Humanities and Communication
Fall 2014 Capstones
See below for each section theme and capstone projects produced by students in each section.
Professor Patrick Belanger
The section examines the narrative creation of community, ideology, and varying ideals of nationhood, particularly in light of post–WW II rhetorics of inclusive democracy and cultural pluralism. It further introduces ways to understand public memory – we analyze the communicative art of remembrance practices, and explore how varied cultures re-imagine historical phenomena.Through multiple case studies, we evaluate public stories circulated through diverse media (e.g., museums, television, documentary films, web campaigns,editorials, political deliberations). Ultimately, we assess how narratives about the past, present, and future challenge, transform and fortify contemporary public life. Throughout, we develop two key proficiencies: how to better interpret the communication that surrounds us, and how to become effective and reflective advocates for change in the world.
Senior projects
- Bonner, Travis C. (Practical and Professional Ethics),"Identity through Fitness & Nutrition"
- Brown, Breanna M. (Journalism and Media Studies), “Veiling Masculinity”
- Calderon-Rojas, Griselda. (Chicano/a Studies), “Looking Through a Colored Lens: The Narratives of Women of Color in Higher Education”
- Carter, Jay S. (Creative Writing & Social Action), “Realizations”
- Cedillo, Karissa M. (Practical and Professional Ethics), “Educations within the Public Elementary School System”
- Enriquez, Gabriela (Journalism and Media Studies), “A Crossing of Self Identity through the Looking Glass of a Second Generation Latina”
- Gamboa, Bianca (Practical and Professional Ethics), “Analyzing the Value of Obtaining A College Degree”
- Haught, Michael A. (Journalism and Media Studies), “Collectively Harming an Identity”
- Hillenga, Katie N. (Journalism and Media Studies), “Thinking Healthy”
- Hurley, Mark A. Jr. (Practical and Professional Ethics), “Football Culture in America”
- Liborio, Ruby E. (Pre-Law), “Cultural Identity after Studying Abroad: Change & Integration”
- Lynch, Jamil L. (Creative Writing), “The Tremor of Color”
- Munoz, Henry E. (Practical and Professional Ethics), “Upward Bound”
- Ortiz, Tenoch R. (Chicano/a Studies), “The Militarization of the Salinas Police Department”
- Rodriquez, Alisa F. (Creative Writing & Social Action), ”Beneath the Rubble”
- Shapiro, Cole B. (Practical and Professional Ethics), “State-Influenced Propaganda in the California School System”
- Shelley, Jamie J. (Creative Writing & Social Action), “How She Survived”
- Simpson, Quinntesha D. (Pre-Law), “Restoring and Reclaiming the American Dream”
- Spencer, Nicole M. (Practical and Professional Ethics), “Disaster Relief: Providing Stability in the Middle Class”
- Stephenson, Myla O. (Pre-Law), “The Holocaust in Contemporary German Remembrance”
- Stones, Kristina G. (Practical and Professional Ethics), “Social Media's Effect on Modern American Youth”
- Strange, Chelsea A. (Practical and Professional Ethics), “Fan, Family, Franchise”
- Thomas, Nicholas P. (Practical and Professional Ethics), “A Country Boy Can Survive”
- Wiggins, Jeshe Amita D. (Journalism and Media Studies), “International Clubs and Collective Identities”
- Wild, Andrew A. (Journalism and Media Studies), “Cross Fit as a Brand of Its Own”
- Williamson, Jennifer M. (Practical and Professional Ethics),“Slowcoast Event Calendar”
Professor Renee Curry
This capstone seminar will explore the literature and film that engages with the events of 9/11 and their after effects. We'll read, view, discuss, and research journalistic, fictional, documentary, and political texts that reveal various perspectives not only on the events of 9/11, themselves, but also on the subsequent domestic and global othering that has occurred as a result of feeling (or being influenced to feel) terrorized and under siege. This topic promises to inspire numerous types of Capstone projects in that it allows us to ask broad, interdisciplinary questions about how the U.S. ha changed--culturally, legally, socially, globally, creatively, religiously, and more--post 9/11.
Senior projects
- Barnes Jr., Reginald M. (Literature and Film), "The Aftermath of 9/11"
- Becerril, Carlos A. (Practical and Professional Ethics),"The United Post-9/11 Nation of America"
- Chilton, Ciera A. (Women's Studies), "(White) Womanhood, 9/11, and the Theory of Oppositional Consciousness"
- Corral, Matthew S. (Journalism and Media Studies), "Imperial Deception: Exploring the Roots of Denial and Provocation Surrounding the Attacks on 9/11”
- Cuellar, Keegan W. (English Subject Matter Preparation), "Adjusting the Aperture on Terrorism"
- Feldman, Alex (Pre-Law), “Becomingmybreath”
- Garcia, Alejandro (Pre-Law), “Torn Down Liberty after 9/11”
- Holmes, McKenna P. (Practical and Professional Ethics), “Deciding Life or Death on September 11, 2001”
- Holmes, Patrick G. (Practical and Professional Ethics), “A Philosophical Exploration of Terrorism”
- Lara, Elizabeth (Women's Studies), “Muslim-Americans in Comic Books”
- Lenard, Clare C. (Journalism and Media Studies), “Communication Lost”
- Mayer, Kelly A. (Creative Writing & Social Action), “Igniting Hope from Ashes: Poetry Responses to 9/11”
- Mosqueda, Eric (Peace Studies), “Muslim-Americans in Comic Books”
- Richard, Emily A. (Literary and Film Studies), “Americans Choose Silence: 9/11”
- Siason, Brittany M. (English Subject Matter Preparation), “Terrorism and Identity through Literature and Media”
- Simonsen, Kristen N. (English Subject Matter Preparation), “The Freshman Mindset: Terrorism and Racism within a Culture”
- Tino Jr., Cesar A. (Writing and Rhetoric), “Let's Talk Terrorism: How America's National Rhetoric Regarding Terrorism and the War on Terror Changed Following 9/11”
- Turley, Jennifer N. (English Subject Matter Preparation), “The Literature and Language of 9/11 in the Ninth Grade Classroom”
- Uribe, Enrique (English Subject Matter Preparation), “Terrorism, Literature, and Perspectives of an English Classroom”