Humanities
2 Samuel 11 as an Inverted Betrothal Journey Narrative
David Ridge, Brigham Young University Religion This paper examines 2 Samuel 11 in light of a broadened understanding of the betrothal type-scene first identified by Robert Alter. The definition of type-scene in this context is broadened by comparative study with another feature of traditional narrative, the “theme” identified by Albert Lord as a significant characteristic of oral narratives. Examining the theme and type- scene together allows for a better definition of type-scene which leads to the identification of previously overlooked type-scenes. It is argued that 2 Samuel 11 contains all the elements and key- words necessary to be a type-scene of the betrothal journey narrative type; creating a literary relationship between this passage and the betrothal narratives of the patriarchs including those of Isaac in Gen 24, Jacob in Gen 29 and Moses in Exodus 2. Utilizing this approach allows for a clearer understanding of the textual depiction of David and his actions in the Hebrew Bible, a new understanding of the intertextual relationship between 2 Samuel 11 and narratives in Genesis and Exodus, and a broader and more valuable understanding of narrative structures within the Hebrew Bible.
The Wet-Nurse in Victorian England
Abbie Black, Brigham Young University History Wet-nursing, a common practice in early modern England, was looked upon as a respectable source of income for women until the latter half of the eighteenth century. Scholars and doctors criticized the practice in both moral and medical terms, which influences how scholars analyze the occupation today. Constant attacks on the occupation continued until the practice was associated with lower class, sinful women; the practice all but disappeared by the early twentieth century because of the negative rhetoric and the advances in safe synthetic feeding practices. Historical scholarship reflects the negative rhetoric that was prevalent for the past two centuries; they forget to mention that wet-nurses continued to be essential to Early Modern English culture and Victorian families. Both the employer family and wet-nurse relied on this labor; families with an at risk child needed the labor of the wet-nurse, and the wet-nurse needed the income for her own support. Recent trends in scholarship focus on the practice from the top down as an institution rather than an occupation for individuals. I intend to fill this gap in scholarship by focusing on the wet-nurse as an individual functioning independently from the increasingly negative rhetoric during the mid-nineteenth century.
Leadership in the Humanities: A Look at Practical Applications of Humanities Education
Susie McGann, Brigham Young University Humanities As the American economy changes, jobs are becoming increasingly more focused on teamwork, collaboration, and analytical and social skills in addition to technical skills. My initial hypothesis is that such knowledge and skills can be located in the category of a capacity for leadership–leadership of a sort that is of value even among entry-level professionals. These skills can be acquired through study in the Humanities. With my research, I hope to prompt change in the existing culture among students majoring in these fields so that they will begin conversations about careers earlier and more frequently among fellow students and faculty. In order to reach these goals, I collaborated with other humanities students to compile a group of individual essays that explain to undergraduates in Humanities majors how their study is preparing them to be leaders. I reviewed and edited these papers, and researched and wrote a supplicant formal essay to address current or prospective students in Humanities disciplines. The collection of papers are accessible to Humanities students through the College of Humanities as a resource written by students in their fields that explains the value of a Humanities education for life after college. I also organized and hosted an event for undergraduate Humanities students to begin a college-wide conversation about their Humanities degrees in terms of leadership.
The Joint Intelligence Community: Revealing British War Perceptions in WW2
Joshua Klein, Brigham Young University History In the last half of the 20th Century, the history of the enigmatic British intelligence community has been increasingly exposed as multiple archives have allowed access to original documents. This project involves a study of the Joint Intelligence Community, an agency created a few years before the outbreak of World War 2. The committee had the task of combining reports from the various agencies within the British Intelligence community into one cohesive report for the Chiefs of Staff and the Prime Minister. As part of a research project at Cambridge University, I acquired the primary sources (the JIC reports throughout the war) in a trip to the Kew Archive of the British National Archives in London. Because the reports represent the various agencies’ combined reports, they consequently offer a remarkable insight into the thinking of British policy makers on a week by week basis; thus, they reveal British policy makers’ information, opinions, and perceptions within the context of the war. These extraordinary sources profoundly limit historical anachronism. My discoveries reveal a plethora of inconsistencies between our contemporary understanding of British perceptions during the war and actual British perceptions during the war. Following is a brief list of these preliminary discoveries, which I hope to present at UCUR. I will discuss how these insights helps shape our contemporary understanding of British perceptions during the war. Surprising hesitancy to believe that Germany would attack Russia Over-estimation of Britain’s role in the war and a under-estimation of Russia’s role Relatively late recognition of Germany’s doomed fate on the Eastern Front Failure to recognize German potential to continue fighting as the war nears the end Severe British anxiety regarding German attempts for a peace agreement Explicit failure to identify the Nazis’ ideological motivations throughout the entire war Anti-Soviet tendencies throughout the war
John Locke’s Development of the Role of the Magistrate
Matt Cox, Brigham Young University History The role of the Magistrate or civil leader was a topic of debate in the time of John Locke and a focus of many of his political writings. Focusing on four of his main political pieces, his Essay on Toleration, a Letter Concerning Toleration, Two Treatises on Government, and Paraphrase and Notes on the Epistles of St. Paul, I examine how he developed his ideas on the role of the magistrate and the changes that take place. I show how Locke transitions from his youthful acceptance of the absolute rule of kings to his final views where he shows how even Paul leaves room open in his epistles for disobedience to rulers. Essential in this transition is Locke’s limitation on the powers of the magistrate. In his early writings Locke allows for the use of force in protecting the overall good of the society. Locke redefines this vague role of the magistrate by limiting the power of the magistrate to acting only in the protection of the rights, liberties and property of their citizens.
Prehistoric Diets and Medicines of the Utah Great Basin: Using Ethnohistory to Explore Botanical Remains From Spotten Cave Human Coprolites
Madison Mercer, Brigham Young University Anthropology Between 1964 and 1969, Spotten Cave near Goshen, Utah was excavated by Brigham Young University (BYU) archaeologists. In 1971, James M. Mock published the only official report dedicated to this site as his Master’s Thesis. This cave contained valuable artifacts that can allude to the diet and medicinal plants of the Fremont Indians and other Utah prehistoric groups. Such plant knowledge is scarce throughout the Eastern Great Basin, even among those cultural groups where much is known. Through a comparison study called ethnohistory between those living now, such as modern Gosiute, Ute, and Shoshone, with what plants have been found in human coprolites (fecal remains) from Spotten Cave, it is possible to recon- struct what plants prehistoric people may have used for food or medicine. This will provide greater insight into who lived before in the Eastern Great Basin and is helpful knowledge for those wishing to study how the Utah environment was utilized in the past.
Durer’s Window: The Renaissance Problem of Seeing the World Through Perspective-colored Glasses
Laura Hatch, Brigham Young University Humanities, Classics, Comparative Literature Art historians and artists have long treated linear perspective solely as an artistic technique. As defined by the Italian Renaissance, linear perspective is a tool to recreate reality on a canvas. But linear perspective carries philosophical implications, as well. Albrecht Dürer, a German Renaissance artist, seems to have understood perspective’s limitations in truth-making. In reading this image with a knowledge of Heideggerian phenom- enology, I propose that while on the surface this woodcut may seem to be nothing more than an illustration of proper technique, Dürer is actually exposing linear perspective’s failure to capture and truly represent an image as reality.
Perceptions of Red Hair Through Time
Hanna Winzenried, Brigham Young University History Red hair is one of the most rare hair colors. In fact, only two percent of the world’s population has naturally red hair. My research attempts to show how Western perception of red hair has undergone transformations over time. I seek to show how red hair has been associated with a variety of perceptions from the Middle Ages onward. This is not a comprehensive study, but one that takes a variety of primary sources to show how changing societal perceptions of red hair imbued females (and males) with a variety of traits contributing to a kind of physiognomy of hair whereby a person’s character could be read through hair color.
The United States Civil War From the British Perspective
Megan Barber, Brigham Young University History This project investigates the British view on the Civil War in the United States. Specifically, it explores the correspondence between Richard Lyons, the British envoy to the United States, and Lord Russell, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. It charts the changing perception of Lyons’ view of the Civil War as it progressed during the first crucial year of the conflict. The Confederacy actively sought British recognition and in fact sent two representatives to the United Kingdom who were subsequently seized by a Union ship. Lyons’ role in what came to be known as the Trent Affair is known, but has overshadowed his other perceptions of the conflict. This project draws on the original PRO manuscript correspondence held in the UK National Archives in London.
From Earth to Outer Space: Mankind’s Continual Trek Toward Justice
Jennifer Mitchell, Brigham Young University History The science fiction television show, Star Trek, deals heavily with political issues ranging from the complexities of war to changing gender roles in American culture. My paper will discuss how the show accomplishes this successfully, particularly through the representation of historical events. The Holocaust is one example of a reoccurring theme throughout the show, an issue that is addressed appropriately when many representations of the Holocaust are so heavily criticized. This paper will examine the themes and structures of different episodes through out Star Trek: The Original Series. One episode to clearly address the anti-Semitic attitudes of the Nazi Regime, “Patterns of Force,” aired on February 16, 1968, a relatively short time after the Regime had fallen. Many of the adult viewers at this time had experienced the Holocaust in their lifetimes, directly or indirectly. An episode entitled “Space Seed” deals with eugenics and the idea of creating a super race. The episode attempts to demonstrate how those in the 23rd century may react to such practices. In “Consciousness of the King” Captain Kirk reveals that he had personally witnessed and been victim to genocide. Not only does genocide clearly connect to the Holocaust, William Shatner (the actor who portrays the Captain) is in fact Jewish. His costar Leonard Nimoy (Spock) also comes from Jewish heritage. Having two Jewish actors in leading roles adds yet another level of complexity when portraying such sensitive material. The paper will take this into account as well as other complications of representing the Holocaust in popular culture.
Recreating Fremont Corrugated Pottery: An Exercise in Experimental Archaeology
Charles Wilson, Brigham Young University Anthropology The purpose of this project has been to recreate a poorly understood Fremont (A.D. 300-A.D. 1300) ware known as corrugated pottery. Little is known about corrugation other than it seems to have made its appearance late in the Fremont world around A.D. 1100. Exactly how Fremont potters made corrugated pottery is a sparsely visited subject in publications. Attempting to recreate corrugated pottery, an exercise in experimental archaeology, has already suggested that corrugation was not only decorative, but played a role in the construction of corrugated vessels. Obscure practices of bygone Fremont potters will come to light as experiments progress.
Discovering Quotidian Kiev in Three Social Classes
Danielle Leavitt, Brigham Young University English/Russian While the former Soviet Union touted economy and a single social class, the socioeconomic differences that have emerged within Ukrainian families in the twenty years since the fall of the Soviet Union are widely unexplored. Our research comes in the form of creative nonfiction essays, which examine and contrast the everyday experience of Ukrainian families–specifically Ukrainian women–within three disparate socioeconomic classes. Based on a summer-long field study in Kiev, Ukraine living with three families in contrasting socioeconomic circumstances, our essays observe and explain facets of Ukrainian culture that are commonly misunderstood, yet deeply spiritual and culturally significant to Ukrainians. Our project explores the day to day workings of three Ukrainian families in suburban low class, urban middle class, and upper-oligarchical class, searching for stories describing quotidian life within their varying circumstances. There will be particular emphasis on the experiences of women. The project is presented in creative non- fiction essays stemming from observations, historical research, and the experience of the Ukrainians with whom I interacted. Ukraine (specifically its capital, Kiev) has a rich cultural and political history and a flowering modern culture heavily influenced by deep-rooted traditions, superstitions, and beliefs. Little creative nonfiction writing contributes to the exploration of both sophisticated and unsophisticated Ukraine. Our goal is to do just that; to delve into the human, commonplace intricacies of varied Ukrainian life through observation and writing.
A Geographic Information Systems Analysis of Africanized Honeybee Habitat: Preliminary Results
Nathan Gill, Brigham Young University Geography The Africanized honeybee first entered southern Utah within the last five years. This invasive species reduces pollination and honey production and is therefore costly to the farming industry and local apiaries. Additionally, Africanized honeybees are extremely aggressive and pose a threat to the health and well-being of Utah’s residents. The aim of my study is determine if Africanized honeybee habitat in Utah can be accurately modeled through remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems analysis. Locations of known Africanized honeybee presence and absence, acquired from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s ground reference data, were used to identify the characteristics of suitable habitat. Criteria that we considered include minimum temperature, precipitation, distance to water, elevation, slope, aspect, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, among others. I have identified the conditions for suitable habitat and I am in the process of designing a model to identify Africanized honeybee habitat across Utah. After the model has been refined, it will be tested against additional locations of presence and absence acquired from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. The modeled habitat will help the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and other organizations to focus efforts to educate the public about the dangers of Africanized honeybees in specific locations that are at high risk.
Perception Through Collection
Author(s): Paige Roberts, Lauren Williams, McKelle Garner, Jay Greenland
Cultural Heritage in Virtual Reality: The Art of Nung’wu (Southern Paiute) Basketry
Author(s): Leah Hamblin
Power and Piracy: Elizabeth Swann's Rhetorical Success in "Pirates of the Caribbean"
Author(s): Brooklyn Hibshman
Women, Dogs, and the Iliad_ A study in the language used to describe Helen of Troy
Author(s): Lutece DuBravac
“No timid and submissive victims”: A Study of Pre-Colombian Muisca Women and Their Role in Society
Author(s): Elizabeth Parret
Reducing the Cost of Language Test Creation Through Artificial Intelligence
Author(s): Anna Johnson, Joanna Clark
The Myth, Design, and Process of Tattoo Rituals within Oceanic Migration
Author(s): Aubrey Gallafent
From Profit to Prophet: Heber J. Grant's Practical Mind and Spiritual Mission
Author(s): Ian Eliason
Imagining a Cross-cultural Perspective: A Comparative Study of "Nature" Concepts in Indigenous Literature and Non-indigenous American Literary Classics
Jacob, Jonathan (Westminster College)
Faculty Advisor: Pu, Xiumei (Westminster College, Environmental Studies)
This presentation examines two bodies of environmental literature--environmental writing spanning from the late nineteenth century to contemporary times by indigenous and non-indigenous writers in the United States--to ponder several questions: where do these two bodies of literature converge and resonate with one another? How do these convergences bear on current debates and efforts for ecological, environmental, and (inter)cultural healing? Existing comparative analysis of these two bodies of literature often focuses on identifying the differences and their subsequent cultural manifestations (Cronon, 1995; Buell, 1996; Buell 2005; Garrard; 2011). In this presentation, I go in a different direction by examining complex resonances that emerge from these bodies of literature around the understandings of nature, place, self, and community. Bringing these resonances to light and examining their nuances and complexities could be a step toward imagining a cross-cultural perspective on eco-cultural healing so urgently needed in our time. This presentation is based on a summer research project in which I examined twelve books and novels by indigenous and non-indigenous American environmental writers (six from each body of literature), using an approach of pairing one work from each body of literature for individual analysis, then using those pairs to synthesize a larger, cross-cultural perspective. In this presentation, I will highlight analyses of three of these pairings, while my larger conclusions will be representative of ideas gleaned from all six of the pairs.
Faculty Advisor: Pu, Xiumei (Westminster College, Environmental Studies)
This presentation examines two bodies of environmental literature--environmental writing spanning from the late nineteenth century to contemporary times by indigenous and non-indigenous writers in the United States--to ponder several questions: where do these two bodies of literature converge and resonate with one another? How do these convergences bear on current debates and efforts for ecological, environmental, and (inter)cultural healing? Existing comparative analysis of these two bodies of literature often focuses on identifying the differences and their subsequent cultural manifestations (Cronon, 1995; Buell, 1996; Buell 2005; Garrard; 2011). In this presentation, I go in a different direction by examining complex resonances that emerge from these bodies of literature around the understandings of nature, place, self, and community. Bringing these resonances to light and examining their nuances and complexities could be a step toward imagining a cross-cultural perspective on eco-cultural healing so urgently needed in our time. This presentation is based on a summer research project in which I examined twelve books and novels by indigenous and non-indigenous American environmental writers (six from each body of literature), using an approach of pairing one work from each body of literature for individual analysis, then using those pairs to synthesize a larger, cross-cultural perspective. In this presentation, I will highlight analyses of three of these pairings, while my larger conclusions will be representative of ideas gleaned from all six of the pairs.
American Pragmatists through the lens of Jean-Paul Sartre's "Writing for One's Age"
Doman, Abby (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Wolfe, John (Dixie State University, Humanities)
Jean-Paul Sartre argues in his essay, “Writing for One’s Age,” that all pieces of literature are influenced by the time period they are written in. This essay takes Sartre’s argument and analyzes the select works from four American pragmatists – Charles Sanders Peirce, John Dewey, William James, and Richard Rorty – through this lens. I also review Sartre’s literature in the light of his own philosophy. By taking into consideration the impact of prominent ideas of each pragmatist’s time period, a conclusion can be drawn for which ideas are relevant for the age they were written for and which ideas are consistent for the human condition. Therefore, the philosophies of American pragmatists can be reexamined to eliminate the contamination of the historical context.
Faculty Advisor: Wolfe, John (Dixie State University, Humanities)
Jean-Paul Sartre argues in his essay, “Writing for One’s Age,” that all pieces of literature are influenced by the time period they are written in. This essay takes Sartre’s argument and analyzes the select works from four American pragmatists – Charles Sanders Peirce, John Dewey, William James, and Richard Rorty – through this lens. I also review Sartre’s literature in the light of his own philosophy. By taking into consideration the impact of prominent ideas of each pragmatist’s time period, a conclusion can be drawn for which ideas are relevant for the age they were written for and which ideas are consistent for the human condition. Therefore, the philosophies of American pragmatists can be reexamined to eliminate the contamination of the historical context.
Conrad's Modern Greek Chorus: The Narrative Voice in Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent
Tylka, Kelsie (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Petersen, Jerry (Humanities and Social Sciences, English & Literature); Vogel, Charles (Humanities and Social Sciences, English & Literature)
Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent is a tale of political intrigue and morality. Many critics believe the narrator of this tale is purely "aesthetic"; however, I argue that the narrator is essential to the plot and to exposing the purpose of the novel, which is spotlighting humanity and moral choice. The first clue to the centrality of the narrator was Conrad's failure to adapt his novel to a theatrical production. This failure intrigued me as the characterization, viewpoint, and structure of the novel seemed ideal for theatrical adaptation. The question is, what was the root of Conrad's botched attempt at a theatrical production? I came to the conclusion that the narrator was essential to the plot and the ethos of the story. For this presentation, therefore, I intend to map out how and why the narrator is indispensable, as well as give a foundational groundwork on the Greek Theater and chorus. Turning to scholarship from both literary and theater experts, I will highlight the importance of the narrator within the novel, as well as, offer a suggestion as to how The Secret Agent could be effectively adapted into a successful stage production. I present the narrator of The Secret Agent as a stand-in for the classic Greek chorus through analyzing the narrator's function as a principal character in the story. Moreover, the utilization of the narrator's "anti-dramatic" commentary is a method of alienation that encourages the reader to reevaluate morality and humanity within the novel. Finally, I hope to engage both literary and theater scholar's alike to reevaluate the functionality of the narrator and to encourage a second look at the possibility of a successful theatrical production.
Faculty Advisor: Petersen, Jerry (Humanities and Social Sciences, English & Literature); Vogel, Charles (Humanities and Social Sciences, English & Literature)
Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent is a tale of political intrigue and morality. Many critics believe the narrator of this tale is purely "aesthetic"; however, I argue that the narrator is essential to the plot and to exposing the purpose of the novel, which is spotlighting humanity and moral choice. The first clue to the centrality of the narrator was Conrad's failure to adapt his novel to a theatrical production. This failure intrigued me as the characterization, viewpoint, and structure of the novel seemed ideal for theatrical adaptation. The question is, what was the root of Conrad's botched attempt at a theatrical production? I came to the conclusion that the narrator was essential to the plot and the ethos of the story. For this presentation, therefore, I intend to map out how and why the narrator is indispensable, as well as give a foundational groundwork on the Greek Theater and chorus. Turning to scholarship from both literary and theater experts, I will highlight the importance of the narrator within the novel, as well as, offer a suggestion as to how The Secret Agent could be effectively adapted into a successful stage production. I present the narrator of The Secret Agent as a stand-in for the classic Greek chorus through analyzing the narrator's function as a principal character in the story. Moreover, the utilization of the narrator's "anti-dramatic" commentary is a method of alienation that encourages the reader to reevaluate morality and humanity within the novel. Finally, I hope to engage both literary and theater scholar's alike to reevaluate the functionality of the narrator and to encourage a second look at the possibility of a successful theatrical production.
How to Raise Our Daughters to be Leaders: A study on the similarities between women serving in politics or public office
Chapman, Abigail (Southern Utah University)
Faculty Advisor: Law, Donna (Southern Utah University, Government Relations)
Currently, women make up fifty-one percent of the total population in the United States, and only twenty-four percent in the U. S. Congress. (Rutgers Institute for Politics) This paper seeks to examine some possible factors for this disproportionate gender representation in politics. Using both primary data [interviews] and secondary data [biographies, autobiographies, or documentaries] of women serving in politics or public service, I will explore the similarities in upbringing found amongst women who serve on the federal, state, and local levels. Then, I analyze the narratives of the women to highlight the similarities in upbringing between them, which include: exposure to politics or public service at a young age, similar personality traits, strong work ethic, and the influence of strong mothers. I also analyze the possible influence that learning a musical instrument and the amount of time spent with extended family has in the lives of some of these women. Research supports that the similarities found among these women potentially leads to career output and could be a factor as to why these women choose careers in politics or public service. In conclusion, I discuss the reasons why we need more women to serve in politics, particularly why young girls need to be encouraged to choose careers in politics.
Faculty Advisor: Law, Donna (Southern Utah University, Government Relations)
Currently, women make up fifty-one percent of the total population in the United States, and only twenty-four percent in the U. S. Congress. (Rutgers Institute for Politics) This paper seeks to examine some possible factors for this disproportionate gender representation in politics. Using both primary data [interviews] and secondary data [biographies, autobiographies, or documentaries] of women serving in politics or public service, I will explore the similarities in upbringing found amongst women who serve on the federal, state, and local levels. Then, I analyze the narratives of the women to highlight the similarities in upbringing between them, which include: exposure to politics or public service at a young age, similar personality traits, strong work ethic, and the influence of strong mothers. I also analyze the possible influence that learning a musical instrument and the amount of time spent with extended family has in the lives of some of these women. Research supports that the similarities found among these women potentially leads to career output and could be a factor as to why these women choose careers in politics or public service. In conclusion, I discuss the reasons why we need more women to serve in politics, particularly why young girls need to be encouraged to choose careers in politics.
Are You Smarter Than an English Major? How Grammar Checkers are Perceived by Upper Division English Majors
Roberts, Katie (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kinkead, Joyce (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
The internet has provided students with countless opportunities for success and learning, online grammar checkers and blogs playing a significant role for many in their pursuit of education. Grammar blogs offer tips, tricks, and examples to help people learn grammar, while grammar checker websites, such as Grammarly, use AI technology to automatically review pieces of writing, sometimes offering plagiarism checks and citation suggestions with a paid subscription. While these websites proclaim to make all the difference in students' writing, are English majors finding these helpful? This research seeks to understand what upper-division English majors think of online grammar checkers.
Faculty Advisor: Kinkead, Joyce (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
The internet has provided students with countless opportunities for success and learning, online grammar checkers and blogs playing a significant role for many in their pursuit of education. Grammar blogs offer tips, tricks, and examples to help people learn grammar, while grammar checker websites, such as Grammarly, use AI technology to automatically review pieces of writing, sometimes offering plagiarism checks and citation suggestions with a paid subscription. While these websites proclaim to make all the difference in students' writing, are English majors finding these helpful? This research seeks to understand what upper-division English majors think of online grammar checkers.
Far from Grub Street: Satire in George Knapton's Portraits of the Society of Dilettanti
Noorda, Meredith (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Belnap, Heather (Humanities, Comparative Arts and Letters); Swensen, James (Humanities, Comparative Arts and Letters)
In 1740 the Society of Dilettanti, an 18th century group of English gentlemen aiming to encourage an appreciation for the antiquities they had seen on their Grand Tours, decided to commission from George Knapton portraits of all their members. In the typical artistic vein of the early Dilettanti, the portraits, featuring many of the members in costume, exhibit a milieu where the erudite meets the comical to the outright lewd, a reflection of one of the Dilettanti's mottos of seria ludo, or "serious things done in a playful spirit." Within the wider context of London public life, these are also clear examples of the influence of the masquerade, and for a group closely aligned with the Italian Grand Tour, and thought to have been initially conceived in Venice, the appeal of those references is clear and the Dilettanti's use of them has been commented on in scholarship. However, the use of costume in George Knapton's portraits can reveal more than a simple love of Continental entertainments. Aligning oneself with the Continent and the East, as the sitters do in Knapton's works, was a subversive choice in relation to the normative British culture of the mid-18th century, in which the encroachment of Continental entertainments and fashion, among other things, was frequently feared. These portraits must be read with an acknowledgement of the ways in which the masquerade and the Italianate was seen in 18th century England, where it was not an accepted form of entertainment as on the Continent, but a controversial pastime. In turn the portraits can reveal where the Dilettanti situated themselves, and how they wanted to be represented�as internationally inclined participators in these foreign entertainments, boldly partaking in its vices, championing its creative possibilities in the self-fashioning of an individual.
Faculty Advisor: Belnap, Heather (Humanities, Comparative Arts and Letters); Swensen, James (Humanities, Comparative Arts and Letters)
In 1740 the Society of Dilettanti, an 18th century group of English gentlemen aiming to encourage an appreciation for the antiquities they had seen on their Grand Tours, decided to commission from George Knapton portraits of all their members. In the typical artistic vein of the early Dilettanti, the portraits, featuring many of the members in costume, exhibit a milieu where the erudite meets the comical to the outright lewd, a reflection of one of the Dilettanti's mottos of seria ludo, or "serious things done in a playful spirit." Within the wider context of London public life, these are also clear examples of the influence of the masquerade, and for a group closely aligned with the Italian Grand Tour, and thought to have been initially conceived in Venice, the appeal of those references is clear and the Dilettanti's use of them has been commented on in scholarship. However, the use of costume in George Knapton's portraits can reveal more than a simple love of Continental entertainments. Aligning oneself with the Continent and the East, as the sitters do in Knapton's works, was a subversive choice in relation to the normative British culture of the mid-18th century, in which the encroachment of Continental entertainments and fashion, among other things, was frequently feared. These portraits must be read with an acknowledgement of the ways in which the masquerade and the Italianate was seen in 18th century England, where it was not an accepted form of entertainment as on the Continent, but a controversial pastime. In turn the portraits can reveal where the Dilettanti situated themselves, and how they wanted to be represented�as internationally inclined participators in these foreign entertainments, boldly partaking in its vices, championing its creative possibilities in the self-fashioning of an individual.
Keeping Homophobia in the Closet: Racist Technologies in the Gay Community
Gheen, Jared; Callander, Denton; Winner, Langdon (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
Technology has made great strides in advancing the dating opportunities for gay men through various dating apps and websites. Men, whether in or out of the closet, can utilize these tools to find potential friends, dates, hookups, or relationships. These advancements have enabled increased networking for gay men, but these technologies have been used to enforce racial biases.
This presentation will analyze how dating apps and websites designed for gay men have been used to further marginalize groups of individuals within the gay community. My research will examine what I have denoted as the "3 Ps" that should drive design/interface decisions: Purpose, Perception, and Practice. Each feature and design within these applications should have a purpose that takes into account prejudicial biases that may be present. In addition to the intended purpose of the feature, the perception of how users will interpret the feature should also be heavily considered. Finally, the actual practice of the feature should be tested to ensure that the practice, perception, and purpose of the feature align and are not misused to marginalize members of the community.
Research will include work done by others in the field, specifically Denton Callander, due to his extensive research on racism and sexual racism on dating web services. Specific features within apps will also be examined and analyzed through the method of the "3 Ps" to explain their (un)intended consequences.
The results from my research will enable future technical communicators, software developers, and technology consumers to be aware of and address technologies that may reinforce or enable marginalization of minority groups.
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)
Technology has made great strides in advancing the dating opportunities for gay men through various dating apps and websites. Men, whether in or out of the closet, can utilize these tools to find potential friends, dates, hookups, or relationships. These advancements have enabled increased networking for gay men, but these technologies have been used to enforce racial biases.
This presentation will analyze how dating apps and websites designed for gay men have been used to further marginalize groups of individuals within the gay community. My research will examine what I have denoted as the "3 Ps" that should drive design/interface decisions: Purpose, Perception, and Practice. Each feature and design within these applications should have a purpose that takes into account prejudicial biases that may be present. In addition to the intended purpose of the feature, the perception of how users will interpret the feature should also be heavily considered. Finally, the actual practice of the feature should be tested to ensure that the practice, perception, and purpose of the feature align and are not misused to marginalize members of the community.
Research will include work done by others in the field, specifically Denton Callander, due to his extensive research on racism and sexual racism on dating web services. Specific features within apps will also be examined and analyzed through the method of the "3 Ps" to explain their (un)intended consequences.
The results from my research will enable future technical communicators, software developers, and technology consumers to be aware of and address technologies that may reinforce or enable marginalization of minority groups.
Latter-day Saint Women and Wage Labor in the Twentieth Century
McDannell, Colleen; Kessler-Harris, Alice; Derr, Jill Mulvay; Schneider, Dorothy; Thistle, Susan (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: McDannell, Colleen (University of Utah, Humanities)
My research aims to understand and analyze the ways in which Latter-day Saint women in the 1950s justified and reconciled their participation in wage labor with their religion.
My research is based on primary source material in the Aileen H. Clyde Twentieth Century Women's Legacy Archive. This archive includes a collection of letters that were written to Ramona Cannon to be published in the "Confidentially Yours" column in the Deseret News from 1948 to 1965 and include writings of women addressing their challenges and concerns. I use this resource to analyze the experiences of individual women and specifically their understanding and justification of their involvement in wage labor. I also use secondary source material to establish women's relationship to labor in the United States.
My goal is to draw conclusions about how LDS women who were involved in wage labor justified their participation when they lived in a society heavily influenced by the LDS Church and it's on emphasis women's domestic roles. The Archive letters show a pattern of women who felt they had to justify their labor practices through extenuating circumstances that necessitated temporary participation in wage labor, including wives with sick husbands, single mothers, and a society dealing with the effects of WWII, as well as women who actively sought to participate in the workforce by selectively choosing jobs and opportunities to supplement what could be seen as extensions of the domestic roles they were expected to fill in the home.
This balancing act for women is relevant not only to the twentieth century but reflects an ongoing struggle worldwide for women. This case study of Latter-day Saint women illustrates how women in a close-knit religious community reacted to changes in labor expectations and provide an important outlook on understanding the relationship between women and wage labor.
Faculty Advisor: McDannell, Colleen (University of Utah, Humanities)
My research aims to understand and analyze the ways in which Latter-day Saint women in the 1950s justified and reconciled their participation in wage labor with their religion.
My research is based on primary source material in the Aileen H. Clyde Twentieth Century Women's Legacy Archive. This archive includes a collection of letters that were written to Ramona Cannon to be published in the "Confidentially Yours" column in the Deseret News from 1948 to 1965 and include writings of women addressing their challenges and concerns. I use this resource to analyze the experiences of individual women and specifically their understanding and justification of their involvement in wage labor. I also use secondary source material to establish women's relationship to labor in the United States.
My goal is to draw conclusions about how LDS women who were involved in wage labor justified their participation when they lived in a society heavily influenced by the LDS Church and it's on emphasis women's domestic roles. The Archive letters show a pattern of women who felt they had to justify their labor practices through extenuating circumstances that necessitated temporary participation in wage labor, including wives with sick husbands, single mothers, and a society dealing with the effects of WWII, as well as women who actively sought to participate in the workforce by selectively choosing jobs and opportunities to supplement what could be seen as extensions of the domestic roles they were expected to fill in the home.
This balancing act for women is relevant not only to the twentieth century but reflects an ongoing struggle worldwide for women. This case study of Latter-day Saint women illustrates how women in a close-knit religious community reacted to changes in labor expectations and provide an important outlook on understanding the relationship between women and wage labor.
An Attraction to Horror: Understanding the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis
Verstegan, Richard; Foxe, John; Arblaster, Paul (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Sand Alexa (Caine College of the Arts, General Studies (Arts)); Duncan, Jennifer
Horrifying and under scrutinized the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis (1587) depicts endless pages of sixteenth century torture methods inflicted upon Catholic martyrs, leaving sufficient room for questions waiting to be answered. The largest and most pressing question this book offers is why it was created. When exploring different conclusions to such a question it is important to understand the contextual history and nature of a rare object such as this. There is probable cause that this book was created in response to John Foxe's Book of Martyrs, which was published 24 years prior to the publication of the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis. It is also possible that the author of the Theatrum Crudelitatum, Richard Verstegan who was an Anglo-Dutch Catholic, was a propagandist supporting the idea that martyrdom was a form of resistance to oppression of religion at this point in history. There is sufficient evidence supporting this theory. In Foxe's Book of Martyrs there are limited illustrations of torture merthods where as in Verstegan's Theatrum Crudelitatum there is an overwhelming amount of vivid and equally horrifying engravings depitcing Catholics as weak. It is equally important to take a look into the author's personal history to gain more explanations for the creation of the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis. Richard Verstegan was an Anglo-Dutch Catholic that studied English at Oxford University without obtaining a degree. It is thought that he left due to his religious beliefs at the time. He was later a propagandist of Duke and Guise before settling in Antwerp, Belgium where he published and illustrated his work. This rare book even served as a precedent as to what happened to those not of the Protestant faith. The Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis by Richard Verstegan was created for both personal reasons and propagandistic opportunity.
Faculty Advisor: Sand Alexa (Caine College of the Arts, General Studies (Arts)); Duncan, Jennifer
Horrifying and under scrutinized the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis (1587) depicts endless pages of sixteenth century torture methods inflicted upon Catholic martyrs, leaving sufficient room for questions waiting to be answered. The largest and most pressing question this book offers is why it was created. When exploring different conclusions to such a question it is important to understand the contextual history and nature of a rare object such as this. There is probable cause that this book was created in response to John Foxe's Book of Martyrs, which was published 24 years prior to the publication of the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis. It is also possible that the author of the Theatrum Crudelitatum, Richard Verstegan who was an Anglo-Dutch Catholic, was a propagandist supporting the idea that martyrdom was a form of resistance to oppression of religion at this point in history. There is sufficient evidence supporting this theory. In Foxe's Book of Martyrs there are limited illustrations of torture merthods where as in Verstegan's Theatrum Crudelitatum there is an overwhelming amount of vivid and equally horrifying engravings depitcing Catholics as weak. It is equally important to take a look into the author's personal history to gain more explanations for the creation of the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis. Richard Verstegan was an Anglo-Dutch Catholic that studied English at Oxford University without obtaining a degree. It is thought that he left due to his religious beliefs at the time. He was later a propagandist of Duke and Guise before settling in Antwerp, Belgium where he published and illustrated his work. This rare book even served as a precedent as to what happened to those not of the Protestant faith. The Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis by Richard Verstegan was created for both personal reasons and propagandistic opportunity.
Assessing the Validity of The Test of Early Written Language (3rd Edition)
Anderson, Bethany; Ward, Hannah; Froerer, Cecily (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Gillam, Sandra (Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department); Gillam, Ron (Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department)
Children with language disorders face difficulties in producing organized and complex narratives. Many different assessments have been designed to allow clinicians to evaluate a child's narrative ability. The Test of Early Written Language - 3 (TEWL) is a formal test to assess the early written narrative abilities of children. Valid and reliable tests of the written language skills of young elementary age children are needed for assessing the outcomes of narrative interventions for children who are at-risk for language and literacy impairments.
The purpose of this study is to determine if the TEWL is a valid measure of narrative language in written stories by children who are at-risk for language and literacy problems.
Narrative samples from 189 children ages 6-11 were gathered as part of a larger study. Narrative samples were transcribed and scored using the Monitoring Indicators of Scholarly Language (MISL) rubric that assesses language microstructure and macrostructure. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were computed to determine the extent to which the total raw scores on the TEWL were related to MISL microstructure, macrostructure, and total scores. Item analyses were conducted to determine whether a subset of items on the TEWL differentiate between writing mechanics and written language. Results are critical for using the TEWL as a valid outcome measure in studies of interventions for oral and written language comprehension and production.
Faculty Advisor: Gillam, Sandra (Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department); Gillam, Ron (Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department)
Children with language disorders face difficulties in producing organized and complex narratives. Many different assessments have been designed to allow clinicians to evaluate a child's narrative ability. The Test of Early Written Language - 3 (TEWL) is a formal test to assess the early written narrative abilities of children. Valid and reliable tests of the written language skills of young elementary age children are needed for assessing the outcomes of narrative interventions for children who are at-risk for language and literacy impairments.
The purpose of this study is to determine if the TEWL is a valid measure of narrative language in written stories by children who are at-risk for language and literacy problems.
Narrative samples from 189 children ages 6-11 were gathered as part of a larger study. Narrative samples were transcribed and scored using the Monitoring Indicators of Scholarly Language (MISL) rubric that assesses language microstructure and macrostructure. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were computed to determine the extent to which the total raw scores on the TEWL were related to MISL microstructure, macrostructure, and total scores. Item analyses were conducted to determine whether a subset of items on the TEWL differentiate between writing mechanics and written language. Results are critical for using the TEWL as a valid outcome measure in studies of interventions for oral and written language comprehension and production.
Many Legs in the Morning: Bipedality, Humanity, and Inhumanity in Kafka's Metamorphosis
Heftel, Christian (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Abbott, Scott (Humanities and Social Sciences, Integrated Studies)
The story of Oedipus and the Sphinx establishes man as an upright, standing creature who is defined, at least in the prime of his life, by his ability to stand and walk on two legs, having ceased using his arms for locomotion. The corollary to this is that things that cannot stand, or that have a different number of limbs, are definitionally inhuman. In "The Metamorphosis," Franz Kafka introduces a character who wakes up having gained a myriad of small, insectoid legs and having lost the ability to stand upright. Throughout the story, the author repeatedly draws attention to Gregor's new, strange limbs, emphasizing their inhumanity and their inability to support him bipedally. At the same time, the story repeatedly describes its human characters in terms of the actions of their arms and legs, the limbs which make bidepality possible.
This paper explores the contrast between Kafka's human and inhuman characters through the lens of the standing metaphor established in the Oedipus myth. It examines the points of similarity between Gregor's metamorphosis and Athanaeus's and Apollodorus's accounts of the Sphinx's riddle. In the end, it suggests that Kafka uses the notion of bipedality to emphasize not only the physical inhumanity of Gregor Samsa, but also the inhumaneness of his family.
Faculty Advisor: Abbott, Scott (Humanities and Social Sciences, Integrated Studies)
The story of Oedipus and the Sphinx establishes man as an upright, standing creature who is defined, at least in the prime of his life, by his ability to stand and walk on two legs, having ceased using his arms for locomotion. The corollary to this is that things that cannot stand, or that have a different number of limbs, are definitionally inhuman. In "The Metamorphosis," Franz Kafka introduces a character who wakes up having gained a myriad of small, insectoid legs and having lost the ability to stand upright. Throughout the story, the author repeatedly draws attention to Gregor's new, strange limbs, emphasizing their inhumanity and their inability to support him bipedally. At the same time, the story repeatedly describes its human characters in terms of the actions of their arms and legs, the limbs which make bidepality possible.
This paper explores the contrast between Kafka's human and inhuman characters through the lens of the standing metaphor established in the Oedipus myth. It examines the points of similarity between Gregor's metamorphosis and Athanaeus's and Apollodorus's accounts of the Sphinx's riddle. In the end, it suggests that Kafka uses the notion of bipedality to emphasize not only the physical inhumanity of Gregor Samsa, but also the inhumaneness of his family.
Methods of Anti-Nuclear Protest: Grassroots Efforts and the MX Missile
Todd, Mariah (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Nigro, Jenna (Utah Valley University, History); Winans, Adrienne (Utah Valley University, History); McPherson, Kate (Utah Valley University, Honors/English)
This project is focused on anti-nuclear protests that took place in Utah surrounding the MX Missile System in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This anti-nuclear activism was especially interesting due to the diverse groups of people who were involved. Environmentalists, Native Americans, socialists, and various religious organizations, among others, all became involved in resisting the MX Missile in Utah. The purpose of this project is to analyze the ways in which these activists managed to be successful and come together behind a common cause. This will largely look at the methods or tactics employed by these activists, how religious organizations played a role, and how the political landscape of Utah allowed for or encouraged such activism to take root and become successful. These issues will be studied through analysis of primary source records from numerous activists who were directly involved in the protests. This research will showcase how activists used different methods to unify disparate groups against the MX Missile, which may include tactics such as localizing politics, garnering national attention, remaining nonpartisan, and seeking support from religious groups. This project was significant for both shedding light on an event that has been largely neglected in the field of anti-nuclear history and for contributing to the effort to localize nuclear history so as to better understand the intricacies of these events and ideas.
Faculty Advisor: Nigro, Jenna (Utah Valley University, History); Winans, Adrienne (Utah Valley University, History); McPherson, Kate (Utah Valley University, Honors/English)
This project is focused on anti-nuclear protests that took place in Utah surrounding the MX Missile System in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This anti-nuclear activism was especially interesting due to the diverse groups of people who were involved. Environmentalists, Native Americans, socialists, and various religious organizations, among others, all became involved in resisting the MX Missile in Utah. The purpose of this project is to analyze the ways in which these activists managed to be successful and come together behind a common cause. This will largely look at the methods or tactics employed by these activists, how religious organizations played a role, and how the political landscape of Utah allowed for or encouraged such activism to take root and become successful. These issues will be studied through analysis of primary source records from numerous activists who were directly involved in the protests. This research will showcase how activists used different methods to unify disparate groups against the MX Missile, which may include tactics such as localizing politics, garnering national attention, remaining nonpartisan, and seeking support from religious groups. This project was significant for both shedding light on an event that has been largely neglected in the field of anti-nuclear history and for contributing to the effort to localize nuclear history so as to better understand the intricacies of these events and ideas.
Going Cold Turkey? How Coal Bed Village Affects The Subsistence Strategies of Montezuma Canyon
Bedard, Tenaya G. (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Allison, James (Brigham Young University, Anthropology); Chase, Zach (Brigham Young University, Anthropology)
This research discusses the analysis of the faunal bones excavated from Coal Bed Village and how it compares to the other Montezuma Canyon sites in southwestern Utah. During the Pueblo I-III time periods, previous analysis for Montezuma Canyon sites has found a trend of subsistence strategies that rely heavily on cottontail rabbit for Pueblo I, deer for Pueblo II, and turkey for Pueblo III. This research determines that Coal Bed Village follows these trends, but we see an unexpected increase of cottontail rabbit in the Pueblo III period. This research discusses the possible reasons for this increase and how it could change our understanding of subsistence strategies among Montezuma Canyon in the Southwest during the Puebloan eras.
Faculty Advisor: Allison, James (Brigham Young University, Anthropology); Chase, Zach (Brigham Young University, Anthropology)
This research discusses the analysis of the faunal bones excavated from Coal Bed Village and how it compares to the other Montezuma Canyon sites in southwestern Utah. During the Pueblo I-III time periods, previous analysis for Montezuma Canyon sites has found a trend of subsistence strategies that rely heavily on cottontail rabbit for Pueblo I, deer for Pueblo II, and turkey for Pueblo III. This research determines that Coal Bed Village follows these trends, but we see an unexpected increase of cottontail rabbit in the Pueblo III period. This research discusses the possible reasons for this increase and how it could change our understanding of subsistence strategies among Montezuma Canyon in the Southwest during the Puebloan eras.
Being Mexican, Mormon, and Different
Gonzalez Herrara, Cindy; Garcia, Ignacio (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Garcia, Ignacio (History)
Guillermo Balderas became the first Hispanic, Spanish speaking bishop in the United States in the 1930s. By understanding his background in serving the church, we come to understand his views of the Mormon gospel, and through him, we get a glimpse of the Hispanic Latter-day Saints living in El Paso, Texas, and indirectly others across the United States. By looking at his life, we learn about the struggles of being Latter-day Saint and Mexican on the northern side of the southern border. Guillermo was also the son of Apolinar de Jesus Balderas, the second Spanish-speaking branch president in the United States.
Guillermo's family immigrated to El Paso, Texas in 1910.2 The community he lived in was segregated and he went to school in a segregated public school system. Guillermo's life spanned a time when Mexicans and Mexican Americans were starting to find their voice within their communities, and in the larger society. While he did not participate in politics or the activism of his time, Guillermo brought an ethnically-focused perspective to his religion. Part of that perspective came from his friendship with people of the Third Convention--a Latter-day Saint insurgency against the American church in Mexico--and also he lived experiences as a brown man in American society. For this presentation, I will discuss a letter he sent to church authorities when he was released and replaced by the first white bishop of his ward, and changes were made to minimize the wards "Hispanic ways". While he was unsuccessful in lobbying for his ward members, Guillermo, nonetheless, previewed some of the "outside imposed" concepts that have hampered Hispanic wards in developing their identity. At the same time, his letter reveals some of the concepts that Hispanic leaders in the church have carried out in their ministry. Through his dedication and faithfulness in the church, we see a reflection of what many Hispanic Latter-day Saints experience during this time. Despite the challenges, he continued to become a devoted leader within the church and helped many people within his congregation. He became an advocate for those of his color while still seeking to educate his white brothers/sisters.
Faculty Advisor: Garcia, Ignacio (History)
Guillermo Balderas became the first Hispanic, Spanish speaking bishop in the United States in the 1930s. By understanding his background in serving the church, we come to understand his views of the Mormon gospel, and through him, we get a glimpse of the Hispanic Latter-day Saints living in El Paso, Texas, and indirectly others across the United States. By looking at his life, we learn about the struggles of being Latter-day Saint and Mexican on the northern side of the southern border. Guillermo was also the son of Apolinar de Jesus Balderas, the second Spanish-speaking branch president in the United States.
Guillermo's family immigrated to El Paso, Texas in 1910.2 The community he lived in was segregated and he went to school in a segregated public school system. Guillermo's life spanned a time when Mexicans and Mexican Americans were starting to find their voice within their communities, and in the larger society. While he did not participate in politics or the activism of his time, Guillermo brought an ethnically-focused perspective to his religion. Part of that perspective came from his friendship with people of the Third Convention--a Latter-day Saint insurgency against the American church in Mexico--and also he lived experiences as a brown man in American society. For this presentation, I will discuss a letter he sent to church authorities when he was released and replaced by the first white bishop of his ward, and changes were made to minimize the wards "Hispanic ways". While he was unsuccessful in lobbying for his ward members, Guillermo, nonetheless, previewed some of the "outside imposed" concepts that have hampered Hispanic wards in developing their identity. At the same time, his letter reveals some of the concepts that Hispanic leaders in the church have carried out in their ministry. Through his dedication and faithfulness in the church, we see a reflection of what many Hispanic Latter-day Saints experience during this time. Despite the challenges, he continued to become a devoted leader within the church and helped many people within his congregation. He became an advocate for those of his color while still seeking to educate his white brothers/sisters.