Angels in the Poetry of Wallace Stevens
Subject:
Literature, Writing, and Journalism
Presenters: Rowan Beckford
Faculty Sponsor: Paul Thifault
Abstract: It is unusual that Wallace Stevens, the poet whose stated ambition to rewrite the Divine Comedy for those who "live in the world of Darwin and not the world of Plato" achieved perhaps his greatest success to this end in "Notes Toward a Supreme Fiction," a poem that makes prominent use of the theological trope of the angel. Certainly, for the world of Darwin, it is a supremely paradoxical choice, uncanny, and made intensively more so as one charts both the private and public literary output: The Collected Poems, whose arc from Harmonium to the late lyrics of The Rock, and the letters, in which the figure of the angel, and those objects angel-adjacent (haloes and heavens abound beside other references to Christianity, or religion at large), appear with great frequency and in high relief. The conflict between the poetry, often described as philosophical (which, in a post-Enlightenment world, is generally understood to solely entail the secular), but brimming with the angelic, and the greater project of the poet, Wallace Stevens, who described himself as "a dried-up Presbyterian," is manifest and accounts for one of the sharper ironies of the work. One cannot dissect, after all, as Darwin would a finch, the body of an angel (although one might, in the manner of a poet or scholar, proceed to anatomize it). In an effort towards clarifying some of the themes in the work of Modernist poet Wallace Stevens, most often towards poetry itself, I intend to analyze the recurrence of the figure of the angel.
Trauma Narratives
Subject: English/Elementary Education
Presenters: Alana Calabrese
Faculty Sponsor: William Arighi
Abstract: Many writers write to confront the trauma they have suffered in their own lives. In The Sorrow of War by Bao Ninh, the narrator is going through life post-war and is carrying his traumas with him, making it hard for him to come to terms with his true identity. This seems to be a direct reflection of the authors life and trauma, thus developing the novel into what it is. In my paper, I will be arguing how time, experiences, and trauma all link together to help develop writing and ease some emotional pressure the author might be holding onto from their past. I will also being addressing how an authors past trauma and experience oftentimes leads to an undetermined identity for the narrator. I will support this argument with the article titled “The Narrative Shape of Traumatic Experience” by Jane Robinett. This source goes into depth about the postmodern trauma theory and explains how traumatic experiences could oftentimes not be organized on a linguistic level which is why the narrator and other characters struggle to find their true identity in this novel. The traumatic experience is evident in The Sorrow of War especially since the author went through the war himself which allows him to express things in his writing vividly because of those experiences he had/lived through. Narratives theorists continue to address this and argue that it is unacceptable for this type of narrative which is the side I am beginning to see and will work to support throughout the entire paper.
Sacrifice in relation to the novel The Sorrow of War
Subject: English
Presenters: Emily McKillop
Faculty Sponsor: William Arighi
Abstract:
Writing As A Form Of Exposure Therapy
Subject: English
Presenters: Abigail Clinch
Faculty Sponsor: William Arighi
Abstract: It is a wildly accredited idea that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) results in people after traumatic events; however, compulsive tendencies and avoidance are two less regularly explored topics resulting in war-related trauma victims. Bao Ninh’s The Sorrow of War introduces the resulting compulsions and avoidance of specifically romantic relationships that can emerge as a result of PTSD. This book follows a character, Kien whose own PTSD following the Vietnam War causes him to obsessively write down his memories as a way of addressing his trauma. Within this essay how post-traumatic stress disorder and its symptoms affect relationships will be explored, more specifically within a person's own involvement with intimacy. Compulsive behavior or tendencies as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder will also be identified. By introducing writing as one form of compulsive behavior it will become apparent how this type of therapy can be used as a form of exposure therapy for trauma victims, particularly veterans. By the end of the novel, Kien’s development in his own relationships due to this compulsive writing results in the successful treatment of his PTSD. Bao Ninh’s The Sorrow of War acts as a representation to the credibility of exposure therapy, particularly in the form of writing, when treating PTSD.
Break Every Chain
Subject:
English and Elementary education
Presenters: Justin Manning
Faculty Sponsor:
Matthew Brubaker and Fadia Nordtveit
Abstract: The presentation will demonstrate how slavery has had a substantial impact on American society. It will also dive into the dynamics of how race has been conveyed in the media along with injustice in America and will end up giving insight on how it can change with a push from the youth and the future of the world. In addition presentation will also discuss how religion ,labor and slave relationships to their owners which had an impact on systemic racism. It will provide a guide on how to approach a more cohesive way of learning about unity and using it as a weapon to fight racism. The presentation will also push boundaries on how social media can be utilized as a way of getting messages across the world to influence unity since social media is such a big outlet of information that most people use on a regular basis . This can build social awareness on the topic and will make kids understand ,love and have compassion for people who are not of the same skin color as them. The overall end goal is not to start conflict but to end a war of racism.
The Impact of the Lens of The "Speller" on the Connotation of the Philippine Revolution
Subject: English
Presenters: Maura Flaherty
Faculty Sponsor: William Arighi
Abstract: The Phillipine Revolution was a period of conflict and nationalistic movement between the Filipino people and the Spanish colonial authorities in the late 17th century. While decades have passed since the dispute, the implications surrounding the Revolution continue to be fluidly influenced. This paper looks to investigate how the connotation of the Philippine Revolution is impacted by the lens of the “speller,” or the individual and/or group sharing their story. Multiple sources will be used to illuminate different perspectives within the Revolution. In The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata by Gina Aposol, main character Mata’s characterization as a night-blinded man-due to degenerative macular morbidity embodies niche elements of the Katipunan, or the secret revolutionary society. The Philippine Revolution is thus looked at as an underground, discreet movement fueled by personal interests. The article, "Understanding Philippine Revolutionary Mentality", a review by Milagros C. Guerrero looks at reconstructing the history of the revolution according to the “masses” and not solely the Katipunan. With this article, the Revolution is ultimately looked at through the lens of its effects on the general public. The book Orientalists, Propagandists, and Ilustrados: Filipino Scholarship and the End of Spanish Colonialism by Megan C. Thomas looks at how the ilustrados, who are credited for providing the intellectual grounding of the Revolution’s perception and construction of the ‘Filipino’ often does not include the Orientalist and racialist discourses involved in the anticolonial process. Through this lens, the Revolution is looked at as a body clouding certain narratives. The Katipunan of the Philippines by L. W. V. Kennon gives extensive background into the state of the Philippines that led the Katipunan to develop and rise, and the article gives a lens through which readers can see the motivation behind their role in the Revolution. Women in the Philippine Revolution by Christine Doran gives insight into the roles women played during the Revolution, providing an often omitted lens and recognizes many using heroes. By looking at these varied perspectives, a more cohesive picture of the Revolution can be painted and the weight of different spellers can be evaluated.
Memory and Memorialization of the War
Subject: English
Presenters: Abigail Edge
Faculty Sponsor: William Arighi
Abstract: The Sorrow of War by Bao Ninh depicts a soldier's life before, during and after the war. This war left Kien broken and suffering from PTSD and the loss he had experienced due to the war. The Vietnam War left devastating effects; fallen soldiers with no proper burial, surviving soldiers suffering from PTSD, and the remains left after the war. The fallen soldiers were left to decay in the woods, their resting place. They were not given a proper burial or sent prayers. They were left to rot as others' lives moved on. Although the memory of the Vietnam War wanted to be forgotten, it was impossible. The soldiers who lost their lives during the war need to be remembered and are living on with those who used to know them. Kien used to think that the trauma he experienced in the war would plague him forever, but he healed over time and faced his fears head-on.
The Vietnam War caused significant loss and suffering. What remains of the war are surviving soldiers forced to find their sanity, perished soldiers, and devastating effects on the community surrounding the war. The Vietnam War left thousands of soldiers deceased and many surviving soldiers dealing with the horrors they experienced during the war. Thousands upon thousands of soldiers are still unaccounted for. Their bodies remain in the thick forests where they took their last breaths. Surviving soldiers need to keep their stories alive to honor their sacrifice. Without their recognition, their sacrifice would essentially mean nothing. Their souls would be left trapped and forgotten forever. Although many want to move on and forget what happened, it is essential to keep their stories alive and remember their names as they once were. It is impossible to ignore the tragedies that occurred during the war, but peace comes with realization. The harrowing memories of the war don't have to plague the living and the survivors in post-war life; they are an essential component of history that can be used for awareness and remembrance. The remains of war shall live on in those who live to tell their stories through memorials and memorialization.
Structural Similarities Between Gina Apostal's "The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata" and Mark Z. Danielewski's "House of Leaves"
Subject:
English
Presenters: Joe Rotondo
Faculty Sponsor: William Arighi
Abstract: The focus of my paper will be upon the construction of Gina Apostal’s The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata, juxtaposed with that of Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves. While these texts are, from the perspective of pure theme and plot, as different from one another as the earth and sky, examining the genetic makeup of each work - the stories contained within the story, the physical structure, the backbone of the texts - shows them to be possessed with a dizzying array of similarities. Therefore, the focus of my final paper will be upon dissecting these texts, slicing them open and pinning the details, like butterflies, on the corkboard of the page. Each text makes use of footnotes and code in an unconventional manner- a far cry from conveying superfluous detail, these footnotes prove themselves to be integral parts of the stories told; they define the texts that they annotate, and to excise them would be to carve out the heart of the matter. The same might be said for code: while it is not entirely necessary to understand the codified messages contained within either work, it is an indisputable fact that understanding said code will enhance the reading experience tenfold.
The first half of my paper will be exclusively devoted to the analysis of footnotes and code, and their usages in The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata; I will utilize quotations from the text in conjunction with interpretive analysis of the accompanying footnotes in order to demonstrate the indispensability of said elements. The second half of the paper will be devoted to the same practice, albeit for House of Leaves, while the final section of the paper will focus upon a standard comparison and contrast between the two texts, with an added opinionated section focusing upon which text is more effective at accomplishing their task with the techniques utilized. I anticipate that the comparative nature of the two will be exceedingly obvious, yet necessary to discuss; however, the contrast between the two would be all-too-simple to examine at surface level- instead, I will focus upon the specific differences in style and substance of the footnotes included; the specific reasons for said footnotes, and the differences in codification- the meaning behind the difficulty levels of the code, and the underlying reasons therein.
The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata through the eyes of Sigmund Freud & the impact his theories have for children.
Subject:
English and Elementary education
Presenters: Julian Nuñez
Faculty Sponsor: William Arighi
Abstract: For this final paper I have decided to focus on the Freud Reader that contains the three main beliefs from Sigmund Freud. Freud focuses on: Repression, The Unconscious and The Mourning and Melancholia. Repression is an unconscious blocking of unpleasant emotions, impulses, memories, and thoughts from your conscious mind. According to Freud the purpose of this defense mechanism is to try to minimize feelings of guilt and anxiety. The unconscious mind according to Freud is defined as a reservoir of feelings, thoughts, urges, and memories that are outside of conscious awareness. The Mourning and Melancholia are Freud says that in grief, the world appears unexpectedly poor, because the loved one is no longer there. In melancholia which is also known as depression, the ego has become practically nonexistent. The melancholy patient belittles themselves, speaks of themselves in terms of contempt, feels morally horrendous and unworthy of someone else's love. When thinking about Freud's beliefs, it is hard to not think about The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata. In the revolution, it starts when Raymundo was a child and it is interesting to compare by seeing the ways Freud’s theories can be proven through the eyes of a rough childhood from Raymundo. I will be focusing on all three different readings from Freud and The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata to decipher the way this potentially affects the learning of children, specifically elementary aged students.
Freud's greatest contribution was his attempt at trying to formulate a scientific psychology. His discovery of the emotional nature of unconscious motivations is beyond significant for educational theory. The human organism is a social organism and that is something that Freud lived upon.