Inaugural Year
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California Baptist University's inaugural year of participating in the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society began in 2013. The society stemmed from the English Department's need to further entice student scholarship and interest in the field of English. We have enjoyed the glorious first year as a chapter of the honor society.
Undergraduate and Graduate students have been inducted and graduated, bestowed Master's hoods and mortarboards. Cords were doled out and pins worn for the rite of passage into the society. A book drive commenced and papers presented, a successful inaugural year has passed before us.
Undergraduate student Joseph Chan presented at the Far Western Regional Conference at Cal State Fullerton November 15, 2013. He presented his paper, "Media Logos Adaptation in the Age of Technology." A quick look at his paper is as follows:
The Twitter symbol of a bird is often thought of to represent the sound of a bird “tweet.” However, there is so much more symbolic meaning to
their logo . . . . Twitter and other forms of social media are trying to convey--they are taking real life images and displaying it as a means to connect and share messages to one another. The Twitter symbol later transformed to a “t,” [is] simplistic and noticeable. Today’s usage of branding and symbolism all play a role to the ways in which they adapt to how the human mind function. The human mind takes an image and translates it to a product or service. That [is] what business and social media marketers take advantage of by influencing how one thinks in relation to what product is being used. In this case, [Twitter] is a social media site that allows one to receive and send messages from or at any given location. In addition, the example of the old Twitter symbol of the blue bird is taking a realistic figure and integrating it into a technologic platform. This represents how technology impacts society and how it is reforming the ways in which people visualize life on a daily basis.
Graduate student Tracee Auville Parks presented at the PAMLA conference November 3, 2013 in San Diego, CA. The abstract of her paper, "Revolutionary Rock Operas" follows:
Ballad operas of the eighteenth century, like John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera, have morphed into a postmodern genre in which artifacts disclose the arbitrary nature of legal as well as cultural norms, exploring corruption that threatens the status quo. Rock opera lyricists and composers write text and music as a means of conveying a narrative containing social commentary in the manner of ballad operas. Lyricists of rock operas arrange songs to present a narrative, often using complex subject matter in order to convey messages. Using three theoretical schools—genre, cultural studies, and intertextuality—this thesis argues rock operas Tommy and "Quadrophenia" by The Who and Green Day’s "American Idiot" comment on and reflect culture as they walk the line between subversion and support of the status quo.
Both presented scholastic papers evident of their hard work and determination as students of English.
Anna Hart has been invited to present at the Cal State Northridge ISM Conference March 22, 2014 with a short story. An abstract follows:
Dystopian fiction is a “safe” way to let Marxism come alive. History has shown us what Marxism can do to people and governments, but literature allows readers to live and examine Marxism and dystopia in our own society. Since readers live in a democracy with competing views in the governmental sphere, readers take what they know about politics and trace where politics can turn in fiction. Dystopia is a scary place to go that could one day be our future. That possibility opens the mind to understanding current climates and understanding today’s politics.
The short story is rife for the main character, Isla's, search for identity as it is withheld by the government. What has the government done to control the perception of identity within society? Isla uncovers a plot to destroy society and secure loyalty.
Our first induction ceremony took place in Spring 2013 where we inducted 15 members. It was a moments day for the department and students alike, sharing in the excellence of CBU English enthusiasts. It was a room of our peers that proved students enjoy learning and succeeding in academia.
Shortly after the induction ceremony, the first fundraiser ATS underwent was the Book Drive. The beginning of an annual book drive established in Spring 2013 collected more than 600 textbooks that were donated to Better World Books. Cardboard bins were place strategically throughout CBU's campus so students could donate their unwanted textbooks. The books donated went to the Books for Africa Fund as Sigma Tau, CBU, and Alpha Tau's servants for service extends.
Undergraduate and Graduate students have been inducted and graduated, bestowed Master's hoods and mortarboards. Cords were doled out and pins worn for the rite of passage into the society. A book drive commenced and papers presented, a successful inaugural year has passed before us.
Undergraduate student Joseph Chan presented at the Far Western Regional Conference at Cal State Fullerton November 15, 2013. He presented his paper, "Media Logos Adaptation in the Age of Technology." A quick look at his paper is as follows:
The Twitter symbol of a bird is often thought of to represent the sound of a bird “tweet.” However, there is so much more symbolic meaning to
their logo . . . . Twitter and other forms of social media are trying to convey--they are taking real life images and displaying it as a means to connect and share messages to one another. The Twitter symbol later transformed to a “t,” [is] simplistic and noticeable. Today’s usage of branding and symbolism all play a role to the ways in which they adapt to how the human mind function. The human mind takes an image and translates it to a product or service. That [is] what business and social media marketers take advantage of by influencing how one thinks in relation to what product is being used. In this case, [Twitter] is a social media site that allows one to receive and send messages from or at any given location. In addition, the example of the old Twitter symbol of the blue bird is taking a realistic figure and integrating it into a technologic platform. This represents how technology impacts society and how it is reforming the ways in which people visualize life on a daily basis.
Graduate student Tracee Auville Parks presented at the PAMLA conference November 3, 2013 in San Diego, CA. The abstract of her paper, "Revolutionary Rock Operas" follows:
Ballad operas of the eighteenth century, like John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera, have morphed into a postmodern genre in which artifacts disclose the arbitrary nature of legal as well as cultural norms, exploring corruption that threatens the status quo. Rock opera lyricists and composers write text and music as a means of conveying a narrative containing social commentary in the manner of ballad operas. Lyricists of rock operas arrange songs to present a narrative, often using complex subject matter in order to convey messages. Using three theoretical schools—genre, cultural studies, and intertextuality—this thesis argues rock operas Tommy and "Quadrophenia" by The Who and Green Day’s "American Idiot" comment on and reflect culture as they walk the line between subversion and support of the status quo.
Both presented scholastic papers evident of their hard work and determination as students of English.
Anna Hart has been invited to present at the Cal State Northridge ISM Conference March 22, 2014 with a short story. An abstract follows:
Dystopian fiction is a “safe” way to let Marxism come alive. History has shown us what Marxism can do to people and governments, but literature allows readers to live and examine Marxism and dystopia in our own society. Since readers live in a democracy with competing views in the governmental sphere, readers take what they know about politics and trace where politics can turn in fiction. Dystopia is a scary place to go that could one day be our future. That possibility opens the mind to understanding current climates and understanding today’s politics.
The short story is rife for the main character, Isla's, search for identity as it is withheld by the government. What has the government done to control the perception of identity within society? Isla uncovers a plot to destroy society and secure loyalty.
Our first induction ceremony took place in Spring 2013 where we inducted 15 members. It was a moments day for the department and students alike, sharing in the excellence of CBU English enthusiasts. It was a room of our peers that proved students enjoy learning and succeeding in academia.
Shortly after the induction ceremony, the first fundraiser ATS underwent was the Book Drive. The beginning of an annual book drive established in Spring 2013 collected more than 600 textbooks that were donated to Better World Books. Cardboard bins were place strategically throughout CBU's campus so students could donate their unwanted textbooks. The books donated went to the Books for Africa Fund as Sigma Tau, CBU, and Alpha Tau's servants for service extends.