultural theory to unpack the meanings of the infrastructure of the river and its relation to Southern Californians. From these meanings, the article places the river in context with environmental politics, urban development, and water management issues in California today. The article argues that the …

Lingering Presence: (T)Racing Chinese Community In The Borderlands, Reia Li

Pomona Senior Theses

By the mid-1900s, although there were only around 700 Chinese people in Tucson, Arizona, there were over 100 Chinese-owned markets. These small grocery stores were located in Mexican American barrios and served mainly Mexican, Indigenous, and Black people. Starting from these stores and moving to other spaces important to the Chinese community, this work explores race as a spatial process and space as a racialized project. Drawing on anthropology, geography, and Asian/American studies, this thesis (t)races the transformations of Chinese homes, grocery stores, and suburban spaces throughout the 20th century, examining the racial meanings that these places both emerged from …

"God Has Given Women All Kinds Of Opportunities To Serve": How Media Discourse On The Ordination Of Women Constructs Understanding Of The Role Of Women In Church And Society, Ilva Skulte, Kristīne Briede

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The representation of a particular topic in the mass media not only forms the understanding of this topic at a particular moment of time, but also contributes to the cultivation of values and norms in a particular culture that go far beyond this topic. The discourse in media establishes relations of power between particular social groups and (re)structures the way people see the roles of those groups. This is why discussion of a particular case of denying ordination to women in the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCL), the biggest church in Latvia, is determined by and has an impact on …

“Sounds Like” Redemption? On The Musicality Of Species And The Species Of Musicality, Tyler Yamin, Alice Rudge

Faculty Journal Articles

Popular and academic studies of music frequently claim that human musicality arose from the so-called ‘natural world’ of non-human species. And amid the anxieties produced by the Anthropocene, it is thought that the possibility of reconnecting with the natural world through a renewed appreciation of music’s links with nature may usher in a new era of posthuman environmental consciousness, offering repair and redemption. To critique these claims, we trace how notions of ‘musicality’ have been applied to or denied from non-human entities across diverse disciplines since the late nineteenth century. We conclude that such debates reinforce the separation that they …

The Paradoxist Movement, Precursor Of Neutrosophy, In The Shadow Of A Totalitarian Regime, Victor Christianto, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Physics thrives on precision, but paradoxes in set theory reveal limitations in our understanding of well-defined boundaries. Neutrosophic logic, challenging the excluded middle principle, introduces the concept of "betweenness" and partial belonging. This article explores, among other things, what is less known, i.e., Paradoxism emerged as a radical artistic and literary movement in Romania during the late 1980s and continues even today. It arose within the stifling and highly controlled environment of Nicolae Ceaușescu's socialist regime, offering a rebellious outlet and a means to subvert the prevailing ideology. Understanding the Paradoxist Movement necessitates a contextual understanding of the Nicolae Ceaușescu …

The Dynamic Interplay Of Opposites In Zoroastrianism, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

This exploration addresses some aspects of Zoroastrianism, examining how the ancient Persian belief system aligns with the dynamic and indeterminate principles of Fuzzy, Neutrosophic, and MultiAlist systems. Zoroastrianism, rooted in the eternal struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, exhibits parallels with Neutrosophy's acknowledgment of indeterminacy, incompleteness, and the dynamic interplay of opposites. The prophet Zarathustra's vision of a neutrosophic God challenges conventional notions of divine attributes, emphasizing a dynamic and evolving universe. Before investigating these vague areas, the concept of unclear conceptual borders is explored, emphasizing the indeterminacy and imprecision inherent in defining opposites or partially opposite concepts. …

The Convergence Of Ikigai And Design Thinking: Crafting A Purposeful Framework, Victor Christianto, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In an era where innovation is not just about solving problems but also about enhancing human experiences and fostering personal fulfillment, the convergence of Ikigai principles with Design Thinking methodology offers a promising avenue for holistic problem-solving and in-novation. This paper explores the intersection of Ikigai—a Japanese concept representing one's reason for being—and Design Thinking—a human-centered approach to innovation. We propose a conceptual framework, termed Ikigai-Driven Design (IDD), which integrates the principles of Ikigai with the stages of Design Thinking. IDD comprises five main stages: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test, each combining elements of Ikigai and Design Thinking to …

Act Chapter 29: Art And Science And Theology In Dialogue, V. Christianto, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Where does a sparkling idea come to us, so out of the blue? Divine inspiration? I want a scientific explanation... Maybe, at present, with our current level of science, we are not able to understand the paranormal, or what we think is fantastic, but in fact it is real. A reality that we cannot reach with understanding, because of our low level... Are we not perhaps relevant and do we understand the incomprehensible? Some are connected to the universe better than others, do they have extra senses? How can we “gather” ideas from “air”? How does the spark in the …

A Right-Brain-Based Epistemology Grounded On Local Wisdom: Intuilytics As A Culturally-Meaningful Alternative In Science, Victor Christianto, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Epistemology, the study of knowledge, has long grappled with the challenge of determining truth. While the combination of deductive and inductive reasoning has been a cornerstone of scientific inquiry, several limitations emerge in its application to contemporary epistemology. One significant issue lies within the core of falsificationism, a prominent philosophy championed by Karl Popper. Falsificationism posits that a scientific theory can only be proven false, not true. While this approach aims to prevent dogmatic adherence to untested ideas, it can lead to an endless cycle of trial and error. As Popper himself acknowledged, no single experiment can definitively prove a …

The Challenges And Rewards Of Carrying Out Qualitative Research On The Police In The African American Community, Daniel K. Pryce, Ingrid Phillips Witaker

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

In this paper, we discuss the challenges and rewards of carrying out qualitative research on the police in the African American1 community. Using data drawn from interviews with seventy-seven African American adults in Durham, NC, we found that community member hostility toward research(ers) and fear of both neighbors and the police lowered African Americans’ willingness to be interviewed about their perceptions of and experiences with U.S. police. These findings were observed primarily in public housing and middle-income communities. On a positive note, we found that greater awareness of policing issues increased African Americans’ willingness to participate in research about the …

Teaching Dobbs To Disrupt U.S. Hegemony And Build Feminist Solidarities, Derek P. Siegel

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The Dobbs decision has created both opportunities and challenges in the classroom. On one hand, Dobbs animated student interest, increasing awareness of reproduction. On the other hand, media coverage of Dobbs primed students—particularly those who had not been exposed to reproductive justice—to think about abortion access in isolation from other topics and from an exclusively U.S. perspective. In this article, I discuss my experience teaching Politics of Reproduction in Fall 2022. Among other goals, I wanted to expose students to La Marea Verde, or the “Green Wave,” of countries expanding abortion access in Latin America. By teaching Latin American abortion …

When Would You Feel Like A Writer? Exploring Writing With Newcomer Students, Sinélia Peixoto, Thea Williamson

English Faculty Publications

The authors share a story of a middle school writer's experience navigating across languages in an English for Speakers of Other Languages support classroom.

The Controversy Of Teaching World Literature And The Importance Of Translation In The Field Of English Studies, Samirah Almutairi

English Faculty Publications

For literary texts to be taught in World Literature courses in the Departments of English Literature, they must be translated into English as a general rule. Some scholars advocate for translating literary texts, and others believe that translation as a methodology does not do justice to these texts. This study aims to lay out the arguments for each position and evaluate them. The significance of this study is to show that World Literature remains an essential field and to highlight the importance of translation. This study questions the modes and purpose of translating literary texts. The result of this study …