May 2, 2025
Reception & Presentations 2pm to 5pm
Cal Poly Humboldt Library
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Presenters & Abstracts: Search
The Counter-Narratives of British and American High Schools Within Television
Salina Jimenez
English
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
This ongoing research project investigates the counter-narrative of high schools within American and British culture within films and tv shows. 90210 and many other American shows shows high school as “the greatest time of your life” while Skins, a British-based series, shows that high school is just something that you want to get out of. Sex Education, which is the main focus, combines the two cultures to combat the negative connotation of the stereotypical British high school. I also explore how as technology improves, rhetoric changes its form (television) to fit with what society needs to get their message across a large audience.
Commander-in-Clown: An Analysis of Political Rhetoric in Relation to Saturday Night Live
Gary Dean Engle
English
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Saturday Night Live is a major cultural touchstone and a reactive satire which parodies the same politics it influences. Though whether this influence is descriptive or prescriptive remains to be seen. During the 2016 election, the show changed its portrayal of Donald Trump when Alec Baldwin took over the role. Trump was portrayed as ultimately stupid and unlikely to win. The show helped to normalize his campaign, repudiating Trump’s mannerisms but not his policies. By lavishing so much faith on Clinton and treating Trump like a throwaway joke, Saturday Night Live may have inadvertently helped him win the election.
Mayan Ceramic Reconstruction
Forrest Estes
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
This reconstruction project was essential in understanding the proper steps to put together ancient pottery. The methods used were based on the National Park Service use of acryloid B-72 for labeling, as well as the Xuenkal Archaeological Project, Yucatán’s way of properly conserving, washing, and gluing of ceramic. The acryloid glue allows items’ provenance to be written directly on the artifact without damage. The acryloid glue prevents the curling, flaking, and loss of numbers of the cellulose nitrate lacquers within the ceramics unlikes other glues. These methods have proven successful with the ink, not being absorbed by the ceramic causing damage and the glue proved longevity.
Types of Censorship in Early Modern England
Korinza Shlanta
English
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
A research project that aimed to identify the materials, methods, subjects, and people who affected censorship in the early modern period. Censorship is often thought to be a conspiratorial act by those who are in power and control the dominant discourses, so how did censorship happen and how did people manage to circumvent intensely regulated printing and selling processes? The printing of materials was almost solely restricted to the city of London and only a handful of people had the money and privilege to own and operate the equipment; this project explores the circumstances that gave rise to a strict printing culture and censorship practices in a country that had a low literacy rate.
The Irishman and His Whiskey
Kathryn Tirrell
English
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
The artifact of alcoholic beverages contains a profoundly vast array of facets to articulate. This paper aims to make the critical interventions necessary to realize the manifestations of alcohol use and its interpretations, in terms of identity, occur because of historic contexts embedded in our culture. By examining the symbolism and stereotypes of the Irish immigrant in America, the identity struggles and ideologies surrounding alcohol can be understood through the rhetoric of social groups.
Unlearning to Use the "N" Word
Mireille Roman
English Department
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
I will analyze the way people in marginalized communities, specifically those who do not identify as Black, internalize the “N” word through the lyrics of music in hip hop. Although those in similar systems of oppression relate to the the word’s connotation, it does not entitle anyone who does not identify as Black to use the “N” word. Through ethnomusicology paired with metalinguistics, I conclude that hip hop should diversify the industry with artists from different social positions to represent other minorities, leaving room for marginalized groups to create artifacts that directly represent their day-to-day experiences in this oppressive society without having to use the “N” word.
Religious Freedom in Northern California: Fighting to Keep Sacred Lands Out of Government Hands
Jenifer Hailey
Native American Studies
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
This Creative Project compiles the different avenues of research I have studied concerning cultural survival and activism in Northwest California. The sacred spaces in the High Country and the communities that joined together to preserve Native Spirituality and sacred spaces. It also, highlights my work in Special Collections documenting the Lyng v NICPA's case archival materials for online public viewing.
Stop Daming Native Lands
Boston Jones
Criminology
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
The effects on local Native Tribes from the construction of thw Shasta Dam.
Jefferson Community Center: Working Together for the Greater Eureka Community
Desteny Gutierrez
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
The Jefferson Community Center is dedicated to fostering a sense of working together by increasing recreational, educational and vocational opportunities to the needs of the community. The excitement builds as our community shows its commitment to a clean, safe neighborhood full of activities for all ages. This project will summarize my service learning at Jefferson, primarily working with the youth programs. I will describe a few other programs and services offered at Jefferson, supported by photos of events and activities. I will provide contact information and opportunities to get involved. Join us with your ideas, projects and energy!
Cultivating Environmental Education Through School Gardens
Ana Puga
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate Student
Mary Brown
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
In a moment when there is a need to increase social knowledge and skills for addressing environmental issues, gardens are an important resource. Garden programs address multiple learning styles, help physical development and provide opportunities for interdisciplinary lessons for children. Within these programs, kids practice locomotor skills, patience, and responsibility. In this study, we looked at accessibility to gardens within elementary schools in Arcata & McKinleyville. In addition to observing accessibility, we looked at the limiting factors for schools that do not have access to gardens and see if there are correlations to social implications such as class and wealth.