Communication Commons^™

Critical Communication Pedagogy At The End Of The World, Tyler S. Rife

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This essay draws upon my experiences teaching the undergraduate course, “Communication at the End of the World,” to argue for an approach to critical communication pedagogy (CCP) contextualized by and reflexively responsive to planetary-scale ecological crises. I outline how five commitments have come to guide my classroom’s explorations through our topic of “end-times” communication: (1) Anthropocentrism and speciesism participate in the maintenance of social hierarchy; (2) environmental justice and social justice are intimately entangled projects; (3) ecological crisis is (re)made concrete, embodied, proximal, and implicative; (4) critique of language involves critique of humanism and humanist historicization; and, (5) ecologically just …

Transgressing Linguistic Supremacy: Reimagining Public Speaking Through Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, Sergio Fernando Juárez

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This essay reimagines public speaking education through a culturally sustaining and transgressive lens that challenges dominant norms of language, professionalism, and communication competence. It critiques the ways in which public speaking courses often reinforce linguistic supremacy by privileging standardized English and marginalizing multilingual and culturally grounded speech practices. Drawing on concepts such as translanguaging, Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP), and transgressive pedagogies, the author calls for a shift in pedagogy that centers students’ lived experiences, community-rooted knowledge, and linguistic norms. Rather than asking students to conform to hegemonic standards, this approach empowers them to speak on their own terms, resist assimilationist …

Addressing Black “Student Outsiders” At Aanapisi/Hsis: Toward (Radical) Transgressive Teaching For Black College Students In Higher Education, Nicholas B. Lacy

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Black students attending AANAPISI/HSI universities have long been overlooked in communication and interdisciplinary research. In this essay, I draw on bell hooks’s (2014) radical transgressive teaching and Patricia Hill Collins’s “outsider within” framework to examine the experiences of Black students at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) such as AANAPISIs and HSIs. Using my autoethnographic and autobiographical experiences as a Black student who graduated from two AANAPISI/HSIs, alongside recent literature on Black student experiences in these contexts, I explore how communication instructors at MSIs can improve engagement with Black students by establishing racially affirming curricula, instructional practices, and instructor-student rapport. I argue that …

Transgressing Media History, Ashley R. Kennard

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Traditional Mass Media History courses serve to uphold the status quo. Born out of the white supremacist, capitalist patriarchy, the myth of the inventor provides a powerful example of one of the ways these traditional ideologies and pedagogies persist. However, through building community, being vulnerable, co-constructing knowledge, including diversity, and rewriting history, a counter- hegemonic, transgressive approach to teaching communication history in the spirit of bell hooks is possible. This starts by creating transformative and inclusive communication classrooms that serve to dismantle the myth of the inventor.

Editor’S Note: Toward A Transgressive Communication Pedagogy: Reflections And Directions In/For Dark Times, Lionnell Smith

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This essay introduces a special section marking the 30th anniversary of bell hooks’s Teaching to Transgress, exploring its relevance within the current sociopolitical climate marked by intensified assaults on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education. Grounded in hooks’s vision of education as a practice of freedom, this essay proposes a framework of transgressive communication pedagogy— an approach that champions radical love, political agency, and open dialogue to resist hegemonic educational structures. The featured contributions in this section examine transgressive practices across diverse contexts: community-based intercultural teaching, intersectional identity work, support for Black students in minority-serving institutions, decolonial approaches to …

Centering Sponsorship And Mentorship In Central, Bringing Coherence To Our Future, Kathy J. Denker, Tiffany J, Bell, Madeline S. Pringle, Grace Sikapokoo

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Presidential Spotlight from 2025.

Breaking Barriers, Building Realities: Designing A Pedagogically Sound Onboarding Process For Immersive Media Classroom Integration, Esperanza B. Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As immersive media technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) continue to gain traction in education, the need for a roadmap for educators to adopt these new learning technologies in a manner that enhances student learning increases. This project explores essential elements of an effective onboarding process for extended reality (XR)-enabled learning environments, focusing the recommendations for an anonymous virtual reality lab located at a public, 4-year university in Southern California. The study analyzes interviews from twelve students experiencing VR for the first time under three different onboarding contexts: no onboarding, Meta’s First Steps …

Breaking Up In The Digital Age: Examining The Relational Dissolution Model On Instagram, Alana Haupert

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Breakups can be an emotional time as individuals experience breakup distress and begin to explore the options and potential actions that are associated with relational dissolution on social media. This study seeks to explore how certain online behaviors, as they relate to stages of relational dissolution, affect breakup distress, relational uncertainty, social media engagement, and overall attitudes towards singlehood. Findings suggest that social media engagement plays a key role in exploring the phases of relational dissolution. Higher social media intensity linked breakup distress and behaviors of the social phase, or when individuals share information about a potential breakup. Grave-dressing behaviors …

Promoting Understanding Of Soft Power Theory : A Case Study Of Confucius Institutes Along The Belt And Road, Dan Yang

Lingnan Theses (Doctoral degree)

This dissertation explores the function of Confucius Institutes (CI) as key tools within China’s soft power approach, particularly in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It provides a detailed and empirically based analysis of how these institutes operate within various national contexts. Drawing upon Joseph Nye’s soft power theory and supported by literature on public diplomacy, this study assesses the ways in which CIs translate cultural, linguistic, and educational assets into international influence. Despite the rapid expansion of CIs globally, their actual effectiveness in achieving cultural diplomacy and tangible soft power outcomes remains uncertain. Advocates emphasize the …

"That’S Not A Meal, Bestie”: Humor, Identity, & Feminized Consumption In “Girl Dinner”., Claire Tudor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the viral “Girl Dinner” trend as a case study in how gendered consumption, digital identity, and feminist humor intersect in digital spaces. Using “Girl Dinner” as a rhetorical artifact, this thesis explores how women use gendered trends to navigate visibility, labor, and autonomy in online spaces. Through thematic analysis of TikTok content, media coverage, and branded adaptations, the research traces the evolution of the trend from a lighthearted joke to a site of cultural negotiation. This study reveals that while “Girl Dinner” may appear empowering and relatable on the surface, it often reinforces traditional gender expectations under …

Rhetorical Analysis Of Kristen Bell's Articulation Of Imperfect Motherhood On Armchair Expert., Sarah J. Neff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how Kristen Bell’s articulation of imperfect motherhood, as heard on the popular podcast Armchair Expert, contributes to broader social discourses surrounding motherhood, empowering some mothers while inadvertently constraining others. Using rhetorical analysis grounded in Goffman’s dramaturgical approach, facework theory, and McGee’s theory of fragments, this study explores Bell’s discourse and performance of motherhood within the podcast medium. The podcasting medium provides a rich source for rhetorical analysis due to the long form interview content, and emotionally nuanced content, leading to a stronger connection with the audience. This is evident with the new headlines that follow Bell’s appearance …

The Impact Of Culture And Language On Internal Communication And Patient Care In Small To Medium-Sized Black Immigrant-Owned Healthcare Practices In Texas., Chisom Nwosu

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how cultural competency in small to medium-sized Black immigrant-owned healthcare practices in Texas affects internal communication and patient care. Through semi-structured interviews with nine clinical and administrative leaders in Dallas and Houston, five themes emerged: culturally competent leadership, intentional communication structures, language and interpretation practices, patient-centered cultural sensitivity, and the use of technology for adaptation. Findings suggest that culturally aware leadership and inclusive communication strategies foster team cohesion and improve patient trust and care. Participants reported adapting workflows to meet religious, language, and communication needs through human and technological tools. The study underscores embedding cultural …

Explainable Multimodal Sentiment Analysis Of Social Media Visual Content For Child Safety, Yee Sen Tan, Zhaoxia Wang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Ensuring the safety and well-being of children is increasingly important, especially in a world where visual content is pervasive. This paper proposes a novel multimodal, multilingual, and multiclass sentiment analysis method for social media content, aimed at improving content moderation for child safety. Our approach integrates textual, visual, and audio data from videos, categorizing sentiment into four levels: positive, slightly negative, negative, and strongly negative, enabling granular detection of harmful content. To enhance explainability and trust, we also leverage interpretable mechanisms to analyze the contributions of each modality. Evaluation of our method demonstrates strong generalization across diverse video types, and …

Role Of Social Media Mindfulness In Combatting Fake News Propagation, Gaurav Bansal, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah, Jason B. Thatcher

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The dissemination of fake news by social media users is a key factor in the escalation of misinformation. Research suggests that social media networks are becoming increasingly homophilic, which leads to an overreliance on social media friends that contributes to the spread of fake news. However, little is known about how social media mindfulness can reduce the sharing of fake news. To investigate this research question, we conceptualized a social media mindfulness construct and developed the social media mindfulness scale. We also hypothesize that social media mindfulness lowers overreliance on friends’ knowledge, which increases skepticism about social media news that …

Seeking Existential Meaning In The “Sea Of Trees:” A Qualitative Exploration In The Depths Of Japan’S Aokigahara “Suicide” Forest, Sophia Bates

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis explores the intercultural perceptions of suicidality and the role that these perceptions have on meaning of life in Japanese culture through an exploratory, autoethnographic analysis of my journey walking through Japan’s Aokigahara “suicide” Forest. In June 2024, I traveled to Fujikawaguchiko, Japan to conduct an autoethnographic analysis of my experiences walking through Aokigahara Forest using shinrin-yoku and mindful walking (Jung, 2014) as supplemental research methodologies to make empirical observations and take notes on my journey walking through suicide forest as an embodied sensory experience. Drawing upon the research and ideas of cultural anthropologist and existential philosopher Ernest Becker, …

0895: Whear Family Papers, 1909-2019, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Dr. Paul W. Whear was a noted composer and Marshall University professor and founded the Huntington Chamber Orchestra. Nancy Robinson Voiers Whear was a renowned musician who worked in Morrow Library at Marshall University and wrote several articles that were published. Their children were Allen Whear, violoncellist, brother Bill, a prominent photographer, and Cynthia, another distinguished musician.

The Whear Family Collection includes original compositions and musical scores by Paul W. Whear, research materials used by Nancy Whear, photography by Bill Whear, and documentation of the musical career of Allen Whear. Also included are programs and other materials from the Huntington …

Youth Attitudes Towards The Effects Of Social Media Addiction A Study On University Students In The United Arab Emirates, Fokiya Akhtar, Fawzia Abdulla Alali

All Works

Objectives: This study aims to understand youth’s attitudes toward the effects of social media usage and its risk factors. It also investigates the impact of social media addiction on youth, and determines the mediating factors in this relationship, such as ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out) and nocturnal social media usage. Methods :For the purpose of this research, 327 university students were surveyed using the Social Media Addiction Scale, the FOMO Scale, the Nocturnal Social Media Use Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Index Scale. Results: The results reveal statistically significant correlations between high social media usage and adverse effects on mental …

Bystanders Intervening During Acts Of Cyberbullying: Examining The Moderating Influence Of “Likes” And Pleas For Help, Joseph Kallman

Student Theses

Abstract

Cyberbullying research has only recently begun exploring “cyberstanders,” also known as bystanders, and their role in cyberbullying, as well as testing the bystander effect (Barlinska et al., 2013; Machackova et al., 2013; Obermaier et al., 2016; Shultz et al., 2014). In the current study, we aim to deepen our understanding of the bystander effect by manipulating the number of likes, which will indicate the number of bystanders present and the plea for help on social media via Twitter among college students, by examining how participants respond to fictitious cyberbullying incidents. The results of this study did not support our …

Navigating Stigma And Privacy: Health-Related Communication Among Bangladeshi Women, Nazmul Shajib

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Women in Bangladesh often silently bear the burden of stigma tied to their bodies, minds, and societal roles. This study examines the coping strategies women use to manage health-related stigma and their privacy while facing issues like reproductive health, mental health, and postpartum challenges. The study was conducted by utilizing in-depth interviews with 17 Bangladeshi women. Stigma Management Communication Theory (SMC) and Communication Privacy Management Theory (CPM) are the two frameworks that guided the study. The findings of the study reveal that stigma often silences women and threatens their social identities, and women feel that having a health problem means …

Don't Settle For Less: Incorporating Postcolonial And Settler Colonial Perspectives Into The Sociological Canon, Eli Xavier Ornelas

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

For decades now, post-/de-/settler-/ and anticolonial scholars have advanced the argument that sociology has largely failed to incorporate critical insights from theories of empire into the sociological canon. In this dissertation, I argue that introduction to sociology textbooks offer an important vantage point from which to assess conventional sociological knowledge as textbooks are often thought to be “reflections of the discipline.” I analyze the social theory and race chapters of 21 of the most often used introduction to sociology textbooks in the United States to investigate two chapters where insights from theories of empire would be present if indeed incorporated: …

Carrying Light In The Shadows: Four Portraits Of Critical Literacy Teacher Agency In Unlikely Contexts, Cassandra Schroeder

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This qualitative study utilizes portraiture methodology to explore how educators in politically conservative and predominantly White schools enact critical literacy teacher agency. Using a theoretical lens of critical literacy and second-wave Whiteness studies, this research examines the lived experiences and instructional moves of four veteran English/language arts teachers. Through cross-case analysis, the study traces how teacher agency is contextually responsive and dependent on their professional identity, awareness of sociopolitical issues, and traditional school curricular expectations. The findings highlight how educators assess risk, navigate community norms, and maintain critical literacy through dialogic pedagogy and strategic adaptation. The four teachers in the …

From Classroom To Content Creator: Leadership Practices And Identities Of Female Science Teachers On Tiktok, Rachel M. Benzoni

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This qualitative multiple case study investigates how four secondary science teachers use TikTok to advocate for science education and how content creation shapes their professional identities as leaders. Using interviews and video content with a framework integrating constructivist leadership, Leader Identity Construction Theory (LICT), and the Social Change Model (SCM), findings show participants enacted leadership outside formal roles through distributed and relational practices leveraging social media's affordances. Five themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Reconceptualizing Teacher Leadership on Social Media, (2) Leadership Through Equity-Driven Practice, (3) Constructing and Leading in Online Professional Learning Communities, (4) Forming and Negotiating Identities in …

Memes As An Effective Approach To Increase Public Engagement With Mathematical Concepts, Juan M. Romero, Carlos Trenado

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

A meme is a graphical concept or cultural item that is disseminated via the Internet, often through social media platforms. Memes serve as a mechanism for replicating cultural traits by incorporating aspects of cultural mutation and evolution. The potential of memes in learning and education has been emphasized in several recent studies. The present article examines the impact of memes in increasing public engagement with mathematics and mathematical concepts. By focusing on memes that exhibit specific attributes—such as emotional facial expressions of recognizable human characters and dialogues emphasizing the usefulness or beauty of a mathematical concept—we observe a significant increase …

Influences Of The Western Press On News Framing Of Global Events In Developing Countries: Examining Covid-19 And Climate Coverage In A Bangladeshi News Organization, Arif Md Tareque Habib

Communication ETDs

This study shows that a small number of Western news organizations (e.g., Reuters, The New York Times) may influence how local news organizations in developing countries frame global crises and that this influence may lead local news organizations to ignore locally relevant aspects of those crises. To test this thesis, two studies were conducted on the coverage of two crises -- COVID-19 and climate change -- by a news organization in Bangladesh, a developing country in South Asia. The news organization, www.bdnews24.com, serves both as a news agency or news supplier for local newspapers and an online newspaper for users. …

Itinerarios Y Vicisitudes De Blogueras Colombianas De Lo Materno: Una Etnografía Digital, Catalina Echeverri Gallo

The Qualitative Report

Los escenarios digitales se han convertido en espacios relacionales significativos para mujeres y madres en la contemporaneidad, integrándose en sus interacciones cotidianas. Sin embargo, la forma en que estas plataformas se utilizan en contextos latinoamericanos para compartir experiencias, emociones, aprendizajes y malestares sobre las maternidades aún no ha sido suficientemente explorada. A partir de una etnografía digital, esta investigación ofrece conocimientos contextualizados sobre cómo siete blogueras colombianas comparten sus maternidades en entornos digitales y crean comunidades que se sirven de sus saberes y trayectorias.

Los hallazgos muestran que las madres blogueras utilizan sus relatos digitales para desafiar los mandatos históricos …

A Verdant Reading: On The Agency Of The Nonhuman Landscape In Apocalypse Now (1979), Christian Jil Benitez

Kritika Kultura

lack of sensitization, and fanatic adherence to tradition allow the illegal practice of prenatal sex

Neoliberal Society, Alienation, And Affective Crisis In The Answers (2017), Xiaoxiao Huang

Kritika Kultura

West finds a nemesis in sex-selective abortion in India. Unfortunately, the sociocultural baggage,

In Quest Of The “Sublime Paralytic”: Speculations On History, Identity, Andthe Emergence Of National-Class Consciousness, E. San Juan Jr.

Kritika Kultura

employing a focus on abortion in extending liberation for women since the mid-1900s in the

Maritime (Im)Mobility And Heterotopia: Jeju Island In South Korea, Taehee Kim

Kritika Kultura

Jeju Island, located on the remote periphery of the Korean peninsula and historically a site of exile, has become a popular destination for domestic migration over the past decade. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s notion of heterotopia as a methodological framework and taking Jeju Island as an example to reveal “islandness,” this paper discusses how the island is imagined and represented in Korean society. From this perspective, Jeju Island is regarded exteriorly as a place outside the ordinary and internally as a heterogeneous place. Further, in the heterotopia of “illusion” and “compensation,” a sojourn on Jeju Island is expected and experienced …

Love Is A Molecular Island, Chun-Mei Chuang

Kritika Kultura

When clarifying Spinoza’s concept of affect, Deleuze declares, “Hope as such or love as such represents nothing, strictly nothing.” In this paper, I approach the question of love by taking a detour of nonhuman affinity. First, I present this paper as an experimental becoming that weaves through heterogeneous lines of thinking and creating. Second, explicating the Deleuzian-Guattarian notion of “abstract machine” alongside Isabelle Stengers’s figure of “inappropriable unknown,” I argue for viewing the cosmos and art as interconnected abstract machines that foster novel realities and communities. Third, I weave planetary thinking with an interdisciplinary approach to propose a “planetary art …