Herron School of Art and Design Theses
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Item Exploring Human Adaptations in M-RTC (Music Real-Time Communications): A Qualitative Study(2024-11) Goot, Dana Kemack; Walzer, Daniel; Cafaro, Francesco; Drews, Michael; Palamara, JasonThe research explored how musicians adapt to technology and how they adapt musically and cognitively within the technical and distanced environment of Music Real-Time Communication (M-RTC). Tracing its roots from the U.S. Air Force's 1950s SAGE radar system to today's high-speed Internet, the study highlights the crucial role of the Internet in facilitating real-time collaboration and music sharing. Understanding the technical requirements and challenges of real-time online musicking, alongside necessary cognitive and musical accommodations, addresses the problem of spatial separation and the perception challenges imposed by physical distance. Implemented through a qualitative observational study based on user experiences, the project included real-time online music sessions followed by post-project semi-structured interviews, identifying the adaptations musicians make during real-time online musicking. Case One involved participants from Israel and the United States performing John Lennon's "Imagine." Case Two consisted of observations from M-RTC sessions accessed through social media and platforms like JackTrip, JamKazam, Jamulus, and SonoBus. Case Three included sessions with musicians that I was acquainted with, either through professional organizations or friendship, that had some experience in M-RTC. Through these three cases, three overarching themes emerged: Adaptation to Technology, Adaptation of Sound Embodiment, and Social Experience. The theme of Adaptation to Technology emphasizes the importance of suitable instruction for implementing M-RTC, commitment to learning, and sufficient time for skill acquisition. The Adaptation of Sound Embodiment theme showcases how sensory awareness, spatial hybridization, and interaction dynamics intertwine through music technology tools in musicians’ cognition. The Social Experience theme highlights how collaborative musicking strengthens social bonds and transcends geographical barriers. M-RTC offers a consistent platform for teaching and learning, from music education to cultural exchange, ensuring continuity even when faced with world circumstances that may prevent in-person gatherings. This study's findings offer significant insights into the ways musicians adapt to and navigate the technical and social environment of real-time online musicking, contributing to broader implications for music practice and education in the digital age.Item Measuring and Improving Audience Experience in Online Electro-Acoustic Concerts Through Interaction Design(2024-08) Meng, Chuiyuan; Deal, Scott; Martin-Hammond, Aqueasha; Hsu, Timothy; Palamara, JasonOnline concerts and music events are increasingly needed, especially for genres such as electro-acoustic music. But the perceived levels of social experience and overall satisfaction for online audiences have been low. Recent literature on online concerts indicated that the low audience satisfaction could be caused by the lack of social experience, but the audience experience construct is multifaceted, and it could be influenced by many underlying factors. Audience in online electro-acoustic concerts can be viewed to carry several roles: as concert audience, as consumers of performing arts, as participants in an online social environment, and as end users in an interactive system. This study aims to understand the construct of audience experience in online electroacoustic concerts, examine the influence of underlying factors, and develop an instrument to assess online audience experience by adapting existing tools that separately measure each of the factors from the online audience experience construct. The design of online concert system could also have significant influence on online audience experience. Based on the resulting instrument, this study examines the influence of online concert system design on audience experience and attempts to improve audience experience through system design. The findings will generate strategies to enhance audience experience in future online electro-acoustic concerts.Item Exploring How Expressive Art Interventions Impact Adults with Amputations(2022) Murphy, Baley; Misluk, Eileen; Alpers, JoanThis study aims to understand how expressive art therapy interventions can impact adults with amputations. The 44 resources implemented in this thesis helped build a literary foundation and formulated themes seen within the literature. These themes included distorted self-image, feelings of loss and grief, complications with adjustment in daily life and with a prosthesis, phantom limb pain, changes to independent living and autonomy, and inadequate education pre- and-post-amputation. Four groups were proposed to inform, provide insight, and address the psychophysiological needs of individuals with amputations. Art therapy was utilized in all four groups. Three of the four groups integrated guided imagery, yoga, and boxing to enhance the therapeutic experience and achieve goals. Various needs of individuals with amputations were identified through an integrative narrative review research study. A literature matrix was used for data organization, and for data categorization, a thematic analysis was used (Betts & Deaver, 2019). These proposed groups can be used to track progress within the rehabilitation setting. These groups can increase a sense of safety, feelings of control and coherent communication, emotion regulation, strength through yoga and boxing exercises, acceptance of new body/ limitations, autonomy, mastery, strength, and confidence, foster a sense of community, and allow participants to self-reflect on their amputation journey. Expressive art therapies are beneficial for individuals with limb loss and should be implemented in rehabilitation to provide a transitional object that can help ease the transition from hospital to home.Item Therapeutic Advantages of Using Lego® Bricks(2022) Jang, Jung Eun; Misluk, Eileen; Hill, BrittanyBlocks are an effective tool for expression and communication and improve emotional regulation. Utilizing Lego®s in art therapy can reduce stress and increase creativity and self- expression, enhancing a sense of acceptance and problem- solving skills, leading to behavioral modification in children and adolescents. This literature review aims to provide information on the material, Lego®s, an overview of its benefits and fields of using Lego® interventions, knowledge of •developmental stages of children and adolescents, and appropriate application of Lego®in school-aged children. It was hypothesized that effective Lego® interventions would increase a child's participation and encourage interest in art therapy by completing an integrative literature review methodology. The integrative literature review analyzed the outcomes of Lego® interventions in art therapy and related fields. Lego®-based art therapy with a developmental approach can be a resource for creating a school-based art therapy program. Appropriate interventions considering children's developmental status can lead to their emotional growin and social improvement as competent members of the community.Item To Be a Citizen: An Integrative Literature Review of Mexican American Parents and Their Struggle Assimilating to U.S. Culture(2022) Aguayo, Katelyn; Guzman, Maria Valeria; Misluk, EileenThe Mexican population is one of the most disadvantaged groups in the United States facing higher rates of poverty, lower educational levels, poorer health outcomes, and lower naturalization rates (Alonso, 2016). The Mexican American population encounters multiple adversities assimilating to U.S. cultures such as acculturation stress, language barriers, cultural differences, financial insecurity, limited educational opportunities, discrimination, and other systemic oppressions (Cervantes et al., 1991). Research exists that addresses the role art therapy plays in the treatment of these multiple adversities; however, minimal research emphasizes the challenges Mexican American parents face assimilating to the U.S. An integrative literature review was conducted to identify a culturally competent framework for Mexican American parents participating in art therapy. A total of four articles were found discussing art therapy and the Hispanic/Latino population. Of the four articles, only one article discussed art therapy and Mexican Americans. None of the resources specifically focused on the needs of Mexican American parents in art therapy. Recommendations for future research were made in response to the themes identified in the literature, such as the need to identify the needs and challenges Mexican American parents face increasing training for culturally competent and bilingual therapists, and an investigation of effective materials, directives, and therapeutic approaches for the population. Finally, opportunities were identified to create an effective framework for family therapy that involves Mexican American parents struggling with acculturation.Item An Integrative Literature Review: Understanding Grief Through Interactions with Clay(2024) Downs, Abigail Grace; Misluk, Eileen; Mower, AshleighItem Using art therapy to facilitate interpersonal relationships with LGBTQ+ adolescents in the school setting: A literature review(2022) Dorsch, Gracen; Misluk, EileenThe mental health needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ+) adolescents are worsening due to the lack of available and appropriate services. It was hypothesized that the queer adolescent population would be vastly overlooked in research, thus leading to a significant lack of knowledge on how to best support them. A literature matrix was used to organize research articles and various forms of media regarding this topic. Significant findings include the following: LGBTQ+ adolescents are much more likely to experience disparities in treatment for mental health-related symptoms; safety concerns stem from historical instances of discrimination and adolescent peer conflict; therapeutic approaches, including art therapy, have documented little amounts of research among this population; and the school setting offers a safe environment for receiving therapeutic services. As hypothesized, there was a significant gap in available research pertaining to queer adolescents and their treatment. The proposed art therapy group was included to reduce this gap and offer a template for available services moving forward.Item Overrepresented and Underserved: A Humanistic Art Therapy Group Proposal for Queer Youth in Out of Home Care(2024) Thompson, Dollee; Misluk, Eileen; Chopra, NatashaThe purpose of this review was to explore existing literature on the clinical needs of queer youth in out-of-home care and propose an evidenced-based art therapy group for this population. A traditional literature review was used to gain an understanding of the needs of queer youth, protective factors, minority stress and resilience, and therapeutic approaches. The thematic analysis found queer youth in out-of-home care have experienced more disruption in the development of their physiological needs. These findings were used in the development of a six-level group art therapy proposal for queer youth in out-of-home care. The proposal addresses the needs, challenges and strengths of the population and provides art directives, materials, goals, themes, psychoeducation, and processing questions. The implications of this group proposal are to support this population through research and resources and create more evidenced based approaches for their needs.Item Exploring Cultural Differences in Children’s Artistic Development: Comparing the United States and Japan(2024) Barannikova, Larisa; Misluk, Eileen; Anderson, MyrdeneThis research investigates the impact of culture on artistic development in elementary school children in the United States and Japan. A quantitative study collected drawings from six children in each of the elementary school grades of one, three, and five from both countries and rated each drawing on four developmental measures. The analysis found that children’s drawings in both cultures showed similar developmental levels according to Lowenfeld’s Stages of Artistic Development. It also found that children’s drawings in Japan in all grades had higher levels of detail and manga influence in their figure drawings compared to children in the United States. Finally, the drawings of children in Japan showed forms of spatial representation that were distinct from those of children in the United States and were not accounted for by Lowenfeld’s framework. Due to the small sample size of this study, further research is needed to assess the generalizability of these findings.Item Understanding First-Generation College Students’ Barriers: An Examination of Art Therapy Accessibility(2024) Cook, Kaylin; Misluk, Eileen; McCullough, ShannonThe following study focused on first-generation college students (FGCS) and their relationship to art therapy, specifically asking the question, “How accessible is art therapy for first-generation college students, and what potential barriers do they face when seeking services?”. The study was conducted with 141 FGCS using a mixed methods approach of both qualitative and quantitative data, allowing for the collection of demographic data and insights into FGCS’ experiences. Participants were individuals whose parents had not obtained a four-year degree, were full-time students, and currently enrolled in a large urban midwestern university. Although FGCS reported a high number of barriers, including time availability and financial constraints, participants remained open to art therapy as a mental health service. A combination of high adverse childhood experiences and low mental health service utilization rates within predominately low-income FGCS showcases a high need for the push of art therapy interventions within the community. Future research should explore integrating art therapy services into community-based university engagement events to promote art therapy, analyzing the cost and benefit of such services, and eventually conducting a resiliency-based art therapy group study.