Tag: English

Title: Disability and Mental Illness in Counterculture Literature

Abstract: My departmental honors thesis is researching the link between mental illness and disabilities studies in counterculture literature of the 1960s. I am using Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, Anthony Burgess’ and Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in developing my thesis. I plan to finish my thesis by February, and will defend my thesis in the beginning of March.

Keywords: mental illness, disability, literature, 1960, Slaughterhouse-Five, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Group Title: Spoken Words

Group Abstract: Students will perform/present their spoken word pieces for an audience. Some pieces come out of a course I taught in the fall on hip hop. Other pieces will be from students I have made contact with outside of that class. I also have a spoken word dramatic piece for students to perform.

Keywords: spoken word, hip hop, drama, performance

Group Members: Alex Jean-Paul, Ashley Effrece, Cherelle Dessus, Nathan Warren, Ahleah Fortson, Evan Viggiano, Rasheed Wesley, Vance Holloway, Sherrell Kent, Rashid Noah, Marisa Koulen, Caleb Corkery

Title: Science Fiction: An Ancient Literature Genre with Long History

Abstract: Science-Fiction as a very peculiar genre which is seemingly new generating in literature could only date back to 20th century yet very ancient which could trace back to the Greek epic poems and plays demonstrated through fragmental narration among the grand interpretation of a splendid world from the perspective of early “childhood period” of human evolution both physically and mentally. Science originated from the glimpse of wonder in the world out of human “hollycuriosity”, which might indicate the early form of science fiction to be a combination of literature and science based on primary observation with assumption. The way it demonstrated and reasoned just like narration of literature, and it inspired people to comprehend in the objective way as well as to imagine how magnificent the world of material and spiritis.

Keywords: science fiction, literature

Title: Part of a Whole: A Personal Essay

Abstract: The piece I wrote is entitled “Part of a Whole: A Personal Essay”. In it, I describe some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout my time as an undergraduate and graduate student at Millersville University. John Donne wrote that “no man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” As a social worker, I have identified with this quote because it is the essence of social work. No one gets where they’re going without the help of others. I also describe how I have seen this in action through my experiences working at several locations on campus including the Office of Diversity & Social Justice and the Career & Life Studies program.

Keywords: essay, graduate student

Title: Women and Redemption in the Romantic Gothic Novel

Abstract: This project examines the ways in which the Romantic Gothic novel portrays women as villains, victims, and heroes simultaneously, particularly as this relationship relates to the theme of transformation. Matilda, the female casualty in Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, is at once Manfred’s victim and the hero of the story. She ultimately possesses antidotal personality traits for her despotic father’s many character flaws; her death affects a positive change in Manfred and humanizes him as nothing else in the novel does. Her death also ends Manfred’s usurpation of the castle and returns rightful ownership to Alfonso’s heir. Ann Radcliffe also deals with the female victim and transformation, particularly in The Italian and The Mysteries of Udolpho. She deals with villainous, tormented women such as the Marchesa and Madame Montoni. Both victimize female heroines and then experience a deathbed transformation during which they work to correct their wrongdoing.

Keywords: Romantic Gothic, novel, Radcliffe, heroines

Title: Marylou and the portrayal of women in Jack Kerouac’s On the Road

Abstract: In my essay I explore Kerouac’s portrayal of women in On The Road, using the character of Marylou as a starting point. I argue that women are portrayed in a negative light throughout the novel, and cover issues including the objectification and infantilization of women by the male characters, the sexual double standard that women are held to, and the assumption that females must assume a static role in the home while males are free to travel.

Keywords: Kerouac, essay, Marylou

Title: Casting The Die

Abstract: Casting the Die is a story which delves into the possible developments of societal trends by jumping two and a half centuries into the future. Currently, there seems to be a great reliance on social media, instantaneous knowledge, and automation. There is an apparent movement for the eventual singularity that shakes the very foundations of what it means to be human, and brings the fears of authors like Bradbury and Orwell into a stunning reality. It is the purpose of this work to show the dangers and effects of a social indifference to the loss of free expression and examine the outcome of casting off social interaction in social beings.

Keywords: science fiction

Title: Made in Millersville Conference Proceedings Journal

Abstract: This semester marks the debut of the Made in Millersville conference proceedings journal (CPJ). Our multidisciplinary team of both faculty and students had two ambitions this semester. The first was to form Millersville’s first digital conference proceedings journal. In order to accomplish this task, our team worked with exceptional student participants from last year’s MIM conference. The authors and our team members, who served as editors, collaborated to create exceptional abstracts detailing the presented projects. Our second goal was to create a manual elaborating upon our process of creating a digital CPJ. It is our hope with the creation of this manual that there will be future student-led CPJ teams who cover the projects of MIM conferences. Our multidisciplinary team gained experience in publishing, editing, and collaborating with other departments. The digital CPJ and manual will help connect student ideas and further learning of Millersville’s students overall.

Keywords: conference proceedings journal, digital, student projects, multidisciplinary team