KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 24, 2023

Student research spans wide range of topics across all units of the College of the Arts

Kennesaw State University undergraduate students from the College of the Arts (COTA) presented their research today in the ArtsKSU Research Forum, coordinated by the College of the Arts Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR). The research represented all four units of COTA, including the School of Art and Design, the Bailey School of Music, the Department of Theatre & Performance Studies, and the Department of Dance. 

In alignment with the mission of Kennesaw State’s Office of Undergraduate Research, the College of the Arts seeks to promote high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship, and to make research an integral part of the undergraduate experience. 

The undergraduate research projects are mentored by a faculty or staff member with expertise in the research methods of the discipline. The project should make a unique contribution to the literature in the student’s field, and it is strongly encouraged that the student present or publish the project. 

Introduced by Associate Dean Dr. Peter FIelding, three students presented their research in the Ruth Zuckerman Atrium at the Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art; the presentation was also live streamed via ArtsKSU Virtual. Fielding said, "Our ArtsKSU Undergraduate Research Forum’s serve as a focal point to celebrate the breadth of student scholarship across the college.”  

The subjects ranged from a popular turn-of-the century opera to cross-cultural connections between Anime and Lo-fi Hip Hop to an “Off the Grid” anthology series. 

Simon Kawasaki, a sophomore in the Bailey School of Music studying Music Theory, presented his research on “Cio-Cio-San and the World: The History of Puccini’s ‘Madama Butterfly.’” Kawasaki was mentored by Dr. Edward Eanes. 

Ben Holmes, a senior in the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies with a Design/Tech concentration, presented “The Cross-Cultural Connection between Anime and Lo-fi Hip Hop.” Holmes was mentored by Dr. Tom Fish.  

Aria Leinberger, a senior in the School of Art and Design concentrating in Sequential Art, presented “Off the Grid: A Graphic Novel Anthology,” focusing on marginalized communities. Leinberger was mentored by Professor Joseph Karg. 

Two students presented their research via video, including an examination of the legendary composer Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins" and a look into how Loïe Fuller’s “Serpentine Dance” forever impacted how dancers obtain copyrights. 

Amber Solana, a sophomore in the Department of Dance with a double major in dance (modern concentration) and marketing, presented “Choreographic Copyrights: The Case of Fuller v. Bemis.” Solana was mentored by Professor Dasha Chapman. 

James Doster, a sophomore majoring in Theatre and Performance Studies with a concentration in Musical Theatre, presented “Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Assassins,’ An All-American Review.” Doster was mentored by Dr. Jim Davis.

The ArtsKSU Undergraduate Research Forum assists in increasing student participation in undergraduate scholarship, creative activity, and applied learning experiences. Students can present their work at academic conferences such as the KSU Symposium of Student Scholars or the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, the largest conference of its kind in the U.S., which was held at KSU in spring 2019. Students may complete their research journey by sharing their projects in the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research, an online peer-reviewed scholarly journal.

--Kathie Beckett