Poster Session 2 - 12:30 - 2:00 PM PST
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Posters 1-30
Posters 31-61
Abstract Volume and Quick Reference Guide__________________________________________________________________________________________
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Functional Analysis of CowN and Its Effects on Nitrogenase Proteins
Advisor(s): Dr. Cedric Owens
Nitrogenase is the only enzyme that can catalyze ATP-dependent nitrogen fixation in bacteria, an important biological process that reduces atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia. The bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus expresses nitrogenase, a two-component enzyme consisting of a catalytic Molybdenum-Iron protein (MoFeP), and its reductase, Iron protein (FeP). However, in the presence of the environmental gas Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogenase is tightly inhibited. In an effort to prevent inhibition, diazotrophs have evolved a small protein, CowN, which interacts with MoFeP directly. This interaction protects the nitrogenase from CO inhibition. Limited research has been conducted on CowN; therefore, CowN’s mechanisms and structure remain undetermined at this time. The C-terminus of CowN contains a conserved sequence across several diazotrophs, and we hypothesize that these amino acids are crucial to the function of CowN. In this work we present our structural and functional analysis of CowN’s C-terminus. We have made a series of C-terminal mutants and determined how these mutations affect CowN’s structure and ability to protect nitrogenase from CO. We have determined that the C-terminus is critical for CowN activity as some mutants are unable to fully protect nitrogenase from CO.
- Evaluation of the TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer as a Pre-Screening Device for the Orange County Crime Lab
Advisor(s): Dr. Michael Ibba
Forensic analysis of suspected narcotics is often dangerous as the substances’ composition is unknown. Many techniques for drug identification require handling of the substance outside of its packaging, which can expose the analyst to potentially harmful chemicals. One technique that does not require removal of the packaging is Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive technique that utilizes molecules’ unique light scattering patterns. The TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer is a portable Raman spectroscopy device that can be used to screen drugs through simple packaging to minimize the risk of exposure. The Orange County Crime Lab (OCCL) is testing the limits of this device to determine if it can be used to screen new evidence within the Seized Drugs Lab. The lab has used this device to screen 50 pieces of casework, which were then confirmed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl in various forms such as powders, crystalline substances, and tablets, are all drugs we are optimistic that the TruNarc will be able to accurately identify in casework. After verification using GC/MS and the OCCL drug database, the TruNarc had a 73% accuracy rate for methamphetamine, 71% for fentanyl, and 100% for cocaine HCl. Though cocaine had a high accuracy rate, only three items were screened that contained cocaine. The misidentifications in the methamphetamine and fentanyl categories mainly consisted of colored powders and tablets, which we expected. Overall, the TruNarc has shown to be able to identify substances that are powder or crystalline and light in color. Many of the substances the OCCL receives are methamphetamine in white powder or crystalline form, thus, the TruNarc is likely a useful tool for pre-screening. Further testing will be done to confirm the TruNarc’s effectiveness in identifying fentanyl and cocaine, however, this is dependent on what evidence reaches the OCCL.
- Biochemical Characterization of Chlorogenic Acid Esterase, Lactobacillus helveticus
Advisor(s): Dr. Cedric Owens, Dr. Lilian Were
Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is an antioxidant that is present in many different foods. CGA has a plethora of therapeutic effects that range from anti-inflammation to anti-cancer. CGA can be broken down into caffeic acid and quinic acid by CGA esterases, a type of enzyme that can be produced by different bacteria and fungi, including those found in the human digestive tract. Lactobacillus helveticus (Lh) is one such bacterium that produces a highly efficient CGA esterase. Lh CGA esterase may contribute to CGA breakdown in the human gut, preventing its absorption. The goal of this experiment is to characterize the structure and activity Lh esterase. Biophysical experiments, including circular dichroism (CD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed that the protein is a mix of alpha helices and beta sheets, the melting point is 67°C, and that the protein exists in a concentration dependent equilibrium between a dimeric and tetrameric state. Michaelis-Menten kinetics assays demonstrated that the enzyme is most active at neutral pH, and that there is a temperature dependence of the activity. At room temperature, Km is 0.1443 mM and Vmax is 0.05730 mM/min. The Km displays no pH and temperature dependence. These assays helped characterize the previously unknown biochemical and biophysical properties of the Lh CGA esterase. We are now working on using our biochemical knowledge of Lh CGA esterase for biotechnological applications.
Biological Sciences
- Biomechanics of Atlantic Hagfish Burrowing
Advisor(s): Dr. Douglas Fudge, Kennedy Guillen
Atlantic Hagfish are eel-shaped animals that dwell in areas of the ocean floor that have a muddy bottom. These creatures are known to burrow into sediment, but little is known about the mechanisms by which they burrow. They have been described burrowing into sand and aggressively thrashing their entire body, but only until about one third was submerged below the sediment. At this point, they are observed being able to fully burrow their entire body into the sand, with little to no movement of the exposed part of the body. A specialized acrylic burrowing chamber was created to observe hagfish burrowing in mud-like substrates. We used gelatin as a substrate, because it approximates the properties of mud and because it is transparent. We also conducted trials in which two sheets of linear polarizing film were placed in front and behind the chamber. This allowed us to observe deformation of the gelatin, which showed up as a bright spot on the video. This allowed us to infer where the hagfish was pushing against the gel and the magnitude of pushing force. Preliminary observations of hagfish moving in gelatin suggests an internal concertina burrowing strategy similar to that seen in the limbless amphibians known as caecilians. An internal concertina mechanism requires independence between the vertebral column and the skin, which hagfishes possess.
- Exploring the Ecological Dynamics of Simple Rhizobial Artificial Populations Using qPCR
Advisor(s): Dr. Hagop Atamian, Dr. Kenjiro Quides
The microbiome of a host can change within a single generation, and repeated exposure to the same species of host can eventually shape a microbiome to be beneficial. In our study, we used the Lotus japonicus-Mesorhizobium loti symbiosis to explore the dynamics of simple artificial rhizobial populations using qPCR. To explore these population dynamics, we conducted a rhizobial passaging experiment wherein rhizobial populations were serially transferred to rhizobia–free plants. According to the sanctions hypothesis, we expect M. loti genotypes that fix more nitrogen to attain greater population sizes over time. We tested the sanctions hypothesis in populations that started with two different combinations of M. loti genotypes. The first combination consisted of a mediocre strain and a non–beneficial strain. The second combination of M. loti genotypes included the wildtype, a mediocre, and a non–beneficial strain. For our mediocre and non–beneficial combination of M. loti genotypes, we did not find support for the sanctions hypothesis. However, we did find support for the sanctions hypothesis in our wildtype, mediocre, and non–beneficial strain combination. The experimental approach used here could only be accomplished using molecular methods, such as qPCR, because the mediocre and non-beneficial strains are indistinguishable through culture-based methods. By utilizing a rapid, relatively cheap, and powerful technique, such as qPCR, future studies will be able to investigate the ecological dynamics of dozens of other M. loti mutants.
- Comparing qPCR and CFU to Verify Rhizobia Genotype Proportions
Advisor(s): Dr. Hagop Atamian, Dr. Kenjiro Quides
Legumes and rhizobia engage in a symbiotic relationship that is a model for studying microbial mutualisms. This interaction revolves around the nutrient exchange of rhizobia derived nitrogen for legume synthesized carbon that increases the growth of both partners. Therefore, measuring rhizobial population size can indicate the amount of beneficial nitrogen legumes receive. However, legumes interact with genotypes of rhizobia that provide varying levels of nitrogen, and it is unclear how rhizobial populations shift over time. Here, we use quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to rapidly track simple, two-genotype, populations of rhizobia, and compare our results to a traditional colony forming unit (CFU) method for analyzing rhizobial abundance in more complex populations. First, we confirmed that qPCR yielded similar results to CFU estimation for rhizobial populations within individual nodules. Next, we passaged and tracked our rhizobial population proportions across multiple plant generations and found that genotypes that fix more nitrogen increased in population proportion over time. Taken together, data collected for individual nodules and the passaging experiment validated the qPCR method. These experiments demonstrate the utility of qPCR for future experiments interested in analyzing rhizobia genotype proportions and how they relate to the level of benefits legumes receive.
- Hagfish Egg Biomechanics
Advisor(s): Dr. Douglas Fudge, Andrew Lowe
Hagfish are deep-sea cyclostomes known for their slime secreted in self-defence. Hagfish eggs contain a peculiar morphology on their tips, clusters of hooked filaments covered in thick mucus. The structure and function of the hooks on hagfish eggs are the focus of this study. Experiments using an Instron universal testing machine tested for tensile forces. Cyclic tensile tests were conducted where one egg was held in place, and a connected egg was pulled away until the attachment separated. These tests were run in the air and submerged in seawater. Single filament tensile forces were also measured to understand better the forces applied to an egg during detachment. Images and videos of hooks and attachments were taken to analyze the hooked filaments' structural design to determine potential function. Mucus covers the hooked filaments of fresh eggs and prevents hooks from attaching to other eggs. The tensile force of a hooked attachment between two hagfish eggs was experimentally determined to be around 0.7+/- 0.1 N on average in air but 0.15+/-0.05 N on average in seawater. The forces of subsequent hook attachments with the same eggs after the initial attachment was broken average around 0.1 N of force in the air, a much smaller force than the initial tensile force. Water trials determined little to no drop in tensile force between cycles. The tensile force involved in hooked attachments of hagfish eggs was determined to be relatively small in water as compared to in air, meaning that the function of the attachment is to protect against a relatively small force. We currently do not know the intended function of the eggs linking into a chain or the intention of the mucus caps found on fresh eggs. Future research is necessary to uncover the answers to these questions.
Chemistry
- Catalytic Activity of Bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)germanium (Cp*2Ge)
Advisor(s): Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin
Catalytic reactions are used in various applications and industries in order to make chemical processes quicker and more efficient. Nowadays, it is crucial that these catalytic reactions are inexpensive, safe to work with, and in abundance on Earth. Traditionally, catalytic reactions have used precious metals, but the goal of this project is to use the main group element Germanium as an alternative. While Germanium has been recognized by many chemists, it has not been used as a catalyst before. The Cp*2Ge catalyst has been synthesized and tested in numerous Aldehyde Hydroboration reactions.
- Mechanisms and Chemoselectivity for Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) Oxidation at a 2-histidine/2-cysteine Zinc-Sulfur Complex Implicated In Biological Redox-Signaling
Advisor(s): Dr. Maduka Ogba
Bacteria that harness zinc-cysteine complexes to sense and respond to strong biological oxidants, such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl), generated by animal host systems during inflammation. A recent report from our lab shows that in the 3 histidine/1 cysteine family of zinc complexes found in chemoreceptor zinc-binding domains, HOCl oxidation at the zinc-bound cysteine proceeds through the direct transfer of the OH group to the bound cysteine (i.e., without the formation of sulfenyl chloride), contrary to the mechanism reported for unbound cysteines. Furthermore, this mechanistic preference and chemoselectivity for HOCl is governed primarily by minimizing the geometric strain around the zinc center during the redox reaction. The purpose for my project is to use computational chemistry techniques to examine the mechanism of HOCl oxidation at another family of zinc complexes with a 2 histidine/2 cysteine architecture. The overall goal is to determine whether the reported zinc geometric strain model more broadly explains HOCl-sensing across a broader scope of biological zinc-bound cysteines. First, the ground and transitions states for the plausible HOCl oxidation mechanisms will be computed in order to determine whether the mechanistic preference for direct OH transfer is still operable. Then, the degree to which the zinc-complex is geometrically strained during the redox process will be revealed through a technique called distortion-interaction analysis. In this poster, literature precedent for this project, the research methodology, preliminary data, and hypotheses for redox reactivity differences at both zinc-cysteine complexes will be presented.
- Ketone Hydrosilylation Studies Using a Carbodiphosphorane Catalyst
Advisor(s): Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin
The objective of this research is to discover a safe, effective, and low cost catalyst for the hydrosilylation of ketones, which involves the addition of a silicon–hydrogen bond across a C=O double bond. Finding an efficient catalyst would benefit the organic synthesis industry, as carbonyl hydrosilylation is useful industrially for the synthesis of alcohol products. Use of the carbodiphosphorane catalyst as a replacement for toxic heavy-metal-containing catalysts would reduce waste and emissions harmful to the environment, while also providing an alternative means for accomplishing ketone reduction. Using a cyclic carbodiphosphorane catalyst, we have compared catalytic activity toward acetophenone hydrosilylation for a range of 18 silanes, the most effective of which was diphenylsilane. A range of ketones have also been investigated, including alkyl and aryl ketones. The carbodiphosphorane catalyst was more active in ketone hydrosilylation reactions compared to other nucleophilic organic catalysts tested.
- Computational Design of β-Fluorinated Morphine Derivatives for pH-Specific Binding
Advisor(s): Dr. Matthew Gartner
Molecular extension and dissection techniques are used to design a morphine derivative that promotes selective binding in inflamed tissue due to its lower pH while avoiding dangerous activation in the brain. Morphine, a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, is a member of the opioid class of drugs and is used to treat pain associated with inflammation. While being effective analgesics, opioids carry the risk of central side effects, including addiction, respiratory depression, and sedation. Opioids are agonists that bind to the μ-opioid peptide receptor (MOR) within central and peripheral nerves and act via a G-protein coupled receptor pathway. Deprotonation of the tertiary amine induces a negative charge on the nitrogen, discouraging binding at physiological pH (pH=7.4). The addition of a fluorine atom on a carbon beta to the amine allows fluorine’s inductive effects to decrease the pKa. Decreasing the pKa of the biochemically active amine group promotes selective binding in peripheral opioid receptors within inflamed tissue (pH=6-6.5). Protonation remains possible in lower pH environments of inflamed tissue. Activation of peripheral receptors provides analgesia, and central receptors within the brain remain inactive. A cyclohexane (C) and pyridine ring (D) are removed to increase conformational flexibility when binding to the MOR and maintaining biological function. Electronic structure calculations were performed with Gaussian 16 using the Keck Computational Research Cluster at Chapman University. Theoretical pKa values are determined at the M06-2X/aug-cc-pVDZ//SMD level of theory to calculate the ΔG°aq values for the amine deprotonation reactions. The pKa of morphine is determined as 8.0 via computational analysis and used as a benchmark value to compare the beta-fluorinated derivatives. Beta-fluorination decreased the overall pKa values of the morphine derivatives (pKa: 6.1-7.83) relative to morphine. The beta-fluorinated derivatives have lower pKa values with respect to the C and D dissected derivatives.
Communication Studies
- Tik Tok Behavior Assessment
Advisor(s): Dr. Austin Lee
The purpose of this research is to explore the effects of Tik Tok usage on contentment and impulse buying. Specifically, Tik Tok’s algorithm target’s users' interest in any given topic they are interested in. This targeting, compiled with social media’s effects on anxiety and comparison, produces the need to compare lives and feel less content with what individuals already have. We hypothesize that by watching Tik Tok videos, viewers will feel both less content in their life as well as the increased impulse to purchase a product. 100 self-identifying female participants and current social media platform users of TikTok will be recruited through the online surveys offered at Chapman University during the 2021 academic year. Participation in the online experiment will be entirely voluntary and anonymous. We will utilize an experimental one-group pretest-posttest design that focuses on the participant's current mood, contentedness, uses and gratification of TikTok usage, and intent to participate in impulse buying behaviors. The dependent variables of mood, contentedness, and impulse buying behavior will be measured once before the visual stimuli is implemented and once after it is presented. To facilitate the most reliable and valid comparison of measurements, we will be utilizing random assignment of one of three sets of TikTok videos. The TikToks shown will be targeted to female college students between 18 and 23 years of age, which will allow them to be specific to the generalized interests and products presented. Each set of TikTok videos will be slightly different and unbiased, lasting approximately five minutes. These videos will serve as our independent variable, and our posttest will determine if a change has occurred in the participant's attitudes and behavior.
- Intercultural Communication and Acculturation: How International Students at Chapman University Adapt to American Culture
Advisor(s): Dr. Austin Lee
There are thousands of international students that come to the United States every year, and within Chapman University, there are hundreds of international students from around 80 countries represented. Although there are studies regarding intercultural communication, we mainly focus on the adaptation of international students to American nonverbal and verbal communication techniques. This research study examines how cultural intelligence plays a role in Chapman University international students’ willingness to adapt to the nonverbal and verbal communication styles of American culture to determine how the difference in a culture’s nonverbal and verbal communication techniques affect intercultural relationships. We plan on asking Chapman University international students to complete an anonymous, online survey on their integration to American culture in terms of nonverbal and verbal communication. Participants will be asked questions that are followed with images of American nonverbal and verbal California slang to examine their knowledge and ability to understand American nonverbal and verbal communication. Our study explores the motivational, behavioral, and cognitive aspects of Chapman University international students to identify their willingness to adapt to American communication culture in order to assess how willing the Chapman University international students are to interact and engage with a person of American culture as well as understanding the Americans' communication styles.
- The Impact of Intercultural Sensitivity on Friendships Between Chapman Students
Advisor(s): Dr. Austin Lee
The purpose of our research project is to assess and measure the level of intercultural sensitivity among friendships between Chapman students. Chapman is a predominantly white institution (PWI), which has led to our desire to measure the overall cultural awareness. Our objective is to discover whether intercultural sensitivity heightens or decreases within college students due to the demographics at the university. In a related study that measured the intercultural sensitivity of college students in two distinctive institutions in the U.S., researchers' findings revealed that nationality and having international friends were the predictive factors of intercultural sensitivity for the study sample. We want to find a connection to whether intercultural sensitivity is affected by friendships formed while attending the university. We aim to discover whether these types of friendships impact whether the participants score high, low, or average on the intercultural sensitivity scale. To conduct this survey, we would like to test our hypothesis consisting of a 24-item Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS) that uses five factors: "interaction engagement, respect for cultural differences, interaction confidence, interaction confidence, interaction enjoyment, and interaction attentiveness." We will quantify this data by coding and reverse coding the survey questions to get numerical data. We will manipulate numerical data with statistics to see if our data is statistically significant within our sample. This research aims to provide a conceptualization of intercultural sensitivity, specify the role intercultural sensitivity plays in intercultural friendships, delineate the components of intercultural sensitivity, and critique and suggest directions for future study in this line of research.
- The Effect of Disgust and Fear Appeals in Anti-Vaping Campaigns
Advisor(s): Dr. Austin Lee
The use of e-cigarettes, commonly known as vaping, has recently seen a large increase among teenagers and young adults. Although there are many public safety campaigns attempting to address this issue, few were observed to use fear appeals as a strategy to change the viewer's behavior. This study focuses on how this persuasion strategy can be applied in relation to the Extended Parallel Process Model. According to the EPPM, the initial message must be seen as a real threat to the receiver but cannot be seen as unavoidable. Thus, the message should provide a specific self-efficacious recommendation that is feasible to the viewer to change their attitudes and/or behaviors regarding the perceived threat. It is expected that anti-vaping campaigns that utilize fear appeals through visuals that arouse disgust and show high self-efficacy will be more effective in changing the attitudes of the viewer. The experiment used a post-test only 2x2 factorial design. The independent variables were fear-inducing imagery and self-efficacious message design. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the four conditions. The dependent variables are the participant’s level of fear, perceived self-efficacy, and attitudes towards vaping after being exposed to the stimulus. The study will help determine whether fear appeals in anti-vaping campaigns are effective and should be more widely integrated.
Computer Science
- Interaction Design for Mental Health and Developing Healthy Habits
Advisor(s): Dr. LouAnne Boyd
Mental health problems have been plaguing adolescents and teenagers in recent decades, made even worse more recently with the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation during crucial years in one’s socially developmental years. As a firm believer that habits set the foundation for one’s mental health —healthy habits set an individual up for better physical and subsequently mental health while bad, unhealthy habits do the opposite. My objective is to find out what kind of design features will make it easier, more convenient, and overall incentivize teens to input their daily habits — including but not limited to things like how many hours they slept the night before and how much water they drank that day — in order to track their habits and generate recommendations that they can then implement into their lives to improve their habits and physical and mental health. I created two different types of user experience designs, one where all habits are laid out on the screen at the same time and users input habits one at a time by selecting that habit, opening a drop-down menu, and selecting applicable options. At the bottom of that screen, the user can generate recommendations after all habits are filled. The other option has multiple pages, it starts off with one habit, the user can then use a slider or click different buttons representing options (for things like food groups eaten), then click “NEXT” at the bottom of the page before it takes them to the next page, where the next habit is shown, until finally the last habit’s page then takes the user to the recommendations. I believe the seamlessness and time efficiency of the second option will incentivize users to input their habits each day.
- Machine Learning Enhanced COVID-19 Detection for Classifying Chest X- Ray Images
Advisor(s): Dr. Yuxin Wen
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been presenting a severe threat to the healthcare systems all over the world. Due to its highly contagious nature, AI early detection of COVID-19 becomes increasingly important to prevent further spreading and to flatten the curve. Deep learning methods offer great promise for fast and accurate COVID-19 screening and detection from chest X-ray images (CXR).
In this talk, we will present a deep learning method acting on chest X-ray (CXR) scans for COVID-19, pneumonia, and normal cases classification. To improve the detection accuracy, first, histogram-oriented gradient (HOG) is used for lung region of interest (ROI) extraction and followed by data preprocessing and augmentation. Then a pretrained RepVGG model is used for deep feature extraction and classification, which is a VGG-like convolutional neural network for which the training-time and inference-time architecture is decoupled by a structural re-parameterization technique. For the work, a dataset containing 1200 COVID-19 positive images, 1341 normal images, and 1345 pneumonia images is used.
The study shows the great potential of deep learning methods for COVID-19 detection utilizing chest X-ray images. Through the comparison with popular deep learning models, i.e., VGG, ResNet50, inceptionV3, DenseNet and InceptionResnetV2, the proposed framework shows the better diagnostic accuracy.
Environmental Science and Policy
- Preliminary Results: Effects of Tree Encroachment and Altered Hydrology on Potential Greenhouse Gas Production in Peatland Soils
Advisor(s): Dr. Jason Keller
Peatland ecosystems are among the most important ecosystems in the global carbon cycle, storing at least one-third of the terrestrial soil carbon. The fate of this vast store of carbon in the face of ongoing global change has important implications for the global climate. In particular, understanding if carbon will remain in peatland soils or be released to the atmosphere as the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane is crucial for understanding peatland-climate feedbacks. Using experimental mesocosms, the “TreePeat” experiment explores the effects of tree encroachment and altered hydrology on peatland carbon cycling. In the current project, we investigate potential greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide and methane) production in soils collected from the TreePeat experiment. Soils from 0-10, 20-30, 40-50, and 60-70 cm depths were incubated anaerobically at 15°C, and carbon dioxide and methane production were measured after 2 and 8 weeks using gas chromatography. Preliminary results suggest that long-term drainage of peatlands leads to a reduction in potential greenhouse gas production, particularly in surface soils. Ongoing work is exploring the effects of tree encroachment and short-term changes in water-table levels in these soils. In addition, we are measuring greenhouse gas dynamics at other depth increments as well as the potential for the microbial reduction of organic matter (where microbes use organic terminal electron acceptors in place of oxygen) in these soils. Collectively this work will provide important information on the controls of greenhouse gas production in peatland soils and how these dynamics will respond to ongoing global change.
- Climate Change and Our Future
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
Fear of climate change and global warming has been a topic of discussion for many years now. Certain countries and individuals believe in climate change and global warming. It is also very established that other individuals tend to ignore the topic because of political identity and due to the fact that they may have to change their way of living. After doing research I have been able to link political identity with climate change and global warming, specifically within the United States of America. My paper contributes to the existing information between political identity, climate change, and global warming. Chapmans Survey of American Fears, a representative national sample of U.S. adults, is where I have gathered some useful data that has allowed me to tie the two together. An individual's political identity and the topic of climate change and global warming correlate, due to the fact that an individual's party preference has them either believing or being in disbelief of the dangers we are causing to earth. I have also found that individuals in the United States believe in what their party says about ongoing issues, such as climate change and global warming. Individuals should further educate themselves and look into detail about the dangers that climate change and global warming bring to the world and how it can affect them, and not just accept what is fed to them. Climate change and global warming are very serious issues that we will face for the years to come, and it is every individual's duty to do their part and accept the fact of these ongoing issues.
- Impacts of Wetting/Drying Cycles on Arsenic Bioaccessibility in Mine Wastes
Advisor(s): Dr. Christopher Kim
Heavy metal(loid) contamination remains a global concern as it continues to pollute the environment and impose negative consequences on a myriad of ecosystems and human residents. For example, arsenic (As) is a prevalent metalloid naturally found in Southern California mine wastes with toxic, carcinogenic qualities that pose a potential human health risk. While As concentrations and bioaccessibility can be readily measured from samples, the long-term effect of weathering in these materials is not well understood. Thus, it is equally important to understand natural factors that impact As bioaccessibility, which include rainfall, temperature, humidity, and aging.
Samples were obtained from the Red Hill Mercury Mine in Tustin and sieved to ≤250 µm particle diameter. Selected samples underwent a simulated rain event to rinse off external soluble As from the particle surfaces. Through the use of an environmental chamber, samples were then exposed to simulated diurnal temperature and humidity cycles based on real weather data from that location at a 12x accelerated rate, such that 2 hours of real-time equated to 1 day of simulated time.
After sample exposure, samples underwent SGF extraction followed by ICP-OES analysis to determine final As bioaccessibility levels. Arsenic bioaccessibility was observed to decline in the early stages of exposure, but eventually increase back up to and beyond its initial levels after a few simulated months. This initial decline could be explained by the interactions between the samples and the humidity and temperature fluctuations in the chamber, causing the secondary formation of more stable As phases followed by the drawing of internally-bound As towards particle surfaces. While several samples did show this behavior, other samples with lower initial As bioaccessibility displayed a more consistent trend over time. These results suggest that initial As bioaccessibility levels can be utilized to predict changes in bioaccessibility over time, with lower levels inducing less change and higher levels producing more exaggerated trends.
- Use of a Common Substrate to Explore Microbial Organic Matter Reduction in Peatland Soils
Advisor(s): Dr. Jason Keller
Peatland ecosystems are responsible for a significant fraction of the potent greenhouse gas methane released to the atmosphere each year, and future peatland-climate feedbacks will depend largely on peatland methane emissions. Despite their importance, there are still fundamental questions about the mechanistic controls of methane dynamics within peatland ecosystems. Recent work has demonstrated that the microbial reduction of organic matter – a process where microbes utilize organic electron acceptors in place of oxygen – is a key control of methane production in many peatland ecosystems. In the current project, we use two experiments to explore the use of a commercially available peat substrate to track microbial organic matter reduction in peatland ecosystems. In the first experiment, we tracked greenhouse gas production and the reduction of organic matter using an electron shuttling assay over a multi-week laboratory incubation. Our results suggest that under both chemically and biologically reducing conditions, the electron shuttling capacity of solid-phase organic matter quickly rises to a maximum value, suggesting that it has been fully reduced. The organic matter reduction is coincident with decreases in carbon dioxide production by peatland microbes and, to date, methane production has yet to be observed. In the second experiment, the substrate was deployed at different depths in the Alaska Peatland Experiment (APEX) as part of a long-term water-table manipulation. Electron shuttling assays revealed that the peat was more reduced below the water-table level and that experimental manipulation of the water table changed the degree of organic matter reduction. Taken together, these results show that a common peat substrate can be used to track organic matter reduction, opening intriguing possibilities for utilizing this approach to explore peatland methane and organic matter dynamics in the context of global changes, including changes in precipitation and warming-induced drying.
Film
- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: An Intersectional Analysis of a Modern Reboot
Advisor(s): Dr. Nam Lee
Children’s animation offers the viewer a unique window into the nuances of current societal norms. Because children’s animation is made for the young, sensitive, and impressionable, it is carefully controlled and often heavily censored. Any statements made regarding the protagonist’s heroism or the villain’s malignity are meant to be accepted as universal truths for the growing minds of our youth. The recent 2018 Netflix and DreamWorks Animation animated reboot of the classic 1980's series "She-Ra: Princess of Power," now titled "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power," shook the animation industry with its groundbreaking representation and astounding visuals. Following its predecessor’s legacy, the program makes the effort to root itself in feminist ideals. However, while the 1980’s series was based in second-wave feminism, the 2018 series updates its ideals to fit a modern third-wave feminist audience. An integral element of third-wave feminism is its focus on intersectionality. While the new She-Ra’s feminist messages are inspirational, it struggles to consistently hit the mark at the intersection between feminism and post-colonial theory, queer theory, and disability studies. The social implications that arise from these pitfalls are demonstrative of the Hollywood Studio system’s inclination to use outdated constructs in order to secure profits. Studios, like DreamWorks Animation, that rely on the viewership of children are bound to rely on the opinions of their parents. Therefore, the ethics of their creative decisions is representative of what modern audiences believe is beneficial, educational, and moral for their children.
Food Science
- Use of DNA Barcoding to Identify Species of Raw Ready-To-Eat Seafood Products Sold in Orange County, CA
Advisor(s): Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
DNA barcoding is widely used to identify commercial fish species sold in the U.S and internationally. This method is based on DNA sequencing of a standardized region of DNA from a sample. Sequences can then be analyzed against the Barcode of Life Data system (BOLD) for species identification. Additional analysis of samples by a method called DNA mini-barcoding can be used for samples that cannot be correctly identified to the species level by the traditional DNA barcoding method. While relatively high levels of seafood mislabeling have been reported for sushi dishes, few studies have investigated mislabeling of other raw, ready-to-eat (RTE) seafood such as poke and ceviche. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of species mislabeling in raw, RTE seafood products in Orange County, CA. DNA barcoding and mini-barcoding were used to investigate 70 samples of sushi, ceviche, and poke collected from various locations in Orange County. All samples underwent DNA barcoding, followed by species identification using the BOLD database. Six samples underwent further analysis with mini-barcoding. The FDA seafood list was used to identify common and acceptable market names. The results showed that 17 samples were substituted on the basis of species, and 13 samples did not have an acceptable market name. The overall mislabeling rate for all samples combined was 43% (30/70). These results indicate a need for greater scrutiny of labeling practices for raw, RTE seafood sold in Orange County, California.
Health Sciences and Kinesiology
- COVID-19 Safety Guideline Compliance by Gender Identity
Advisor(s): Dr. Jason Douglas, Dr. David Frederick
Many local, state, and federal government entities have imposed COVID-19 safety guidelines to lessen the burden of the pandemic, yet safety guideline compliance remains understudied. This study examined COVID-19 safety compliance by gender identity. The Chapman University National COVID-19 and Mental Health Study surveyed US adults on their compliance to COVID-19 safety guidelines and gender identity. Pairwise analyses were used to examine gender identity differences concerning indoor dining frequency, social distancing with people outside of their homes, attending gatherings with masks, attending gatherings without masks, and wearing masks when interacting with people outside the household. Results indicated that women tended to wear masks (p < 0.05) and follow prevention protocols (e.g., hand washing, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings, minimizing close social contact) more than men (p < 0.05). However, women attended social events (e.g., gatherings, dining, interacting with people outside of their household) more frequently than men did (p < 0.05). Thus, people who identified as women tended to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines more than those identified as men unless there was a social aspect associated with the situation. The difference in these behavioral practices reveals that adherence to COVID-19 guidelines has social isolation implications for men and that gender plays a role in determining an individual’s health behaviors.
Mathematics
- Lattices Visualized as 3D-Objects in a Browser and in Virtual Reality
Advisor(s): Dr. Peter Jipsen
Abstract algebra consists of the study of algebraic structures such as groups, rings, fields, modules, vector spaces, and algebras. Each of these mathematical structures has a subalgebra lattice and a congruence lattice, which are partially ordered structures that can be represented graphically in two or three dimensions. However, even for small algebraic structures these lattices can be large, and as the number of elements grow, can very easily get hard to be analyzed with pen and paper as a 2D projection on a plane. Using 3D models and virtual reality one can model lattices, and investigate these mathematical objects with better understanding and visualization of their form and properties. This is particularly helpful for students who have just been introduced to the concept of abstract algebraic structures, and gives them a tool to help visualize the abstract concepts.
We have developed JavaScript programs to visualize 3D models of lattices within the Babylon.js framework. This allows the lattices to be viewed as 3D objects in a standard web browser, as well as with a virtual reality headset. In the project, we will present a visualization of the lattice representation of a hypercube, the lattice of all preorders on a 3-element set with 26 elements, and the lattice of all preorders on a 4-element set which contains 355 elements.
Physical Therapy
- Maintaining Physical Activity During COVID-19: the Influence of Psychosocial Variables in Individuals with Back Pain
Advisor(s): Jo Armour Smith
Stressor events, such as COVID-19, may trigger adaptive or maladaptive pain management strategies among individuals with persistent low back pain (LBP). Individuals with lower fear avoidance, depression and anxiety, and greater positive affect and quality of life may better maintain positive pain management strategies during stressor events. This study investigated psychosocial characteristics of individuals with LBP who demonstrated adaptive pain management strategies during COVID-19, indicated by maintenance of physical activity (PA). Individuals with persistent LBP (age 22.4 (3.4) years, n=25) from an existing longitudinal cohort participated. Participants completed a baseline survey prior to COVID-19 quantifying demographics, pain characteristics, the Physical Activity Scale, the WHOQOL-Bref, Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales, and Trait Affect scale. Participants then completed follow-up surveys for 18 months. During COVID-19 lockdown, the impact of lockdown on PA was assessed. The cohort was dichotomized into individuals reporting the same or more PA (MPA) and those reporting less PA (LPA) and baseline characteristics were compared between groups. There were 17 individuals in the LPA group and 8 in the MPA group. The MPA group had greater duration of LBP symptoms (p=0.015, d =1.16). The MPA group trended towards higher physical quality of life (p=0.101, d=0.79) and higher environmental quality of life (p=0.057, d=0.96) at baseline and had lower negative affect (fatigue domain) scores than the LPA group (p=0.038, d=0.86). Depression scores were lower in the MPA group (p=0.006, d=1.12). Individuals with persistent LBP who had greater duration of symptoms, better physical and environmental quality of life, lower negative affect, and less depression were more likely to maintain or increase physical activity during COVID-19. These characteristics may facilitate positive adaptation to a stressor event.
- Influence of Fatigue on Muscle Coactivation in Young Adults with/without Persistent Low Back Pain
Advisor(s): Jo Armour Smith
Individuals with persistent low back pain (LBP) have altered trunk motor control during walking and turning. Previous studies also indicate increased erector spinae fatigability in some individuals with LBP. Most research investigates middle-aged adults. It is unclear if young adults with LBP also demonstrate increased fatigability, or if isolated muscle fatigue contributes to reorganization of trunk motor control in individuals with LBP. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in trunk muscle coactivation between individuals with persistent LBP and back-healthy controls pre-and post-fatigue during 90° walking turns. Surface electromyography electrodes were placed bilaterally on the erector spinae (ES) at T10 (TES) and L4 (LES), external obliques (EO) and internal obliques (IO). Participants performed a 90° ipsilateral walking turn while walking at a controlled average speed of 1.5m/s. Participants repeated this task 10 times before and after the ES were fatigued using the Sorensen test. Coactivation between bilateral, ventral/dorsal, and summed ES/abdominal muscle pairs was calculated for the stance and swing phase of the turn. Mixed model ANOVA were used to test for effects of fatigue, group, and fatigue/group interactions. During the turn stance phase, there was a significant main effect of fatigue with decreased coactivation post-fatigue in the following muscle pairs: right/left TES, right/left IO, right TES/IO, left TES/EO and for right/left summed ES and abdominals. During swing phase, coactivation decreased for right TES/IO post fatigue. There was a main effect of group for left LLES/EO during swing, with greater coactivation in the LBP group. There was also a trend toward an interaction effect for right/left IO, with coactivation increasing in the LBP group and decreasing in the control group post fatigue. Preliminary results indicate a generalized decrease in trunk muscle coactivation in response to ES fatigue. Individuals with LBP have altered coactivation prior to and in response to fatigue during swing phase of walking turns.
Political Science
- The Rise of Social Media and the Fall of Internal Peace: How do Media Influence People’s Fear of Mass Shootings?
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
The impact of traditional versus social media on people’s fears of a mass shooting is a matter worthy of study given the scarcity of research and analysis, as well as the prominence mass shootings have gained in American society and media. Many studies have been conducted evaluating the connection between local TV news and fear, showing that the consumption of local TV news has increased people's fear of crimes. However, there have been few studies examining the relationship between social media usage and one’s fear of crime. In this paper, I will examine the correlation between fear of mass shootings and different media sources, with particular emphasis on social media given its increased prominence in the past decade. According to data collected by Chapman University in their Survey of American Fears, social media usage appears to increase one’s fear of being a victim of a mass shooting in comparison to most other forms of media consumption measured in the study (i.e. local and national newspapers, national nightly and local TV news, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, talk radio show, and online news websites). Mediatization helps to explain the impact of media on shaping people's perceptions of mass shootings, which in turn influences their fear of being a victim of one. Media consumption, however, is not the only variable found to have a relationship with a person’s fear of being a victim of a mass shooting. Among the interesting findings, gender also influences a person’s fear of being a victim of a mass shooting; women tend to have higher levels of fear than men. The vulnerability model partially explains this correlation between gender and fear.
- Personal Concern vs. Personal Risk - Analyzing Climate Change Fear by County
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
It has been known for some time now that the general population of the United States has steadily grown more and more concerned with how the effects of climate change would personally negatively affect their lives. However, what is less known is where the effects of this broad movement towards concern are most concentrated, and if the location matters with respect to if those portions of the population are located in areas that will be more significantly impacted by climate change or will be affected in a much shorter timeframe than others. Some studies deal with the general US population, and other studies deal with individual sections of the population, but none compare the two in detail. This study took data measuring how afraid participants in a survey were of climate change affecting them on a national level and compared it to the respondents' data in each particular county with both their state and national average as a whole. Then the county data was paired with if the county was in or near an area designated as one that would be negatively affected by climate change in the form of an increase in one of three major natural disasters: flooding, droughts, and wildfires. Overall, this study found that most counties in these "disaster zones" have only slightly higher levels of fear of climate change than those around them, if any. These results show how little the overall population understands the incoming impacts of climate change on their specific environments, as well as how political and media groups are not producing effective messaging on the impact of climate change on both a local and state level.
- Behind the Belief: Predictors of Why People Believe in Conspiracy Theories
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
Many people have used conspiracy theories as explanations to justify situations or events that the United States Government has carried out; however, many have no reliable evidence. These theories are often made by power groups that are usually politically motivated. So why do people believe in conspiracy theories? One reason may be our lack of confidence, trust, and transparency between our government and us as American citizens. Using the Chapman University Survey of American Fears, I will look into the various variables that play leading factors in why people are influenced into believing conspiracy theories. Also, whether one conspiracy theory is more believed than another. This paper will be exploring four different conspiracy theories, the 9/11 attacks, John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the South Dakota Crash, and lastly, the recent conspiracy theory known as Qanon. In addition, whether the variables, age, fear of corrupt government officials, social media usage, region, education, race, and the fear of being unemployed impact one’s belief in these theories. To my knowledge, many people believe in conspiracy theories ranging from the elderly to the young; however, more recently, through outlets like social media, there has been a shift in those who believe in conspiracy theories. If the research shows a relationship between the predictors of conspiracy beliefs, it will allow me to understand better why people continue to believe in such theories. Ultimately, this paper will discuss four hypotheses; those who are Black and Hispanic and from southern regions of the U.S are more susceptible to believing these theories, those who are younger and less educated are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories, those who obtain their news information through social media are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories, and lastly, people are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories because of their fear of corrupt government officials and one’s fear of unemployment.
- Covid-19 and QAnon: Enter the World of Conspiracies
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
From Covid-19 to QAnon to a global warming hoax, we live in a world drowning in misinformation spread on the internet. This project will examine the possible relationship between a belief in various conspiracy theories and fear of the Covid-19 virus, utilizing the Chapman Survey of American Fears, a national study using a representative sample of U.S. adults. I expect to find that those believing in conspiracy theories will have an overall lower level of fear of the Covid-19 virus itself. I believe I will find this relationship to be dependent on the nature of the conspiracy theories themselves. Conspiracy theories that stress governmental lies and secret groups of great control likely will affect Covid-19 virus fears inversely. In this project, Questions Q11g: “How many days during the past 30 days would you say...you have worried that a loved one has contracted the corona virus (Covid-19)?” and Q14g: “How afraid are you of the following: Catching the corona virus (Covid-19)?” will be examined and analyzed with three questions pertaining to conspiracy theories. The first question is Q20c: “Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statement: The government is concealing what it knows about.... the South Dakota crash.” This question is the control question as there is no such conspiracy as the South Dakota crash. The second question is Q20d: “Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statement: The government is concealing what it knows about.... global warming.” I expect respondents with higher fears of the Covid-19 virus will have higher fears of global warming. The third and last conspiracy question is Q20i: “Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statement: The government is concealing what it knows about.... QAnon.” I expect respondents with lower fears of the Covid-19 virus to have a higher belief in the notion the government is hiding information about QAnon, a purposed government “leaker” who posts cryptic messages about the government on the now-defunct forum website, 8chan.
- The Effects of Religiopolitical Ideology on Climate Change Attitudes in America
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
Religion and politics has been shown to influence the attitudes of the American people which, subsequently, can persuade the enactment of climate change policy and legislation. In this poster, the extent to which religiosity is linked with the fear of climate change in America is examined by reviewing existing literature on the role of religion, belief in anthropogenic climate change, and political ideology in America. This is expanded on this by running frequencies and crosstabs using the the Chapman Survey of America Fears, a representative national sample of U.S. adults from 2018 and 2021, to find relationships between those who identify themselves with higher levels of religiosity, for example, biblical literalists, and those who do not fear climate change. Furthermore, those in this group label themselves as having a politically conservative political ideology. It is likely that those with less religiosity are more likely to indicate fear in climate change. The lack of climate change fear can be indicative of a lack of trust in climate science, including of anthropogenic environmental change, resulting in higher levels of resistance to climate change policy than those who do fear climate change. While overall trends have shown a decline in religiosity in America, the religopolitical interaction remains a strong force that must be confronted in order to make necessary advancements in climate change mitigation.
- The Factors That Determine Public Levels of Vaccine Confidence
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic quickly became the single-most politicized topic of discussion across the globe in 2020. With clashing reactions regarding how to handle the virus, particularly in regards to quarantining and wearing masks, the vast majority of the public clung to their preconceived perception of the world, and put emphasis on their political ideology over the word of scientists across the globe. In this paper, I uncover distinct factors that help determine the public’s level of vaccine confidence. Relying on the Chapman Survey of American Fears, a representative national sample of U.S. adults, I find that those with concerns related to trusting of the government, how the healthcare system is managed, and Big Tech presence, are much more likely to experience fears surrounding the COVID-19 vaccination. Individuals with the aforementioned concerns are more likely to blindly follow their representatives, who work tirelessly to overly politicize the vaccine. It is also found that those who are led to a low level of vaccine confidence are oftentimes those with higher health risks associated with COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, all aisles of the media have shown different statistics, concerns, and beliefs surrounding the danger of the virus. It is found that individuals with a higher intake of right-wing media led to lower levels of vaccine confidence, fear of the COVID-19 pandemic, and led to a rise in conspiracy belief and belief in fake news. Through analyzing a variety of factors that impact vaccine confidence, such as religious affiliation, fears, intake of media, race, and geographical mapping, our society can help adapt their outreach causes and learn how to target specific areas with low levels of vaccine confidence.
- Patterns of Fear of Being Murdered and Homicide Victimization: A Comparison of Perceived and Realistic Risk
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
In this research I will be observing the fear of falling victim to murder in the United States of America. The research will include comparison between the fear of being murdered by a stranger and the fear of being murdered by someone you know, and comparisons of this data collected from Wave 2 to Wave 7 of the Fear Survey. Also discussed will be the likelihood of either event happening – being murdered by a stranger or someone you know – and other potential independent variables that may have an impact on an individual’s fear or vulnerability to the situations. For example, data from the 2018 Fear Survey found that female respondents recorded fearing both being murdered by someone they know and a stranger more than the male respondents. Using the vulnerability theory, observations can be made to determine whether people more vulnerable to victimization do have higher levels of fear recorded by the Fear Surveys. In order to get an accurate understanding of who is vulnerable, I will be looking at the statistics reported by the FBI from the years that correspond with the waves of the Fear Survey to conclude which gender, race, and marital status are more likely to be victimized. This data from the FBI will then be compared to the patterns of fear found to determine if the fears are realistic based on the risks. I expect this paper to make the scholarly contribution of comparing the risk factors/demographics of murder victimization to the levels of fear in order to minimize the disconnect between crime statistics and fear. Minimizing this disconnect is important due to the constraints it can have on individual lives and the political system.
- Vaccine Hesitancy and The Real Problem
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
The U.S has a history of vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccination sentiment. With the COVID-19 pandemic at its height and the rise of cases all around the country, the population debates whether getting the vaccine would be the right choice based on previous outcomes in the past. In this paper, I examine one of the most important vaccines “incidents” within the African American community which lead to the fear of mandatory vaccines. Look more into how parents are spreading false news about vaccines and not using reliable sources to prove their claim while finding out that the real reason they are doing this is because of public opinion. As well as address how in previous decades, vaccine companies have not provided reliable information towards the vaccine itself which has caused women to pave the way to get the reformation of the vaccines. Relying on the Chapman Survey of American Fears, a representative national sample of U.S. adults, I attempt to determine the connection between race, sex, and the fear of vaccines. The government seems to lack that sense of trustworthiness between its citizens when it comes to vaccines, especially people of color as events such as the Tuskegee experiments betrayed people getting experimented on. I will also address whether being a certain age determines the fear people have towards vaccines based on where they find their information whether that be the websites, social media, or public opinion. Vaccine hesitancy will grow if false information continues to spread. Before that occurs, we need to find the root of the problem and find a way to fix it.
- America’s Declining Trust in Government
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
The world of media has grown immensely, from 24-hour daily news, to social media platforms, to business and advertising, and it’s taken the American population by storm in a surprisingly short amount of time. Media exposure and usage increases with each passing year as new technologies emerge and are made available to a larger number of the population, including America’s youth. This paper will examine how media exposure, age, and ideology influence public opinion on trust in government, looking at which types of media exposure people receive and how often they are exposed to it. Then, I will see how it relates to their levels of distrust in government, including fear of corrupt government officials, fear of government activity like drone usage and tracking personal data, the belief that the government is hiding information from the public, attitudes towards the Trump administration, and feelings towards voting by mail and the COVID-19 pandemic. The main data sources that are used are the Chapman University Survey of American Fears (2018, 2020), which is a national, comprehensive survey that outlines how afraid the American population is of certain fears, and the American National Election Studies (2020), which is a national election survey summarizing voting behavior. I expect to find that media exposure will have a large impact on how each party and the younger population view the government. This topic is incredibly important because the American population’s trust in government has crucial implications for our democracy and American society. This paper will discuss three hypotheses; higher media exposure leads to higher levels of distrust in government, America’s youth has a higher level of distrust in government, and political party/ideology has an impact on trust in government.
- Systematic Racism Increasing Fear of Racial/Hate Crimes
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
In the proposed research, the fear of being targeted by racial/hate crimes will be measured to confirm that race, social media usage for news, political affiliation, likeliness to support BLM, and fear of being a victim of police brutality are major variables in deciding who is more susceptible to fear. Data collected from the Chapman University Fear Survey will allow input on whether the variables pose any influence at all. Relevance and significance of these variables will also be compared to each other to determine which has the greatest impact. People of color are more likely to be intimidated and fearful in regard to being targeted. Those who get their news from social media such as Twitter or Instagram more often are likely to be more aware of these crimes. Police Brutality has been a present systematic issue that comes intertwined with race. Based on society’s behavior and stereotypes it can be predicted that all three will contribute to an increase in fear. According to the Department of Justice, in 2017 58.1 percent of the motivation behind hate crimes was race. Hate crimes were reported to have increased 17 percent from 2016 to 2017. In the Fear Survey data, it was concluded that all factors were significant contributors, although race was the most influential.
- The Distrust of Experts
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
This paper will compile demographic data and analyze their correspondence with trust of expert opinion in order to develop a profile of individuals who mistrust expert opinions. I will be using the American National Election Survey of 2020 as the central data source for this paper. I will also be using supplementary data from research into trust of expertise to create my profile. The mistrust of expert opinions has been an issue simmering in the background of American politics for quite some time. Previously its largest impact was on the discourse and policy surrounding climate change. Now it is also paramount in the efforts to fight the Covid-19 virus, as those skeptical of experts are refusing to take the vaccine for reasons with little scientific merit. The dependent variable being tested is the trust in expert opinions. The independent variables will be a collection of demographic indicators. I expect that this may be a result of the personally expensive medical system in place in the United States, and expect those with lower income to be more skeptical. I also expect religious fundamentalism to be a relevant indicator. Overall I hope my research here will uncover key contributors to the distrust of expertise that has undermined the social fabric of this country.
- Terrorism and Media Deception
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
Deception is easy, especially with fast media in the 21st century. News outlets at both national and local levels are credited for exposure of inaccurate or dramatized information, which can negatively affect the population, especially during events of collective trauma. In lu of the September eleventh terrorist attack, despite the majority of civilians not having direct exposure, over 20% of participants in a past study believed this attack was the worst event of their lives due to media coverage and exposure. This essay will examine the correlation between fear of terrorism and several factors ranging from news validity, forms of media, age demographics, and political affiliation. I focused on politically affiliated news outlets to better understand if fear of terrorism is dramatized based on political party. This study will draw from a nationally representative sample out of the Chapman University Survey on American Fear and analyze related fluctuations within the variables. My findings show a light discrepancy between political affiliation and fear of terrorism and a stronger relationship between media mediums being the source for fear of terrorism. I found a greater percentage of Democrats being afraid of terrorism before factoring in the media. After I found more Democratic news outlets yield greater percentages of fear in comparison to the smaller percentage of Republican new sources causing fear. I found greater fear in younger generations when exposure to television is increased. Ultimately, the fear of terrorism in the United States is valid, yet it is essential to acknowledge this fear and the extent to which the population is plagued. To ensure action at a federal level and evaluate accurate media coverage, the issue needs to be exposed; our citizens need to feel safe in their own nation and trust the information that is relayed to them.
- The Power of "The Wall"
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
The issue of immigration is one that has been largely controversial and heavily debated. This has especially held up to be true since the 2016 election, where immigration was made a dominant issue. This paper will focus on the effect of Donald Trump’s rhetoric on the American public’s perception of immigrants. By using data from Chapman University’s representative, national sample of American Fears before and after the 2016 election, I will be able to identify the ways in which Trump influenced the American public. Donald Trump’s successful campaign in 2016 consisted of a platform with a controversially aggressive stance on immigration; Trump made it clear that immigrants are burdensome on America and even advocated for the building of a border wall. These views, and the subsequent election of Donald Trump, likely led to further polarization among Americans on the issue of immigration. I predict that because of Trump’s open hostility toward immigration, and his subsequent election to the presidency, the American public will display harsher attitudes toward immigration after the 2016 election. It has been said that America is a nation of immigrants; despite this, politicians and citizens continue to largely vary in their support of this sentiment, making the topic of immigration a central aspect of the American political process.
- Framing the Axis of Evil: American Fear of an Iranian Nuclear Attack
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
Since 9/11, the American perception of Muslims, Islam, and Middle Eastern people and countries has shifted seemingly negatively. This paper will investigate American’s opinions on Iran and fears of a nuclear strike by Iran while examining American fear of Muslims, party identification, 2020 election voting, news media representations of Iran, social media usage, fears of immigration, fears of falling victim to a terrorist attack, and fears of whites not being the majority. I predict the more Republican one is, the more they will fear an Iranian nuclear attack because of the conservative rhetoric used. I also expect those who voted for Donald Trump will be more afraid of an Iranian nuclear attack. I predict that fear of Muslims, immigration, belief in Qanon, fear of another world war, being victim to a terrorist attack, and whites not being the majority will also indicate how fearful one is of an Iranian nuclear attack. I also would like to examine how fear of an Iranian nuclear attack has progressed throughout the last seven years. To explore this, I will be using The Chapman University Survey on American Fears to analyze public opinion surrounding the fear of being victim to terrorism, their political ideology and voting record, how afraid they are of whites no longer being the majority, Muslims, and immigration, and fear of an Iranian nuclear strike. Some results include strong evidence that fear of being a victim of a terrorist attack, fear of Muslims, immigration, and whites not being the majority greatly influence fear of an Iranian nuclear attack. At the same time, political ideology and voting records are significantly less critical. Often representation of Middle Easterners and Middle Eastern politics in media and news is mainly acts of terrorism and radicalism. Since 1979, Iran has maintained a tenuous position in American society. The Trump administration has exacerbated fear of an Iranian nuclear attack, thus examining public opinion and fear of Muslims, Middle Easterners, and countries like Iran especially poignant.
- Pride and Prejudice: Affect in American Politics
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
The political decision-making processes of the public have often been attributed to a rational consideration of the political world. However, scholars have begun to regard the presence of emotions as an integral factor within these processes. This paper explores the role of sentiments regarding the current status of the United States, and American voting behavior. While some have asserted that emotions are only developed through the act of rational information-processing, further research has established that emotions guide voter decisions. Affect, while not singularly defined, is thought to be separate from the cognitive process, and is the primary reaction in situations where cognition and affect conflict. To further investigate its effect on voting behavior, this study employs the competing theories of affect and cognition. Using the 2020 American National Election Studies pilot dataset, which encompasses responses from adults representative of the United States population, this study finds a moderate relationship between pride and voting behavior. Although the relationships between other emotions and voting behavior are statistically significant, pride accounts for the strongest, and remains the most influential variable in respondent ratings of the 2020 presidential candidates. Pride was found to be decreased in respondents who rated Joe Biden highly, but increased in those who favored Donald Trump. Further, Americans who felt warmly toward Trump expressed fewer negative emotions and higher levels of positive emotions, while the opposite is true for those who preferred Biden. Taken together, the findings indicate that emotions, whether positive or negative, influence the information-processing and political decision-making of the American public. Perfect rationality is an impractical expectation in the context of politics, so it becomes necessary to understand what other factors influence the decision made by voters. This study expands upon previous literature by examining specific emotions, and how they impact American voter decisions.
- “They Are Trying to STEAL the Election”: Voter Confidence in 2020
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
Elections act as an instrument to preserve citizens’ confidence in the legitimacy of political processes and outcomes. However, the 2020 presidential election sparked controversy over the vote count accuracy, leading American voters to question electoral integrity. This paper examines how voters establish such perceptions through three theories: the “winner effect,” elite cues, and conspiratorial thinking. The winner effect states that voters who voted for the winning candidate are more likely to believe their vote was counted correctly. Contrary literature asserts mass public opinion derives from elite cues, where political figures generate opposing narratives, creating differences in identities and polarizing perspectives on political facts. Further literature reveals those with conspiracist attitudes to have less confidence in vote count accuracy. Using the American National Election Studies 2020 Time Series Study, a representative sample of American adults before and after the 2020 election, this research finds a moderate relationship between perceptions of vote count accuracy, and the candidate they voted for. Confirming the winner effect, those who voted for Joe Biden were more confident in vote count fairness than Donald Trump voters. A modest negative relationship between conspiratorial beliefs and confidence in vote count accuracy emerged post-election, confirming the effect of conspiratorial thinking. The elite cues effect is confirmed by a modest relationship between favorable feelings toward presidential candidates and confidence in vote count accuracy, pre-election. Biden supporters had increased confidence, after witnessing Biden’s trust in the democratic electoral process, but Trump supporters had decreased confidence, from noting his mistrust in the democratic electoral process. While absolute confidence in electoral integrity is unrealistic, this research provides insight on those more susceptible to mistrust which may be used to create safeguards to prevent abated faith in democratic norms, and preserve confidence in the legitimacy of democracy.
Psychology
- Validating the Threshold of Conscious Perception
Advisor(s): Dr. Aaron Schurger
Recent neuroscience studies attempting to understand consciousness are focusing on the neural correlates of consciousness with the aim to understand the minimal neuronal mechanisms needed for consciousness. This is a very ambitious research program, and we are years away from truly understanding this. However, there is something very basic that all consciousness models should meet. “Any empirically derived or empirically testable model of conscious versus non-conscious sensory perception will ultimately “draw a line in the sand” between responses (in the brain, behavior, or both) that are conscious and those that, though still perceptual, are not conscious” (Schurger 2008). This distinction means that there must be a threshold above which a conscious experience and below which there is none. If this is the case, then any two stimuli that are both presented below this threshold must be subjectively experienced as the same. And any two stimuli where one is presented above the threshold and one below should be experienced as subjectively different. This is the criterion of subject validity, and any model of consciousness should, at a minimum, meet this criterion. This is extremely valuable as it provides a new empirical way to test models of consciousness.
- Prejudice Towards LGBT Men and Women Varies by Religiosity and Social Dominance Orientation.
Advisor(s): Dr. David Frederick
INTRODUCTION: Acceptance of LGBT people has increased dramatically over the past three decades. Some stigma still remains, however, and the extent of prejudice experienced can differ among men and women who identify as transgender versus gay/lesbian versus bisexual. These prejudices are likely fostered, in part, by political orientation, increased religiosity, and high social dominance orientation (SDO), which can lead to accepting the status quo and group-based dominance hierarchies. GOALS: Our study examined how expressed prejudice differs towards men of women with different gender identities and sexual orientations, and the individual differences associated with this prejudice. METHODS: We surveyed US adults (N = 2133) via MTurk (mean age = 41, SD = 12.4). In a 2X4 within-subjects design experiment, participants were asked how upset they would based on the gender (man, woman) and identity (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, transgender) of their child. Furthermore, we measured SDO and religiosity with validated measures. Additionally, we included subscales from a validated measure of anti-trans prejudice that assessed desired social distance from trans people and social tolerance of trans people. RESULTS: We found that regardless of target gender, trans targets received the greatest amount of stigma. People high in religiosity and SDO tended to be less socially tolerant and more upset at the idea of having a trans or sexual minority child. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings highlight the marginalized sexual orientations and gender identities and how anti-LGBT prejudice can relate to one’s own identity and worldview. The present study emphasizes the importance of investigating anti-transgender attitudes, as anti-trans prejudice was prevalent within this national sample.
- Investigating the Neural Correlates of Intention and Foresight
Advisor(s): Dr. Uri Maoz
Intention and foresight play important roles during deliberate decision-making and are crucial for determining culpability for the outcome of one’s actions, particularly in cases involving difficult moral decisions. Distinguishing between the two is often a necessary step for assessing criminal liability, yet no empirical method exists to accomplish this. Thus, the goal of this study is to disentangle the neural correlates for intention and foresight during deliberate decision-making. Varying degrees of intention and foresight will be manipulated in different decision-making scenarios using a novel online paradigm. If separating intention from foresight in brain activity is possible, such a finding would be able to impact legal judgments of responsibility when actions have unintended but foreseen consequences.
- Lifespan Urbanicity and Perceived Neighborhood Disorder on Cardiovascular Health
Advisor(s): Dr. Jennifer Robinette
While there is some evidence indicating neighborhood characteristics (e.g. disorder and urbanicity) are related to poor health, few studies observe these characteristics simultaneously. Using the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this study observed two research questions. First, is urbanicity over the lifespan related to cardiovascular health. Second, do urbanicity and perceived neighborhood disorder predict cardiovascular health synergistically? HRS participants were asked whether they lived in an urban or rural neighborhood in childhood, and the 2013 Beale Continuum code was used to assess the participants’ current (adulthood) neighborhood. Participants self-reported whether they had been told by a doctor they had a heart condition and whether they perceived disorder in their neighborhoods. Weighted logistic regressions demonstrated that participants who consistently lived in urban neighborhoods over their lifespan had better heart health than those who had lived in rural areas in adulthood, regardless of the type of neighborhood they lived in, in childhood. This finding was further qualified by a significant interaction between adulthood urbanicity and perceived neighborhood disorder. However, although people perceiving their neighborhoods as more disordered had worse heart health, the interaction between perceived disorder and adulthood urbanicity was not significant. Nevertheless, a plot representing average heart health by urbanicity and perceived disorder indicated some evidence that perceived disorder was somewhat worse for the heart health of urban, relative to rural residents. These results suggest that disorder is a modifiable aspect of people’s neighborhoods that relates to poor heart health, particularly for residents of urban areas.
- Attention in Decision-Making
Advisor(s): Dr. Uri Maoz, Dr. Aaron Schurger
Attention encompasses the behavioral and cognitive processes of focus; however, these processes can be divided into two subtypes based on their function and methods of execution. Overt attention involves the selective processing of one point of fixation over another by physically directing gaze. Covert attention involves the effortful internal neural adjustment of attention in space while keeping the eyes fixated in one spot. Broadly speaking, attention seems important to the decision-making process. Previous studies have shown that directing overt attention can influence the choices people to make (Shimojo et al., 2003). However, it remains unclear whether directing covert attention, will impact choice in a similar way. More specifically, an impact on deliberate-reasoned, purposeful, and bearing consequences-decisions (Ullmann-Margalit & Morgenbesser, 1077; Maoz et al., 2019). Thus, the proposed study aims to investigate whether directing covert attention will impact choices made in a deliberate decision-making context. Subjects will be prompted to choose between non-profit organizations (NPOs) while their overt or covert attention is further directed to one option over the other. We predict that subjects will be more likely to choose NPOs that they attended to for longer. We hope that this research will contribute to our understanding of the role of attention in decision-making, and how decisions can be influenced by these types of behavioral and cognitive processes.
Theatre
- Designing Agency and Morality in Choice-Based, Single Player RPGs
Advisor(s): Dr. Andrew Chappell
Role-playing games (RPGs) are games in which the player assumes the role of a character in a fictional setting. The ephemeral experience of playing role-playing video games is a crucial storytelling medium of the modern day. Such games can fall upon a spectrum between predetermined RPGs, where the player has no ability to affect narrative outcome regardless of their play style, and indeterminate RPGs, where the player’s choices throughout the game have a distinguished impact on the narrative outcome, which may be unforgiving to the point of one wrong choice on the player’s part ending a major character’s life. More specifically, choice-based RPGs vary widely in their deployment of player agency: an open world game gives the player the choice to either progress through the narrative or explore a limitless buffet of pursuits (including side quests, superfluous romances, or house decorating), while a game confined to its narrative centers the player’s actions in the locational scenes of the narrative while still offering a plethora of dialogue options that drastically shape the narrative outcome. This thesis investigates the exploration of narrative and agency experienced through single player, narrative-centered role-playing video games significantly designed around branching paths of player choice. To inform my research methodology, I will play and analyze my experiences of three globally successful video games that match these classifications: Undertale (2015), The Walking Dead: The Game (2012), and Detroit: Become Human (2016). Drawing from the interdisciplinary school of performance studies, I seek to identify the artistic design choices (of perspective, world-building, and game mechanics) that influence the player’s emotional experience and moral decisions throughout each game. I intend for my research to educate designers on how to build choice-based, single player role-playing video games that offer compelling, socially engaged narratives.
- On the Economics of Theatre - Analyzing the Potential for Theatre Subsidies in the United States
Advisor(s): Dr. Andrew Chappell
Theatre and the performing arts has seen a drastic economic decline over the past few decades. Demand for theatre continues to drop as cheaper substitutes for live performance become more prevalent in the modern world. In this paper, I make use of modern economic theory to argue for theatre and theatre education subsidies at the Federal and State level in the United States. Positive externalities are showcased both by data based evidence and macroeconomic thought experiments, implying that subsidies for theatre arts will shift the current demand curve to a socially efficient solution. In other words, government subsidies will aid American society in realizing the true economic value of theatre. Subsidizing theatre in America would, on a surface level, level, eliminate price barriers and the ostracization of working class audiences. On further examination, however, theatre subsidies in major urban locations have the theoretical potential to spur more economic innovation and productivity while subsidies for educational programs in theatre have demonstrated the ability to boost academic achievement for America’s youth.
- The Looking Glass: Innovating the Future Through Theatre
Advisor(s): Dr. Andrew Chappell
Mirroring societal changes throughout the ages, theatre is an art form that continually evolves and adapts to modern day relevancy through meaning making moments on stage. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, theatre reflected the BIPOC community’s demand for equity, inclusivity, and sociopolitical justice by way of its own movement and manifesto titled “We See You White American Theatre”. As a makeup artist, how can I evolve to meet the demands of people who are underrepresented and marginalized within the theatrical community? The first step of a makeup artist’s design process is to develop a 2-D rendering on paper called a makeup face chart. The go-to face charts for makeup artists are premade, outdated, and unrealistic sketches that look like line drawings of Ken and Barbie. Further, makeup charts convey neoliberal consumer capitalism, in that if the actor does not look like the makeup on paper, it is the individual’s problem rather than society’s issue. As theatres begin to open, it will be the slight changes that make significant impacts. This creative project asks the theatrical makeup industry to become the looking glass for society to mirror by innovating the future of theatre. I am developing the blueprint for an app that will filter a photograph into a personalized face chart that is ready to print and design on. I will show designers, artists, and actors that simple technology affords the ability to produce personalized, more effective renderings, and thus an inclusive theatrical environment. Utilizing the tenants of White American Theatre, I will design renderings on personalized face charts, thus creating an inclusive foundation for others to mirror.
- How Disneyland is Different: Theatrical Influence on Immersive Entertainment and Lands Design at the Disneyland Resort
Advisor(s): Dr. Drew Chappell
In 1955 Disneyland changed the theme park industry forever with its immersive and themed entertainment that brings beloved movies and characters to life, evokes their guests’ emotions, and makes them believe in magic. Disneyland differs from traditional theme parks is due to its theatrical influence and it focuses on immersive entertainment design through Imagineering. Designers of the resort, better known as Imagineers, focus on the attention to detail placed in their designs and follow the story behind each land to decide what they are depicting. When Imagineers focus on immersive experiences there are distinct choices made that relate directly to Aristotle’s six elements of drama: plot, character, language, theme, song, and spectacle. These immersive experiences have provided an escape from reality that takes guests away from their previous surrounding environment and into new and different locations with each turn. Disneyland is a place that brings imagination and fantasy to life through creative engineering for guests who visit the parks through strategic and immersive design in the same way a theatrical performance is depicted on a stage by utilizing Aristotle's six elements of drama. Through these influences, Disneyland becomes the happiest place on earth with magic immersion and entertainment that suspends disbelief for children of all ages.
- Importance of Body Inclusive Media
Advisor(s): Dr. Drew Chappell
Inclusive casting within the entertainment industry has seemingly been a struggle since the beginning of time. Starting in Ancient Greece where women weren’t even allowed to participate in theatre, to 21st century America where the stage and screen are dominated by exclusive beauty standards, casting has not reflected the average audience population. Media and capitalism's obsession with beauty has alienated the average woman, leaving her insecure and with low self esteem. As an overweight woman and a former “fat kid,” I have experienced the lack of representation media offers, and the negativity associated with being overweight. In order for society to evolve past the severe expectations and judgements people in America face simply for existing in their body, a change must be made. Mass communication is the most effective and efficient way to integrate change into a society. Committing to body inclusive casting choices, the entertainment industry, specifically theatre, film, and tv could potentially make major strides in reducing body shaming and low self esteem. In order to prove the importance of body positive and body inclusive casting, I will research scholarly articles detailing effects of media representation on society. Along with my research, I will perform case studies examining one piece of theatre, one television show, and one movie to identify progression or regression within the industry. If the media does not begin to represent the public more accurately through casting and writing there may never be a recognized culture shift towards a body positive society. Eventually this research should be used to broaden the spectrum of body types within the entertainment industry, as I hope to do as a casting director.
World Languages and Cultures
- Code Switching, Expanded Meanings, and Worldviews in Bilingual Plays by Cherrie Moraga and Dolores Prida
Advisor(s): Dr. Polly Hodge
In recent decades, Spanish-English bilingual speakers have significantly increased due to immigration and the growing popularity of Spanish speakers in the United States. Within this bilingual community, more and more have started to use “code switching” when talking to each other. Many studies have shown the benefits of having the ability to change between languages, for example, having more words to express how one feels. According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, an individual’s language can influence how they view the world around them. Every language has unique systems and structures that are reflected in its speakers’ cognitions. Therefore, speakers of different languages have different cultural worldviews, and one culture may emphasize certain aspects that another culture may not. In this essay, I analyze two Spanish-English bilingual plays, The Hungry Woman by Cherrie Moraga and Beautiful Señoritas by Dolores Prida, to see if changing the language affects the dialogue’s meaning. The majority of the two theatrical plays were written in English, however, Moraga and Prida switch to Spanish for certain events – such as a character explaining ethnic cleansing to her grandson – or to express a character’s intense emotions – such as finding out you are going to have a daughter when you wanted a son. In this essay, I present charts that detail more specific patterns and analysis of when and why code switching is implemented in The Hungry Woman and Beautiful Señoritas, and how it relates to the worldview of the plays, its characters, and the audience.
- The Truth Revealed in Plays by Osvaldo Dragún and Ariel Dorfman: Social Injsutices and Torture in "Historia de un flemón, una mujer y dos hombres" (1956) y "La muerte y la doncella" (1990)
Advisor(s): Dr. Polly Hodge
This project aims to highlight the social conditions and injustices of two different countries, Argentina and Chile, and their influence on the works of Osvaldo Dragún and Ariel Dorfman. By examining the plays "Historia de un flemón, una mujer y dos hombres" (1956) by Dragún and "La muerte y la doncella" (1990) by Dorfman, both playwrights focus on social issues and use their platform to show the theme of dehumanization. For Dragún, his inspiration comes after the coup’s d'état in Argentina in 1943 and 1955. As did Dorfman and the coup in Chile in 1973. In each country, civil unrest and human rights violations dominated the political scene. Both playwrights illuminated these social problems during the dictatorships to denounce the poor social conditions of human beings and the torture they suffered.
- Flamenco Dance and Film in Francisco Franco’s Spain
Advisor(s): Dr. Polly Hodge
In this project, it is postulated that during and after Francisco Franco's dictatorial regime, Franco’s strict rules affected both flamenco dancing and the films Carlos Saura created. This paper explores how flamenco dance was implemented into his Nationalist agenda and in movies by Saura, and also how Saura created films (without flamenco dance) that criticized Franco because of his censorship of films during his authoritarian regime. Interestingly enough, Franco considered flamenco dancing a part of the Spanish national identity, so he encouraged it during his reign, and it also influenced other industries in Spain, such as film. The two famous films by Carlos Saura that are researched in this project are, Blood Wedding (1981) and Sweet Hours (1982). These films artistically articulate the significant cultural impact of Francoist Spain, and how flamenco dancing became a very important role in Saura's films. Franco had control over all aspects of culture in Spain and was not a supporter of the work Saura was doing, except when Saura integrated flamenco dancing in his films. It is evident that flamenco dance and Carlos Saura’s films were integral parts of Spanish culture, and they were heavily impacted by the Franco regime.
- Mythic and Historical Women: Malintzin and Cleopatra on Theatrical Stages
Advisor(s): Dr. Polly Hodge
Cleopatra and Malinztin come from distinct time periods in world history— respectively, the declining Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt and the age of the Spanish conquest. Literature has been inspired by these historical characters, creating various interpretations of this Egyptian queen and Aztec translator. Fundamentally, these two figures share similarities: both women fall in love with foreign invaders. For this, they must rectify their desires between loyalty to their home countries and prohibited love. The plays Todos los gatos son pardos by Carlos Fuentes and Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare reveal this concept. The dialogue between the two plays creates two distinct worlds, or “stages,” (of the invader and the invaded) that Cleopatra and Malintzin embody. This essay investigates how both women navigate the cultural clash between the invader and the invaded in order to harmonize the tension between romantic and patriotic desires. Comparatively, the Aztec and Egyptian stages can be defined as settings of novelty, fluidity, and excess, while the Roman and Spanish stages emphasize rigidity, logic, and dogmatism. Considering how these individuals embody and defy these characteristics of the stages they come from, this literary and analytical comparison demonstrates that romantic and patriotic loyalty cannot be synchronized. The discrete relationship between these concepts, as examined in both dramas, destabilizes the cultural identity of both figures in such a way that they become defeated and fatalistic.
- The Societal Ladder in 20th Century Spain as Demonstrated in the Works of Antonio Buero Vallejo
Advisor(s): Dr. Polly Hodge
The twentieth century was a period full of wars, violence, and conflict that revolved around the differences of political opinions in Spain. The country was divided by the Spanish Civil War during 1936-1939, which induced a turbulent and transformative time for Spain throughout the rest of the century. In this paper, I explore two theatrical works written by Spanish playwright Antonio Buero Vallejo—Historia de una escalera (1949) and Las trampas del azar (1994)—concentrating on the concept of justice in relation to the opportunities for social and economic mobility within Spanish society. I focus on the Postwar Period (1939-1962), with emphasis on Francoism and censorship, and the following transition to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, highlighting the economic success and the expansion of human rights that the transition inspired. I consider the political manifestations, ideologies, and themes of the works and analyze how they transform from the Postwar Period to the democratic transition. The investigation shows that the play Historia de una escalera demonstrates the lack of mobility in society due to the injustices of the Franco regime that caused poverty, frustration, and the disparity between the social classes that is seen through the work. Conversely, the play Las trampas del azar illustrates the return of social mobility, as a result of the transition to democracy, and that concepts such as destiny, luck, and passion are unpredictable and subject to change, much like the political environment of the twentieth century.
- Reality as an Ambiguous Sign in Two Stories by Jorge Luis Borges
Advisor(s): Dr. Polly Hodge
We live in a chaotic world. Oftentimes it is easy to lose oneself in chaos and conflate reality with the imaginary. This essay aims to demonstrate the idea of an ambiguous reality utilizing the two short stories, “The Circular Ruins” and “The Wizard Postponed”, by Jorge Luis Borges and how one can be deceived through numerous interpretations of reality. Roland Barthes’ theory of semiotics on signs and the social connotations that they inspire will be considered in order to further dissect these symbols and their various meanings that Borges employs in his works to transmit his ideas of the vagueness of reality. Furthermore, it is posited that the very same fabric of reality can be quite deceiving, as witnessed in these two stories which highlight many signs that point to ideas such as magic and dreams.
- Eva Perón, the Radio, and her Strategic Influence on Peronism
Advisor(s): Dr. Polly Hodge
Eva Perón (Evita) was known for her powerful speeches. She played a fundamental role in her husband´s rise to power and increased her own power along the way. This paper analyses the communication strategies that Evita used to gain influence in society and expand Peronism. It tells the story of how a lonely woman climbed out from her impoverished background and learned to wield the power of her voice to completely transform a society. To demonstrate her success in gaining the hearts of the Argentine people, this paper focuses on two specific strategies that she often used: Peronist rhetoric and the manipulation of emotions—pathos. Specifically, three of Evita´s speeches will be dissected: “To the Shirtless—October 17, 1951¨, “Renunciation of the Vice Presidency—August 31, 1951”, and “Eva Peron´s Final Speech—May 1, 1952”. These speeches are used to explore the imagery and emotions that Eva inspired with her words and how she infused them with Peronist rhetoric to convince her listeners of the “goodness” of Peronism and its pure intentions. Ultimately, this study reveals how Eva and Juan Perón were brought together and empowered by the radio—changing the trajectory of their path and multiplying their communicative influence and power as they pursued change in Argentina.
- Surrealist Expressions of Psychological Struggles in Select Paintings by Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dalí
Advisor(s): Dr. Polly Hodge
This project aims to establish a connection between suffering expressed through art and Sigmund Freud’s ideas on the ego, sexuality, and unconscious. This is explored through three of Freud’s books—On Narcissism, Sexuality and Psychology of Love and The Ego and the Id—and selected paintings by Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dalí. As Kahlo and Dalí’s paintings show, suffering can be communicated through pictures and colors. Their complicated lives led them to create masterpieces that reflected a distressed ego, aggrieved sexuality, and unconscious suffering. In this essay, the visual content of La cama volando (Kahlo, 1932), Metamorfosis de Narciso (Dalí, 1937), Dos desnudos en un bosque (Kahlo, 1939), Cráneo atmosférico sodomizando a un piano de cola (Dalí, 1934), Las dos Fridas (Kahlo, 1939) and El autorretrato blando con tocino frito (Dalí, 1941) is explored in collaboration with Freud’s writings. The works of art demonstrate how the images and colors in the selected paintings illustrate a fragmented ego, repressed sexual desires, and an afflicted unconscious to reveal an inseparable connection between Psychology and Art such that suffering can be expressed and mentally processed through artistic creativity.