Other History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons^™

For The Birds, Charlotte L. Middleton

School of Art, Art History, and Design: Theses and Student Creative Work

For the Birds is a homogenous material exhibition of porcelain pottery that explores the relationships between, expectations of, and roles placed upon women and pottery. Using traditional craft processes, still life imagery, and the language and limits of porcelain, I create arrangements that expose the viewers assumptions of both subjects. Pottery- pitchers, cups, and vases—is a product of anthropocentrism and anthropomorphism and can be entirely taken for granted- their role is assumed and unquestionable—to serve. The language and expectations of these objects are the medium I build with.

The title of the show, For the Birds, is both a …

The Interaction Between The Dagda’S Harp And Celtic-Inspired Music, Sixie Chen, Jeanne Sumrall

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The purpose of this study is to find out the relationship between one of the Irish mythological symbols---The Dagda’s Harp and Celtic-Inspired Music. In Irish mythology, the god Dagda is able to use his harp to cause grief, joy, and sleep to people. The Dagda and his kin escape with the harp in battle against the Fomorians, which gave birth to these three strains of music, which would be played throughout Ireland as well as to the seasons, which sprang from his songs.

Of Cordial Ladies And Independent Women: An Analysis Of The Ceramic Assemblage Of The 19th Century Cooper-Frost-Austin House, Mikayla Roderick

Graduate Masters Theses

This thesis explores the transformation of Susan Austin’s (1807-1885) household in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from a private family home into a boardinghouse, challenging traditional distinctions between domestic and economic spaces. Using feminist and queer theoretical frameworks, it examines how Austin’s decisions blurred public and private boundaries, creating an intimate boardinghouse. Through ceramic analysis of two occupational phases and a documentary examination of the household members over time, this study identifies shifts in material culture that reflect changing household practices, social relationships, and status negotiation. Austin intentionally created an environment where commercial spaces took on a domestic appearance, integrating elements of familiarity …

Thor: An Evolution, Regan Cerlanek, Rachael Vause

Symposium of Student Scholars

Mythology today serves as a vehicle for storytelling, just as it did for ancient societies. These sacred tales continue to provide role models, express the core values of their respective cultures, answer timeless questions and serve as a moral guide for each generation. Myths are rewritten and retold time and time again, evolving to encapsulate modern beliefs, but often still staying true to their core. Many myths have made their way into popular culture and the heroes in these tales of old become icons, fan-favorites, and household names; namely, Thor the God of Thunder. This study explores and compares the …

Towards The Non-Spectacle: Responses To Necropolitics In The Artwork Of Teresa Margolles And Maya Watanabe, Leslie Anne Condon

Masters Theses

How do we engage with artwork that addresses complicated histories

of colonialism and political violence, specifically intangible and

incomprehensible violence? Mexican artist Teresa Margolles’ 2005 work, Lote

Bravo, is named after and composed of the soil from a mass grave site

discovered in 1995 in the southeastern corner of Ciudad Juárez, a city known

internationally for the femicide that has continued to haunt its streets and

peripheries since the 1990s. Peruvian filmmaker Maya Watanabe’s 2019 film

Liminal cinematically documents the official exhumation of two mass graves

in the Ayacucho and Huánuco regions of the Andes highlands, where

thousands of …

Body Of Work: Wax As Medium In Art And Science In Enlightenment Bologna, Kristen Pou

Theses and Dissertations

Eighteenth-century Bologna is well known for its body of accurate and precise wax anatomical models. However, wax was also used for non-scientific purposes: for portraiture and religious artworks. This paper sets forth an argument to explain the scholarly neglect of enlightenment Bolognese waxworks that did not depict anatomized human bodies.

Haifa, Naḥal Aḥuzza A-10170/2025, Tal Lavi

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In November 2025, a trial excavation was conducted in advance of the construction project “Ofer Moradot Freud” in Haifa (Permit No. A-10170/2025; map ref. 197775/743020; Fig. 1). The excavation took place on the western slope of Mount Carmel, east of Yod-Alef Ha-Sporta’im Street and north of Naḥal Aḥuzza (Ahuzza River), within the antiquities area Naḥal Aḥuzza [1] (61059/0). The excavation was conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Yael Oko. It was directed by T. Lavi (field photography), with the assistance of A. Azab (Haifa District archaeologist), N. Shahar (Haifa sub-district archaeologist), Z. Lotan and Y. …

Nahal Tamar (Tamar River) A-9979/2025, Avshalom Davidesko

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In February–March 2025, a salvage excavation was conducted on the eastern bank of Nahal Tamar, west of Road 90 and of the access junction to Moshav ʽEn Tamar (Permit No. A-9979/2025; map ref. 545150/232580; fig. 1), prior to the installation of a Mekorot water pipeline. The excavation was carried out on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Mekorot Water Company. The excavation was directed by A. Davidesko, with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), M. Kahan (aerial photography and plans), A. Fraiberg (aerial photography), I. Azoulay (drafting), D. Eisenberg-Degen (scientific giudance), G. Seriy (safety), and workers from …

Nahal Tamar (Tamar River) A-9978/2025, Avshalom Davidesko

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In January–February 2025, a salvage excavation was conducted in the Nahal Tamar area, east of Road 258, approximately 3 km north of Zafit Junction (Permit No. A-9978/2025; map ref. 220626-894/552395-3084; Fig. 1), prior to the installation of a Mekorot water pipeline. The excavation was carried out on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Mekorot Water Company. The excavation was directed by A. Davidesco, with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), A. Montague (drone photography and plans), A. Fraiberg (drone photography), L. W. Davies (flint), I. Azoulay (drafting), D. Eisenberg-Degen (scientific guidance), G. Seriy (safety), and laborers from …

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.

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.

Elat, Shehoret Industrial Zone, A-10054/2025, Tal Sapir

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In April–May 2025, a trial excavation was conducted northwest of Elat, in the Shehoret Industrial Zone (Permit No. A-10054/2025; map ref. 196507/390351; Fig. 1), in advance of the construction of Reservoir 2. The excavation was carried out on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Mekorot – Israel’s National Water Company. The excavation was directed by T. Sapir (field photography), with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), A. Montague (surveying and aerial photography), A. Azoulay (plans), D. Degen-Eisenberg (scientific guidance), Y. Radashkovsky (aerial photography) and G. Seriy of the Southern Negev District.

Nahal Tamar (Tamar River) A-9980/2025, Avshalom Davidesko

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

In February–March 2025, a salvage excavation was conducted on the eastern bank of Nahal Tamar, west of Road 90 and of the access junction to Moshav ʽEn Tamar (Permit No. A-9980/2025; map ref. 546070/233150; fig. 1), prior to the installation of a Mekorot water pipeline. The excavation was carried out on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Mekorot Water Company. It was directed by A. Davidesko, with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), M. Kahan (aerial photography and plans), A. Fraiberg (aerial photography), I. Azoulay (drafting), D. Eisenberg-Degen (scientific supervision), G. Seriy (safety), and workers from …

Understanding Tap As A Narrative Form, Jylian R. Haynes

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

I will be researching tap dancing as narrative form. As a tap teacher and member of the dance community, I feel pulled to learn about tap as a narrative form to educated myself and my students, and to inspire my choreography. I will support my research on tap as a narrative form by looking at tap history, technique, and pull from personal experience. As well as writing a research paper, I will create a piece of choreography to showcase my research. The paper and choreographed piece will work adjacently to emphasize the things I learn about tap as …

The Categorisation Of Different Periods In Indian Art & The Market’S Role, Devashi Jain

MA Theses

When one thinks of Indian art, a broad spectrum of types of art & periods come to
mind. Each period is marked by distinct differences in style, influence, medium and
more, yet a significant number of these periods are grouped together, despite the
differences. Indian art is traditionally seen on the market under the Antiquities, or
Modern & Contemporary category in spite of the distinguishable differences in the
aesthetic, and cultural context. These categories inform market perceptions, value of the works as well as preferences of the collectors, and hence it is imperative to have well defined categories. This paper …

Artistic Interventions In The Public Sphere: Keith Haring & Jenny Holzer, Matilde Sirolli

MA Theses

This thesis investigates the intersection of art and the public sphere in late 1970s and 1980s New York, a period characterised by significant socio-political and cultural transformations. Grounded in Jürgen Habermas’ conception of the public sphere, the study examines how the unique historical phenomena of the period yielded unprecedented opportunities for artists to intervene in the public sphere. The research provides a comprehensive analysis of the period’s political, economic, cultural and sociological landscapes. It then delves into case studies of Keith Haring and Jenny Holzer, exploring their distinct approach to public engagement: Haring’s blend of art, commerce and populism, and …

Art Collecting In India Through The Ages, Muskaan Mehta

MA Theses

This study examines the evolution of art collecting in India, from royal patronage to modern practices shaped by socio-political and economic changes. It highlights the ancient tradition of art– serving spiritual, cultural, and political purposes, evolving through colonial influences that introduced Western aesthetics and private collecting. Post-independence, collecting in India became a means of reclaiming cultural identity, marked by movements like that of the Progressive Artists' Group. Three collections illustrate the diversity of contemporary Indian collecting- the personal collection of Kiran Nadar and the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art focusing on public engagement and modern Indian art; Vinay Sheth’s private, …

Things Of Beauty: Madame De Pompadour, Patroness Of 18th Century French Arts, Mitaali Vohra

MA Projects

Things of Beauty: Madame de Pompadour, Patroness of 18th Century French Arts takes the shape of an exhibition that will be held at The National Gallery London, starting Thursday, December 12 2024 as a commemoration of a sophisticated, international icon of style, luxury and the arts - Marquise de Pompadour. The exhibition opens the following week of one of the most important decorative arts auctions of the year - Treasures London at Sotheby’s, which will be held on December 4, 2024 and present for sale, works of historical and bold scale, design and beauty, including a chance find of four …

Imperialist Exploration: An Analysis Of Howard Carter’S Discovery Of Tutankhamun’S Tomb In The Context Of British Colonial Presence In 20th-Century Egypt, Mariam Kharboush

The Undergraduate Research Journal

The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 became one of the most publicized archaeological events of the twentieth century, shaping global perceptions of ancient Egypt and Egyptology. This paper examines how the political conditions of British colonial dominance influenced both the circumstances of Howard Carter’s excavation and the narratives constructed around it. By situating the discovery within British-controlled Egypt, analyzing British and Egyptian press coverage, and examining conflicts between Carter, the French-led Egyptian Antiquities Service, and Egyptian intermediaries, the study argues that the excavation was deeply embedded in imperial power structures. British media framed the discovery as an English achievement, …

Adaptation For Whom? Understanding The Impacts Of Dyke Policies On Small-Scale Farmers In Ca Mau Province Of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Low-lying deltas worldwide are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. As the risks of climate-induced flooding become increasingly clear, the thirst for infrastructure-driven adaptation increases. This highlights a patent need to understand the impacts of engineering adaptation solutions, especially those targeting built structures such as dykes and sluices, on farmers from a bottom-up, farmer-centred perspective. The study addresses this call by examining cases where dyke policies, while successful in some dimensions, have undermined small-scale farmer livelihoods in Ca Mau ― Vietnam’s southernmost rural province. It identifies areas in need of attention and adds empirical data related to this group of farmers. …

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

Art As Asset: The Rise Of The Financialized Art Market And The Abstraction Of Value, Kenneth Knothe

Pitzer Senior Theses

This thesis investigates the financialization of art through the expanding use of art-backed loans and institutional involvement. It focuses on how artworks—once primarily valued for their aesthetic or cultural significance—are now routinely treated as financial assets within the art market. The paper uses case studies from Sotheby’s Financial Services and Mitchell F. Chan’s blockchain-based reinterpretation of Yves Klein’s Zones of Immaterial Pictorial Sensibility. Drawing on the work of Walter Benjamin, Pierre Bourdieu, and Wendy Brown, it argues that this shift undermines museums’ roles as cultural stewards and redefines the meaning of value in the art world to something more quantifiable. …

Ramat Bet Shemesh, Khirbat El-Qut, A-10028, Vitaliy Starman

Favissa: Past Archaeological Excavation Reports

During March–April 2025, a salvage excavation was conducted at Khirbat el-Qut in Ramat Bet Shemesh (Permit No. A-10028; map ref. 198640–975/622479–723). The excavation was carried out approximately 1 km southeast of Tel Yarmuth, within the agricultural hinterland of Horbat Bet Natif (for background and references, see Storchan 2022). The work was initiated following the exposure of cisterns during development operations in Neighborhood Hey (E) of Ramat Bet Shemesh. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, was directed by V. Sterman, with the assistance of N. Nehama (administration), N. …

Mocking The Malicious: Investigating John Heartfield’S Anti-Nazi Photomontages, Abigail J. Emory

Capstone Showcase

In this paper, I will discuss John Heartfield’s Dada infused photomontages, which he made in the 1930s following the rise of Adolf Hitler. During their ascension to power the Nazi regime used propaganda to glorify Hitler. The Nazi party also used a visual campaign to attack their enemies and people they deemed “inferior.” Throughout this time of media poisoning, John Heartfield created his photomontages that attacked everything the Nazis stood for. His anti-Nazi works for the Communist magazine Arbeiter Illustriere Zeitung (AIZ), covered a variety of angles including mocking Hitler as a person, pointing out the party’s greed, and exposing …

Unveiling Legacies: Exploring And Analyzing Cultural Artifacts In The Higbee Collection, Samantha Staller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Anthropology and the Cummings Center to find ways to properly analyze an archaeological collection's artifacts to understand the overall significance of everything better. Before starting my research, I came up with the following questions: Can any artifacts be considered culturally affiliated? Is everything in the collection authentic? What is the overall background of the collection? Does this collection have any connection to Ohio history? Can anything in the collection be dated? Throughout the research, I will create an Excel inventory list to include qualitative and quantitative data from the artifacts to give insight into what is included in the Higbee …

Heritage And Archaeological Knowledge Dissemination Strategies: A Kurd Qaburstan Case Study, Myli R. Sangria

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis addresses the long-standing absence of community archaeology initiatives in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq by designing and implementing a pilot public archaeology program at the site of Kurd Qaburstan, a large Middle Bronze Age city (ca. 1800 BCE) located on the Erbil Plain. In summer 2024, the author implemented a community archaeology activity designed as a first step toward sustained engagement with the village that partially overlaps the site. The program—a hands-on lesson in archaeological stratigraphy for K–5 students, followed by a guided site visit—was intentionally simple, affordable, and easy to carry out alongside ongoing fieldwork. The activity …

Art Worker: Atlanta’S Contemporary Art History And The Workers Who Shaped It, Abigail D. Miller

Master's Projects

There is a contradiction at the heart of the relationship between artists and the public in the United States. Art is considered culturally important and beneficial to the public, yet hardly any public funding is paid directly to artists for their labor. Moreover, because the nature of art production in contemporary society does not align easily with capitalism’s need for constant growth and profit, artists are often on the economic fringes in a constant state of precarity. These conceptual arguments are explored in this project, and the related research aims to position artists as members of the working class who …

Remedios Varo: Peregrinaciones, Julia Condes

Honors Undergraduate Theses

At the time of her death, the artist Remedios Varo (1908–1963) left behind over 500 works of art, the majority of which were created in her adopted country of Mexico. Known for her meticulously crafted fantastical paintings, Varo underwent exile and displacement due to first the Spanish Civil War, and later World War II, which led her to relocate to Mexico, where she would create prolifically for the remainder of her life. This paper will examine the effect of those experiences on the artist and the work she produced, attesting to Varo’s ability to translate complex emotions regarding the human …

Curating Modernity: Carmen Giménez And The Shaping Of Post-Franco Spain, Ines Trafford

MA Theses

This thesis examines the interplay between political transformation and cultural development in Spain during the transition from dictatorship to democracy with a focus on the influential contribution of Carmen Giménez, a pivotal figure in modern and contemporary art. Spain’s recent history, marked by the profound fracture of the Franco regime, serves as the background for this exploration. The study highlights how Giménez’s curatorial vision and dedication to modernism have shaped the country’s cultural landscape in the post-Franco era. Born into a family deeply affected by the sociopolitical turbulence of 20th-century Spain, Giménez’s career reflects a nuanced understanding of the complexities …