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- Creator:
- Juarez, James Gregory
- Description:
- Eugenics is a term sometimes casually thrown around in everyday discussions. It even appears in various forms of popular media such as television shows, movies, cartoons, novels, and even Japanese anime. Eugenics did not simply appear in human history as a coincidence. Its history is surprisingly engrained in the history of California itself. This master’s thesis has compiled a condensed history of eugenics to provide readers a solid understanding of the term. It then introduces readers to two significant historical figures as part of society’s amnesia about the existence and history of a eugenics movement: Charles Matthias Goethe and Paul Popenoe. This thesis utilizes various historical sources and artifacts of these two men to bring to life their actions within the twentieth-century eugenics movement. Goethe and Popenoe shared a singular worldview or they both wanted to use eugenics to solve the problems of twentieth-century society, such as: immigration; low IQ values; the population of low humans; opponents of eugenics; conflicted eugenicists of Catholic faith; eugenics organizations not agreeing; and a lack of sharing eugenics scholarship. However, Goethe and Popenoe had different ways of accomplishing their goals through the areas of: eugenics rhetoric; a California sterilization program; an intrinsic value of faith; analogizing low humans; collaboration among eugenics organizations; proliferating eugenics literature; and a global eugenics network. and Thesis (M.A., History)--California State University, Sacramento, 2018.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- History
- Creator:
- Koontz, Richard Anthony
- Description:
- A generic remote control airplane is converted into an autonomous UAV. The aircraft’s dynamic behavior is represented in state space form, with a series of 1st order differential equations. Stability and control derivatives are estimated using software based on theory and empirical data. These estimates are checked using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A SolidWorks® model of the remote control plane is obtained with the assistance of a 3D scanner. This model is used to estimate mass properties of the airplane, and to export geometric data to ANSYS for CFD. A mathematical model of the aircraft is created in Matlab, and Simulink is used to design the autonomous UAV’s control systems. A control system for the inner loop or plant is designed using a linear quadratic regulator. A guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system is designed for the outer loop. The performance of the UAV is analyzed in Simulink and results are discussed. Recommendations for continuation of the project are made. and Thesis (M.S., Mechanical Engineering)--California State University, Sacramento, 2018.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Creator:
- Viani, Alessandro
- Description:
- Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that is present in the Earth’s crust in small amounts, over time becoming exposed due to both natural and manmade processes. The arsenic exposed in the ground can be subject to weathering such as rainfall, allowing the arsenic to become mobilized. A manmade source of arsenic is wood that has been pressure treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a compound that protects the wood against insects and fungi. Over time, the wood can start to break down, allowing the arsenic to leach out into the surrounding soil. Once in the soil, plants can uptake the arsenic, which can lead to accumulation in the edible portions such as the leaves and berries, potentially harming humans and animals which consume them. In this study, the zeolite chabazite was used to sorb arsenic from the soil, reducing the amount available for uptake by the plant. Using radishes, with both non-modified and iron modified chabazite mixed in with the soil, the arsenic concentration in the radishes was reduced from 36.111±9.601 mg/kg in the leaves to 15.345±5.837 mg/kg and 14.116±2.403 mg/kg for the non-modified and the iron modified chabazite, respectively. It was also found that chabazite particle size had a significant effect on arsenic adsorption, further reducing the arsenic concentration in leaves from 15.345±5.837 to 7.713±0.569 mg/kg for the non-modified chabazite, and from 14.116±2.403 to 6.179±2.083 mg/kg in the iron modified chabazite with reduced particle size. Additionally, sawdust from CCA treated wood was incorporated into soil, as to model uptake of arsenic resulting from leaching. The data for the sawdust plantings suggests complex ion interactions between the chabazite and the CCA treated wood, which may make remediation of soils contaminated with CCA more difficult. Furthermore, the component ions of CCA, chromium, copper and arsenic leach from the wood at different rates. Chabazite may have different affinities for each of these ions, creating less adsorption capacity for arsenic, potentially leading to higher concentrations in the plants. In addition to the planting studies, leaching studies were performed, assessing the maximum amount of arsenic that the iron modified chabazite could adsorb from aqueous solution. The adsorption was modeled using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Using data from the isotherms, it was found that the adsorption of arsenic by iron modified chabazite does not follow the Langmuir model, but fits the Freundlich model well.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Chemistry
- Creator:
- Martin, Justin Thomas
- Description:
- The aim of the present study was to fit data to a structural equation model that includes conservatism, HIV-related stigma, and avoidance behavior. An exploratory factor analysis was performed, and a subsequent structural model was created with conservatism directly relating to avoidance and indirectly affecting avoidance through HIV-related stigma. Results showed that though the chi-square was significant, the structural model resulted in good model fit. In the full model, positive pathways were found between all latent variables, though the direct path between conservatism and avoidance was not significant in the full model. When tested alone, it was found that the pathway between conservatism and avoidance was significant and positive, and further tests indicated full mediation with 45.6% of the effect of avoidance mediated through stigma. Replication studies should be performed to validate these results, and future research should focus on expanding the avoidance latent variable by including HIV-testing rates.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- West, Michael
- Description:
- Introduction--High altitude illness, specifically acute mountain sickness, is a potentially life threating ailment for individuals that travel to high altitude. Acute mountain sickness is characterized by the following symptoms; headache, lethargy, dizziness and gastrointestinal issues. To date there have been several attempts to validate the use of heart rate variability in an effort to predict when an individual is more likely to become sick at altitude, but no studies have included a model with exercise that is known to increase acute mountain sickness.--Purpose-- The purpose of this study is to examine changes in autonomic output via heart rate variability to see if there is a relationship between autonomic output and severity of acute mountain sickness during a 12-hour exposure to normobaric hypoxia.--Methods--Eleven participants (7 male and 4 female) were recruited for this study, of which eight (6 male and 2 female) finished the study. Participants were exposed to two 12-hour altitude sessions (FIO2 12.4%) which was roughly 4,200 meters. Baseline heart rate variability, blood pressures, heart rate, oxygen saturations and Lake Louise scores were obtained with participants seated for five minutes prior to entering the altitude tent. Subsequent measurements were taken at hours 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12 with participants seated for at least five minutes and were taken prior to any exercise. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine any significant differences and Tukeys post hoc was used to determine where those differences occurred between groups. A Pearsons correlation was used to determine any relationships between the changes in HRV and AMS scores from hours 6 to 12. An alpha level of 0.05 was used for significance.--Results--The main finding of the study was a main effect for treatment and time for HRV measures. Significant differences between groups were observed and a significant difference between hour 3 and 12 of the non-exercise trial with LnrMSSD values being 3.73±0.45 and 3.40±0.36 respectively for hours 3 and 12. An interaction effect of treatment by time was observed for heart rate. Heart rates were significantly higher in the exercise trial at hours 4, 5, 6 and 12 when compared to all timepoints except hour 12 during the non-exercise trial. A Pearson value of 0.41 and 0.14 were calculated for non-exercise and exercise differences between LnrMSSD and LLS between hours 6 and 12 which yielded p-values of 0.30 and 0.75 respectively.--Conclusions--Although significant differences were found regarding HRV, no significant relationships between HRV and AMS were observed. This leads to the conclusion that HRV is not a valid tool for predicting AMS during acute normobaric hypoxic exposures.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Kinesiology (Exercise Science)
- Creator:
- Sanni, Shukurat
- Description:
- Safety is a major work zone concern; this concern is heightened for workers that work near travelling public. Motorists and passengers are more vulnerable and have a greater likelihood to be injured or killed from a work zone crash. The prevalence of work zone crashes was 45 percent in California in 2014. Work Zone Intrusion Alarm (WZIA) systems are innovative safety devices with the technology to provide auditory alert in work zones following a vehicle intrusion. These devices typically have a detection, transmitter, and auditory alert unit, with some devices having a visual and/or personal safety alert unit. The objective of this thesis is to assess the effectiveness of WZIAs. The objective was achieved with a combination of a qualitative and quantitative analysis. The qualitative analysis revealed the potential of the devices. The quantitative analysis resulted from a pilot test of three WZIA systems: the Traffic Guard Worker Alert System, SonoBlaster and Intellicone. The research found WZIAs to be effective but recommends improvement to the systems’ functional characteristics. The findings and recommendations presented in this research will assist in the widespread implementation of Work Zone Intrusion Alarm systems. This thesis concludes with future research suggestions that will expand on this research’s findings.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Civil Engineering (Transportation)
- Creator:
- McIntyre, Danielle and Marion, Allison
- Description:
- Since the 1980’s there has been a gradual, yet steady increase in the academic demands placed on our students and in the amount of homework assigned (Kohn, 2006). Misconceptions on the effectiveness of homework and student achievement have led many teachers to increase the amount of homework assigned to keep up with political demands (Kohn, 2006). While a significant body of research demonstrates the lack of correlation between homework and student success, children at the elementary level are receiving amounts of daily homework that interfere with family life and other extracurricular activities (Cooper, Robinson & Patall, 2006; Vatterott, 2009). Due to many parents, students and teachers normalizing increasing homework demands as a part of school life, the outcome research surrounding homework has largely been ignored. The current lack of research in this area necessitates further examination of this issue. The present research study investigated parent, teacher, and student perspectives regarding the amount of homework students are assigned. The perceived effects of homework on family time was also examined. The participants in this study were students in grades 3-6 (n = 395), their parents (n = 442), and their teachers (n = 28). Preliminary research data suggests that (a) while parents largely reported homework relates to their child’s learning, a large portion of parents also stated that homework is busy work; (b) there are differences in the perceptions of the actual and ideal amounts of assigned homework, amongst parents, students, and teachers; and (c) while the majority of parents reported that homework rarely or never gets in the way of family time, a large portion also stated that homework creates a power struggle with their student. Limitations, recommendations for future research, and suggestions for increasing the home-school connection are discussed.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Education (School Psychology)
- Creator:
- Myers, Stephen Reitenour
- Description:
- This thesis explores public policies that have the potential to meet the 20% statewide edible food recovery mandates of SB 1383. This policy became law in 2016 as part of a broader effort to curb methane emissions, of which about a fifth is attributable to landfilled organic waste. While there have been significant successes at the city level across the nation, and while there are promising models at the county and regional level in California, a statewide edible food recovery mandate is unprecedented, and has the potential to throw local food distribution and waste hauling systems into chaos if not adequately designed and managed. The overall goal of this thesis is to identify policies that can enable local jurisdictions to meet their statutorily-required edible food recovery amounts with reasonable expenditures of money and effort. To make these determinations, I used Bardach’s (2012) analytical research method, the “Eightfold Path,” to develop a list of policy alternatives and criteria by which to assess them. The resulting analysis allowed me to plot alternatives along one axis of a table and criteria along the other, creating a “Criteria Alternatives Matrix,” or “CAM” for short. I analyzed four policy alternatives that the literature and my conversations with stakeholders in the waste management and food recovery fields recommended, and determined that one of the four policies have a relatively high likelihood of success according to the five criteria by which I evaluated each. I also determined that two other complementary alternatives could also be successful. The use of software to match donors and recovery organizations with on-the-spot transporters for time-sensitive donations was the top-ranked alternative, with (1) utilization of public health inspectors to promote recovery among regulated food distributors and (2) facilitation of planning and coordination between donors, recovery organizations, and transporters as equally-ranked complements. I recommended the implementation of donation-matching software as the strongest option to address the issue, but also indicated that some combination of the three could be particularly effective in facilitating edible food recovery in the near future.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Public Policy and Administration
- Creator:
- Mouzes, Andie Mary
- Description:
- Civilian review boards can benefit not only an individual complainant, but also the surrounding community at large and law enforcement agencies across the country. The diminutive amount of existing research conducted on civilian review boards has focused primarily on the reason for their existence but not the tendencies that the data from these oversight boards reflect. This present study was designed to fill the gaps in the lack of research existing on the tendencies of civilian review boards and further, if race plays a vital factor in the complaint process. Specifically, this study examined complaints against Chicago police officers as logged by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) in Chicago. In sum, this thesis examined whether complaints in general had a racial foundation and more specifically, whether excessive force complaints against African American and White officers statistically differed. The study found that of the 2,577 disposed complaints used in this study, race did play a role in the complaints made against officers and complaints made about excessive force. Although the results did reflect a relationship between race of complainant by race of officer, it only accounted for 8.6% of the variance of the race of the officers involved in the complaints. It should be noted however that there are other factors besides race which need to be considered and were not thoroughly tested in this study. Research on the tendencies of civilian review boards may give complaining civilians an improved understanding of a civilian review board’s proceedings but more study needs to be done as to any racial disparities regarding complaints.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Criminal Justice
- Creator:
- Montes, Christina C.
- Description:
- Recent literature supports using a multi-component awareness training procedure to decrease speech disfluencies for college students. However, this procedure can be time-consuming and is likely not feasible in practical settings, such as college classrooms. The present study focused on the time required to decrease speech disfluencies. In Experiment 1, we conducted a component analysis of awareness training, and we evaluated the efficacy and efficiency of an awareness enhancement device in Experiment 2. We found that in vivo speech practice may be sufficient for reducing disfluencies for some students, but a treatment package including both video and in vivo training is more likely to result in marked behavior change. We also found that in vivo speech practice with the addition of an awareness enhancement device was effective for four of five participants; however, training time was comparable to the combined treatment package.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis)
- Creator:
- Mander, Navjoyat
- Description:
- The purpose of this attitudinal study was to examine the attitudes of Asian Indian men and women regarding gender roles. Perspectives concerning gender roles were surveyed through topics such as: cultural expectations of sons and daughters, household responsibilities, social mores, marriage, and intimate partner (domestic) violence. Through quantitative and qualitative data, the researcher was able to gather significant information. Quantitative data results exhibit variety of responses. While majority of the participants’ responses demonstrate egalitarian views, a constant 7% is evident in almost every statement with a contradictory response. By applying thematic data analysis, the researcher was able to conclude three major themes. However, the open-ended qualitative data results display conflicting attitudes expressed by the participants.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Education (Behavioral Sciences Gender Equity Studies)
12. Entropy
- Creator:
- Helenske, Tammy
- Description:
- During my time in the Master of Art Studio program at Sacramento State University Sacramento I have had an opportunity to expand my perceptions and grow as an artist. This work represents my exploration of time-based media, hybrid media, installation art, and the concept of immersion. The process expresses my personal struggles with mental illness from a subjective perspective. My search for source material to best communicate my content included audio and video exploration both in and out of the studio. The tools chosen to activate the content demanded equal amounts of research and attention. The result is a cohesive body of work that reflects my time in the program.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Art (Art Studio)
- Creator:
- Haghighat, Misha Daniali
- Description:
- The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between professor-student interactions and psychosocial well-being (loneliness, social anxiety) through the mediator of campus belonging. The college transition can be stress-inducing for students (representative of steadily increasing rates of loneliness and anxiety), due to an absence of support networks (e.g., parents). Positive professor-student interactions were examined given that they foster a sense of campus belonging, in turn affecting psychosocial well-being. The current study was comprised of undergraduate students (N = 298) enrolled at a Northern California University. Simple mediation analyses indicated that positive professor-student interactions were linked with a greater sense of campus belonging, which in turn was linked with sense of psychosocial well-being. Additional analyses examined if demographic groupings (gender, ethnicity, job hours, transfer status) differed in these effects. Results reflect the benefits of professor-student interactions in scaffolding students’ sense of psychosocial well-being, and recommendations for furthering ties preemptively.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Goode, Stephen
- Description:
- Often the perceptions students have towards concealed carry differ in a variety of cases especially males’ and females’ opinions (Doubleday, 2013; Gius, 2018; Jang, Dierenfeldt, & Lee, 2014). Few studies have explored if one's gender had any significant effect on one’s perceptions of support for concealed carry policies on a college campus Doubleday, 2013; Gius, 2018; Jang, Dierenfeldt, & Lee, 2014. This quantitative study examined a small sample of California State University Sacramento criminal justice students and was conducted during the Spring 2019 semester. The results from the data did show a significant difference in variation between males’ and females’ perceptions towards concealed carry on a college campus. It is important to note that those significant variations should be examined and further analyzed.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Criminal Justice
- Creator:
- Baginski, Chase
- Description:
- If teachers in the 21st century desire to create a critical impact on their students and democracy, then they must strive to make their classrooms more democratically centered. They must actively cultivate an experience within their classroom that fosters democracy for their students, allowing them to live and practice democracy from an early age. Democratic Education teaches students to be socially responsible and active citizens by allowing them to balance a greater amount of freedom and responsibility, preparing them for their roles as active and civic adults. The purpose of this study was to explore the guiding principles of four democratic schools, compare their similarities, and to make recommendations for public school teachers who are interested in creating a more democratically centered classroom based on those similarities. The study examined the following four schools: Summerhill School (1921), Sudbury Valley School (1968), Windsor House School (1971,) and Lehman Alternative Community School (1974). While it would be impossible for public school teachers to fully turn their classroom into a mini-democratic school, it is possible for them to implement strategies to increase democracy, especially in the vein of freedom and responsibility, in their classrooms. This range of strategies includes anything from rearranging the desk and tables in a classroom, to implementing Genius hours, cooperative learning, student-centered learning, and the use of UDL. If an educator wants to know if a strategy or action is going to move their class in a more democratic direction, all they have to do is ask “Is this going to offer my student more freedom in the class within the context of responsibility?” If yes, then that educator is moving towards democracy.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Education (Special Education)
16. Implementing choice of novel and previewing film adaptations as intrinsic reading motivation tools
- Creator:
- Shepard, Mallory
- Description:
- When adolescents read more, their attitudes toward reading become more positive, and their language and comprehension skills increase as well (Broeder & Stokmans, 2013). Reading motivation, reading enjoyment, literacy, comprehension levels, and amount of reading are all interrelated, and to increase one factor of reading, the other factors must also be increased (Becker, McElvany, & Kortenbruck, 2010). This study compared four groups of 8th grade adolescents (N = 19, 13-14 years old, 11 female and 8 male) and their reading motivation. Film and choice were assessed as possible motivational tools to increase intrinsic reading motivation. One group was assigned a novel to read and did not watch the film adaptation. A second group was assigned a novel to read and watched the film adaptation up to its climactic event prior to reading the book. A third group chose a novel to read from a given list, with brief descriptions of each novel. A fourth group chose a book to read from the given list and watched its film adaptation up to its climactic event before reading the book. Each participant’s intrinsic motivation to read was assessed with the Motivation for Reading Questionnaire (MRQ) developed by Guthrie and Wigfield (1997). Levels of intrinsic motivation were measured before and after reading the book. vi A series of ANOVAs were performed to test for significant differences and interactions between the groups. There were no significant main effects. Change in intrinsic motivation approached significance in the film groups. However, this change was in the opposite direction than expected, showing a decline in motivation. There was also a gradual increase in motivation for participants who did not preview a film and chose a book rather than being assigned a book, suggesting further experimentation with these manipulations.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Child Development
- Creator:
- Melton, Jordan
- Description:
- The purpose of this study was to explore the framing of the narrative presented by American news outlets in reporting on the NFL national anthem protests that began in 2016 to bring attention to police brutality and systemic racism towards blacks in the U.S. I analyzed the ways news media presented the protest, then evaluated how each article legitimized, validated, or transformed the stated purpose of the protest. Utilizing theoretical frameworks on colorblind and dog-whistle racism, critical race theory, frame alignment processes, and symbolism in America culture, I conducted a content analysis of news articles published during three key periods of the NFL anthem protest – September 2016 (n=100), February to May 2017 (n=99), and September 2017 (n=100). Common themes observed included lower mentions of the stated purpose of the protest, repeated allusions to the American flag and national anthem being totems of American ideals, and frequent use of frame transformation.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Sociology
18. Beyond the emergence of rhetorical agency: Operation Rescue and the function of prophetic agency
- Creator:
- Marin, Alfredo
- Description:
- This thesis analyzes the rhetoric of Operation Rescue, the Christian pro-life activist organization, within the theoretical framework of Kenneth Burke’s Logology. With the intent to answer the research question: How does rhetorical agency interrelate to the function of the rhetor’s message, this thesis considers the critical lens of metaphor and analogy to inform us about the emerging nature, function, and implication of prophetic agency within a religious context.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Communication Studies
- Creator:
- Martinez, Jacqueline Marie
- Description:
- Introduction: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a major contributor to the cost of health care in the United States (Johnson, & Thomas, 2010; Dagenais, Caro & Haldeman, 2008). CLBP has many causes. CLBP effects a majority of the population (Kim et al., 2014; Johnson, & Thomas, 2010; Wong & Lee, 2004). Physical and psychological factors influence CLBP and it is beneficial to understand which factor has more of an influence. Physical factors can involve range of motion (ROM) of the hips and low back. The psychological factors can involve fear of motion, perceived pain and/or perceived disability. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the most influential aspect of CLBP by finding a simple method of assessing functional impairment through the evaluation of range of motion and psychological involvement. Understanding the influential aspects of CLBP will aid clinicians in providing an all-around approach during the rehabilitation process and potentially help reduce the health care cost of low back pain. Methods: Twenty volunteers participated in this study, three were excluded from the study because of reports of surgery or injury to the low back. The range of motion of the hips and low back were assessed using a goniometer. The psychological involvement related to CLBP was assessed using three questionnaires: the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The TSK measured fear of movement, the VAS measured pain level, and the ODI measured perceived disability due to back pain. Participants were asked to either sit, stand, or lie down according to the goniometer measurement protocol. Goniometer measurements were done in random order following the completion of the questionnaires. Results: Pearson Correlation Coefficient results showed a significant correlation between ROM of the low back and two of the three questionnaires. There was a significant (p=0.016) negative correlation between the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and low back ROM. There was a significant (p=0.003) negative correlation between the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the ROM of the low back. No significant interaction was seen with hip ROM and any of the questionnaires. There was also no correlation between the TSK and the ROM of the hips or low back. A regression analysis revealed the correlation between ROM of the low back and the VAS and ODI were not meaningful. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the relationship between low back ROM and the values of disability (ODI) and pain (VAS) need to be evaluated and further investigated in individuals with CLBP.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- Kinesiology (Movement Studies)
- Creator:
- Martinez, Isabella
- Description:
- The iconic symbols of light and darkness are well-recognized throughout literature. Readers are conditioned to accept that light traditionally connotes holiness, hope, and happiness, while darkness acts as a harbinger of doom, death, and depression. As the works of John Milton show, the Bible plays a large role in casting light as ‘good’ and darkness as ‘evil.’ However, as the literary canon expands beyond the Eurocentric viewpoint of the privileged white male, perceptions of darkness and light shift as well. With the inclusion of female authors and authors of color, darkness comes to be aligned with peace and sublimity as opposed to fear. To investigate this change, I examine selected works of John Milton, Edith Wharton, Jean Rhys, Edwidge Danticat, and Jamaica Kincaid, and engage with a myriad of cultures and critics. I posit that the relatively recent shift in the way darkness and light are perceived comes from the widening of the historically Eurocentric literary canon. The holiness of light is admired throughout Milton’s work, accepted in Wharton’s, and merely acknowledged by Rhys. Through their own experiences of multiculturalism, Rhys, Danticat, and Kincaid are able to envision another aspect of darkness, one untouched by Western religious beliefs. As the literary canon expands to include female authors and authors of color, we gain an appreciation of different cultures. Through the work of authors such as Danticat and Kincaid, darkness is being elevated to its true role as sublime rather than scary, an equal counterpart to the beauty of light.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Sacramento
- Department:
- English (Literature)