Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Revolutionary Resistance In Denmark: The Impact Of Grundtvigism On The Danish Resistance To Nazi Occupation, Holland Burd

Young Historians Conference

This paper examines the impact of nineteenth century philosopher and theologian Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig on the Danish resistance during World War II. Born in 1783, Grundtvig established a framework that paved the way for Danish national pride, setting the stage for a united resistance effort against Nazi occupation in October of 1943. His beliefs inspired movement towards the common good and allowed the Danes to reconnect with their cultural identity. Nazi Germany invaded Denmark in 1940, initially preserving an image of peace through a model protectorate. However, the image of peace was destroyed in 1943 after Nazi Germany ordered …

Catholic Syncretism: A Framework For Understanding Post-Colonial Religious Identity, James A. Hennessey-O'Connor

Young Historians Conference

Syncretic Catholicism, the blending of Catholic Christianity with Indigenous, African, and other pre-existing belief systems, represents a recurring and globally consistent pattern of religious adaptation arising from colonial encounters. This essay examines syncretic Catholic traditions across three regions: Latin America, Asia, and North America. In Latin America, where Spanish and Portuguese colonization imposed Christianity through force, syncretism functioned as a strategy of cultural survival. In Asia, where early Catholic missions relied more on persuasion than conquest, syncretism relied on voluntary negotiation and creative religious blending, producing hybrid traditions. In North America, African-derived traditions demonstrate that syncretic adaptation operated as a …

A Battle Of Will And Wisdom: Polar Opposites In The Polar Extremes Of The Viking World, Lily C. Manne

Young Historians Conference

This paper explores the connection between the polar climate of Viking-age Scandinavia and the success of the Vikings through examining the dual nature of their culture brought about by their environment. The Scandinavian peninsula is known for its harsh, variable climate full of cold winters and unpredictable harvests that turned into long summers and melting fjords. Outside of shaping survival strategies and material culture, this polar environment seeped into the fundamental cultural values the Vikings exhibited, creating the foundation for a society that understood the value of destruction and violence as well as creation and craftsmanship. Using Norse mythology as …

The Kraken Wakes: Myth, Science, And The Rise Of A Maritime Sensation, From 1750-1900, Leif G. Crockett

Young Historians Conference

Since the 1800s, the legend of the Kraken has pervaded literature, but this creature is much older, figuring in Norwegian myths as early as the 13th century. The modern understanding of the Kraken can be traced back to the 1750s writing of Bishop Erik Pontoppidan, who described the monster with fantastical and analytical detail. An interrogation of Pontoppidan’s text, as well as novels, poetry, and other media sources from the 19th century—many of which reference the Bishop by name—uncovers Pontoppidan’s influence on later stories of the Kraken. Coupled with an analysis of secondary scholarship on the changing dynamics of science …

Demonizing Sexuality: Dangerous Women In Folklore, Lily E. Nelson

Young Historians Conference

Cross-culturally, women in folklore have been portrayed as dangerous due to their sexuality and influence over men. Clear patterns throughout history emerge through analysis of the following occurrences, which show a link between how sexualized a female figure is and the threat she is considered to pose. The she-demon Lilith in Jewish and Mesopotamian mythology as well as folklore relating to the Scriptures, mermaids in Europe, and fox spirits in East Asia all demonstrate this phenomenon, since they are all overly sexualized and represent broader social norms towards women. These beings all exhibit similarities in being able to exert control …

Heavenly Righteousness: How Religion Facilitated The Rise Of The Order Of The Knights Templar, Morgan M. Henderson

Young Historians Conference

The Order of the Knights of the Temple of Solomon, commonly known as the Knights Templar, was a critical organization in the Christian occupation of the Holy Land during the 11th to 14th centuries. This paper explores how the Templars’ relationship with the papacy and the Catholic Church enabled the order to amass its power. Through its doctrine, papal grants, and founding council, the Templars structured their order to be a military force used to attack the Muslim infidel. Religion was the unique element that enabled the Knights Templar to become the most significant military order of their time, greatly …

The Revolutionaries Of Mt. Tabor: Religion, Radicalism, And Propaganda Of The Taborites In Hussite Bohemia, India L. Black-Mitchell

Young Historians Conference

This paper explores the formation of the radical Hussite group, the Taborites, in fifteenth century Bohemia, and their eventual decline and absorption into other religious groups. Tabor was founded in the rural countryside of Bohemia, populated by an impoverished working class, Under the leadership of Jan Zizka, and the influence of Jan Hus and Bishop Nicholas Biskupec of Pelhrimov, Tabor was able to establish itself as a highly successful military and religious force despite the opposition of the powerful Catholic Church. Tabor promoted literacy in the Bible to its working class members, including women, which set them apart from their …

Integration As Resistance: How Palestinian Chileans Have Acted As Transnational Activists From 1870-2008, Eloise H. Brentano

Young Historians Conference

Spurred by violence and persecution, countless groups across the Middle East have engaged in transnational migration across history. One such group, Palestinians, have embraced transnationalism as a cornerstone of their identity as a stateless nation. Beginning in the wake of the Crimean War, and later following the establishment of the state of Israel, many Palestinians immigrated to Chile’s capital, Santiago de Chile. There, they have engaged in cross-cultural interactions with Chileans in order to harness their economic, political, athletic, and artistic customs as unique forms of activism in the absence of proper diplomacy with any Palestinian state. While some Palestinian …

Beyond Tacit Consent: Rethinking Immigrant Membership In Locke’S Social Contract, Claire A. Orfield

Bates College Undergraduate Law Review

This thesis considers the tension in Locke’s writings between universal natural-rights obligations required of a state and the exclusion of foreigners from the potential to become express consenters, thereby becoming permanent members of a state and receiving more than just baseline legal protection. Although other scholars certainly acknowledge this tension, most of them utilize it to support the abandonment of Locke’s framework of tacit and express consent altogether. This thesis, on the other hand, conducts an immanent critique of John Locke’s theory of consent by demonstrating that his own conceptual framework contains the resources for a more expansive understanding of …

Eating Trees To Save The World, Belle Breyanna Li

Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research

This essay posits that all climate solutions will require change, an important one being eating more trees. While our current crisis is the result of indifference and inaction, we must consider innovative solutions. Like all the other possibilities, investing in more trees will require the joint efforts of our communities. As we allocate effort, time, and resources to climate solutions, the benefits will return tenfold in numerous ways. By prioritizing trees as a food source, we can empower our communities and increase their resilience. At the same time, we will positively contribute to the global climate by sequestering carbon. This …

36th Annual Young Historians Conference Program, Portland State University History Department, Portland State University Challenge Program

Young Historians Conference

This is the 2026 Young Historians Conference schedule and abstracts.

Dementia Detection In Low-Resource Languages: Evaluating Translation-Assisted Transfer Learning For Multilingual Clinical Assessment, Kylar A. Deloach

Honors Theses

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a growing global health concern, with millions of people affected worldwide and cases expected to rise significantly in the coming decades. Early detection is critical for patient treatment and care, and recent advances in natural language processing (NLP) have shown promise in identifying linguistic markers associated with AD. However, most existing work has focused on English, leaving speakers of other languages with limited access to such tools. This study investigates how effective AD detection models trained on English data are at transferring to Greek, a low-resource language with limited dementia-related speech data available. We propose a …

Féminicide: Institutional Silence On The Screams Of Murdered Women In France, M. Afif Alfadin Syarif, Airin Miranda

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Rising awareness of women's homicide in France has challenged the government to provide an adequate legal response, as feminist groups began advocating and expressing the discourse on women's homicide since 2014 through the term féminicide. The nature of this crime remains contentious in legal discourse, particularly given the significant rise in féminicide cases in 2019. This study, therefore, aims to examine the phenomenon of féminicide in France, exploring both the discourse surrounding it and the legal responses from the government. Drawing on 46 cases recorded in 2023 by the feminist collective #NousToutes, and with particular attention to relevant legal …

Candi Perwara Pada Percandian Ijo, Plaosan Lor, Dan Plaosan Kidul: Sebuah Kajian Arsitektur Dan Tinjauan Inskripsi, Dwi Ratna Sylvia Widyahastuti, Agus Aris Munandar

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Temple or Candi are sacred Hindu and Buddhist buildings constructed in accordance with the prescriptions of the Vāstuśāstra, including subsidiary temple or candi perwara. This study examines the candi perwara of the Ijo, Plaosan Lor, and Plaosan Kidul Temple Complex to analyze their technical aspects, religious functions, and chronological positions within their respective temple complexes. Employing a descriptive-comparative method and a historical-archaeological approach supported by epigraphical review, the research identifies similarities in the roof forms and ornamental reliefs. Differences are observed in ground plans, stone materials, construction systems, vestibule, base forms, body variations, …

Off The Rails: A Fusion Project Combining Bluegrass And Celtic Fiddle Music, Kate Ward

Composition/Recording Projects

The American culture of fiddle playing is rooted in fiddle styles from Ireland, Scotland, and England as a result of fiddle tunes being brought to America via immigrants from the British Isles.  Despite many of the fiddling styles prevalent today being rooted in the same traditions, each has unique technical and compositional distinctions.  This paper explores the technical, compositional, and cultural components of bluegrass and Celtic music and how they can be fused together. This project combines elements of both styles in unique ways to create a natural fusion born out of submersion in each genre.

Edukasi Pelestarian Situs Arkeologi Kupang Melalui Kunjungan Situs Partisipatif Berbasis Masyarakat, Saswal Ukba

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

This community service program aims to introduce and provide education on the preservation of archaeological sites in Kupang City through community-based participatory site visits. Kupang City possesses archaeological remains spanning the prehistoric, colonial, and Japanese occupation periods; however, the extent of scholarly research and preservation efforts remains limited. The program was implemented through field observations, the delivery of historical materials, and interactive discussions conducted at several sites, including Goa Monyet, Fort Concordia, Goa Jepang Liliba, and Bukit Cinta Site. Direct community involvement facilitated a contextual understanding of the significance of cultural heritage and fostered collective awareness regarding its conservation. The …

Optimalisasi Teknologi Digital Dalam Promosi Warisan Budaya Menggunakan Wix, Nurul Afni Sya'adah, Yayuk Yusdiawati

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

Cultural heritage in tangible and intangible forms preserves important values for society and therefore must be preserved. However, its non-renewable nature poses a threat of extinction, which will result in the loss of cultural identity. This situation can be resolved through the use of digital technology in the process of promoting cultural heritage so that it can be accessed by the public. This community service is carried out as an effort to promote cultural heritage through digital platforms. The participants of the activity are students of the Archaeology Program at the Universitas Jambi, class of 2025. The activity was carried …

Merajut “Kampung Harapan”: Pendekatan Budaya Dan Partisipatoris Dalam Resolusi Konflik Laten Di Kawasan Transmigrasi Teluk Wondama, Papua Barat, Iflah Hayati Nurrahmi, Diva Vermanda, Muhammad Ilham Fasya, Mohammad Gama Subarkah, Iman Fachruliansyah

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

The Werianggi-Werabur Transmigration Area in Teluk Wondama, West Papua, faces challenges of social integration in the form of latent conflict between Indigenous Papuans (OAP) and transmigrants. This tension is manifested in residential segregation and recurring disputes regarding crop damage caused by livestock ("cattle vs. garden"). This community engagement activity aims to initiate culture-based conflict resolution through the "Damai Kita, Sejahtera Kita" Participatory Workshop. We used Participatory Action Research (PAR) as method. The pre-implementation phase utilized Social Network Analysis (SNA) to map key actors, as mediators, followed by social intervention through Focus Group Discussions (FGD) using Problem Tree and Conceptual Model …

Terapi Reminiscence Berbasis Warisan Budaya Untuk Meningkatkan Kesehatan Kognitif Lansia Di Kelurahan Pancoran Mas, Kota Depok, Isman Pratama Nasution, Mentari Halimun, Radila Adwina, Ivo Giovanni, Mita Indraswari, Chevyco Chevyco

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan fungsi kognitif dan kesejahteraan psikososial lansia melalui terapi reminiscence berbasis warisan budaya. Program dilaksanakan pada 40 lansia di Posbindu RW 08 Kelurahan Pancoran Mas dengan metode pemberian materi budaya lokal, diskusi kelompok terpumpun, dan refleksi pengalaman hidup menggunakan media visual berupa foto landmark dan tradisi budaya. Evaluasi dilakukan melalui pre-test dan post-test serta observasi selama kegiatan. Hasil menunjukkan adanya peningkatan skor kognitif setelah intervensi, disertai respons emosional positif dan peningkatan interaksi sosial peserta. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan warisan budaya sebagai pemantik memori merupakan pendekatan efektif untuk mendukung kualitas hidup lansia melalui …

Why Is Lingua Franca A Necessity In International Relations?, Mutasim Aljohani

Language Study as a Gateway to the Humanities

No abstract provided.

Causes And Drivers Of Constitutional Change In The Roman Republic, Tarin Gatchell

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Using a narrative of the fall of the Roman Republic, the present work explains how constitutions change. First, a definition of "constitution" is developed as the amalgamation of traditions, customs, social mores and culture as they relate to the act of governing. Second, theories of so-called personal and stately glory, Heroic “Great Men,” and legendary stories both from a society’s past and stories that are being played out and participated in by the people of an era, are introduced and discussed to explain the forces of constitutional change in the Roman Republican context. A historical narrative example from the career …

What Remains, Hailie Adamczak

Honors Theses

What Remains is a balletic contemporary dance work that explores the emotional complexity of growing older, leaving home, and returning to places that no longer feel the same. Rooted in personal experience, the piece examines the tension between memory and identity, questioning whether home is a physical place or a feeling that slowly changes over time. Through movement, music, lighting, and costume design, the work reflects the bittersweet realization that certain people, places, and experiences continue to shape us long after we leave them behind.

The choreography follows a central soloist navigating themes of belonging, conformity, grief, and self-discovery. Structured …

Appreciative Commoning; Musical Knowledge-Sharing In Earhouse Songwriting Club, Arya J. P. Adyuta

Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia

This article develops the concept of “appreciative commoning” to focus on the importance of appreciation in musical community practices. By examining the practices of musical knowledge-sharing in the Earhouse Songwriting Club (ESC), a songwriting community, this article argues that greater attention should be paid to the roles of appreciation and support in facilitating media and cultural commoning in Indonesia. The article draws on ethnographic fieldwork in Earhouse, an initiative space located in Pamulang, South Tangerang, established by the musician duo Endah N Rhesa. Exploring three main activities of the community: weekly meetings, monthly showcases, and afterparties, I show how embracing …

Prototyping For Game Design With Unlv Libraries, Silvey Benson, Amber Sewell

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Involving students in a hands-on creative way to implement ideation, design, and prototyping skills gives students the opportunity to apply the theory of iterative design. Students analyze and reverse engineer current game designs prior to beginning their own innovations. They are then encouraged to apply innovation and creativity to their own game designs, test the games’ effectiveness through having others play their game and provide feedback, and fail safely in a controlled environment. Students will ideally increase their tolerance for failure through the implementation of the iterative design process while gaining a variety of skills that will serve them outside …

Transparency And Personalized Feedback Curb Ai Misuse In Asynchronous Online Biology, Elana A. Paladino

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The rapid expansion of generative AI (Gen-AI) has reshaped teaching and assessment in online, asynchronous introductory biology courses, creating new challenges for academic integrity and meaningful learning. This poster examines practical strategies to promote ethical AI use while maintaining student engagement. Transparency of instructions and timely, personalized feedback were found to curb AI misuse in online discussion posts. Structured use of AI tutors encouraged responsible engagement with Gen-AI, and surveillance methods for summative exams had mixed effects.

Culturally Responsive Tent: An Architectural Journey, Marcos Amado Petroli, Elmira Ebadi

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Culturally responsive teaching in architecture encourages students to connect design thinking with identity, culture, and lived experience. This studio assignment introduced the tent as an archetypal architectural form and weaving as a generative tectonic strategy, allowing students to explore how lightweight structures can respond to social needs, cultural narratives, and material expression.

Evaluating The Benefits Of “Science Of Learning To Learn” In Foundational Undergraduate Biology Courses, Kathryn M. Rafferty, Jenifer Utz, Christy Strong, Matthew Bernacki

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Our objective was to foster increased retention of freshman student and subsequent progression into upper division coursework by incorporating learning skill development and motivational activities into the Introductory Biology courses (BIOL190/191). Enhancement of the introductory biology courses at UNLV has the potential to improve the educational experiences of thousands of students, since about 600 to 800 students enroll in the introductory biology courses each semester. We have previously developed a multimedia learning skill intervention called "The Science of Learning to Learn" which covers the importance of self-testing, spacing out and scheduling study sessions, and managing one's goals, habits, and learning …

Using “Ticket Out” To Create A Continuous Feedback Loop For Student Learning, Jacob D. Skousen

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

This presentation highlights the use of a brief end-of-class “Ticket Out” to create a continuous feedback loop for student learning. Students reflect on learning targets and provide feedback on the class experience, which is then analyzed and used to guide instructor response, follow-up communication, and instructional adjustments. The practice supports reflective teaching, student voice, and timely, responsive instruction.

Redefining Certainty: Non-Euclidean Geometry And Theology Transformation Throughout The Intellectual Unrest Of The Early 1800s, Luke Bensinger

Honors Theses

To bridge the gap between mathematics and theology, it is necessary to explore their intersection and challenge the notion that these fields are incompatible. This study focuses on the 19th century, a period when non-Euclidean geometries emerged and disrupted mathematical certainty, while Protestant theologians such as Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell grappled with Calvinism and shifting theological perspectives. By analyzing mathematicians studying geometry, such as Gauss, Lobachevsky, and Riemann, this research examines how both disciplines balance change with enduring truths.

How Speaker Gender Shapes Audience Perceptions Of Credibility: Responses To Humor, Reed Wilson

Honors Theses

This study aims to answer the question of whether the speaker’s gender, the participant’s gender, or the interaction between the two has an effect on the audience’s opinions of the message and the credibility of the speaker. Public speaking has been and continues to be a tool used by politicians, both on the campaign trail and as they seek to advance their agendas in the public sphere. Politicians use humor to relate to their audience and enhance their likeability and credibility. Google VEO 3’s generative text-to-video AI capabilities were used to create two videos of political speakers, one male and …