Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 13
Filtering by
- Creators: Ingram-Waters, Mary
Description
Sites of in-person fan/celebrity meetings can serve as a place for fans to share intimate details about themselves to celebrities. Through built-up confidence and knowledge of the subject matter, fans may be compelled to share personal anecdotes with the celebrity during these meetings. Fan studies scholars use the term “parasociality” to describe one-sided relationships between fans and celebrities. My research aims to show how in-person events cultivate intimacy between fans and celebrities, even while simultaneously reinforcing parasocial relationships. It is often used when referring to the relationships as being one-sided, even though the fan also gains something from the interaction.
ContributorsGalek, Veronica Lucya (Author) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Thesis director) / Hsu, Emily (Committee member) / Schultz, Miranda (Committee member) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm (Contributor, Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-12
Description
The objective of the study is to examine the factors of a successful diversity program within four companies that attempt to break down the barriers contributing to the lack of diversity within the design and technical field of theatre. Companies in different regions of the United States (West, Midwest, South, and Northeast) were selected and analyzed for their fellowship, apprenticeship, internship, and educational program in order to see why it is successful and how it contributes to diversifying the design and technical field of theatre. The findings of the study provide a guide to the best practices used in establishing a design and production program that can contribute to diversifying the theatre industry.
ContributorsFox, Neaco (Author) / Winnemann, Christopher (Thesis director) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Committee member) / School of Film, Dance and Theatre (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Esports streaming has become an entertainment giant and promises to continue to grow in the coming years. Streaming platforms, such as Twitch and Youtube, have become a haven for community and competition, blending the two into a novel form of interaction that fuels business. This study will analyze how the streaming of esports has influenced business in the technological realm of electronic games and contributed to the field’s longevity. It questions how we, as a society, view community in the online world which itself has become a site for the expansion of how people interact. The study also incorporates the idea of business into the market of technological electronic game-based communities and how competition through esports has also been a fuel for both. Through literature analysis and data collection, the goal of this research would be to increase knowledge on the understanding of streaming esports and help predict what foundation it might take as a whole later on.
ContributorsLatimer, Travis D (Author) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Thesis director) / Pierce, John (Committee member) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Runaway is the 34 minute short film released alongside Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” album in 2010. The overall purpose of my project is to conduct a descriptive analysis of this film to analyze its visual messages and how they are influenced by the album’s lyrics as well. To dissect Runaway, I researched multiple perspectives of the film to further inform and provide a holistic view of the decoded messages in addition to my own analysis. Through use of the Stuart-Hall encoding and decoding model, I found multiple meanings for respective sections of Runaway and ultimately constructed a narrative path mirroring that of the album.
ContributorsBezawada, Ajay K (Author) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Thesis director) / Chris, Lambert (Committee member) / Travis, Bean (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
This research examines the impact of films about corporate scandals stemming from environmental disasters, specifically the film Dark Waters which details the decade-long toxic chemical release by DuPont. It will also explore what distinguishes these kinds of documentary films as successful and if they result in corporate change. Some films about corporate injustices have been successful in shaping viewers’ opinions and have brought about actual changes in targeted corporations’ behaviors. However, in some instances, even though a film may hurt the public image of the corporation, it does not actually affect the operation of the business. The recently released film Dark Waters details the story of the lawyer and farmer behind the lawsuit that exposed the toxic chemical release by DuPont. The film chronicles how the lawsuit revealed how DuPont ignored and even tried to cover up how its chemicals were poisoning its own workers and the surrounding communities. It remains to be seen if this film will result in DuPont actually changing the ways it does business. In this research, I analyze three documentary films involving corporate scandals with environmental ramifications and determine if any changes were made as a result of the films and what aspects of these films caused them to be successful. My findings indicate that there are many factors that dictate whether or not a film is successful in bringing about change at the corporate level. Some of the factors include the type of corporation, how many people the scandal or environmental disaster affected, and where the incidents took place. Also, certain aspects of the film itself such as being directed or produced by well-known and respected directors and producers as well as employing famous actors can make a difference in the film’s overall impact.
ContributorsDelgado, Morgan Elyse (Author) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Thesis director) / Hines, Taylor (Committee member) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
This thesis seeks to understand how the film Legally Blonde has portrayed the interaction between femininity and women. Specifically, this paper will consider how feminism—defined through the context of the era and Legally Blonde—has empowered women to enter male-dominated professional workspaces—specifically in consideration of the legal profession. The feminism presented in Legally Blonde can be characterized through Elle Wood’s simultaneous displays of intelligence and focus on typical feminine interests: such as marriage, cosmetics, and the like (Marsh, 2005; Lucia, 2005; Hoffman-Longtin & Feldner, 2016). The “third-wave” feminist era surrounding Legally Blonde promotes the duality of women in expressing femininity and holding agentic capability (Dole, 2008). This thesis uses the film’s definition of feminism to consider the changes in women entering the legal profession, the identity of women who connect to the film, and the media’s responses and portrayal of the film. Legally Blonde defines feminism by presenting women as both intelligent and typically feminine—challenging the typical gender role of women in society with her expression of capability and seriousness. While the film elucidates a definition of feminism based on femininity and female agency, some women may not fit into this definition based on the lack of consideration of intersectionality in the film. While the film underlines a changing shift in acceptance of women’s expression of femininity, the film’s message may not apply to all women. Yet, Elle Woods remains a role model for many women to attend law school and her impact is emphasized in popular culture even today.
ContributorsBoucher, Nicole S (Author) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Thesis director) / Szeli, Eva (Committee member) / Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
This essay examines national leaders’ shaping of K-pop into a foreign export, specifically looking into how K-pop is used as a soft power for South Korea. I also examine how effective K-pop is as a soft power. Because of its growing global popularity and use of K-pop artists for international relations, such as Red Velvet performing for Kim Jong Un, we might expect K-pop to act as the gateway into South Korean culture, often being the first exposure that other countries have into this country’s way of life. Through a qualitative analysis of resources ranging from news articles, videos, and social media posts, we see that K-pop idols, a term for K-pop celebrities, are heavily groomed and shaped by their labels to promote the South Korean national brand. Combined with a well-made business model to appeal to different countries, they also create sentiment for South Korean culture throughout the world with the support of the government and a strong fanbase. This plan is extremely effective in generating revenue for a multitude of South Korean brands beyond K-pop and even fosters South Korean affection in North Korea.
ContributorsMendez, Audrey F (Author) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Thesis director) / Sandoval, Mathew (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
This research analyzes the masculine culture surrounding motorcycles to provide commentary on the appeal of electric motorcycles. More specifically, it examines the importance of masculine characteristics in advertising motorcycle identity. It analyzes the presented masculinity, to predict market sway, and the features necessary to create a compelling product. Through the analysis of commercials and websites for various motorcycle brands the target audience is discovered and used to predict the appeal of electric motorcycles. The presented masculinity is found to be targeting very specific populations of motorcyclists, where manufacturers believe electric motorcycles will be accepted most readily. Manufacturers are effectively entering the market through these demographics and can use them as a foothold to persuade others of the benefits of electric motorcycle technology.
ContributorsAnderson, Curtis Brian (Author) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Thesis director) / Schmidt, Peter (Committee member) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
This thesis examines the emerging significance of bubble tea as a part of a larger cultural identity of second generation Asian-Americans and how it has transformed between generations in the United States. From a seemingly simple drink to the global phenomenon that has shifted in connotation to a highly sophisticated crafted drink that has led to the “third-wave coffee shops” and a “third place” for many Asian-Americans today. Specifically, I analyze the ways that bubble tea has become almost synonymous with the Asian-American youth culture due to a shift in globalization, migration, and cultural power. Through a qualitative analysis as well as a social observation of the audience and targeted groups of consumers as each local shop, I will examine the influence of bubble tea. With this work, I show how bubble tea reflects a sense of “home” and an identity rooted in immigration to Asian-American pop culture today.
ContributorsVo, Crystal H (Author) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Thesis director) / Popova, Laura (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
This research examines popular culture’s influence on public perceptions of criminality and criminal justice reform. I have a two-pronged focus: first, I examine how specific cultural texts present criminal behavior, policing, and the criminal justice system; second, I show how these texts’ portrayals of criminal behavior, policing, and the criminal justice system, influence public perceptions about criminal justice reform. Throughout the era of filmmaking and the heightened growth of media consumption, the representation of crime and criminals has had a profound presence in film and media, but with little guidance or fact-checking from the general public and its creators (Welsh, Fleming and Dowler, 2011). Despite this, public perception of the law and reality continues to find its line being constantly blurred, with legal theorist, Richard Sherwin asserting that “The majority of American citizens form their opinions about the criminal justice system through the mass media, and more often than not, from fictional accounts of the trial process” (Alford, 2000). This in turn leads to a culture of preconceived notions that later form into political and social opinions with an unknown negative bias against reform efforts and legal accuracy (Sarat, 2015).
ContributorsMartinez, Maria Priscilla (Author) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Thesis director) / Mexica, Cuauhtemoc (Committee member) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor, Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05