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Exploration of Cruella
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This project explores Disney\u27s Cruella, a visually striking film that reimagines the origin story of one of pop culture\u27s most infamous villains. Set in 1970s London, the film fuses the grit and glamour of the punk rock era with high fashion, creating a world where clothing is more than costume; it\u27s a statement of identity and rebellion. The narrative follows Estella, a gifted but troubled fashion designer, as she transforms into the courageous and stubborn Cruella de Vil. Our project highlights her evolution which is portrayed through plot, costume design, music, and setting, each of which reflects the cultural turmoil of the era. Through a conducted detailed analysis of Jenny Beavan\u27s award-winning costume work and the historical context of 1970s Britain, this project demonstrates how Cruella uses visual storytelling to comment on creativity and transformation. We discovered that fashion in Cruella operates as a form of narrative agency. Each outfit speaks to the character\u27s internal struggle, Cruella\u27s need to devalue societal expectations and her quest for personal and professional revenge.
Ultimately, Cruella challenges traditional villain narratives by offering a layered, visually captivating portrait of a woman who uses fashion to fight back. The project highlights the film\u27s relevance in today\u27s conversations about self-expression, gender roles, and the politics of appearance in both fashion and film
The Presence of Microplastics in Nashville’s Freshwater Aquatic Environments
No full textMicroplastic prevalence within fish populations as a result of pollution is an emerging environmental concern, but lacks scrutiny regarding freshwater ecosystems. This study investigates the prevalence of microplastics in fish from the Richland Creek tributary of the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee. Given the limited research on freshwater microplastics in this region, this study aims to determine the incidence of microplastic contamination within local fish populations. Fish samples were collected using electrofishing and humanely euthanized using MS-222. Intestinal tracts were extracted via dissection, dried, and chemically digested using wet peroxide oxidation to isolate microplastics. The microplastics were then classified based on size, shape, and composition under a microscope. Findings were compared to existing studies to assess contamination levels and patterns. This research provides critical insights into microplastic pollution in freshwater systems and highlights the broader environmental impact of human waste management practices. The expected outcome of this study is that there are microplastics within the freshwater fishes that reside in the tributaries of the Cumberland River
Noise in Living Color: Examining Phisiological Responses to Different Types of Color Noise
No full textThe color noise spectrum refers to a range of noises of varying frequency and density levels. In other words, different color noises (such as white, pink, and brown) exhibit differential ordering and presence of audible frequencies (Benjafield, 2017). Much of the research examining the relationship between sound and physiology focuses on effectors of sympathetic nervous system innervation, such as heart rate and blood pressure (Wigram,1995). Given this information, the present study will seek to identify differential physiological responses to different types of color noise by measuring biofeedback factors, including skin conductance, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. This research will fill a gap in the literature by examining the relationship between different types of color noise and physiological response. Roughly 40 Belmont University students were recruited from the SONA system. Participants vitals were taken with a BIOPAC machine before, during, and after the exposure of both pink and brown color noise. We expect that brown noise, due to its lower frequency will promote relaxation reflected on the results of a lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, high oxygen saturation, and lower skin conductance feedback. The implications of this study will allow for a better understanding of the physiological response to color noise frequencies in terms of its use to promote relaxation, calmness, concentration, and other positive effects
Perception and Quality of Water: Understanding Student Preferences and Water Quality at Belmont University
No full textWater quality perception is influenced by factors such as mineral content, pH, and alkalinity, which shape our preferences and choices when it comes to drinking water. This study aimed to explore whether Belmont University students could tell the difference between various types of water based on taste, and how their perceptions compared to actual scientific measurements. It was expected that students would prefer bottled and filtered water over tap and fountain water, with their perceptions potentially not aligning with the true chemical quality of the water. In total, 27 participants took part in a blind taste test involving tap water, water from Belmont\u27s bottle fill station, Deer Park spring water, and Essentia water. The water samples were analyzed for pH, alkalinity, and total dissolved solids, and participants completed surveys both before and after tasting. Preliminary findings reveal that tap water was the least preferred, while Essentia and fountain water were favored most. When it came to perceptions of pH levels, there was little correlation with the actual measurements, suggesting that personal experience and taste had a greater influence on preference than the water\u27s chemical composition. These results show a clear disconnect between how students perceive water quality and its actual scientific properties. This highlights the influence of taste on water selection and the need to address perception biases in water quality education. By understanding these biases, we can improve public awareness and encourage more accurate judgments about water quality
The Holler
Get PDFMy work explores the relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit, focusing on Johnson City, TN—a place shaped by both history and personal memory. Through film photography and archival materials, I document landscapes and interiors that hold traces of past and present lives, revealing how time often alters place and perception.
Alongside my own photographs, I include images of my grandparents and great-grandparents, the land they lived on, and fragments of a past that still lingers. These elements don’t just serve as historical references but as evidence of continuity—of lives once rooted in these places and the ways they remain. Some histories are tangible, held in photographs and structures that still stand, while others exist in the spaces left behind, reshaped by time and recollection.
I primarily work with 35mm and medium format film, moving between black and white and color to capture shifts in mood and texture. The slow, deliberate nature of film allows for a deeper engagement with these spaces, mirroring the act of remembrance itself. In presenting the work, I am drawn to variations in scale and framing, reflecting the fluidity of memory and the weight certain images carry.
Though rooted in personal history, this project extends beyond my own family. It is a meditation on the marks we leave behind, the spaces that shape us, and the quiet ways the past continues to surface in the present
The Cove - Interior Design Thesis Project
No full textThe Cove is a domestic violence shelter for women and children designed to create a sense of home and refuge. The Cove utilizes prospect-refuge theory, trauma informed design, phenomenology, and color theory. A combination of community and private spaces, opportunity for choice, and materiality work together to build dignity and ownership while providing security and comfortability
Mishaps and Misdiagnosis: The Growing Need for Regulation over the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Industry
Get PDFThis note explores negligence involved in a unique type of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure that incorporates genetic testing to assess whether an embryos has a harmful genetic abnormality before implantation. This procedure is known as Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGD). The Note explains the current regulatory schemes for PGD in the United States—or lack thereof—compared to other countries and guidelines from international professional societies. It further outlines options for what regulatory authorities in the United States would be best suited to oversee PGD use. The Note ultimately argues that fertility clinics should be required to adopt mandatory quality certifications to enhance clinical safety measures and recommends that the certification requirements be developed by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), using guidance from international agencies and professional societies
Exploring Perceived Value: An Analysis of Belmont University\u27s Dining Options
Get PDFBelmont University has a number of dining options available for its students, faculty, staff, and the public. These on-campus dining options include well-known fast food restaurant chains in the United States such as Starbucks Coffee, Chick-fil-a, and Einstein Bros. Bagels. Members of Belmont University who pay for a specific \u27meal plan \u27 have full access to these on-campus options in addition to an all-inclusive dining hall, which is also open to the public for 150 to 12.50, can also get a student a meal at any of the on-campus restaurants so long as it is below $8.00.
In the nascent field of behavioral economics, there are copious amounts of research done on perception of value and how consumers experience transactional utility when making big and small financial decisions. The same research can be done at Belmont University, focusing on which meal offering students feel they benefit from most depending on how it is proposed to them. This experiment looks to use two disparate principles courses on microeconomics as both the control and treatment groups. Each group will be provided with a different statement or a scenario that breaks down a number of options for lunch on a particular day. One class, the control group, will be influenced to make the correct financial decision (given that they think rationally) by being provided with the monetary value of each lunch option available for that day. The other class, the treatment group, will be presented with the same options, but the monetary values attached to each option will be omitted from the scenario, making the decision less obvious.
It can be assumed that the experiment will yield results that contradict traditional economic theory, proving that students will be more likely to make worse financial decisions without any subtle influences. The most appropriate method to statistically express these results is through a Logistic regression, which is used to predict a categorical outcome based on one or more predictor variables, thus modeling the relationship between the variables and the probability of the outcome.
This experiment looks to highlight the impact that a subtle influence can have on the perceived value of a transaction through changes in phrasing. The on-campus dining options and offered meal plans at Belmont University bring forward an opportunity to determine what drives college students\u27 financial decisions, albeit on a smaller scale
Dismas Day Out -- Bridging the Social Gap for the Formerly Incarcerated
Get PDFFormerly incarcerated individuals simply ask to be treated like the rest of society. This is what our Honors Project group has discovered in working with Dismas House. Dismas House is a Tennessee Department of Correction residential reentry program that supports men in successfully reintegrating into society after release from incarceration. Dismas House offers three free months of educational programs, job connections, housing, and more when staying in their building on the condition that the participant utilizes the resources available to them to build a new foundation.
In our time spent with these men, we discovered that regular interactions with diverse people is highly beneficial to Dismas House residents as they readjust to society. Through our interactions, we found they just want to be treated like regular people, so we designed our project around this facet of reintegration. We decided to create a day full of fun activities called “Dismas Day Out.” The day consists of a pickleball tournament in which men and a non-Dismas House teammate pair to have fun, be active, and meet new people.
After the tournament, the group will head back to the Dismas House to enjoy a concert put on by Belmont singers and songwriters. At this event, there will be various music styles and genres to accommodate for different music tastes and a cookout-style dinner. Our hope is to foster community between Dismas House residents and Nashville, taking another step towards supporting the formerly incarcerated population in partnership with the Dismas House
Social Media Engagement Plan for the Office of Hope, Unity & Belonging
No full textNaomi Ordonez\u27s presentation focuses on developing a strategic social media engagement plan for the Office of Hope, Unity, and Belonging (HUB). The plan aims to enhance content development, increase follower growth, and boost overall engagement, ensuring the HUB’s digital presence effectively fosters inclusivity, awareness, and community connection on campus