Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature Commons^™

Integrating Non-Binary Morphology Into Spanish Grammatical Gender: A Study On Native And Second-Language Speakers, Abigail H. Gustafson

Scripps Senior Theses

This study investigates how native (L1) and second-language (L2) Spanish speakers process non-binary gender morphology, focusing on the pronoun ‘elle’ and the adjective/noun ending ‘-e’. Prior studies show that native speakers outperform L2 speakers in processing traditional masculine–feminine agreement, non-binary forms and their emergence in a binary grammatical system are understudied. To address this gap, I conducted an online reaction-time experiment with bilingual speakers from the Claremont Colleges, who judged the grammaticality of Spanish sentences containing either grammatical gender or social gender (él/ella/elle) agreement and disagreement. Survey data also captured participants’ familiarity with and attitudes toward the pronoun ‘elle’. The …

“No Soy Una Santa Pero Estoy Blessed”: El Álbum Lux, La Lingüística, Y Rosalía Como Una Santa Moderna, Abigail H. Gustafson

Scripps Senior Theses

Esta tesis analiza el álbum LUX (2025) de Rosalía como un proyecto artístico que fusiona la espiritualidad, la lingüística y la identidad femenina en un contexto contemporáneo y globalizado. A través de referencias a figuras religiosas femeninas como Anandamayi Ma, Santa Rosa de Lima y Rabia Basri, Rosalía reinterpreta el concepto tradicional de la santidad y propone una visión moderna de la feminidad. Este análisis se apoya en la teoría de la performatividad de género de Judith Butler, argumentando que la identidad femenina en LUX se construye de manera fluida, múltiple y no limitada por categorías culturales o religiosas rígidas. …

Remaking A Monument: The Troubled Meaning Of Fascist Remains In Contemporary Spain, David Divita

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

The Valley of Cuelgamuros, until recently known as the Valley of the Fallen, lies about 35 miles outside of Madrid. Inaugurated by the dictator Francisco Franco in 1959, this landmark comprises a vast underground basilica and houses the mostly anonymous remains of 34,000 Spaniards who died during the civil war (1936–1939) and its repressive aftermath. Since the early 2000s, the Valley has been a political lightning rod in a country that has long struggled with how to address the legacies of its authoritarian past. Ongoing debates among politicians, scholars, and journalists have revolved around the possibility of the Valley’s ‘resignification’ …

Language Analysis Via The Run And Flattened Statistics On Permutations, Jennifer Elder, Pamela E. Harris, Anthony Simpson

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

A permutation π in Sn can be decomposed into its runs π = τ₁τ₂ . . . τ_k, where a run of π is a maximal contiguous subsequence whose elements are in increasing order. If the first values of each run are in increasing order, then π is said to be flattened. Motivated by the study of flattened permutations, we study the words in the Danish, German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, and Norwegian languages. In each language considered, our work provides the following: a list of the longest flattened words, histograms for the proportion …

Subjectivity As A Predictor Of Adjective Ordering Preferences For Heritage Spanish Speakers, Louise Anne Schiele

Scripps Senior Theses

Adults, as well as children, tend to present adjective ordering preferences in their use of multi-adjective strings. For example, the ordering of “big blue bird” rather than “blue big bird” is reliably preferred for speakers of English. Subjectivity has been shown to be a robust predictor of these adjective ordering preferences, where less subjective adjectives are preferred closer to the noun. Still, much of the previous work on adjective ordering preferences has centered a monolingual experience, and has not considered if multilingual speakers differ in their presentation of these preferences, in any of the languages they speak. This study focused …

Understanding Dictators' Violent Repression And How It's Remembered, Juliet Welk

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis examines the use of violent repression by dictators and the ways in which that violence is remembered, particularly through the lenses of literature and film. The first chapter will deal with the questions of when dictators choose to use violence as opposed to other forms of repression and against whom the violence is used. To do so, it will employ select cases to test a number of possible answers. The second chapter, written in Spanish, will analyze the memory of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship in Spain, focusing on the empowerment of previously-silenced voices. The third chapter, written in Italian, …

The Favela Blossoms: Voices Of Favelas In São Paulo, Brazil, Vasti Cruz

Scripps Senior Theses

This project spotlights improvised housing in the peripheral areas of São Paulo, Brazil, better known as favelas. For over a century, the favela has been known as a place of death, violence, crime, and oppression. Paradoxically, the first favelas in Rio de Janeiro were named after a plant that produces flowers. However, today, these communities are rarely compared to their beautiful, symbolic-of-life namesake. Instead, this prejudgement is rampant not only globally, but also within the proper city– which perpetuates social division. When favelas are discussed in the media, they often reference those in Rio de Janeiro; however, favelas are present …

La Floresta; An Appreciation And Reimagination Of My Barrio, Ana Rodríguez

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis is a love letter to my barrio, La Floresta in Quito, Ecuador. I have divided it into three different sections: a creative writing piece where I walk readers through my barrio and my life in it, a historical section where I analyze its history and the reasons for its uniqueness and current identity, and finally a project proposal for a community center called "Casa La Floresta".

Cultivating Carrots, Community, And Health-Conscious Children: Investigating The Effects Of Community Garden Implementation On Nutrition Attitudes Of Elementary Students In The Los Angeles Unified School District, Hannah Michele Tiedemann

Scripps Senior Theses

Growing up in an urban food desert can significantly affect children's development, health, and well-being (Jencks et al., 1990; Leventhal et al., 2000). Compared to their more affluent peers, youth living in low-socioeconomic urban neighborhoods are at greater risk of experiencing poor-quality diets, food insecurity, unhealthy body weights, and mental health problems (Duncan et al., 1997; Sampson et al., 1997). Moreover, children living in food-insecure households are more likely to consume calorically dense diets high in trans fat and added sugar, putting them at risk for poor health, childhood obesity, and chronic, diet-related diseases as adults (Nielsen et al., 2002). …

We Can Do This / Juntos Sí Podemos: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Government-Sponsored Covid-19 Public Service Announcements (Psas) In English And Spanish, Katalina R. Peterson

Scripps Senior Theses

Communication inequities are known to negatively impact people from socioeconomically and linguistically disadvantaged backgrounds during public health crises (Gomez-Aguinaga et al., 2021). In the United States, Hispanics—especially those who speak Spanish—have been among the communities most disproportionately affected by COVID-19 (National Center for Health Statistics, 2022). The pandemic has underscored the importance of understanding the linguistic and discursive strategies implemented by institutions entrusted with disseminating public health information to reach diverse audiences, especially the most vulnerable. This paper analyzes the linguistic practices used to create public service announcements (PSA) produced in English and Spanish by health agencies at both the …

The Language Of Democracy, Xenophobia, And The Rise Of The Far Right In France And Spain After The 2015 Migration Crisis, Jamie Berkson

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis examines the relationship between immigration and far right-wing popularity in Europe, specifically France and Spain after the 2015 migration crisis. Comparing data from several European Union countries after 2015, a pattern is identified that when immigration increased, so did the representation of far right-wing parties. This thesis then details a nuanced analysis of two case studies, and the underlying reasons why far right-wing parties gained popularity in France and Spain. This thesis also examines the roots of present-day democracy in France and Spain, and how they contribute to current social understandings of national identity, which have led to …

El Inmigrante En El Cine Del Siglo Xxi: Un Análisis De La Identidad Indocumentada Y Sus Esfuerzos Por Mantener Una Comunidad Unida Dentro Y Fuera De La Pantalla, Guadalupe Valente

CMC Senior Theses

El cine en los Estados Unidos ha sido una parte clave de su cultura por muchos años. La industria del cine en los Estados Unidos es un negocio de miles de millones de dólares y con unas de las influencias más inmensas en el país. En términos del género inmigratorio en el cine, existen varias percepciones negativas de la comunidad Latina – incluyendo entre ellas: el traficante de drogas, el violador, el ladrón de trabajo, el empleado doméstico o el trabajador de “blue collar.” Aunque existen muchos estereotipos para los latinos, unos de los personajes más maltratados es el inmigrante …

Caudillos De La Misma Tela: Unveiling Neoliberalism In The 2020 Presidential Advertisements, Viviana Ayala Sandoval

Scripps Senior Theses

In the 2020 Presidential Election, Joe Biden and Donald Trump acknowledged the importance of the plurality of the Latinx community in the targeting of Latinx voters through the use of Spanish advertisements. This shift in political strategy as seen in the microtargeting of the Latinx community in the 2020 election was the first time that the Latinx electorate was treated as a political entity with diversity. In my semiotic analysis of the Biden and Trump 2020 Spanish advertisements, I seek to answer two questions. First of all: How was the Latinx electorate perceived by the Democratic and Republican campaigns in …

La Evolución De La Masculinidad En Las Películas De Alfonso Cuarón, Daniel Martinez

CMC Senior Theses

El cine de Alfonso Cuarón representa una oportunidad nueva y emocionante para entender mejor la identidad mexicana y todas sus implicaciones. En esta tesis, analizaré las representaciones diferentes de la masculinidad a lo largo de la carrera de Alfonso Cuarón en México ya que estas películas tratan con el tema de manera directa. Desde sus principios en Sólo con tu pareja hasta Roma ( su proyecto más reciente), el estilo de Cuarón ha llegado a definir la nueva era del cine mexicano y sus películas representan a la masculinidad con un enfoque en el impacto que ha tenido en la …

El Guerrero Obsidiana, Marvin P. Sarkar Bynoe

CMC Senior Theses

This work of creative writing explores the role of the maroons, or escaped Africans, in Caribbean plantation society. The novel pays homage the tradition of creole storytelling and asserts the importance of this practice in creating more complete historiographic narratives. Incorporating the themes of magic, rebellion, darkness/light, heroism, and brutality characteristic of Afro-latinx literature. The work attempts to continue the decolonizing work of disrupting the capitalist dichotomy between freedom and enslavement which threatens to erase the multiplicity of black existence in the colonial Caribbean.

Camino A La Interseccionalidad: Una Aproximación Al Desarrollo De Ideas Feministas En La España Contemporánea, Kierra Mitchell

Scripps Senior Theses

Esta tesis utiliza la interseccionalidad como lente para hacer un análisis de los textos culturales y activistas para explicar cómo se manifiestan las ideas feministas en estos dos períodos cruciales de avance del feminismo en España: el primer cuarto del siglo veinte y las primeras décadas del siglo veintiuno. La interseccionalidad sirve como una prisma de análisis que permite entender los sistemas hegemónicos de poder. Esta tesis analiza ejemplos de textos y demandas que ilustran las preocupaciones y aparatos ideológicos que sustentan diferentes aproximaciones al feminismo en estas dos épocas. Un interés específico, en especial en la segunda parte, es …

A Sociophonetic Study Of /S/ Weakening In Andalusian Spanish, Elisa Taylor

Scripps Senior Theses

The phenomenon of /s/ weakening is common among many varieties of Spanish, from Latin America to southern Spain (Lipski (2011), Samper Padilla (2011)). This project will focus specifically on coda /s/ weakening in Andalusian Spanish, the social factors that influence it, and the language ideologies surrounding the dialect. Previous research has found that social factors influencing /s/ weakening include social class, gender, and education level (Lipski (2011), Samper Padilla (2011), Holmquist (2008), Terrell (1981), Fontanella de Weinberg (1973)). Studies on /s/ weakening in Andalusian Spanish have mainly focused on the functional compensation for the loss of /s/, but little research …

Fake News: Latinos, Representacion, Ciudadanizo Y Trump, Grace Thieme

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis uses in-depth analysis of historical Los Angeles Times articles to trace the changing representations of the Latino community in the media. Focusing on themes of patriotism and citizenship, this thesis draws out the subtleties of syntax and semantics that silently influence public opinion. The Zoot Suit Riots and the Chicano Moratorium serve as the main historical backdrop, leading to a concluding exploration of Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric surrounding immigration and the Latino community.

La Oscuridad Detrás De Los Ojos Azules, Anoush Baghdassarian

CMC Senior Theses

Una obra de teatro qué se trata de un conflicto moral durante la última dictadura militar en Argentina.

A play in two acts about a moral conflict during the last military dictatorship in Argentina.

Qué Tan Lejos Hemos Ido Y Qué Tan Lejos Nos Queda: Los Niños Trabajadores Y La Erradicación Del Trabajo Infantil En Ecuador, Alicia Serna Frausto

CMC Senior Theses

Al investigar este problema en el caso específico de Ecuador podemos ver algunos patrones que otros investigadores y políticos podrían aplicar en otros contextos de abusos laborales y trabajo infantil. En un mundo más consciente de los derechos humanos, es necesario impedir el trabajo infantil donde se pueda o por lo menos asegurar que los niños que trabajan lo hagan en la forma más sana y segura. En esta investigación se analizan las leyes y regulaciones de las últimas dos décadas, la implementación, y los efectos en las vidas de los niños trabajadores. La implementación de las leyes y regulaciones …

Negating Negationism, Kenneth Baxter Wolf

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

Review essay: Alejandro García Sanjuán, La conquista islámica de la península ibérica y la tergiversación del pasado: Del catastrofismo al negacionismo (Marcial Pons, 2013). The original Spanish version of this essay was published in Revista de Libros (June, 2014: revistadelibros.com/articulos/la-conquista-islamica). It is with the permission of the editors of the Revista de Libros that I offer this English version here.

Labor, Vera Bauluz

CGU MFA Theses

I make sacred objects from scratch, from ready mades, from industrial materials, and sometimes from trash or recycling. I treat those objects with love and reverence to embed them with essence and soul. I propose conversations with objects exquisitely executed, that question our social order and the machine, easily understood by everybody, although still challenging our understanding of contemporary art.

The placement of the work and the lighting, as fundamental part of the installation, attempts to generate strokes of conscience that enhance human understanding and capabilities beyond a specific discourse.

Humor and sacred coexist in my installation and in my …

El Sacrificio, La Perfección, Y El Aislamiento: La Imagen De La Madre Española En El Contexto Socio-Histórico Y Literario, Samantha E. Morse

Pitzer Senior Theses

La siguiente investigación explora las representaciones de la mujer-madre en el contexto español a través de la historia del siglo XX y XI. Usa “La niña sin alas” de Paloma Díaz-Mas, “Al colegio” de Josefina Rodríguez Aldecoa, y “Espejismos” de Josefina Rodríguez Aldecoa – tres cuentos de la antología Madres e hijas de Laura Freixas – para analizar tres temas particulares que relatan a la situación de la mujer-madre: el espíritu del sacrificio, el perfeccionismo, y el aislamiento. La investigación concluye con una evaluación de los cuentos como “obras femeninas.” Intenta de enseñar el valor de estos cuentos por sus …

Los Bancos Del Tiempo En España: Combatiendo La Recesión Con La Moneda Social, Marco Martellini

CMC Senior Theses

Un banco del tiempo (BDT) es el nombre formal que se le da a unas instituciones comunitarias que operan con horas de tiempo personal y laboral como moneda oficial. Son sistemas organizados de moneda social que permiten a sus usuarios intercambiar su propio tiempo y destreza en forma de créditos de servicio. La unidad de moneda es una hora de trabajo. Los BDT son parte de la categoría de moneda alternativa social y representan una evolución moderna de entidades clásicas como los trueques.

Los BDT valoran conceptos como compartir, igualdad y mutualismo. Así, funcionan como un sistema alternativo a los …

Egiazko Misterioa Euskararen: La Politique Linguistique, Les Methodes Educatives, Et La Revitalisation De La Langue Basque En France Et En Espagne Du Vingtieme Siecle Jusquau Present, Rose Cooper-Finger

Scripps Senior Theses

The Basque people and their language have been politically oppressed for centuries. I examine the history of the Basque language and how its oppression and revitalization have been shaped by the language policies of France and Spain, the two countries spanned by the Basque country. I focus my research and predictions on the French Basque Country, which is currently subject to a more oppressive language policy than Spanish Basque Country. The number of Basque-speaking bilinguals in the French Basque Country is decreasing and attitudes regarding instruction of the language have become more apathetic. I explore governmental, community, and combined efforts …

Identity, Engagement, And The Space Of The River In Cumandá, Lee Joan Skinner

CMC Faculty Publications and Research

In Juan León Mera’s Cumandá, o un drama entre salvajes (Ecuador, 1879), the River Pastaza and the journeys the novel’s characters take on it form the centerpiece of the narrative. The novel presents rivers as problematic, problematized spaces of shifting meanings. The river is a space of mediation between humans and the natural world, a landscape that both supports humans and is inimical to them. Thus the eponymous, indigenous heroine of Mera’s novel at first navigates the Pastaza with exceptional grace, and yet, once she rejects her clan and tribe, she is unable to traverse the river as easily as …

Buscando La Identidad Nacional Española En La Novela Castilla, Amy Brownstein

Pitzer Senior Theses

Esta tesina examina cómo la novela Castilla, escrita por José Martínez Ruiz (Azorín) ilustra la búsqueda de una identidad española al principio del siglo XX, empleando las teorías freudianas de la melancólica, las teorías de Henri Bergson sobre el índole del tiempo y las aproximaciones al fenómeno de la modernidad. En el año 1898, España perdió su posición imperial y esta novela explora el estado de la sociedad española en consecuencia de este cambio. Por examinar las tradiciones españolas y la literatura del Siglo de Oro desde la perspectiva de la modernidad, Azorín revela una identidad española esencial que …

#Yo Soy 132 And Occupy: Social Movements And The Media, Elizabeth A. Crumpacker

Scripps Senior Theses

I am comparing the tactics of Mexican youth movement #Yo Soy 132 and Occupy to better understand how these groups work against the hegemonic views presented by mass media. I aim to understand the media structures in Mexico and the United States through the lens of these social groups and consider how they are similar or different. I also take into consideration societal structures, such as varying levels of Internet access, that influence the way these groups function. These movements are in constant flux and their interaction with the public is changing everyday, but I hope to provide some insight …

Review Of Building Nineteenth-Century Latin America: Re-Rooted Cultures, Identities, And Nations, Lee Joan Skinner

CMC Faculty Publications and Research

Recent years have seen the publication of several excellent collections of essays devoted to nineteenth-century Latin American cultural studies. Works such as Beyond Imagined Communities: Reading and Writing the Nation in Nineteenth-Century Latin America, edited by Sara Castro-Klarén and John Charles Chasteen, and special numbers of journals such as Revista Iberoamericana’s issue on cultural change and periodical reading in nineteenth-century Latin America (January–March 2006), to adduce but two examples, have amplified our understanding of the complex ways in which hegemonic and nonhegemonic discourses functioned in the nineteenth century and how the divisions between elite and popular cultures were …

Fracturando La Idea De Tabú: El Cine Español Abre Nuevos Medios De Discusión, Emily Watterberg

Scripps Senior Theses

En cada sociedad hay temas que son tratados como temas prohibidos. Muchas veces estos temas están prohibidos porque muchas personas se sienten incómodas hablando sobre ellos porque ya existe una opinión popular y parece imposible cambiarla. Estos temas son temas tabú. Cada sociedad tiene temas tabú y España no es una excepción. España, por parte de su historia y parte por el hecho que es una sociedad, tiene muchos temas que son tabú.