Oral Presentations
Oral Presentations
Oral Presentations are Scheduled:
2:15pm - 5:00pm
Imholte Hall
Presenter: Bethanie Belisle
Project Adviser: Jimmy Schryver (Art History)
Title: Damnatio Memoriae: The Impact of Art Destruction on Cultural Memory in Ancient Rome
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #109, 2:15 p.m.
Abstract:
Damnatio memoriae, a practice of erasing individuals from public memory in Ancient Rome, involved deliberate efforts to remove all traces of condemned figures from public view. This research project explores the impact of damnatio memoriae on preserving cultural memory in Ancient Rome through the lens of the destruction of public statues and monuments. My research delves into the complex interplay between power, politics, and artistic expression in Roman society. Through an interdisciplinary analysis of archaeological evidence, artistic representations, and historical accounts, my research sheds light on the lasting consequences of damnatio memoriae on the collective remembrance of critical figures and events in Roman history. Ultimately, this project contributes to a deeper understanding of how acts of erasure shape cultural narratives and identities.
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Presenters: Lizzy Symons
Project Adviser: Jimmy Schryver (Art History)
Title: Women in Roman Britain
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #101, 4:45 p.m.
Abstract:
In Roman Britain (c. 43 BCE - 410 CE) women’s lives have historically been presented as monolithic due to the lack of sources as well as some deficient interpretations of women’s burial monuments and material culture. While there has been significant progress made in the fields of archaeology, art history, and history to explore the lives of ancient women, the scholarship lacks the necessary nuance that male histories often have the privilege of receiving. Roman Britain was a long period that was made up of various cultural groups, most notably the numerous Celtic tribes and Roman settlements. Despite this ethnic diversity, as well as that of class distinctions, the scholarship fails to explore how women fit into these various cultures and what cultures were unique to them. Through an interdisciplinary reevaluation of previous scholarship and the use of recent feminist scholarship, this project exposes methodological issues with how ancient women’s lives have previously been studied. This reevaluation and critique of previous evidence also reveals overlooked or misinterpreted information about women’s lives and culture in Roman Britain. My analysis of funerary monuments, archaeological remains, and textual evidence reveals the cultural diversity of women in Roman Britain as well as the ways in which the methodology of studying women in the ancient world should be adapted to ensure more accurate historical narratives.
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Presenters: Josephine Carson
Project Adviser: Jimmy Schryver (Art History)
Title: The Art of Emma Amos: Identity vs. Activism
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #101, 3:15 p.m.
Abstract:
Emma Amos (1937-2020) was an African American painter, printmaker, and multimedia artist of the Postmodern era in the United States. Recent conversations in the field of art history have recognized some of her pieces, such as Tightrope (1994), Worksuit (1994), and Models (1995), as a response to controversial aspects of well-known works by white, male master artists who have been exposed for their primitivist approaches in their work, abusive personal relationships, and reinforcement of western ideals in art. Although this interpretation of her works is widely recognized and accepted by scholars, Amos herself spoke about her desire to also create art with personal meaning, completely separate from the popular narrative of political activism that she has been forced into. Like many other African American artists, Amos’ work is rarely analyzed exclusively from a personal lens as her intersectional identity inherently prompts society and scholars to politicize its meaning, stimulating controversy. Her background and experiences deeply impacted the desired intentions of her work and forged an internalized conflict in the coexistence of her identity and political intentions. My research will explore how this paradox is viewed by critics in the art world and how it gives Amos unique but also disadvantaged positioning in order to understand the multifaceted nature of her artistic intentions. Interviews with Amos, visual analyses of her art, and previous scholarship by art historians can be synthesized to reveal this tension that has remained a thread throughout her career and legacy.
Presenter: Abbie Rehbein
Project Adviser: Rebecca Simmons (Biology)
Title: Sharing is Caring: Pollinating Flies Contain Similar Gut Microbiota as Bees in the Northern Plains
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #109, 3:15p.m.
Abstract:
The Northern Plains of the United States is an agriculturally rich region containing a favorable environment for pollinators. Among the orders of insects, Diptera (flies) and Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants) contain families of pollinators essential for maintaining native plant species and crops. Syrphidae is one such family of flies that are exceptional pollinators. Unlike their hymenopteran look-alikes, Syrphidae have not been extensively researched in terms of their gut microbial communities. With dipterans possessing effective pollinating capabilities and because they overlap with native and non-native hymenopteran pollinator species, understanding their gut bacterial composition is essential in protecting the health of native pollinator communities. In this study, syrphids and hymenopterans were collected, and their guts were dissected to allow for DNA extraction. Bacterial symbionts were identified through Illumina sequencing. We found that hymenopteran and syrphid pollinators often shared strains of bacterial species, indicating that these pollinators overlapped in the natural environment. Flies also had higher levels of alpha diversity in their microbial communities compared with bee pollinators. Pinpointing symbionts will aid in further determining a baseline bacterial community within Syrphidae, while serving as a comparison to other pollinator gut microbiomes. Moreover, understanding model gut bacterial communities is essential to monitor the health of hoverfly populations in rapidly changing environments.
Presenter: Robert Dally-Steele
Project Adviser: Barbara Burke (Communication, Media and Rhetoric)
Title: Charade and North by Northwest: growing past the auteur
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #114, 4:45p.m.
Abstract:
The study of film presents a fascinating evolution of rhetorical and literary analysis, a fully articulated and unique artifact, locked within a specific time and cultural landscape. Film study then can also show the progress and development of not only the style but of a social conscience for general audiences. In comparing Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959) and Stanley Donen’s Charade(1963), we see how an auteur's style endures while leaving room for a more feminist narrative. One characteristic that is impossible to ignore about Hitchcock's presence on set was his obsessive attitude towards his female leads, leading to their roles being more as objects and set dressing rather than fully formed characters. North by Northwest, while often characterized as one of Hitchcock's best, unmistakably carries on this trend with a rather nasty narrative of slut shaming punctuating a lighter spy thriller. Charade, on the other hand, is held as “The best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made”, an assertion primarily based on its aesthetic similarity to North By Northwest with overlapping casting, sound design, and tone. While it is unmistakable the influence Hitchcock had on the film, it's also important to note its strong female protagonist and her question of whether or not to trust the mysterious man she barely knows. It approaches the same thematic question of who and when to trust in rather ridiculous scenarios, but it doesn’t resolve to be mean like North by Northwest. It is, in short, a beautiful and charming step forward.
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Presenter: Samara Walker
Project Adviser: Barbara Burke (Communication, Media and Rhetoric)
Title: The Social Impacts Parasocial Relationships have on Social Interactions
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #114, 2:15p.m.
Abstract:
Parasocial relationships (PSR) are one-sided relationships that people can form with content creators, mass media figures, and even fictional characters. Over time, media audience PSRs have been studied for radio soap opera characters, movie stars, and TV personalities, in both domestic and international situations. In my research, employing a detailed, descriptive case study, I explore examples of public postings/communication to test the assertion that many fans of BTS, a famous K-pop boy band, have created PSRs with the group. By applying content analysis upon 292 TikTok comments, posted between July 7, 2020 and December 30, 2023, following the hashtag BTS, as well as 290 YouTube comments, from the series RunBTS! posted between October 2022 and December 2023, I find that fans use their communication skills to establish and maintain strong ties to their BTS “friends”. They use the comments to state their dependability as real fans, and to express their “thirstiness” related to particular performers, in literal and creative ways, including using several emojis strategically. By applying the uses and gratifications theory (UGT), these comments show ways people use comments to realize interpersonal connection, enhance their social interactions, and experience companionship. This research may apply to understanding reasons why people use the comment section of media as an interactive and creative space.
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Presenter: Marshall O'Meara and Jack Golla
Project Adviser: Barbara Burke (Communication, Media and Rhetoric)
Title: Feature Filmmaking: Synthium
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #109, 4:15 p.m.
Abstract:
Filmmaking is the consummate form of art, the summit and summation of all previous modes of expression, per the works of Eisenstein. Our creative, scholarly project is an original feature-length film, with a working title Synthium. Synthium was made in response to the European spiritual journey films of the 1970s, specifically Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker and Werner Herzog’s Aguirre, Der Zorn Gottes. Stalker is a specific reference for the film, as it is a science-fiction film which focuses on the psychology and morality of its characters; Synthium also focuses on the nature of memory and identity. Many audiovisual cues in the film are directly inspired by Stalker, as is the use of editing techniques from the Soviet film tradition to create intellectual montage for the audience. Furthermore, as we find, film is the best medium for this system of inquiry, for it can be argued that memory is primarily visual. As a student project, the production of a feature-length film is very involved, with the creation of an original script, set, props, costumes, and visual effects, along with the management of actors’ time and the budgeting of resources all needing to be delegated to volunteer students who help us realize our artistic vision. The completed film will be around 90 minutes in length, and given the 10-to-1 rule of filmmaking, which states that for each minute of film in the finished project, ten minutes of film must be shot, this requires 900 minutes of recorded footage, requiring editing, audio mixing and effects; along with other aspects of the project. This collaborative project involves students working hundreds of hours (cumulatively) to bring you a finished film, which asks you to ponder deeper questions about memory and reality.
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Presenter: Dongting Cai
Project Adviser: Dr. Nadezhda Sotirova (Communication, Media and Rhetoric)
Title: Emojis Across Cultures: Identifying Misunderstandings in Digital Communication
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #112, 4:15p.m.
Abstract:
In the digital age, emojis have transcended their original purpose to become pivotal in facilitating nuanced communication across diverse platforms. Originating in Japan in 1999, these digital icons now pervade various forms of computer-mediated interactions, often imbuing messages with non-verbal cues akin to face-to-face conversations. This study delves into the cross-cultural implications of emoji use, exploring how differences in interpretation and usage can lead to miscommunication. By focusing on emojis whose meanings significantly deviate across cultures and those whose interpretations stray from their original Unicode Consortium definitions, this research examines common instances of miscommunication. Through an online survey and using frequency (emoji classification) and semantic/text analyses, the study has gathered data on emoji usage habits and interpretations among different cultural groups, particularly between participants from the US and China. This approach not only sheds light on the nuanced role emojis play in digital communication but also seeks to enhance our understanding of the potential for miscommunication in a professional setting. Through this exploration, the project contributes to the broader discourse on digital communication, offering insights that are accessible to both experts and the general public alike.
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Presenter: Chenfei Peng
Project Adviser: Nicholas McPhee (Computer Science)
Title: Enhancing Evolutionary Computation: Optimizing Phylogeny-Informed Fitness Estimation Through Strategic Modifications
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #109, 2:45 p.m.
Abstract:
In evolutionary computation, programs are developed using evolution's basic principles, such as selection, mutation, and recombination, to iteratively improve problem solutions towards optimal outcomes in a reasonable amount of time. To save time and be more efficient, we are currently exploring a modified version of phylogeny-informed fitness estimation. The original version evaluates each individual program on a subset of the training cases and estimates the performance everywhere else according to its parent’s performance. Our approach involves comprehensive evaluation of promising programs across all training cases, increasing computational investment where the sub-sampled results indicated potential gains. This method led to our modified algorithms finding solutions in fewer generations, but at the cost of increased computation time. One question is how to determine whether a solution is promising enough to warrant this additional evaluation. To address this, we used a threshold-k, requiring that a child should be better than its parent in at least k training cases. Analysis of 30 trials on a simple test problem showed threshold-3 enhanced time efficiency, while threshold-1 minimized the number of generations needed for success. A further 100-run analysis with much lower generation limits revealed that threshold-1 secured the highest success rates. To sum up, we did a lot of interesting experiments using a modified version of phylogeny-informed fitness estimation, including comparisons between modified version and original one, 30 runs and 100 runs, complex regression problem and fuel-cost problem.
Presenter: Tasha Douville
Project Adviser: Josh Johnson (English)
Title: Writing Psychological Disorder in Fiction
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #114, 3:45 p.m.
Abstract:
Writing Psychological Disorder in Fiction” is an interdisciplinary project combining research in clinical psychology with English literature and creative writing. Psychological disorder, or mental illness, appears in a variety of media, but this project focuses on analyzing depictions of mental illness in fictional novellas and novels. From One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, disorder in fiction takes many forms: some realistic or hopeful, some stigmatizing. In the latter instance, mental illness becomes the entirety of a character’s personality, preventing any meaningful connection between the character and the reader. This project expands upon what positive depictions of characters with mental illness can look like in stories by writing a novella featuring a character coping with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), characterized as a pattern of instability with interpersonal relationships and self-image. The project aims to prevent BPD from being the crux of a character, requiring conscious sensitivity to avoid contributing to an existing stigma of disorder. Engaging with creative writing (rather than a traditional academic research paper) creates a hands-on example of existing research. Rather than simply arguing how the connection between clinical psychology and creative fiction writing can be expanded upon, this project actively proves the complexity of writing psychological disorder into fiction through the writing process.
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Presenter: Shai Olson
Project Adviser: Amanda Alexander (English)
Title: Transphobia in the Mentally Ill Slasher
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #114, 2:45 p.m.
Abstract:
My research analyzes transgender misrepresentation in horror movie serial killers, the harmful characterization of queer struggle, and the dehumanization of transgender people as a whole through the “mentally ill slasher.” I examine two horror films, Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Psycho (1960), and deconstruct their antagonists. I provide a nuanced look at the films, re-contextualize their messaging and ideology surrounding trans people, and break down the intense, but not necessarily obvious, transphobia of these media pieces. I connect my findings to other queer scholarly works to draw new conclusions. I argue that these films reinforce transphobic ideas through their lack of portrayal of non-murderous trans individuals, and because of the symbolic motivations of the killers present.
Furthermore, my paper compares the respective films and their unique attempts at representation and serration of trans identity with modern-day political movements. Rhetoric seen in these films is reused in the current age by far-right activists who wish to delegitimize transgender individuals. Analyzing the rhetoric of these films, and a deconstruction of this rhetoric allows readers to not only have a better grasp on the original films and their messaging, but contemporary political strategies around queer and trans civil rights. This presentation reflects part of an in-progress larger research project covering more in-depth historical information on the respective films and a more detailed analysis of the figures and ideas that led to their creation.
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Presenter: Matilyn Carl
Project Adviser: Julie Eckerle (English)
Title: A Demon with a Halo: An Analysis of Epic War Hero Cúchulainn as a Fomoir in The Táin
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #112, 2:45 p.m.
Abstract:
The Táin is an Irish Epic that follows a war between two kingdoms by means of a cattle raid. In Thomas Kinsella’s translation of The Táin, readers are introduced to the epic war hero, Cúchulainn, who exhibits qualities that exceed the abilities of any other character in the epic. An example of his abilities can be seen when Cúchulainn enters a state known as a “Warp Spasm.” I make an analysis of Cúchulainn as an Irish mythological demon known as a Fomoir given his behaviors and appearance while in this state. In addition, there are also parallels between the battles fought by Cúchulainn and those fought by the Fomoiri and their overall motivations of chaos and evil that are well known in Irish mythology. After analyzing Cúchulainn as a Fomoir, an important question is raised: What is the significance of having a demon as an epic hero in Irish mythology? Colonizers used Irish culture and mythology to demonize Irish people and justify their efforts to colonize the land. Rather than viewing Cúchulainn as a support for these efforts, I go on to argue that this interpretation can be used to show that modern ideas of what a hero can be is vastly different from what a hero could be in early texts. Therefore, it is important that modern audiences make careful efforts to not impose their interpretation onto these early texts. In addition, I go on to make an argument that this interpretation was specifically omitted from The Táin due to acculturation and the psychology of group hatred.
Presenter: Mason Eischens
Project Adviser: Lisa Bevevino (French)
Title: Anime and Manga, are they French?
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #112, 2:15 p.m.
Abstract:
For my senior seminar in French, I’m writing a cultural-literary analysis responding to the recent uproar amongst right-wing French politicians against the massive popularity of manga and anime, media they have labeled as not “truly cultural”, among young people. First, starting from a historical perspective, I will argue that there was a significant French influence on the creation and development of anime and manga. Next, I will compare the work of French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre to the 90s Japanese television show Neon Genesis Evangelion and unearth the universal themes of existentialism, loneliness, and despair. Finally, I will reflect on the anime’s reception in France and what it means for the future of French culture.
Although there has been some academic writing on the topic of existentialist themes in Neon Genesis Evangelion, such as Gabriel Tsang in 2016 or Stephanie Thomas in 2015, no one has yet written on their implications for a French audience. I hope to expand the discussion beyond analysis and reckon with the ways in which different cultures decide what constitutes art.
As a thesis, I propose the following: not only are Neon Genesis and other visual narratives presented in anime and manga form “truly cultural”, but they belong to the cultural patrimony of France itself.
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Presenter: Thomas Nali
Project Adviser: Nathan Froebe (Music)
Title: Four Left Feet
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #109, 4:45 p.m.
Abstract:
A reimagined soundtrack for a vintage appliance advertisement, Thomas D. Nali III’s Four Left Feet for flute, oboe, and percussion, exemplifies an exploration of scoring new music for live performance to a pre-existing video advertisement. The black-and-white video features a couple dancing around a variety of kitchen appliances. The music mirrors the advertisement’s off-kilter choreography, strained interaction, and awkward comic delivery. It was composed without reference to the video’s original audio in order to occlude its influence. Double motives, ornamentation, contrasting dynamics, and multi-metric rhythmic elements are explored. Figures in the flute and oboe are synchronized with the dancers, and the percussion highlights scene changes, expressions, and comic effects. Musical phrasing is cleverly used in multiple ways, including subverted resolutions. The finality of the ending swiftly and skillfully restores the imbalance temporarily implied by the penultimate phrase. Meticulous “beats per minute” calculations created synchronization when combining the live performance with the video. Four Left Feet embraces experimentation, exploring post-production trends of manipulation, appropriation, parody, or reimagining of ready-made source material, while providing new/alternate discourses.
Presenter: Kianna Big Crow
Project Adviser: Bibhudutta Panda (Native American and Indigenous Studies)
Title: Returns to Education for Indigenous Population in the US: How Women Compared to Men?
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #101, 4:15 p.m.
Abstract:
Previous research finds large gaps in the labor market outcomes for the Indigenous population. Despite recent improvements, indigenous workers lag other racial groups in terms of educational attainment and earnings. This study will use the 5-year American Community Survey Data (2017-2021) to estimate earning gains (returns to education) associated with college education for Indigenous workers and examine how Indigenous workers fare compared to workers from other racial groups. The study will further examine how returns to education for Indigenous women compare to Indigenous men and other racial groups in the US. Research finds that return to education is higher for women compared to men as education not only improves skills and productivity, it also potentially reduces earning differentials attributed to other factors like gender discrimination. It will be important to examine if this observation holds for Indigenous men as well. The results of this research could be used to formulate policies to improve existing gaps in earnings and educational attainment for Indigenous populations.
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Presenter: Nate Weglewski
Project Adviser: Mark Collier (Philosophy)
Title: AI and Knowledge Transmission
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #112, 3:45p.m.
Abstract:
Suppose you ask an artificial intelligence (AI) about the weather tomorrow, and the AI informs you that it will rain. You trust the AI, and lo and behold, the next day there is a storm. It seems reasonable to say that you knew it would rain, but how you obtained that knowledge is less obvious than it appears. While it may seem like the AI has transferred the knowledge to you, the AI you asked—lacking a mind and awareness—is incapable of belief: a mental state which many philosophers hold to be a necessary condition for knowledge; you must believe it’s going to rain tomorrow in order to know it’s going to rain tomorrow. Under this framework, we are left with the question: If the AI did not possess knowledge, how could it have transferred knowledge to you? One view is simply that it didn’t. Rather, in a process similar to generating knowledge about a rock by observing it, you generated knowledge about the weather by observing the AI. In this view, the AI is just an instrument used to obtain information, as opposed to an epistemic agent which creates and shares knowledge. I contend that this “instrumental” view is false, and that on the grounds that one’s belief (or lack thereof) in a proposition is not relevantly distinct from a truth value assigned to a proposition by an AI, even if an AI can’t “believe”, its capability to make determinations about the truth and falsity of propositions is functionally identical to belief. Thus, propositions generated by AI, which are true, and which the AI recognizes or purports as being true, may be classified as knowledge—the AI has transferred knowledge to you after all.
Presenter: Nova Austin and Ashlen Plasek
Project Adviser: Sylke Boyd (Physics)
Title: Rotary Subwoofer: An infrasound generator
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #114, 4:15p.m.
Abstract:
The primary goal of this project was to design and create a novel form of an infrasound transducer and study how various design constraints affected the sound produced. This transducer is a creative form of speaker called a Rotary Subwoofer. The main idea of a rotary subwoofer is to create infrasound (low frequency sound) by basically turning a helicopter’s rotor head into a fan mount. We would then alter the pitch on all the fan blades simultaneously to make it alternate pulling air into the fan and pushing it out. Thus creating a series of wavefronts that we call soundwaves. Unlike traditional speakers the volume of the sound produced wouldn’t peter out as we made it produce lower frequencies. In fact it would get louder because of how much easier it is to change the pitch of the blades at lower frequencies.
Once we create the assembly the bulk of the research would be focused on blade geometry and how it would affect the quality of the sound produced. The hypothesis is that a lower axial angular moment of inertia will increase the effective frequency range, while inversely a wider blade would create a louder sound. We wanted to explore our parameter space until we found a blade geometry that maximized both volume and pitch.
The production of infrasound has not been well documented and its usages are seemingly untapped. We know, for example, that elephants communicate large distances with infrasound because of its low attenuation in the earth's atmosphere. Using infrasound and its attenuation through the atmosphere could be useful for cloud imaging and meteorology.
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Presenter: Bethanie Belisle
Project Adviser: Tim Lindberg (Political Science)
Title: Creating or Erasing History: The Causes and Mapping of Controversial Statue Removal
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #109, 3:45 p.m.
Abstract:
During the global protests that followed the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 25th, 2020, protesters vandalized and tore down statues and monuments across the world. Local governments and private organizations removed nearly a hundred Confederate Statues in 2020. Yet there were still over 700 Confederate statues and monuments in the old Confederate areas of the US at the end of 2021. With many Confederate statues still erected in public, one can wonder why some Confederate statues get torn down by protesters and governments while others remain. Through creating a comprehensive dataset from 2000 to 2023, this research maps out removed controversial statues and information surrounding these removals. In a set of case studies comparing twelve Confederate statutes, this research also explores whether high levels of conservative ideology led to statue retention and whether public prominence led to statue removal. The study of six removals and six retentions shows that removing a Confederate statue depends on the level of support for the democratic party and high public awareness of the figure represented in the statue. Retained statues are regarded as local heroes without public prominence and are located in highly conservative counties. This research emphasizes the significance of understanding the causes of controversial statue removal for comprehending systemic injustices and informing future policy discussions on controversial art and historical representation.
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Presenter: Bella Sieling
Project Adviser: Stan Molchanov (Political Science)
Title: Exploring Resiliency Through Restorative Justice: An Interdisciplinary Study
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #101, 2:45 p.m.
Abstract:
This research examines the intersection of restorative justice and resiliency through the lens of positive childhood experiences, shedding light on the potential to address systemic flaws within the current criminal justice system, such as racial disparities and mass incarceration. By emphasizing the cultivation of resiliency, I argue for a transformative approach that can enhance post-prison quality of life and reduce recidivism rates. The analysis delves into the foundational role of positive childhood experiences in building resiliency and advocating for their integration into the criminal justice system. Drawing attention to the unnoticed alignment between restorative justice practices and the values of positive childhood experiences, my research underscores the untapped potential for connection between these domains. Despite the evident connections in fostering relationships and community, this study reveals a significant research gap concerning the overlap between restorative justice and positive childhood experiences, providing a foundation for future exploration and policy considerations.
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Presenter: Michelle Johnson
Project Adviser: Cristina Ortiz (Sociology)
Title: "THIS IS HOW THE WEST ENDS”: A content analysis of conservative YouTubers notions of Western Excellence
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #112, 3:15 p.m.
Abstract:
In 2023, YouTube was one of the most used social media platforms in the United States alone. While existing scholarship (Finlayson 2022) has observed linkages between right-wing social media and distrust in institutions of government, family, and others, I seek to understand how conservatives use YouTube as a means by which to teach their audience racialized, gendered, and nationalistic ideas about the Western hegemonic order. To examine this issue, I conducted an in-depth qualitative content analysis of three key conservative content creators: Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, and Michael Knowles. Two videos were chosen within each creator's profile using keyword searches such as “Anti White” and “DEI”. Preference was given to videos published within the last 6 months and for videos more than 5 minutes and less than 60 minutes. Total watch time amounted to 139 minutes. I found that these creators most commonly suggest that whiteness, masculinity, and Western society as we know it are under attack. The culprit of these attacks in their point of view are efforts that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, schools, and other institutions. By utilizing a “draw your own conclusions” framework, conservative creators can both distance themselves from their ideological teaching and create a community with which followers of this content can connect with. Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, and Michael Knowles have gained, maintained, and grown their following on the basis of this shared sense of community that promotes extremely violent, racialized, gendered, and nationalistic ideas.
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Presenter: Gabrielle Meyers
Project Adviser: Jon Anderson (Statistics)
Title: The Path to Justice: An Analysis of Court Case Duration in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases in Three Minnesota Counties
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #101, 2:15 p.m.
Abstract:
Slow court case processing is a significant concern, particularly in regard to their adverse implications for survivors of serious crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual assault. This study investigates a number of factors that may influence the duration of court case proceedings using court records from three Minnesota counties. Focusing on cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, kidnapping, harassment, stalking, and various other sex crimes, we employ survival analysis methods to explore the effects of various factors on the duration of court case processing. Our analysis considers the effects of factors such as type of crime, form of legal representation, judge, and various defendant characteristics. Our goal is to identify major factors that contribute to delays in court proceedings, providing helpful insight for advocacy groups and crime victims about what they can expect during trial. We find significant differences in completion durations between counties and between crimes charged. However, when we adjust for differences between judges such as the number and complexity of cases assigned to them, there is no evidence of county differences.
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Presenter: John Barber
Project Adviser: Lucas Granholm (Theatre)
Title: The Preservation of Ralph Rapson's Humanities Fine Arts Architectural Model
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #114, 4:45p.m.
Abstract:
Renowned modernist architect Ralph Rapson, left an indelible mark on the University of Minnesota Morris campus through his design of the Humanities Fine Arts Building (HFA). The focus of this project is the restoration of an architectural model depicting the HFA as conceived by Rapson and associates in 1970.The goal is to refurbish the model, create a compelling exhibit, and ensure its long-term preservation. The exhibit will feature the restored model alongside archival materials and contributions from the UMM Humanities faculty. The restoration process will involve replacing the damaged enclosure and digitizing relevant documents.
Rapson's vision for the HFA sought to integrate the building into the campus landscape while creating a dynamic and functional space By observing student's desire paths, Rapson conceived of the HFA as an 'interior street,' a long, narrow chain of buildings along an interior spine. By prioritizing the integration of the HFA with its surroundings and emphasizing functionality and accessibility, Rapson demonstrated a forward-thinking approach to campus life.
The exhibit offers a unique opportunity to explore Rapson's innovative vision for the HFA and its broader implications for architectural practice and campus planning. By examining the development of the HFA and emphasizing the differences between Rapson’s initial vision and the final structure, the exhibit demonstrates the process that influenced the building's design. Furthermore, the exhibit cultivates an appreciation for architectural history and invites audiences to engage with Rapson’s innovative vision that left a lasting impact on the campus environment.
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Presenter: T Flesner
Project Adviser: Lucas Granholm (Theatre)
Title: Dehumanizing Individuals: Disability's Represented in Theatre
Type of Presentation: John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #114, 3:15p.m.
Abstract:
In the summer of 2023, research was conducted on how disabilities are portrayed in theater. This research is specified in the literature part, for example: how the character is written, how people treat them, how the disability is portrayed, and the overall emotion towards the disability/disabled character. Within this conduction, fourteen plays were used. Out of these plays: Forty-three percent (43%) beastify the disabled character. Fifty percent (50%) infantilize the disabled character. Twenty-nine percent (29%) objectify the disabled character. Fifty percent (50%) of the plays were overall negative in regards to the character with a disability. Fifty percent (50%) of the plays resulted in the disabled characters' death. Seventy-one percent (71%) used slurs and derogatory names against the character with a disability. In conclusion, disabilities are portrayed in a negative manner. This typically results in some form of discrimination, violence, and or death. The reason why this research is important is to bring light on this situation, the situation being that the theater world has a tendency to depict those with disabilities in a negative way and very little story’s show disabilities being a positive thing. This can be impressionable to audiences as they only typically see disabilities being portrayed in a negative light rather than a positive one. If left unchecked it could allow people to feel as though disabilities are only these negative things that cause problems and nothing else. Not only damaging those who have disabilities, but also potentially subjecting them to unfair biases.
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