No One En Masse: Representations of Cambodian Genocide (1975-79)
Aaron Ottinger
Advisor: Richard Glejzer, English
Oral

“No One En Masse” presents the way in which contemporary Cambodia has represented the genocide of the Democratic Kampuchea period (’75-’79). There are two sites discussed in the paper, the Killing Fields of Cheung Ek and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The evidence shows how Cambodians have accounted or acknowledged their history but, from a Cambodian perspective, at times the sites fail to represent this era in a manner that contributes to catharsis for a damaged population; however at other times, it is clear that specific groups of Cambodians seek to remedy this situation. Conclusions consider the fact that capitalism has exploited the sufferings of Khmer Rouge victims, and much more can be done in order to transform these sites from mere tourist attractions to places of healing and signifiers of identity.

Teaching Methods of Theatrical Rigging: A Comparative Study
Jennifer Bethmann
Advisor: John Phend, Speech Comm & Theatre
Oral

Rigging is an aspect of theatrical production that influences all other areas. Theatrical rigging is the suspension, vertical or horizontal movement, and support of stage equipment and scenery by means of a system of pulleys, wire cables, and counter-weighting devices through and above a theatrical space. Stage rigging is a practical application of the principles of physics. The nature of this study, funded by the Richter program, is to examine in depth the various uses of rigging through artistic design and physical elements in order to create a manual to be implemented at Pfeiffer Hall. The research has been compiled by attending a seminar given by Jay Glerum a noted expert in rigging and interviewing professionals from London theatres such as the National Theatre and the Barbican Theatre.

Honoring the Dead by Assisting the Living: A Study of Alsip Gravestones and Cemeteries
Rachel Hoover
Advisor: Debora Rindge, Art
Oral

This study is an analysis of gravestones from cemeteries in Alsip, IL, a Chicago suburb, including Hazelgreen and St. Casimir. These offer a large body of historical information and reflect artistic tradition in terms of images and themes. Furthermore, they reflect societal boundaries regarding class, race and ethnicity. Hazelgreen cemetery is the smallest and was donated by one of the founding families in Alsip. St. Casimir is a Lithuanian cemetery founded to provide a personal and ethnic space for Chicago area Lithuanians to honor the dead. I also discuss an African-American cemetery, Restvale. I argue against the negative image cemeteries hold for many in American society and promote their value as open-air museums.

Mies van der Rohe\'s SSA
Margaret Madderom
Advisor: Debora Rindge, Art
Oral

The School of Social Service Administration (SSA) at the University of Chicago was built in 1962-65 by the internationally renowned architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who was at that time a Chicago resident. However, this building receives little attention from architectural critics and historians. In the recent Museum of Contemporary Art Exhibition and catalogue, Mies in America, the building was mentioned only once, whereas Mies\' Crown Hall at IIT (1952-56) is discussed in an entire chapter. My research is the first to demonstrate that the SSA building is a stylistic reworking of the more famous Crown Hall, and resulted in a far more sophisticated design worthy of critical reappraisal.

The Rhetoric of Colonialism: Propaganda of Early Colonists Perpetuated in Secondary Education Textbooks
Brittany Heinz
Advisor: Sara Eaton, English
Oral

When Europeans made first contact with Native Americans in the Fifteenth Century, they established an immediate hierarchical system in language and in deed. While the original intent of this study was to highlight the accuracy of apologist rhetoric of colonial writings in lieu of inaccurate and overly simplified history present in secondary education textbooks, the results proved the contrary. This study, a close examination of several Spanish colonists’ texts and three popular secondary education textbooks, determined that the original texts founded the generalizations: they were written as propaganda for early Church and State. Textbooks, in turn, became codified versions of these writings. The White European man was the narrative voice in all texts studied; never were indigenous North American views adequately explicated. These textbooks exemplify a flawed conception of American history, a conception deeply rooted in the ideological framework of our country.

The politics and press of the "Grands Projets"
Amy Crutchfield
Advisor: Sophie Hand, Modern & Classical Languages
Poster

In its history France has maintained a tradition of embellishing the capital with great works of architecture. During his presidency François Mitterrand continued this tradition with the donation of nine “grands projets” of architecture, which were a source of great controversy. In my research, I sought to understand how the people of France received these projects, and why they were a source of controversy. I conducted my research in Paris over interim of 2003 where I based my research at la Bibliothèque de l’Information Publique. I gathered and analyzed newspaper articles from four french newspapers, Libération, le Quotidien de Paris, le Figaro and le Monde. I found that while the projects were a source of controversy for everyone of France, the politics of the right contested the projects of the socialist president the most. Furthermore, for reasons of history, politics, democracy and architecture the French disputed the projects, which reveals the values and culture of the people of France.