control his bloodlust while confronting the trauma of his human past. It tackles dark fantasy, addictions, historical fictions and psychological horror. The moral of the story is everyone has a certain chain that we deal with whether that is drugs, alcohol, immortality, mortality or even your own past. I chose this because it makes you question what we have and do everything is a chain in a certain way. The genre of this story is YA literature as well as dark supernatural which tackles on a form of addiction and redemption. Jabari as a vampire who struggles with the blood lust that we were cursed with and the fact that we will always have to deal with his immortality until he dies which also happens to be forever. It fits this genre because it’s for a younger audience who has interest in things like Vampire Diaries and also those who like the historical aspects. Darius Green, “Masculinity in Society” (session 24) What role does the portrayal of masculinity and emotional isolation play in Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore and what does this reveal about the anxieties of masculinity in contemporary society? Methodology: Analyze the portrayal of masculinity in the characters of Kafka Tamura and Nakata. Analyze how masculinity is portrayed through the dialogue and action of the characters. Analyze how the symbols of masculinity are portrayed. Discuss how the narrative structure of the novel relates to masculinity. Discuss what experts have to say on the gender portrayal of Murakami and how this relates to our own analysis. Some of the questions that may be explored include: - How does the portrayal of masculinity relate to the characters of Kafka and Nakata? - How does the symbol of masculinity relate to masculinity? - How does the narrative structure relate to masculinity? - What do experts have to say on the gender portrayal of Murakami? These prompts will allow us to gain further insight into Kafka on the Shore and the themes of masculinity that it presents. However, our own perspective will bring new and unique ideas to the project. The project will analyze the way that literature represents gender and emotional expressions. I plan to analyze gender theory to gain insight into why the male characters in Murakami’s novels are loners and don’t express themselves emotionally. I plan to analyze the way that psychology and postmodern theory inform the shift in traditional masculinity and narrative styles. I plan to show the way that literature contributes to our perceptions of gender and identity. Emily Greenfield, “Postoperative Oppression” (session 5) My project is analyzing whether mental health affects surgery recovery in athletes. I will be analyzing multiple studies to determine what mental health factors can be shown to correlate with delayed recovery. The studies I have found so far all have data supporting this proposal. It is shown that those with anxiety or depression before surgery experience more pain and delayed recovery after surgery. Along with this athletes who overthink during rehabilitation have slower recovery times than those that are more open minded. There is a surprising lack of studies on this information but I will continue to find relevant work as I proceed with my research. I am certain mental health affects surgery recovery and I want to get the most accurate data I can to support this. Interestingly, there is a gender difference within a fear avoidance belief questionnaire that one study found, where males have a higher likelihood of struggling with this than females. Octavious Griffin - “RUDE BOY” (session 21) This project analyzes my personal clothing brand and how it reflects my lifestyle and identity. It focuses on how the designs, colors, and messages on the clothing represent who I am, what
I value, and how I want others to see me. My brand is not just about fashion—it is about telling a story and expressing individuality through what people wear every day. The method I am using is rhetorical analysis. This means I will study my clothing designs and branding choices to understand how they communicate meaning. I will look at things like logos, slogans, color choices, and style to see how they send messages to others without using words. I am starting to see that clothing can act like a form of communication, almost like speaking without talking. My goal is to discover how my brand can influence how people express themselves and connect with others through style. Brighid Groom - see Wolfe “Seasons of Adversity” (session 16) Ellie Gutcher - “Does Alcohol Use and Sleep Quality Impact Stress Levels Among College Students?” (poster session II) This study examines the connection between alcohol use, sleep quality, and stress within college students. Previous research has indicated that sleep quality is an important predictor of academic performance, psychological well-being, and overall health among college students. Numerous studies have also shown that alcohol use is popular in college populations and may be linked to disrupted sleep and increased stress. Stress is a frequent experience among college students and could influence both alcohol consumption and sleep quality. This study uses a correlational survey design to explore these relationships. Alcohol use will be measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), sleep quality will be measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and stress levels will be measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS- 10). Previous studies suggest that greater engagement in alcohol use is linked to poorer sleep and higher levels of psychological distress. The results from this study may help demonstrate a stronger correlation between alcohol use, sleep, and stress, and could be used to inform prevention efforts and improve health and well-being across college campuses. Ellie Gutcher - “The Stigmatized Mother: Postpartum Depression as a Perceived Social Deviance” (poster session II) Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health condition which has historically been stigmatized and misunderstood, this socially can be viewed as being deviant due to constructions of the ideals of motherhood. This paper looks at the stigmatization of PPD through three important perspectives, how it was historically treated, contemporary societal structure, and strategies for removing the stigma. In historical analysis, the study highlights how PPD was often misdiagnosed as a general mental illness, this led to institutionalization and harmful treatment. A brief family case involving my great Nanna Kerrigan is incorporated to illuminate how these practices operated in lived experience, more specifically the context of domestic control and gendered power dynamics. Modern stigma is then explored, this includes the “ideal mother” narrative, this adds to feelings of anxiety, guilt, and fear of seeking help among the women affected. The study includes key ideas for reducing stigma, public health initiatives, reframing motherhood norms, and strengthening professional and social support systems. Overall, this paper states that although awareness of PPD has improved, very deeply rooted societal expectations continue to shape its perception, this highlights the need for cultural and structural change to be ongoing.
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