Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Id101 Oral History, Uniting Cultures

Uniting Cultures: Who We Are, How We Got Here: Collecting Stories Oral History Collection

Middle-aged woman from Mexico. Immigrated to St. James a little less than 20 years ago, because her husband already had a house and job there. Her children were born in and have grown up in St. James.

Id107 Oral History, Uniting Cultures

Uniting Cultures: Who We Are, How We Got Here: Collecting Stories Oral History Collection

Woman from Mexico who fondly remembers her childhood in a small town in Mexico. Her family moved to a larger city in Mexico in her youth. After the death of her mother and a divorce, she came to the US and brought her children. She moved several times before coming to St. James in 2000.

Lo Afrocubano: Exploring Afro-Cuban Culture In Music, Literature, & Art, Pre- & Post-Cuban Revolution, Grace Maffucci

World Languages and Cultures Student Scholarship

Grace Maffucci ’22
Majors: Music Performance and Spanish
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Monica Simal, Foreign Language Studies

After the abolition of slavery in Cuba in 1886, Black Cubans struggled for equality and a place in a White-dominated society. The twentieth century brought about a deeper exploration of Afro-Cuban culture and identity through several forms of art. Despite the promise of racial equality guaranteed by Fidel Castro at the dawn of the Cuban Revolution, conversations about racial identity were silenced. This study delves into the music, literature, and art of twentieth century Afro-Cuban artists, notably poet Nicolás Guillén, painter Wilfredo Lam, and …

Equity + Catalyst Framework Guide, Naomi M. Silas

Masters Projects

There has been a shift in society, in light of Covid-19 and the global pandemic, more people have begun to recognize the structural and institutional injustices that exist in this country. Social innovation allows collaboration between people from different sectors, disciplines, industries, and backgrounds; in order to create sustainable change to complex social issues. Design thinking is an iterative process used in business to create innovation and products; it’s also used for social impact.

The goal of the Equity + Catalyst Framework is to bridge concepts that include design thinking, and embodiment, as well as lived experiences and community care …

Hip-Hop And Black Queer Defiance, Elyssa Durham

Masters Projects

This project explores the ways in which critical race theory, the Black, queer experience, and Black masculinity impact hypermasculine and homophobic expression through hip-hop and how Lil Nas X defies gender expectations. Critical race theory, Black, queer experiences, and Black masculinity work cohesively to provide context to societal expectations of Black gender and the ways in which Black people have historically been oppressed. Queen Latifah and Da Brat signal their queerness through fashion and masculine rap and flow through their projects during the 90’s, despite a feminine, light-hearted expectation of female rappers at the time. They would influence queer boundaries …

Women Sing! Featuring Uni Cecilians, Women Sing Festival Chorus, April 26, 2022 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recital given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

Zoran Jakovcic, Viola, With Sean Botkin, Piano, April 26, 2022 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recital given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

Making Russian Music: Uncovering Pyotr Tchaikovsky’S Musical Ideas Through His Letters, Sydney Morrison

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is arguably Russia's most famous composer. Although his music is widespread, his immediate impact on Russian music in the 19th century is often overlooked or unknown by audiences. This paper examines what compositional and musical ideas Tchaikovsky used in his pieces and how he expressed them through his letters. Because of the relationships he had with his correspondents, Tchaikovsky had the means to develop and learn his unique compositional style. The most significant correspondents were his patroness Nadezhda von Meck, his brother Modest, and fellow composer Mily Balakirev. They enabled him to express and develop his musical …

Central American Migration Patterns: How The Actions Of The United States Have Impacted Emigration From The Northern Triangle Of Central America, Sydney Newby

Honors Projects

This paper is based on the fact that there is a growing number of Americans who feel negatively about immigrants, especially from Latin America. However, these people do not consider what role their own country plays in these migration patterns. There has been an increase in migration from Central America, specifically the countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras and there has been research by experts on what has caused this migration surge. Some of these reasons include political and economic instability. However, a lesser explored reason in the field and a reason that is likely not considered by the …

Small Town To The World Wide Web: Designing A Website For A Local Business, Madison Cozzens

Honors Projects

The Raspberry and The Rose is a small business in Medina, OH, and had a multitude of visual communication issues that needed to be solved. But what's an online presence without a website? "Small Town to the World Wide Web: Designing a Website for a Local Business" focuses on fulfilling a local business's need for a strong online presence. It dives into how a user's experience on the website can impact brand loyalty, foot traffic, and overall perception of a business. The ultimate goal of this project is to provide insight into how a non-e-commerce website can impact a business.

Historical Figures And Events As Portrayed Through Opera And Art Song, Emanuel Stavrinakis

Senior Theses

In this thesis essay, an inspection of classical vocal music spanning centuries will identify works based on real-life historical figures and events. The range of works to be inspected span from the Late Renaissance to the Modern era of classical composition. From the early days of vocal composition composers looked back into the past to draw inspiration for their desired expression and portrayal of human conflict. However, in many cases the figures or historical facts portrayed differ quite significantly from how they were in real life.

Composers and librettists, the authors of the text being set to music, had a …

Candace Mcmurray Senior Jazz Voice Recital, Candace Mcmurray

Honors Theses

This senior jazz voice recital is aimed to convey the artistry that has blossomed from studying jazz music as a vocalist. The repertoire included in this recital spans music written as early as 1923 and as late as 2017 encompassing a wide variety of jazz styles to reflect all the different jazz eras as well as how other genres in those times have influenced those compositions. The recital includes ten songs with a variety of instrumentation that are aligned with the jazz idiom. Some songs include a typical jazz combo of voice, piano, guitar, bass, and drums while others also …

I Am Because You Are, Avree Gundersen

Honors Theses

As a performer, I am honored to be trusted with the message that each choreographer decides to share. It is important that I keep an open mind, body, and soul which allows me to be a versatile mover. I find that my passion for dance is rooted in the essence of community and in sharing the space and energy with those around me. This builds a mutual trust and understanding that dance allows us to be vulnerable with each other. From that state of vulnerability comes strength, challenges, healing, and curiosity. I find that when fully immersed in the authenticity …

Deacon Curtis Lee Cobb

African American Funeral Programs

Deacon_Curtis_Lee_Cobb.pdf - Funeral program for Deacon Curtis Lee Cobb

Art As An Investment Option, Saima Rizvi

Management Dynamics

The paper analyzes fine art as an alternative investment option in the portfolio of investors. It also sheds light on the precautions that should be taken by prospective buyers before putting in money in an artwork. Guidelines provided include researching the artist and period of choice, working with a trusted art dealer for all transactions, and evaluating the level of financial risk involved. The paper concludes that art is a good investment in long term providing capital gains rather than dividends. The top quality art tends to be more stable than most financial investments in difficult times. According to market …

Angels, Snakes, And Everything In Between: The Fall Of The Byzantine Eunuch, Tess E. Nye

Young Historians Conference

Great figures of fascination, eunuchs have mystified ancients and contemporaries alike through their physical mutilation, sexual ambiguity, and distinct roles within civilizations and societies. Underpinning Byzantine imperial court life, eunuchs possessed great influence in domestic and political spheres for much of the empire’s history. Following the Latin occupation of Constantinople in the 13^th century and extending onwards, however, eunuchs and their influence became increasingly obsolete. This paper explores the broad scope of the Byzantine eunuch’s social and political power and the causes for the eunuch’s decline nearing the collapse of the Byzantine empire.

So Many Possibilities: A History Of Noodles & Pasta, Nola Lierheimer

Young Historians Conference

There are many foods historians consider to be an important part of history but many have overlooked a food with rich culinary, cultural, and historical impact: the noodle. Much of the history of this food is complex and different throughout the diverse societies it is a part of. This paper focuses on the unique, influential cultures and traditions of Italy and China, through the lens of noodles and pasta. Additionally, it expands to examine surrounding regions and the culmination of ideas that have led to distinct noodle cultures around the world. From prehistoric times to the present day, this food …

Poetry To Prose: The Influence Of Herodotus On Written History, Frances B. Currie

Young Historians Conference

In his book, The Histories, Herodotus of Halicarnassus expertly displayed his inquiries into the cultures and conflicts that transformed the Mediterranean world during the Greco-Persian Wars of the fifth century BCE. By writing his narrative in prose, citing his work, and providing cultural reasoning for past events, Herodotus earned himself the nicknames “father of history” and “father of comparative ethnography,” but his inclusion of fables also labeled him the “father of lies.” A historian named Thucydides eventually refined the historical genre to focus on politics without the inclusion of myths, narrowing the discipline of history for another thousand years. …

Don't Breathe: An Analysis Of The Factors Of The Victorian River Thames' Restoration, Lucie N. Jain

Young Historians Conference

In the summer of 1858, the River Thames of London was polluted beyond recognition, producing an intolerable smell that reached all corners of the city and inspired a surge of rhetoric commenting on the state of the once adored river. Prior to the nineteenth century, the Thames was the jewel of London and the main source of the city’s prosperity. However, industrialism took a toll on the river’s beauty and health, and the once pristine waterway was quickly spoiled in the space of mere decades. Tracing back to nineteenth century London, this paper aims to explore the causes of the …

The Troubles: Root Causes Of Tension In Northern Ireland, Eleanor M. Snyder

Young Historians Conference

Since the first British invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, the native Irish people have been negatively affected by British presence and rule. When the English first set out to conquer Ireland, they did so on the notion and basis of religion, aiming to anglicize the Irish people. The ramifications of creating a class of people, who were second to the British colonizers, have remained persistent throughout history and into present times. The modern culmination of this historical conflict occurred in the 1960’s during the time of the Troubles. However, this Northern Irish conflict was not divided on theological …

All About Dynamics: Katherine Howard's Hidden Story, Samantha E. Knofler

Young Historians Conference

Often considered Henry VIII’s “wanton wife,” Katherine Howard’s story has been twisted and appropriated throughout the centuries to fit the propaganda of the court or the perceived love story between her and Thomas Culpepper. No older than nineteen at the time of her beheading, Howard supposedly professed “I die a queen, but would rather die the wife of Culpepper.” However, through an in depth analysis of primary sources and new scholarship, her story is far more complicated than previously considered. Transcripts from court documents, witnesses throughout her life, and her own words paint less of a romantic tragedy and more …

Schism And Suppression: Early Threats To The Esperanto Language, And Resulting Impacts On International Acceptance, Anabel E. Cull

Young Historians Conference

The constructed language of Esperanto, created by Polish linguist Ludovic Lazarus Zamenhof in 1887, was founded with the intention of facilitating global peace and unification. Due to the mission and philosophy of the language, known as Esperantism, Zamenhof’s invention gained popularity among political reformers and communities facing religious discrimination. Aiming to resolve conflict through common language, Esperantism inspired hope amidst the increasingly oppressive social and political climate present in Eastern Europe and Russia during the early 1900’s. This paper explores the contributing factors to Esperanto’s decline, and the impact of internal conflict, political affiliation, and religious significance on efforts to …

Operation Mincemeat: The Impact And Influence Of Wwii’S Most Daring Intelligence Operation, Maya N. Dasilva

Young Historians Conference

In 1943, during the height of the Second World War, the dead body of a man in his early thirties was released from HMS Seraph submarine off the southwest coast of Spain. This corpse carried fabricated letters outlining the Allies’ plan to attack Greece and Sardinia which convinced German forces to defend Greece and move away from the real target, Sicily. This successful, radical, and deceptive operation led by Ewen Montegue to disguise the Allied Invasion of Sicily using false-intelligence tactics forwarded the Allied victory and increased the prevalence of deception in war. This paper explores Operation Mincemeat’s revolutionary nature, …

Beyond Rudolph: The Cultural Impacts Of Reindeer Herding On The Sami, Ava A. Trueworthy

Young Historians Conference

The reindeer is a quintessential symbol of the Sami, the indigenous people of Northern Scandinavia. Reindeer have always been integral to Sami culture, but they have not always had the same significance that they do now. In the 16th and 17th centuries, reindeer herding practices shifted from small-scale domestication to large-scale reindeer herding and nomadism. This paper explores the political and cultural dynamics that surrounded this shift: pressure from encroaching settler nations, dwindling resources, and a loss of traditional practices. Ultimately, this shift irrevocably impacted Sami identity. Knowledge of the historical factors surrounding the transition to reindeer nomadism is essential …

Qur’An And Constitutions: Sharia In Modern Muslim Democracies, Adrian N. Vasquez

Young Historians Conference

In contemporary society there has seen a gradual shift in the politics of the Muslim world toward more democratic constitutions. This shift can be seen in the aftermath of successful uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt during the Arab Spring as well as isolated cases in other countries. The change echoes those that resulted from the Protestant Reformation’s challenge of the Catholic Church’s authority in 16th century European politics. By looking at the ideas of early constitutionalism in Europe that supported liberalism, it is possible to compare those with the goals of constitutions of new Muslim democracies. Though in many cases …

The Failure Of The Anabaptist Kingdom Of Münster, Sonja Cutts

Young Historians Conference

In February 1534, after rebelling against the authority of their Catholic prince-bishop, the German town of Münster fell under Anabaptist rule. During the next sixteen months, the city’s religious leaders would advocate in favor of Münster becoming a “community of goods,” in which all goods are shared in common. However, their egalitarian dream never fully materialized. This paper examines how the hidden motives of Münster’s political leaders both helped the Anabaptist Kingdom of Münster come into being and prevented the accomplishment of its economic goals.

Bad Blood: Hemophilia And It’S Detriment To The Russian Imperial Family, Tessia A. Hoffman

Young Historians Conference

Monarchies have often defined the flow of history. Their decisions and ideas affect whole countries, which can lead to a crisis if the ruler is unable to lead effectively. A lack of leadership can bring about war, famine, political instability, and political unrest, all of which occurred in Russia during the 19th and 20th centuries. The poor decision-making of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra brought about civic unrest that eventually led to their downfall. In addition to the unstable country, the Imperial family was also struggling with the state of their only heir, who had inherited the genetic disorder …

Paving The Way: Women In Music At Ferrara, Italy During The Late 1500s, Ella Yarris

Young Historians Conference

During the late Renaissance period, musical advancement and development thrived in the courts of dukes around Italy. However, in Ferrara around 1580, a group of women began to gain unprecedented attention for their court performances and dedication to music. Interestingly, this region was also home to a prolific group of cloistered musicians. This paper explores the impact that the Ferrarese madrigal singers would have on the future of music professions for women of all social classes, as well as the relationship of court music to religious music in a time where life as a whole was becoming more secular.

32nd Annual Young Historians Conference, Portland State University History Department, Portland State University Challenge Program

Young Historians Conference

This is the 2022 Young Historians Conference schedule and abstracts.

The Invisibility Aspect In Language Acquisition Among Native American Ells, Nadine Bravo

Thinking Matters Symposium

What impact can generational trauma have on language acquisition in L1 and L2 in Native Americans? What culturally appropriate methods in teaching literacy to Native American ELLs, essential to cultural identity formation, have been investigated, and what improvements can be made? This poster will shed some light on those questions.