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The Reign of Fire and Blood
No full textThe Reign of Fire and Blood tells the story of a world where the goddess Mother Nature created two species: the fae and the humans. The fae decided to enslave humans after centuries of war despite Mother Nature’s warning that a curse would be placed upon the fae if they did so. The novel takes place from the perspective of Gwyn Anora, the princess of the fae, and Raina Starling, a human who has become a servant to the princess after waking up with no memory of who she is. Despite Gwyn’s hatred of humans and Raina’s disgust at the fae’s treatment of humans, a romance begins to bloom between the two of them. Meanwhile, the threat of war is brewing; the humans who are not enslaved are a part of the Rebellion, and there is the constantfear that the curse Mother Nature has placed upon the fae will rearits ugly head
Bibliography for Mindfulness Reference Display
Get PDFA bibliography created to support a display about mindfulness in May 2025 at the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University
Reducing Stigma Around Neurodiversity Through the Use of Celebratory Technology Ice Breakers in First-Year Undergraduate Classrooms
Get PDFCelebratory technology for Neurodiversity is a new paradigm in the field of human computer interaction; it focuses on reducing stigma surrounding neurodivergent labels and behaviors. Celebratory technology aims to highlight the strengths of neurodiversity rather than fixing socially undesired traits, shifting the responsibility for change from neurodivergent individuals to society\u27s attitudes. Stigma reduction can be accomplished through providing high quality interactions, where anyone can meet and learn about positive traits in others as well as learn of interests\u27 others have in common, thus reframing neurodivergence as inclusion in human diversity rather than a condition to be stigmatized or objectified. This work addresses a critical pain point: first impressions. This project specifically targets first year undergraduate students with declared STEM majors, in two parts. The first goal of sharing unique positive traits is attempted by providing all students with ice breaker questions that are summarized through an image of a colorful disco ball, where each color represents a specific non-demographic and non-stigmatizing trait for different aspects of their identity. Through these connections, students are directed to focus more on their ice breaker-driven commonalities with other students rather than their perceived stereotypic differences. Students are then grouped based on one of three algorithms using their disco balls as the input data. The second goal is to facilitate making collaborative small groups using these algorithms with hope that they will lower the barrier for entry of inclusion for students with historically stigmatized characteristics of autism. This study examines how algorithmic group assignments based on diverse communication styles impact student compatibility, stigma towards neurodivergence, and the quality of interactions. Groups formed using a diverse communication algorithm showed greater stability and satisfaction, suggesting that complementary communication traits enhance collaboration. While quantitative measures showed no significant change in stigma, interviews revealed potential hidden biases and the importance of high-quality, organic interactions in fostering acceptance of neurodivergent peers. Ultimately, inclusion is not about changing individuals, but about intentionally designing inclusive environments that foster meaningful connections where students of all backgrounds can thrive
Phenomenologies of Women\u27s Illness in Ingmar Bergman\u27s 1970s Films
Get PDFIt is no surprise that the chronically ill Ingmar Bergman featured recurrent motifs of illness throughout his oeuvre. What is more surprising is that this consequential component of these works remain largely unexplored. Cries and Whispers (Viskningar och rop, 1971), Face to Face (Ansikte mot ansikte,1976), and Autumn Sonata (Höstsonaten, 1978), are pivotal examples of this shift, where illness is not merely an individual experience for these women but a complex, embodied phenomenon that profoundly shapes interpersonal relationships, particularly within family structures. This thesis conceives phenomenologies of illness in three 1970s films by Ingmar Bergman – Cries and Whispers, Face to Face, and Autumn Sonata – that reveal the assaultive effect of illness on the body from both the disease-state itself and the anxious societal perceptions of disability. A phenomenological framework, as outlined by Havi Carel, will reveal the qualitative experience of illness, not only in how it affects the ill subject but how it becomes a disability, a landfill for anxiety and vulnerability from others. Maria, Jenny, and Eva serve as focal points through which illness becomes an intense, embodied experience that can be perceived in relation to herself and her surroundings, producing a broader reflection of ill women’s affinities left unresolved in cinema, society, and medical institutions. In Rosemarie Garland Thompson\u27s observations, there is a discursive equation of femaleness to disability (Extraordinary Bodies, 19) that punctuates the social restriction embedded into both positions of being in the world that this paper seeks to interrogate. Central to understanding the illness experience are themes pain and loss of function, which will be scrutinized through Agnes, who is terminally ill with uterine cancer in Cries and Whispers; Jenny in Face to Face, who endures deep-seated trauma; Helena\u27s degenerative disease and Charlotte\u27s chronic back pain in Autumn Sonata. As all three films suggest, a polysemy of how it feels and what it means to endure illness prevails, highlighting the need for continued integration of critical illness phenomenologies beyond Bergman’s work and across film and media studies
What Impacts Does Immigration Have on Support for Increasingly Right-Wing Ideology?
Get PDFHow do perceptions of immigration influence support for right-wing ideology? In the current literature, political scientists propose a relationship between immigration and the expansion of immigration policies. Scholars, particularly in Europe are interested in examining the connection between immigration and the rise of right-wing ideologies in increasingly diverse communities. These two variables appear to be inversely related. As immigration increases, support for left-wing ideologies tends to decline in European societies. Recently, right wing ideology has led to mistrust in society, particularly towards immigrants who are blamed for societal problems and used as a scapegoat for many economic problems. Thus, voters have tended to lean toward the right, expressing a desire for more restrictive immigration policies. In this paper, I argue that immigration in the 21st century, driven by factors such as civil rights, safety concerns and asylum seekers has contributed to the spread of right-wing ideologies among voters in Europe. To test this hypothesis, I analyzed data from the European Parliament Election Study from 2024 using logistic regression. The findings suggest that individuals who favor stricter immigration policies tend to position themselves further to the right on the political spectrum. This means that shifting from support for more restrictive policies to less restrictive ones reduce the odds (or decreases the likelihood) of identifying with the ideological right
Narratives of Resistance: Undergraduate Chicanas Navigating the World with Critical Literacy and a Mestiza Praxis
Get PDFAgainst a backdrop of rising fascism in the racial-capitalist patriarchy of the U.S., this dissertation study explores the questions, “How do Chicanas in undergraduate programs develop criticality to take action against systems of oppression, and how do they make sense of their social positioning, and what leads them to activism?” This narrative study utilized the theoretical frameworks of critical pedagogy and Chicana feminist epistemology. Guided by decolonizing methodologies, the findings include the narratives of five Chicanas devised from one-on-one research conversations, as well as cross-case data from small group discussions. The themes that emerged from the data led to the theoretical conclusions, which include: (1) Daughtering (2) The Contradictions of Schooling: Empowerment and Othering (3) Connections between Mestiza Consciousness and Critical Literacy and (4) Dreaming. The findings are embedded within these themes in that undergraduate Chicanas in the study developed a Mestiza consciousness as they confronted their positioning within their families and society and sought ways to understand themselves and resist oppression. The study suggests a need to continue learning from Latinas to fight dehumanizing systems of oppression as their abilities and understandings reframe problems and offer solutions that may be undiscoverable when relying solely on traditional research approaches. It also contributes to a paucity of critical research about Chicanas in education by Chicanas in education who are seeking social justice
Social Media Addiction Explained Through Film
Get PDF“How much is too much?” The central frame of my creative work tackles this question through the lens of queerness, addiction, isolation, and self-identity, giving an unfiltered voice to today’s youth. Social Media’s negative effects go deeper than the usual anecdotes of decline in sleep quality, physical activity, and attention span. The ramifications of a negative mental headspace are often overshadowed by flashy promises and a false sense of belonging. The societal impact is especially influenced due to the malleability of the adolescent brain. In 2022, up to 95% of teenagers ages 13 to 17 claimed to use social media, and about a third use it “almost constantly.” I am creating a 5-12 minute narrative short film that dramatizes the often-overlooked, harmful undercurrents of social media. To evoke a visceral response, we’ll employ avant-garde cinematic techniques, including extreme short lenses, dynamic gimbal shots, dutch-angle dolly movements, and inventive compositions. The sound design will feature heavy emphasis on folly, synthetic scoring and highly edited vocals to underscore the artificial humanism on the piece. Gen Z has an indulgence in escapism media, often featuring glamorized characters. The plot draws viewers into a captivating relationship between the protagonist and the seductive allure of a character that personifies social media. This charismatic presence slowly reveals its darker, addictive qualities, prompting the viewer to confront the question: “What happens when desire gives way to dependency?” As a queer college student in my early 20s, I rarely see films that address the issues my peers and I face with genuine authenticity. By bringing an authentic perspective to these complex themes, this project aims not only to resonate deeply with audiences, but also to spark conversations that challenge the normalization of technology addiction. Sources: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/social-media-teen-mental-health-a-parents-guide https://www.zippia.com/film-maker-jobs/demographics
Dark Echoes of the Repressed in Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2
Get PDFHorror films fulfill a unique psychological need in contemporary society, allowing viewers to confront and release repressed impulses. Tobe Hooper\u27s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Part Two (1986) exemplifies how the genre explores deeper themes, particularly through phallic symbolism and the unconscious mind. Using the chainsaw as a phallic symbol, the film delves into power dynamics, sexuality, and societal norms, reflecting Freud’s theory of the return of the repressed. This paper applies Freudian psychoanalysis, drawing on works by Murray Leader and Linda Williams, to explore how repressed desires manifest in the film. The chainsaw represents twisted masculinity, with Leatherface embodying repressed sexual and gender desires. The protagonist, Stretch, transitions from victim to empowered figure, challenging traditional gender roles and highlighting the link between violence, power, and sexual control. The film critiques conventional horror tropes, offering a nuanced exploration of repression, gender identity, and cultural power relations