Herron School of Art and Design Theses
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Item WHALEFALL(2021-05-08) Leamon, Karri; Nordgulen, Eric; Robinson, Cory; Furqueron, ReaganThe whale fall represents a devastating loss not only symbolically of my father, but also a colossal loss to the ecosystem of our great oceans. As the whale begins to sink it blocks out the sun entirely to the creatures beneath. The whale crashes and the sediment of the ocean floor rises up in an intense cloud, further blocking the sun and obscuring the view of the whale. At the precipice of the death, there is no hope of continuing life for the whale; but new life will form. Once the whale is fully settled on the floor, bioluminescent creatures begin to flock to the remains, something that seems nearly impossible in the dark desolate void of the ocean floor, eventually, bringing back the light and life to the whale.Item Fighting Powers(2021) Dobouni, Leena; Winship, AndrewFighting Powers analyzes Leena Dobouni’s body of installation artwork as it relates to concepts of socio-political imbalance between the Middle East and Western powers. The West’s systemic degradation of the Middle East is examined through the theories of the post-colonial / imperial gaze, psychological myopia and social dominance theory. The thesis poses that historical events during the early 20th century set the stage for the current rapport that the West has with the Middle East. T. E. Lawrence, Mark Sykes and Francois Georges-Picot are three main players in the instigation of the inequitable relations between the West and the Middle East. Investigation of these ideas and events support the presented viewpoint that socio-structural marginalization of the “other” in Western communities is irrefutable and that the idea of the “lesser” is born out of “othering." Dobouni’s unique experiences as a Muslim of mixed Iraqi-American heritage in the Western and imperial gaze has allowed her to observe distinct narratives of political tension between the two sides of her upbringing.Item Community and Art(2021-05) Haymaker, Shawn; Misluk, EileenCommunity may hold different meanings to different people and situations, which may or may not be bound by physical space. Community is not well defined and is especially difficult to define in literacy research. It was hypothesized the definition of community would include similarities on a broader scale, although there may be differences that reflect diverse cultural traits on a smaller scale. This study was a parallel mixed methods research study that utilized a systematic literature review and a convenient survey design aimed to understand how community-based providers define the term “community” within their work. Connection, support, commonality, were among the highest mentioned when asked in the survey, “what does community mean to you?” Listening, dialogue, and communication were important key elements when asked, “what makes community thrive?” The survey results indicated sense of belonging and bonding of like minds were the most important aspects of community, as well as, connection, support, and common values, ideals and traits were important factors in defining community. A guideline for clinicians was provided as they define community in their work across the world, cultures, and ethnicities.Item The Land of Milk and Honey(2021-05-10) Roberts, Jessica 'Leia'; Misluk, Eileen; Petranek, Stefan; Riede, DanielleMy body of work serves as a form of therapy for me and provides insight into the often-misunderstood world of mental illnesses. A personal struggle is with Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders [OSFED] has informed the pieces discussed below. OSFED is the term utilized to include individuals who do not meet the strict guidelines for anorexia or bulimia nervosa but still have a substantial eating disorder (“Other Specified Feeding”). With this in mind, my practice explores a personal experience with eating disorders. Eating disorders are medically recognized mental disorders and have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. National surveys estimate that 12% of women and 6% of men in America will develop an eating disorder within their lifetime (“What Are Eating”). It should be recognized that eating disorders can affect anyone, at any age. As an artist, I strive to make work that provides the viewer with a deeper understanding of the mind of someone with an eating disorder.Item Defining the Role: Pediatric Art Therapist(2021-05) Mourey, Brooke; Misluk, EileenIn pediatrics, there are various teams of professionals working to help medically fragile children develop and maintain coping capacities amidst their traumatic situations. In recent years the need for these professionals has continually increased. This research is in efforts to further define one of these professions, pediatric art therapists and how they work in the medical setting. This study was designed to help to clarify common misconceptions of a medical art therapist's role in conjunction with other auxiliary staff. It was hypothesized that this research would clarify the pediatric art therapy role, allowing for better use of art therapy for their hiring employers and their patients. This qualitative study used a simple descriptive survey design to gather data about medical art therapists job descriptions and interpretations. Results reported from the survey showed a variety of credentials, position titles, job descriptions and interpretations of roles across the board. The better an art therapist understands their role in different settings, like a pediatric hospital, the better they can provide for these settings, adapting their skills to precisely what these job postings are requesting.Item Easing Transition: The Journal as a Transitional Object for Adolescents in Emergency Shelter Care(2021-05) Dunn, Amanda; Misluk, EileenThe 437,283 children involved in the foster care system, specifically the adolescents in institutions like emergency shelter care, present specific needs including continuity, trauma-informed care, and positive relationships. The purpose of this integrative literature review was to explore how a journal could act as a transitional object (TO) to help meet the needs of adolescents in emergency shelter care. It was hypothesized that the use of a reflective visual journal will act as a TO and help meet the needs of this population. Resulting from this research is a proposal for making a journal for use as TO in a therapeutic workshop. Literature was reviewed through an integrative literature review, which used representative literature to form new perspectives on the topics. Resulting from this research is a proposal for making a journal for use as TO in a therapeutic workshop. From this research and workshop proposal, art therapy and journaling can be used to create TO that can help bring healing to and meet the needs of adolescents in emergency shelter care.Item A Cataclysmorphic Prophecy(2021-05-20) Moore, Alex; Potter, William; Riede, Danielle; Winship, AndrewOur bodies and minds are incessantly morphing, driven by environmental stimuli. You could reduce the entire experience of being alive to simply being fluid and responsive. In considering the significance of this morphability, we should also consider the significance of “place”. This relationship with place is rooted in ecology, the branch of biology which deals with living things and their relationships with their physical surroundings. In my body of work I examine my own relationship with place, its effects on my identity, and my ability to morph.Item The Use of Art Therapy for Family Caregivers of Individuals with Dementia(2021-05) Powlen, Mikayla; Misluk, EileenThe art therapy field enlightens the idea of artistic expression which allows for nonverbal interpretation of emotions, bypasses cognition, and brings forth the benefit of art alone. Art therapy can be used to reduce burnout, anxiety, and stress while also increasing social support for caregivers of individuals with dementia. The purpose of this literature review is to provide foundational knowledge on the topic of art therapy, dementia, caretakers, and determining the benefit of art therapy for caretakers. It was hypothesized that by completing this review, validation would occur for art interventions being helpful for caregivers’ overall well-being. A traditional literature review was used to examine the experiences of caregivers of individuals with dementia. Art therapy has been increasingly recognized as having a contribution to caretakers mental health as well as the relationships surrounding those diagnosed with dementia. The reduction of stress and anxiety can further enhance family caregivers’ well-being and their relationship with their loved one with dementia.Item Of a Time and Place(2021-05-07) Cecil, Justin; Farrow, Vance; Robinson, Cory; Setser, MeredithThe silhouettes incorporated into my work are used for obscurity. They often feature the mundane, ordinary people whose stories could only be imagined. Sometimes they focus on recognizable figures but presenting them in shadow forces the viewer to think about them more carefully. These silhouettes also represent the current sociopolitical climate of the United States. Events and atrocities highlighted one day will be forgotten the next. Simple ideas or phrases collected from the daily news often spark ideas for new work. Creating work about these events allows me to spend more time with them and in a way makes them more tangible. This allows me to think more carefully about what is happening around me. My work is also a type of preservation of events that will outlive their news cycle and ultimately outlive me.Item Symbolism: An Arts-Based Phenomenological Study Through Reflective Artwork of Graduate Students(2021-05) Smith, Macey Christine; Misluk, EileenSymbolism has the potential to be found in anything and everywhere if someone will allow themself to explore this idea. While symbolism exploration has been occurring for decades, art therapy has provided a wonderful opportunity for people to explore symbolism within artwork. The purpose of this study was to understand the use of symbols within professional identity. This study hypothesized that symbols and themes of nature would be used in artwork to explore professional identity within a graduate art therapy program. The method used was an art-based phenomenological study. Exploring the integration of lived experiences and professional knowledge, this study found that professional identity is an ongoing evolution. This evolution can be guided by implementing new training for graduate students and emerging professionals to prepare for the field of art therapy.