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Arts & Humanities Presentations

View all the abstracts, presentation times, and formats of Arts & Humanities presentations for the Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Friday, September 30th
Swem Library - Read & Relax Room
Poster & Digital Presentation Session I: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Poster & Digital Presentation Session II: 1:00-2:30 pm

Swem Library - Botetourt Theatre
Creative Presentation Hour: 3:00-4:00 pm

Use CTRL + F on Windows or Command + F for Mac to search for a presenter's name on this page.

A Shawna Alston: Finding Our Way: The Lost and Sordid History of Black American Life on William & Mary’s Campus from 1925 to 1940 Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H1 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation Finding Our Way: The Lost and Sordid History of Black American Life on William & Mary’s Campus from 1925 to 1940 Grappling with the College’s relationship with anti-Blackness has become a momentous task; to embark on the journey through the College’s history of marginalization is to commit to understanding and acknowledging  the ways in which we currently benefit from the stolen labor and lives of Black people across Williamsburg and Jamestown County. Choosing to continue through this story map and embarking on this guided tour is to make that commitment. The following story map will attempt to tell the story of Black Americans on and around William & Mary’s campus between the years 1925 to 1940; before, during, and after the Great Depression.  Student Major(s)/Minor: Africana Studies & English Major  Faculty Mentor: Sarah Thomas, History  Senam Amevor: Lemon Project  Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H1 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Digital Presentation Lemon Project  In my project, my group is exploring the impact enslaved African- Americans had on William and Mary's Campus. A lot of the buildings were built by enslaved African-Americans and our purpose is to explore the history behind these buildings and educate the public more about the often unrecognized enslaved people that built what we see today at William and Mary. The College recognizes these enslaved people but often does not recognize or acknowledge the way they lived, their lifestyles outside of the campus, their families or even what they went through while they built our beloved buildings. I am specifically researching the life and legacy of Henry Billups who began working for the college when he was 16 years old and continued on for 67 years. He was a caretaker and bellringer for the Wren Building as well as the unofficial student advisor. He was loved and respected by the students.  Student Major(s)/Minor: Kinesiology, Music Faculty Mentor: Jody Allen, History B Mary Beth Bauermann: Marketing Musical Sound: Racialized Perceptions of Musical Sound in American Music Media and Possibilities of Music Radio in Social Change Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A2 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation Marketing Musical Sound: Racialized Perceptions of Musical Sound in American Music Media and Possibilities of Music Radio in Social Change The music industry has long relied upon racialized labels in its marketing of musical sound, utilizing terms such as “rhythm and blues” to categorize music recorded by black musicians. Music radio, a primary medium of marketing music to Americans since the 1930s, illustrates nonvisual forms of music media’s ability to promote sonic desegregation in a society plagued by racial segregation and division in physical spaces. An analysis of the “crossover” phenomenon in print music media and music radio during the 1950s and ‘60s highlights the implications of music radio in promoting empathy through sound. While music radio is flawed in its systemic format of racial categorization and capitalist marketing agenda, the medium can work to stimulate social connection. In this way, modern music radio can promote empathy amongst listeners by diversifying their playlists- appealing to listeners’ preferences without excluding minority voices- and utilizing disc jockeys as community builders. Student Major(s)/Minor: American Studies and English (Double Major) Faculty Mentor: Charles McGovern, American Studies Julia Bowers: Examining Etruscan Culture through Pottery: Provenance, Type, and Use Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D6 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation Examining Etruscan Culture through Pottery: Provenance, Type, and Use The Etruscans inhabited the northern and central parts of the Italic peninsula from the Iron Age to the Hellenistic period (900-27 BCE). While Etruscan territory was confined to the Italic peninsula, their influence spread around the Mediterranean due to their involvement in trade and seafaring. Pottery provides one way of examining contact between the Etruscans and other contemporary civilizations due to its ubiquity at archaeological sites and distinct regional designs. Etruscan civilization is often pushed to the side in favor of studying the Romans, but a close examination of the Etruscans reveals that they had connections with many other peoples as well and had a larger influence on the development of the Mediterranean that scholars have too often overlooked. The Etruscan pottery trade reveals Etruscan contact around the Mediterranean and is significant in understanding how Etruscan civilization developed through internal and external influences. Student Major(s)/Minor: Classical Studies Faculty Mentor: Jessica Paga, Classical Studies Katarina Bromkamp: La memoria histórica: equilibrar la política y la ética con educación en la sociedad española postfacista (in English: The Historical Memory: Balancing Politics and Ethics Through Education in Post-Fascist Spanish Society) Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A1 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation La memoria histórica: equilibrar la política y la ética con educación en la sociedad española postfacista (in English: The Historical Memory: Balancing Politics and Ethics Through Education in Post-Fascist Spanish Society) The Spanish Civil War raged in Spain from 1936-1939, but the effects of the war and the subsequent 30-year dictatorship of "caudillo" Francisco Franco are felt even to this day. Beginning in 2000, the Historical Memory movement sought to exhume the mass graves of "los desaparecidos," or "the disappeared," but they were met with great controversy over the ethics of exhuming the graves. This social conflict is being emphasized more and more in Spain today, thanks to the growing Historical Memory movement, which now works to educate the public about the atrocities that occurred under Franco's leadership. Today, education is at the heart of the movement; education reforms in the classroom, as well as forms of public education via plaques and the internet, work together to drive the Historical Memory movement in modern-day Spain. Student Major(s)/Minor: History, minor: Hispanic Studies Faculty Mentor: Carla Buck, Hispanic Studies C Sarah Carrington: Two-Spirit People: History and Activism Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: I2 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation Two-Spirit People: History and Activism My project is a written essay on the cultural history of Native American LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit people throughout the United States.  Two-Spirit is a broad term created during the pan-Indian movement of the 20th century used by some Native people to describe variance in gender and sexuality without conforming to modern Western labels.  I examined in my essay the ways in which Euro-American colonialism has affected these aspects of Native American culture in addition to how Native activists are currently working to reclaim this culture.  My project attempts to shed light on this intersectionality of a queer and Native identity and highlight this part of American history. Student Major(s)/Minor: History (major), Creative Writing (minor) Faculty Mentor: Andrew Fisher, History Elena Ceravalo: MothMyth: Examining the Cultural Significance of the Mothman Narrative Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H4 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation MothMyth: Examining the Cultural Significance of the Mothman Narrative Urban legends and monsters provide insight into how the people who tell them see the world. Changing monster narratives can signify change in the cultures that preserve them. This project demonstrates some of these cultural shifts using the Mothman. This legend’s more recent creation and thorough documentation shows us how urban legends are created and illuminates how Americans use storytelling to grapple with postwar society, modernization, urbanization, and trauma. This project builds on previous scholarship and focuses on key milestones in the legend’s history: the initial 1966 sighting, Silver Bridge collapse, John Keel’s 1975 novel The Mothman Prophecies, its 2002 film adaptation, post-film Mothman tourism, and Mothman in media post-2002. I examine stories popularized during these stages, their impact, and possible purposes. The Mothman narrative’s vulnerability to change helps it remain culturally relevant, and despite its many interpretations, the Mothman unites communities under shared interest. Access this project at cyber-rose.github.io/mothmyth Student Major(s)/Minor: Undeclared Faculty Mentor: Jay Watkins, History Jane Cohen: The Many Personas of Yukio Mishima: From Success to Suicide Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: I3 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation The Many Personas of Yukio Mishima: From Success to Suicide Yukio Mishima, born 1925, was a novelist, play-wright, actor, and eventually political activist. Mishima’s appearance in both Japanese and United States media, his presentation of himself in two of his most famous works: Confessions of a Mask (1949) and Sun and Steel (1968) (both read in translation), his personal explorations into cinema, photography, and eventually organized militia served to separate him from other Japanese authors of the time and establish an everlasting legacy in the world of Japanese literature. He aimed to shock and create spectacle in each of his personal activities and professional works, and when faced with his own criticism of himself, his life ended in ritual suicide, leaving the world with one last dramatic action. This essay considers Mishima’s various personas throughout his career in both realms of United States and Japanese media. Student Major(s)/Minor: Undeclared (Planned History Major) Faculty Mentor: Michael Cronin, Modern Languages (Japanese) D Lila Doran: The Incubator Project: A Virtual & Walking Tour of African American History  Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H2 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation The Incubator Project: A Virtual & Walking Tour of African American History  The Williamsburg Bray School was established by the Associates of Dr. Thomas Bray and at the suggestion of Benjamin Franklin in the mid-eighteenth century. The purpose of this educational institution was to enforce and assert Christian ideologies among enslaved and free Black children. This school provided its pupils with biblically-based literacy lessons and sought to indoctrinate its students with and edify the proslavery perspective. The structure itself has been subjected to renovation and removal from its original space; however, its legacy is one that historians, archaeologists, and architects are still trying to uncover. This virtual experience guides users through the chronology of the building and the institution and explores the impact that it had on its students, the enslaved and free Black community in Williamsburg. The story of the Williamsburg Bray school is a narrative that will continue to unfold as new discoveries are made at the site. Student Major(s)/Minor: Philosophy, History (undeclared thus far) Faculty Mentor: Jody Allen, Robyn Schroeder, Sarah Thomas, History  G Nicki Ganti, Natalie Lopez: Transitional Justice and Remembrance in Guatemala: The Necessity and Struggle of Human Rights Work post Armed-Internal Conflict Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H3 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation Transitional Justice and Remembrance in Guatemala: The Necessity and Struggle of Human Rights Work post Armed-Internal Conflict Nicki Ganti and Natalie Lopez were awarded the The Margaret S. Glauber Faculty-Student Research Fellows and Scholarship Fund under their faculty mentor Professor Betsy Konefal. They worked with Guatemalan human rights organization Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo (GAM). They assisted with archival research, in U.S. declassified documents and databases, on cases of those "disappeared" in Guatemala's armed-internal conflict (1960-1996) that are being litigated by GAM. Specifically, the cases of Rosario Godoy de Cuevas and Héctor Gómez Calito. While conducting this archival research they had the opportunity to collaborate with an undergraduate researcher from Haverford College. In addition, they worked with Professor Konefal on memoir project with a former Guatemalan opposition leader.  Student Major(s)/Minor: Nicki: History; Natalie: Undeclared Faculty Mentor: Betsy Konefal, History  Heath Grande Staton, Ginny Helmandollar, Kerris Watson, Megha Vasudevan, Kay Carter: Discourse Analysis at William & Mary Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H5 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation Discourse Analysis at William & Mary Discourse Analysis at William & Mary (DA@W&M) is an on campus linguistics research group that investigates how members of specific communities, especially those who identify as disabled, navigate their personal identities and their attitudes toward larger societal expectations and narratives. Members of the group contribute to projects that allow us to analyze the natural speech of participants and how they interact with other individuals. Specific projects taking place during the summer of 2022 included completing a database for sociolinguistic interviews, transcribing past interviews for research purposes, recruiting participants and conducting new interviews, and applying for conferences and other funding. DA@W&M’s work in disability is important because people who identify as disabled are often overlooked and misunderstood. DA@W&M would like to amplify the voices of those who identify as disabled while contributing to existing research in linguistics and disability. Student Major(s)/Minor: Heath: Linguistics, Ginny: Linguistics & Anthropology, Kerris: Undeclared, Megha: Linguistics, English, Kay Carter: Undeclared Faculty Mentor: Leslie Cochrane, Linguistics H J.R. Herman: The Pharaoh of England, Rehoboam’s Revolution, & the Mosaic Constitution: Intersections of Sacred History and Anti-Monarchical Politics in Revolutionary America Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D5 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation The Pharaoh of England, Rehoboam’s Revolution, & the Mosaic Constitution: Intersections of Sacred History and Anti-Monarchical Politics in Revolutionary America How did Patriot politicians, activists, and preachers in Revolutionary America (1765-1791) employ sacred history politically as anti-monarchical propaganda (denouncing George III’s right to rule, demonizing the institution of kingship, justifying revolutionary violence, and championing both independence and republican ideals) in the years leading up to the War of Independence, during the Revolution itself, and in the uncertain years following its aftermath? After scouring, reading, and analyzing hundreds, if not thousands of Revolutionary-era primary sources, it became clear that the biblical vision of history (particularly that outlined in Exodus through 2 Kings) was seen as representing—and more importantly, justifying—the Patriot cause (and eventually, the constitutional federal republic) in a myriad of ways. Such an examination of anti-monarchical biblical invocations is not only a valuable exercise in intellectual history but also in understanding the Bible’s complex relationship with and impact on early American politics, historiography, and history. Student Major(s)/Minor: Classical Studies / Ancient Near East & Africa Studies (double major) Faculty Mentor: Jeremy Pope, History J Sarah Johnson: Fallout Shelters and the Moral Divisions They Created Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D13 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation Fallout Shelters and the Moral Divisions They Created During the Cold War, a nuclear attack seemed like a real possibility. One prominent method of protection was the fallout shelter, which intended to shield people from the radiation that resulted from an atomic bomb. Through my research, I sought to identify the impact of these shelters on American society. I found that the implementation of the federal government’s fallout shelter policies generated many controversies. Among these controversies, ethical concerns arose over limited access to fallout shelters, including the lack of fallout protection for people with low incomes, the higher quality shelters for government officials, the role of race in shelter access, and the justification of violence to defend shelters. Ultimately, although fallout shelters were intended to preserve values of democracy in the fight against communism, they ironically divided American communities. Student Major(s)/Minor: Undeclared Faculty Mentor: Hiroshi Kitamura, History L Katalina Li-Kroeger: Read Between the Rainbow Lines: An Exploration of Sapphic Identity Development in Sapphic Young Adult Speculative Fiction Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D7 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation Read Between the Rainbow Lines: An Exploration of Sapphic Identity Development in Sapphic Young Adult Speculative Fiction Public opinion is undergoing a shift toward inclusion of traditionally marginalized groups. Consequently, representation in young adult (YA) fiction has increased dramatically. This study examines one example of inclusivity through a content analysis of contemporary releases in YA sapphic speculative fiction, with the researcher analyzing occurrences that demonstrate sapphic protagonists’ identity development within standout books in each genre of speculative fiction. The novels represented protagonists at varying stages of their identity journey; however, there were clear trends in the material that demonstrated each character’s eventual willingness to explore themselves more deeply, understand relationships more clearly, and work towards self-acceptance. These trends are important steps within literature, demonstrating to sapphic individuals that they can find representation within YA novels and work towards self-realization through the eyes of the novels’ protagonists. The novels’ publication and continued sales reflect people’s desire for increased understanding of sapphic individuals and the LGBTQIA+ community.  Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations Faculty Mentor: Lori Jacobson, Writing Resource Center Phoebe Linnell, Breyonna Rock: The Local Black Histories Project Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D11 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation The Local Black Histories Project Although Williamsburg promotes its colonial history, the rich history and legacy of early 20th century Black Williamsburg is frequently overlooked. Before Colonial Williamsburg was restored, the area was a hub of Black-owned businesses and a center of Black community life. The Local Black Histories integrates this history into the local school curriculum and makes it accessible to the wider community. This summer, we contributed to the Local Black Histories Project by collecting oral histories, creating an online exhibit, conducting archival research, and developing a StoryMap of Williamsburg. Our research findings demonstrate the strength of community ties and financial and social autonomy of Black Williamsburg. While dispossession can’t be compensated, history continues to live through descendants and the memory of the people’s experiences. We must continue to shed light on the extent of dispossession, the community’s triumphs, and the historical context of those who have made Williamsburg what it is today.  Student Major(s)/Minor: Phoebe: Sociology major, History minor, Breyonna: Psychology major, Sociology minor Faculty Mentor: Amy Quark , Sociology M Linnea Mason: Women in The Odyssey Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D10 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation Women in The Odyssey I have examined three translations of the Odyssey, paying particular attention to the language used to describe women. Previously, male translators have used language which softened the harsh reality of the slavery practiced by the Greeks. Emily Wilson, the first woman to translate the epic into English, differs purposely in word choice, which paints a more honest picture of the world of the epic. Wilson's use of a modern poetic meter also lends a more authentic feel to what was originally an oral poem. Her translation seems to be closest to the original work, both in words chosen and the overall flow of the centuries old epic.  Student Major(s)/Minor: Classical Civilization Faculty Mentor: Vassiliki Panoussi, Classical Studies Kaitlin Molloy: Aesthetics of the Past and Present: Predicting the False Self Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A4 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation Aesthetics of the Past and Present: Predicting the False Self Aestheticism is an artistic movement that favors beauty and appearance rather than a moral, allegorical, or other informative purpose to the piece. The movement pushed back at Victorian moralism at the end of the eighteenth century. In the modern age, the term aesthetic has resurfaced in an unlikely setting: social media. The modern landscape of social media focuses on the presentation of oneself or, more importantly, the curation of the best image of oneself. With aesthetic acting as a conduit, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest anticipates the performativity of modern-day social media usage. The text, littered with motifs of doubled identities, is not only imperative to the popularity of curated aesthetics, but it demonstrates how the Victorian obsession with appearance predicts the performativity of identity on social media platforms. Student Major(s)/Minor: Physics, English Faculty Mentor: Kim Wheatley, English P Alex Park, Diana Kim: Charting Diverse Pathways: The First Three Asian Ancestry Women at W&M Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D3 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation Charting Diverse Pathways: The First Three Asian Ancestry Women at W&M Charting Diverse Pathways is an exhibit exploring the lives of the first three Asian Ancestry women to attend William and Mary - Hatsuye Yamasaki ‘37, Margaret Lee ‘45, and Beatrice Fujiwara ‘53. The exhibit provides historical context to the experience of these three women to understand the different realities faced by APIA students and the multitude of topics in APIA history. Each woman has a theme that combines historical context and personal details to enhance the understanding of each topic. Researchers on the APM team used a mixture of oral history and archival research to compile a holistic view of each woman’s life and experiences at W&M and beyond.  Student Major(s)/Minor: Alex: International Relations, Asian and Pacific Islander Studies, Diana: Government, Asian and Pacific Islander Studies Faculty Mentor: Deesesh Sohoni, Sociology and APIA Jacob Place: King Arthur is Not Dead: An Analysis of the Themes and History of Cornish Protest Literature Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D4 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation King Arthur is Not Dead: An Analysis of the Themes and History of Cornish Protest Literature Throughout the medieval and early modern periods, the people and region of Cornwall retained a culture that was almost entirely separate from that of England. The relative isolation of Cornwall provided a unique enclave where Brythonic culture thrived for almost eight centuries. Similarly to other subjugated Celtic peoples, the Cornish produced literature, poems, and songs in their own tongue that were populist in nature and largely unsupported by the English nobility.  While few examples of writing from these periods survive, those that do paint a picture of a society with deep nostalgia for the past glories of the Britons. This essay analyzes the themes contained within these works and illustrates their connections with Cornish history. Student Major(s)/Minor: Undecided Faculty Mentor: Erin Webster, English S Jacob Schapiro: Analyzing the Relationship Between the Catholic Church and European Jewry post-Enlightenment Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D9 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation Analyzing the relationship between the Catholic Church and European Jewry post-Enlightenment I researched how the relationship between European Jewry and the Catholic Church has shifted over time, post-Enlightenment. Using various flashpoints in the history of that relationship, such as the Mortara and Finaly cases, I explored how it has evolved, noting what has changed and what hasn’t changed. This is significant because the relationship was historically one marked by distrust and hate. As ideals of equality spread because of the Enlightenment, much appears to have changed changed but it’s worth investigating how much change has really occurred and how that change occurred, especially with the recent rise in antisemitism.  Student Major(s)/Minor: History, Religious Studies Faculty Mentor: Randi Rashkover, Religious Studies Andy Shufer: Defense is from Mars, State is from Venus: The Significance of Executive Civilian-Military Relationships in Historical Nuclear Decision-Making Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D14 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation Defense is from Mars, State is from Venus: The Significance of Executive Civilian-Military Relationships in Historical Nuclear Decision-Making Historically, how has the shifting relationship between the US civilian and military cultures affected decision-making on nuclear use? While existing literature chronicles a growing "taboo" against the use of nuclear weapons in the US, such research often fails to analyze how the "taboo" is affected by the contrasting cultures of the US civilian government and military. This paper conducts a literature review of civilian-military dynamics and nuclear decision-making in the US. As research exists on the effect of civilian-military dynamics on aggressive foreign policy making, this paper builds on that literature to develop theories as to how different forms of civilian-military dynamics have historically impacted considerations of nuclear use by looking at a variety of case studies, primarily World War II and the Vietnam War. This paper then develops a loose categorization of the types of civilian-military dynamics and details how each type functions within a scenario of nuclear decision-making. Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations, Data Science minor Faculty Mentor: Hiroshi Kitamura, History Marissa Sirois: Grazing Pains: Western Responses to the Progressive Era Conservation Movement Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D17 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation Grazing Pains: Western Responses to the Progressive Era Conservation Movement The Progressive Era marked the beginning of American efforts to conserve the country’s rapidly degrading natural resources. Today, the creation of National Forests and Parks is seen as a victory, often ignoring the Western livelihoods most affected by their creation. In my research, I utilized primary sources from the Denver Public Library Western History Collection and newspapers from the Chronicling America Collection to examine some of these forgotten Western perspectives of the Progressive Era conservation movement, focusing on the responses of stockmen, who found their grazing lands turned into forest reserves. I found that the rise of conservation was met with much opposition and incredulity, the rural West resisting the changes to their livelihoods mandated by the urban, Eastern movement. However, as the conservation movement progressed, the benefits and permanence of conservation became apparent, increasing acceptance of the movement. This research informs our understanding of the evolution, strengths, and failures of the early conservation movement, helping us better understand current environmental movements and their potential outcomes. Student Major(s)/Minor: Undecided Faculty Mentor: Andrew Fisher, History Ally Swindell: Evolution of the Enemy: Film and Threat Perception in Twentieth Century America Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D12 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation Evolution of the Enemy: Film and Threat Perception in Twentieth Century America A popular film genre within the United States during the twentieth century centered around past and current military engagements. Of these films, many selected for preservation in the National Film Registry highlighted three distinct periods of conflict: World War II, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. I seek to analyze how these distinct eras of film, as represented on the registry, differ in their portrayals of enemy forces and the U.S. military in order to impact the threat perception of opposing states among the general public. In addition, I seek to demonstrate the significance of the influence of these films due to the impact of public opinion on the determination of the national interest.  Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations Faculty Mentor: Dennis Smith, Government T Elijah Tsai: Posthumanism at William and Mary Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A5 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation Posthumanism at William and Mary Humanism, the philosophical cornerstone of western universities, is fraught with rigid binaries that define an idealized subject against a lesser one. The human vs. the Nonhuman, Culture vs. Nature and Man vs. Woman all assert the former as superior to the latter under humanism. This has historically manifested in the marginalization and abuse of these lesser subjects. The emerging field of posthumanism offers an alternative critical theory that moves beyond these lethal binaries by displacing the centrality of the human. This project conceptualizes what a posthuman university would look like utilizing Rosi Braidotti’s affirmative vitalist and materialist posthuman theory as well as the steps necessary to turn a contemporary humanist university posthumanist. A posthumanist university’s subjectivity no longer revolves around the human but rather any subject that is self organizing and generative. This is Braidotti’s definition of life with life now placed at the center of a posthumanist university.  Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations, Minor History Faculty Mentor: Michael Cronin, Japanese Studies Elise Tsao: Religion and Medicine: Disability in the Ancient World Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A3 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation Religion and Medicine: Disability in the Ancient World I examined two main aspects of the ancient world: the history of medicine in that time, as well as how social outlooks with regard to the sick and disabled affected the way people practiced medicine. As religious beliefs were directly linked to medical practices, I focused on the role of anatomical votives in ancient religion and medicine, and how the effigies represented a link between the physical and divine worlds according to the spiritual norms of the time. This can aid modern-day efforts to destigmatize existing medical issues and shed light on humanity's complicated relationship between bodily wholeness and religious practice. In addition, it will provide vital historical context on the broader connection between religion and medicine. Student Major(s)/Minor: Majoring in International Relations Faculty Mentor: Jessica Paga, Classical Studies V Tara Vasanth: Nurturing Nature: Investigating Biomimetic Architecture as a Philosophy and Practice Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A7 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation Nurturing Nature: Investigating Biomimetic Architecture as a Philosophy and Practice There has been a recent upsurge of interest in biomimetics. As forest fires and coastal flooding escalate, so too have concerns of sustainability and renewable energy in environmental and architectural discourses – thereby drawing attention to the merits of Biomimetics, a peculiar but provocative branch of design. This preoccupation with biomimicry raises the plain question: what is it and why does it matter? This research delves into the depths of this idea that, at first glance, seems quite revolutionary; however, the emulation of nature in our built environment is not anything new and reaches back far into early human history. With this in mind, this project investigates biomimetics as a philosophy, a practice, and even a response to an increasingly frenetic and fast-paced world. Biomimicry is a way of thinking, not just a way of building; this unique vantage point is centuries in the making and a discussion of its curious evolution (and etymology) will demonstrate its great artistic and technological versatility and creative problem-solving capabilities. Student Major(s)/Minor: Art History, Environmental Policy Faculty Mentor: Sibel Zandi-Sayek, Art History W Katherine Walter: Mythical Tales from Homer to Lee: An Analysis of Ancient Tropes to Modern Marvels Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A6 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation Mythical Tales from Homer to Lee: An Analysis of Ancient Tropes to Modern Marvels The stories of heroes have remained prevalent throughout the history of entertainment. This project is a close comparison of tropes, characters, and patterns between Ancient Greek epics and the hero films we rush to see today. The discovery of these particular features such as locations, character backstories, and specific overarching thematic choices involves reading Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey and then comparing them to and contrasting them with modern stories from Marvel Studio’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (also known as the “MCU”). In addition to this analysis, I evaluate and dissect how well these story aspects have held up through time by analyzing how well these characteristics have been maintained. Student Major(s)/Minor: Global Studies (European Studies) and Government Faculty Mentor: Michael Halleran, Classical Studies Z Brian Zhao: Out of Bounds: Reading Arthur Matsu’s Life Between the Lines of Inclusion and Exclusion Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H2 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Digital Presentation Out of Bounds: Reading Arthur Matsu’s Life Between the Lines of Inclusion and Exclusion Since Arthur Matsu’s rediscovery in the late 2000s by Anthony Elopre ‘08, a number of new illuminating finds have helped researchers paint a better picture of Matsu’s time while at William & Mary. While multiple projects have detailed Matsu’s acceptance into the campus-wide community as the university’s renowned bluechip quarterback, few, if any, have gone beyond his time at the College and examined the converse - namely, his Otherness and his ostracization as a mixed-race Japanese-Scott with Irish citizenship. Using new, never before seen Virginia state documents, this project illustrates Matsu’s simultaneous inclusion and exclusion within the local Williamsburg community and within the continental US. Building upon past student research, this project ultimately demonstrates that despite Matsu’s celebrated acclaim as a national star-athlete, he was still not recognized by the US government as a citizen worthy to fight for the country in World War II. In fact, in order to attend his own father’s funeral, Matsu would have to petition the Virginia state legislature to travel out of the state, a practice which was in line with Japanese internment policies of the time.  Student Major(s)/Minor: Comparative Asian & Middle Eastern Studies Faculty Mentor: Deneesh Sohoni, APIA/Sociology
A
Shawna Alston: Finding Our Way: The Lost and Sordid History of Black American Life on William & Mary’s Campus from 1925 to 1940

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H1 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation

Finding Our Way: The Lost and Sordid History of Black American Life on William & Mary’s Campus from 1925 to 1940

Grappling with the College’s relationship with anti-Blackness has become a momentous task; to embark on the journey through the College’s history of marginalization is to commit to understanding and acknowledging  the ways in which we currently benefit from the stolen labor and lives of Black people across Williamsburg and Jamestown County. Choosing to continue through this story map and embarking on this guided tour is to make that commitment. The following story map will attempt to tell the story of Black Americans on and around William & Mary’s campus between the years 1925 to 1940; before, during, and after the Great Depression. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: Africana Studies & English Major 

Faculty Mentor: Sarah Thomas, History 
Senam Amevor: Lemon Project 

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H1 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Digital Presentation

Lemon Project

 In my project, my group is exploring the impact enslaved African- Americans had on William and Mary's Campus. A lot of the buildings were built by enslaved African-Americans and our purpose is to explore the history behind these buildings and educate the public more about the often unrecognized enslaved people that built what we see today at William and Mary. The College recognizes these enslaved people but often does not recognize or acknowledge the way they lived, their lifestyles outside of the campus, their families or even what they went through while they built our beloved buildings. I am specifically researching the life and legacy of Henry Billups who began working for the college when he was 16 years old and continued on for 67 years. He was a caretaker and bellringer for the Wren Building as well as the unofficial student advisor. He was loved and respected by the students. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: Kinesiology, Music

Faculty Mentor: Jody Allen, History
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Mary Beth Bauermann: Marketing Musical Sound: Racialized Perceptions of Musical Sound in American Music Media and Possibilities of Music Radio in Social Change

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A2 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Marketing Musical Sound: Racialized Perceptions of Musical Sound in American Music Media and Possibilities of Music Radio in Social Change

The music industry has long relied upon racialized labels in its marketing of musical sound, utilizing terms such as “rhythm and blues” to categorize music recorded by black musicians. Music radio, a primary medium of marketing music to Americans since the 1930s, illustrates nonvisual forms of music media’s ability to promote sonic desegregation in a society plagued by racial segregation and division in physical spaces. An analysis of the “crossover” phenomenon in print music media and music radio during the 1950s and ‘60s highlights the implications of music radio in promoting empathy through sound. While music radio is flawed in its systemic format of racial categorization and capitalist marketing agenda, the medium can work to stimulate social connection. In this way, modern music radio can promote empathy amongst listeners by diversifying their playlists- appealing to listeners’ preferences without excluding minority voices- and utilizing disc jockeys as community builders.

Student Major(s)/Minor: American Studies and English (Double Major)

Faculty Mentor: Charles McGovern, American Studies
Julia Bowers: Examining Etruscan Culture through Pottery: Provenance, Type, and Use

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D6 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Examining Etruscan Culture through Pottery: Provenance, Type, and Use

The Etruscans inhabited the northern and central parts of the Italic peninsula from the Iron Age to the Hellenistic period (900-27 BCE). While Etruscan territory was confined to the Italic peninsula, their influence spread around the Mediterranean due to their involvement in trade and seafaring. Pottery provides one way of examining contact between the Etruscans and other contemporary civilizations due to its ubiquity at archaeological sites and distinct regional designs. Etruscan civilization is often pushed to the side in favor of studying the Romans, but a close examination of the Etruscans reveals that they had connections with many other peoples as well and had a larger influence on the development of the Mediterranean that scholars have too often overlooked. The Etruscan pottery trade reveals Etruscan contact around the Mediterranean and is significant in understanding how Etruscan civilization developed through internal and external influences.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Classical Studies

Faculty Mentor: Jessica Paga, Classical Studies
Katarina Bromkamp: La memoria histórica: equilibrar la política y la ética con educación en la sociedad española postfacista (in English: The Historical Memory: Balancing Politics and Ethics Through Education in Post-Fascist Spanish Society)

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A1 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation
La memoria histórica: equilibrar la política y la ética con educación en la sociedad española postfacista (in English: The Historical Memory: Balancing Politics and Ethics Through Education in Post-Fascist Spanish Society)

The Spanish Civil War raged in Spain from 1936-1939, but the effects of the war and the subsequent 30-year dictatorship of "caudillo" Francisco Franco are felt even to this day. Beginning in 2000, the Historical Memory movement sought to exhume the mass graves of "los desaparecidos," or "the disappeared," but they were met with great controversy over the ethics of exhuming the graves. This social conflict is being emphasized more and more in Spain today, thanks to the growing Historical Memory movement, which now works to educate the public about the atrocities that occurred under Franco's leadership. Today, education is at the heart of the movement; education reforms in the classroom, as well as forms of public education via plaques and the internet, work together to drive the Historical Memory movement in modern-day Spain.

Student Major(s)/Minor: History, minor: Hispanic Studies

Faculty Mentor: Carla Buck, Hispanic Studies
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Sarah Carrington: Two-Spirit People: History and Activism

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: I2 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation

Two-Spirit People: History and Activism

My project is a written essay on the cultural history of Native American LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit people throughout the United States.  Two-Spirit is a broad term created during the pan-Indian movement of the 20th century used by some Native people to describe variance in gender and sexuality without conforming to modern Western labels.  I examined in my essay the ways in which Euro-American colonialism has affected these aspects of Native American culture in addition to how Native activists are currently working to reclaim this culture.  My project attempts to shed light on this intersectionality of a queer and Native identity and highlight this part of American history.

Student Major(s)/Minor: History (major), Creative Writing (minor)

Faculty Mentor: Andrew Fisher, History
Elena Ceravalo: MothMyth: Examining the Cultural Significance of the Mothman Narrative

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H4 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation

MothMyth: Examining the Cultural Significance of the Mothman Narrative

Urban legends and monsters provide insight into how the people who tell them see the world. Changing monster narratives can signify change in the cultures that preserve them. This project demonstrates some of these cultural shifts using the Mothman. This legend’s more recent creation and thorough documentation shows us how urban legends are created and illuminates how Americans use storytelling to grapple with postwar society, modernization, urbanization, and trauma. This project builds on previous scholarship and focuses on key milestones in the legend’s history: the initial 1966 sighting, Silver Bridge collapse, John Keel’s 1975 novel The Mothman Prophecies, its 2002 film adaptation, post-film Mothman tourism, and Mothman in media post-2002. I examine stories popularized during these stages, their impact, and possible purposes. The Mothman narrative’s vulnerability to change helps it remain culturally relevant, and despite its many interpretations, the Mothman unites communities under shared interest.

Access this project at cyber-rose.github.io/mothmyth

Student Major(s)/Minor: Undeclared

Faculty Mentor: Jay Watkins, History
Jane Cohen: The Many Personas of Yukio Mishima: From Success to Suicide

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: I3 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation

The Many Personas of Yukio Mishima: From Success to Suicide

Yukio Mishima, born 1925, was a novelist, play-wright, actor, and eventually political activist. Mishima’s appearance in both Japanese and United States media, his presentation of himself in two of his most famous works: Confessions of a Mask (1949) and Sun and Steel (1968) (both read in translation), his personal explorations into cinema, photography, and eventually organized militia served to separate him from other Japanese authors of the time and establish an everlasting legacy in the world of Japanese literature. He aimed to shock and create spectacle in each of his personal activities and professional works, and when faced with his own criticism of himself, his life ended in ritual suicide, leaving the world with one last dramatic action. This essay considers Mishima’s various personas throughout his career in both realms of United States and Japanese media.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Undeclared (Planned History Major)

Faculty Mentor: Michael Cronin, Modern Languages (Japanese)
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Lila Doran: The Incubator Project: A Virtual & Walking Tour of African American History 

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H2 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation

The Incubator Project: A Virtual & Walking Tour of African American History 

The Williamsburg Bray School was established by the Associates of Dr. Thomas Bray and at the suggestion of Benjamin Franklin in the mid-eighteenth century. The purpose of this educational institution was to enforce and assert Christian ideologies among enslaved and free Black children. This school provided its pupils with biblically-based literacy lessons and sought to indoctrinate its students with and edify the proslavery perspective. The structure itself has been subjected to renovation and removal from its original space; however, its legacy is one that historians, archaeologists, and architects are still trying to uncover. This virtual experience guides users through the chronology of the building and the institution and explores the impact that it had on its students, the enslaved and free Black community in Williamsburg. The story of the Williamsburg Bray school is a narrative that will continue to unfold as new discoveries are made at the site.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Philosophy, History (undeclared thus far)

Faculty Mentor: Jody Allen, Robyn Schroeder, Sarah Thomas, History 
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Nicki Ganti, Natalie Lopez: Transitional Justice and Remembrance in Guatemala: The Necessity and Struggle of Human Rights Work post Armed-Internal Conflict

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H3 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation

Transitional Justice and Remembrance in Guatemala: The Necessity and Struggle of Human Rights Work post Armed-Internal Conflict

Nicki Ganti and Natalie Lopez were awarded the The Margaret S. Glauber Faculty-Student Research Fellows and Scholarship Fund under their faculty mentor Professor Betsy Konefal. They worked with Guatemalan human rights organization Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo (GAM). They assisted with archival research, in U.S. declassified documents and databases, on cases of those "disappeared" in Guatemala's armed-internal conflict (1960-1996) that are being litigated by GAM. Specifically, the cases of Rosario Godoy de Cuevas and Héctor Gómez Calito. While conducting this archival research they had the opportunity to collaborate with an undergraduate researcher from Haverford College. In addition, they worked with Professor Konefal on memoir project with a former Guatemalan opposition leader. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: Nicki: History; Natalie: Undeclared

Faculty Mentor: Betsy Konefal, History 
Heath Grande Staton, Ginny Helmandollar, Kerris Watson, Megha Vasudevan, Kay Carter: Discourse Analysis at William & Mary

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H5 - Session I, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Digital Presentation

Discourse Analysis at William & Mary

Discourse Analysis at William & Mary (DA@W&M) is an on campus linguistics research group that investigates how members of specific communities, especially those who identify as disabled, navigate their personal identities and their attitudes toward larger societal expectations and narratives. Members of the group contribute to projects that allow us to analyze the natural speech of participants and how they interact with other individuals. Specific projects taking place during the summer of 2022 included completing a database for sociolinguistic interviews, transcribing past interviews for research purposes, recruiting participants and conducting new interviews, and applying for conferences and other funding. DA@W&M’s work in disability is important because people who identify as disabled are often overlooked and misunderstood. DA@W&M would like to amplify the voices of those who identify as disabled while contributing to existing research in linguistics and disability.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Heath: Linguistics, Ginny: Linguistics & Anthropology, Kerris: Undeclared, Megha: Linguistics, English, Kay Carter: Undeclared

Faculty Mentor: Leslie Cochrane, Linguistics
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J.R. Herman: The Pharaoh of England, Rehoboam’s Revolution, & the Mosaic Constitution: Intersections of Sacred History and Anti-Monarchical Politics in Revolutionary America

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D5 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

The Pharaoh of England, Rehoboam’s Revolution, & the Mosaic Constitution: Intersections of Sacred History and Anti-Monarchical Politics in Revolutionary America

How did Patriot politicians, activists, and preachers in Revolutionary America (1765-1791) employ sacred history politically as anti-monarchical propaganda (denouncing George III’s right to rule, demonizing the institution of kingship, justifying revolutionary violence, and championing both independence and republican ideals) in the years leading up to the War of Independence, during the Revolution itself, and in the uncertain years following its aftermath? After scouring, reading, and analyzing hundreds, if not thousands of Revolutionary-era primary sources, it became clear that the biblical vision of history (particularly that outlined in Exodus through 2 Kings) was seen as representing—and more importantly, justifying—the Patriot cause (and eventually, the constitutional federal republic) in a myriad of ways. Such an examination of anti-monarchical biblical invocations is not only a valuable exercise in intellectual history but also in understanding the Bible’s complex relationship with and impact on early American politics, historiography, and history.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Classical Studies / Ancient Near East & Africa Studies (double major)

Faculty Mentor: Jeremy Pope, History
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Sarah Johnson: Fallout Shelters and the Moral Divisions They Created

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D13 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Fallout Shelters and the Moral Divisions They Created

During the Cold War, a nuclear attack seemed like a real possibility. One prominent method of protection was the fallout shelter, which intended to shield people from the radiation that resulted from an atomic bomb. Through my research, I sought to identify the impact of these shelters on American society. I found that the implementation of the federal government’s fallout shelter policies generated many controversies. Among these controversies, ethical concerns arose over limited access to fallout shelters, including the lack of fallout protection for people with low incomes, the higher quality shelters for government officials, the role of race in shelter access, and the justification of violence to defend shelters. Ultimately, although fallout shelters were intended to preserve values of democracy in the fight against communism, they ironically divided American communities.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Undeclared

Faculty Mentor: Hiroshi Kitamura, History
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Katalina Li-Kroeger: Read Between the Rainbow Lines: An Exploration of Sapphic Identity Development in Sapphic Young Adult Speculative Fiction

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D7 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Read Between the Rainbow Lines: An Exploration of Sapphic Identity Development in Sapphic Young Adult Speculative Fiction

Public opinion is undergoing a shift toward inclusion of traditionally marginalized groups. Consequently, representation in young adult (YA) fiction has increased dramatically. This study examines one example of inclusivity through a content analysis of contemporary releases in YA sapphic speculative fiction, with the researcher analyzing occurrences that demonstrate sapphic protagonists’ identity development within standout books in each genre of speculative fiction. The novels represented protagonists at varying stages of their identity journey; however, there were clear trends in the material that demonstrated each character’s eventual willingness to explore themselves more deeply, understand relationships more clearly, and work towards self-acceptance. These trends are important steps within literature, demonstrating to sapphic individuals that they can find representation within YA novels and work towards self-realization through the eyes of the novels’ protagonists. The novels’ publication and continued sales reflect people’s desire for increased understanding of sapphic individuals and the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations

Faculty Mentor: Lori Jacobson, Writing Resource Center
Phoebe Linnell, Breyonna Rock: The Local Black Histories Project

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D11 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

The Local Black Histories Project

Although Williamsburg promotes its colonial history, the rich history and legacy of early 20th century Black Williamsburg is frequently overlooked. Before Colonial Williamsburg was restored, the area was a hub of Black-owned businesses and a center of Black community life. The Local Black Histories integrates this history into the local school curriculum and makes it accessible to the wider community. This summer, we contributed to the Local Black Histories Project by collecting oral histories, creating an online exhibit, conducting archival research, and developing a StoryMap of Williamsburg. Our research findings demonstrate the strength of community ties and financial and social autonomy of Black Williamsburg. While dispossession can’t be compensated, history continues to live through descendants and the memory of the people’s experiences. We must continue to shed light on the extent of dispossession, the community’s triumphs, and the historical context of those who have made Williamsburg what it is today. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: Phoebe: Sociology major, History minor, Breyonna: Psychology major, Sociology minor

Faculty Mentor: Amy Quark , Sociology
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Linnea Mason: Women in The Odyssey

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D10 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Women in The Odyssey

I have examined three translations of the Odyssey, paying particular attention to the language used to describe women. Previously, male translators have used language which softened the harsh reality of the slavery practiced by the Greeks. Emily Wilson, the first woman to translate the epic into English, differs purposely in word choice, which paints a more honest picture of the world of the epic. Wilson's use of a modern poetic meter also lends a more authentic feel to what was originally an oral poem. Her translation seems to be closest to the original work, both in words chosen and the overall flow of the centuries old epic. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: Classical Civilization

Faculty Mentor: Vassiliki Panoussi, Classical Studies
Kaitlin Molloy: Aesthetics of the Past and Present: Predicting the False Self

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A4 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Aesthetics of the Past and Present: Predicting the False Self

Aestheticism is an artistic movement that favors beauty and appearance rather than a moral, allegorical, or other informative purpose to the piece. The movement pushed back at Victorian moralism at the end of the eighteenth century. In the modern age, the term aesthetic has resurfaced in an unlikely setting: social media. The modern landscape of social media focuses on the presentation of oneself or, more importantly, the curation of the best image of oneself. With aesthetic acting as a conduit, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest anticipates the performativity of modern-day social media usage. The text, littered with motifs of doubled identities, is not only imperative to the popularity of curated aesthetics, but it demonstrates how the Victorian obsession with appearance predicts the performativity of identity on social media platforms.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Physics, English

Faculty Mentor: Kim Wheatley, English
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Alex Park, Diana Kim: Charting Diverse Pathways: The First Three Asian Ancestry Women at W&M

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D3 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Charting Diverse Pathways: The First Three Asian Ancestry Women at W&M

Charting Diverse Pathways is an exhibit exploring the lives of the first three Asian Ancestry women to attend William and Mary - Hatsuye Yamasaki ‘37, Margaret Lee ‘45, and Beatrice Fujiwara ‘53. The exhibit provides historical context to the experience of these three women to understand the different realities faced by APIA students and the multitude of topics in APIA history. Each woman has a theme that combines historical context and personal details to enhance the understanding of each topic. Researchers on the APM team used a mixture of oral history and archival research to compile a holistic view of each woman’s life and experiences at W&M and beyond. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: Alex: International Relations, Asian and Pacific Islander Studies, Diana: Government, Asian and Pacific Islander Studies

Faculty Mentor: Deesesh Sohoni, Sociology and APIA
Jacob Place: King Arthur is Not Dead: An Analysis of the Themes and History of Cornish Protest Literature

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D4 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

King Arthur is Not Dead: An Analysis of the Themes and History of Cornish Protest Literature

Throughout the medieval and early modern periods, the people and region of Cornwall retained a culture that was almost entirely separate from that of England. The relative isolation of Cornwall provided a unique enclave where Brythonic culture thrived for almost eight centuries. Similarly to other subjugated Celtic peoples, the Cornish produced literature, poems, and songs in their own tongue that were populist in nature and largely unsupported by the English nobility.  While few examples of writing from these periods survive, those that do paint a picture of a society with deep nostalgia for the past glories of the Britons. This essay analyzes the themes contained within these works and illustrates their connections with Cornish history.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Undecided

Faculty Mentor: Erin Webster, English
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Jacob Schapiro: Analyzing the Relationship Between the Catholic Church and European Jewry post-Enlightenment

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D9 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Analyzing the relationship between the Catholic Church and European Jewry post-Enlightenment

I researched how the relationship between European Jewry and the Catholic Church has shifted over time, post-Enlightenment. Using various flashpoints in the history of that relationship, such as the Mortara and Finaly cases, I explored how it has evolved, noting what has changed and what hasn’t changed. This is significant because the relationship was historically one marked by distrust and hate. As ideals of equality spread because of the Enlightenment, much appears to have changed changed but it’s worth investigating how much change has really occurred and how that change occurred, especially with the recent rise in antisemitism. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: History, Religious Studies

Faculty Mentor: Randi Rashkover, Religious Studies
Andy Shufer: Defense is from Mars, State is from Venus: The Significance of Executive Civilian-Military Relationships in Historical Nuclear Decision-Making

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D14 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Defense is from Mars, State is from Venus: The Significance of Executive Civilian-Military Relationships in Historical Nuclear Decision-Making

Historically, how has the shifting relationship between the US civilian and military cultures affected decision-making on nuclear use? While existing literature chronicles a growing "taboo" against the use of nuclear weapons in the US, such research often fails to analyze how the "taboo" is affected by the contrasting cultures of the US civilian government and military. This paper conducts a literature review of civilian-military dynamics and nuclear decision-making in the US. As research exists on the effect of civilian-military dynamics on aggressive foreign policy making, this paper builds on that literature to develop theories as to how different forms of civilian-military dynamics have historically impacted considerations of nuclear use by looking at a variety of case studies, primarily World War II and the Vietnam War. This paper then develops a loose categorization of the types of civilian-military dynamics and details how each type functions within a scenario of nuclear decision-making.

Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations, Data Science minor

Faculty Mentor: Hiroshi Kitamura, History
Marissa Sirois: Grazing Pains: Western Responses to the Progressive Era Conservation Movement

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D17 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Grazing Pains: Western Responses to the Progressive Era Conservation Movement

The Progressive Era marked the beginning of American efforts to conserve the country’s rapidly degrading natural resources. Today, the creation of National Forests and Parks is seen as a victory, often ignoring the Western livelihoods most affected by their creation. In my research, I utilized primary sources from the Denver Public Library Western History Collection and newspapers from the Chronicling America Collection to examine some of these forgotten Western perspectives of the Progressive Era conservation movement, focusing on the responses of stockmen, who found their grazing lands turned into forest reserves. I found that the rise of conservation was met with much opposition and incredulity, the rural West resisting the changes to their livelihoods mandated by the urban, Eastern movement. However, as the conservation movement progressed, the benefits and permanence of conservation became apparent, increasing acceptance of the movement. This research informs our understanding of the evolution, strengths, and failures of the early conservation movement, helping us better understand current environmental movements and their potential outcomes.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Undecided

Faculty Mentor: Andrew Fisher, History
Ally Swindell: Evolution of the Enemy: Film and Threat Perception in Twentieth Century America

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: D12 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Evolution of the Enemy: Film and Threat Perception in Twentieth Century America

A popular film genre within the United States during the twentieth century centered around past and current military engagements. Of these films, many selected for preservation in the National Film Registry highlighted three distinct periods of conflict: World War II, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. I seek to analyze how these distinct eras of film, as represented on the registry, differ in their portrayals of enemy forces and the U.S. military in order to impact the threat perception of opposing states among the general public. In addition, I seek to demonstrate the significance of the influence of these films due to the impact of public opinion on the determination of the national interest. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations

Faculty Mentor: Dennis Smith, Government
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Elijah Tsai: Posthumanism at William and Mary

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A5 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Posthumanism at William and Mary

Humanism, the philosophical cornerstone of western universities, is fraught with rigid binaries that define an idealized subject against a lesser one. The human vs. the Nonhuman, Culture vs. Nature and Man vs. Woman all assert the former as superior to the latter under humanism. This has historically manifested in the marginalization and abuse of these lesser subjects. The emerging field of posthumanism offers an alternative critical theory that moves beyond these lethal binaries by displacing the centrality of the human. This project conceptualizes what a posthuman university would look like utilizing Rosi Braidotti’s affirmative vitalist and materialist posthuman theory as well as the steps necessary to turn a contemporary humanist university posthumanist. A posthumanist university’s subjectivity no longer revolves around the human but rather any subject that is self organizing and generative. This is Braidotti’s definition of life with life now placed at the center of a posthumanist university. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations, Minor History

Faculty Mentor: Michael Cronin, Japanese Studies
Elise Tsao: Religion and Medicine: Disability in the Ancient World

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A3 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Religion and Medicine: Disability in the Ancient World

I examined two main aspects of the ancient world: the history of medicine in that time, as well as how social outlooks with regard to the sick and disabled affected the way people practiced medicine. As religious beliefs were directly linked to medical practices, I focused on the role of anatomical votives in ancient religion and medicine, and how the effigies represented a link between the physical and divine worlds according to the spiritual norms of the time. This can aid modern-day efforts to destigmatize existing medical issues and shed light on humanity's complicated relationship between bodily wholeness and religious practice. In addition, it will provide vital historical context on the broader connection between religion and medicine.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Majoring in International Relations

Faculty Mentor: Jessica Paga, Classical Studies
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Tara Vasanth: Nurturing Nature: Investigating Biomimetic Architecture as a Philosophy and Practice

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A7 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Nurturing Nature: Investigating Biomimetic Architecture as a Philosophy and Practice

There has been a recent upsurge of interest in biomimetics. As forest fires and coastal flooding escalate, so too have concerns of sustainability and renewable energy in environmental and architectural discourses – thereby drawing attention to the merits of Biomimetics, a peculiar but provocative branch of design. This preoccupation with biomimicry raises the plain question: what is it and why does it matter?
This research delves into the depths of this idea that, at first glance, seems quite revolutionary; however, the emulation of nature in our built environment is not anything new and reaches back far into early human history. With this in mind, this project investigates biomimetics as a philosophy, a practice, and even a response to an increasingly frenetic and fast-paced world.
Biomimicry is a way of thinking, not just a way of building; this unique vantage point is centuries in the making and a discussion of its curious evolution (and etymology) will demonstrate its great artistic and technological versatility and creative problem-solving capabilities.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Art History, Environmental Policy

Faculty Mentor: Sibel Zandi-Sayek, Art History
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Katherine Walter: Mythical Tales from Homer to Lee: An Analysis of Ancient Tropes to Modern Marvels

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: A6 - Session I, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Poster Presentation

Mythical Tales from Homer to Lee: An Analysis of Ancient Tropes to Modern Marvels

The stories of heroes have remained prevalent throughout the history of entertainment. This project is a close comparison of tropes, characters, and patterns between Ancient Greek epics and the hero films we rush to see today. The discovery of these particular features such as locations, character backstories, and specific overarching thematic choices involves reading Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey and then comparing them to and contrasting them with modern stories from Marvel Studio’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (also known as the “MCU”). In addition to this analysis, I evaluate and dissect how well these story aspects have held up through time by analyzing how well these characteristics have been maintained.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Global Studies (European Studies) and Government

Faculty Mentor: Michael Halleran, Classical Studies
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Brian Zhao: Out of Bounds: Reading Arthur Matsu’s Life Between the Lines of Inclusion and Exclusion

Presentation Spot, Time, & Format: H2 - Session II, 1-2:30 pm, Digital Presentation

Out of Bounds: Reading Arthur Matsu’s Life Between the Lines of Inclusion and Exclusion

Since Arthur Matsu’s rediscovery in the late 2000s by Anthony Elopre ‘08, a number of new illuminating finds have helped researchers paint a better picture of Matsu’s time while at William & Mary. While multiple projects have detailed Matsu’s acceptance into the campus-wide community as the university’s renowned bluechip quarterback, few, if any, have gone beyond his time at the College and examined the converse - namely, his Otherness and his ostracization as a mixed-race Japanese-Scott with Irish citizenship.
Using new, never before seen Virginia state documents, this project illustrates Matsu’s simultaneous inclusion and exclusion within the local Williamsburg community and within the continental US. Building upon past student research, this project ultimately demonstrates that despite Matsu’s celebrated acclaim as a national star-athlete, he was still not recognized by the US government as a citizen worthy to fight for the country in World War II. In fact, in order to attend his own father’s funeral, Matsu would have to petition the Virginia state legislature to travel out of the state, a practice which was in line with Japanese internment policies of the time. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: Comparative Asian & Middle Eastern Studies

Faculty Mentor: Deneesh Sohoni, APIA/Sociology