Oral presentations, session IV

Featured presentation

Wallenberg Hall, Denkmann (Session A)

"Kitchen Metamorphosis"
Presented by Chef Joseph Yoon

Chef Joseph Yoon, a pioneering member of The Explorers Club and Chef Advocate for the UN's IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), leads global change as the founder of Brooklyn Bugs and the Culinary Director for the Insects to Feed the World Conference. With over 300 days of touring across five continents and regular appearances in global media, he champions the immense potential of insect agriculture, helping to reshape its significance for humanity.

Discover the inspiring narrative of Joseph's evolution as a founder and entrepreneur, delving into the pivotal lessons he gleaned as a young adult that continue to fortify his resilience in navigating present-day challenges. Gain insights into the weighty responsibility accompanying a global platform as Joseph shares his profound understanding of why uncovering one's purpose is paramount, and how unwavering conviction propels individuals forward on their life's journey.

Holden Village J-term program

Old Main 117 (Session B)

"It Takes a Village..."
Holden Village J-term program
Presented by Celeaciya Olvera, Emerson Lehman, Sylvia Hughes, Ava Coussens, Olivia Schroeder, Rachel Barry and Stephanie Le

The group of us went to Holden Village this past J-term and fell in love with the class and the experience we shared together. We will all be discussing similar themes during our trip and reflecting on the class experience overall. Overall, we want to discuss the beauty this place has and the amazing times we all shared together. It would be wonderful if more people knew about this study away option.

Native American Studies and Community Outreach

Hanson 102 (Session D)

"'Home From School' and the History of Indian Boarding Schools in the United States"
Native American Studies and Community Outreach faculty exploration group
Presented by Paul Baumgardner, Jane Simonsen, Michael Scarlett, Adam Kaul, Kiki Kosnick, Lucy Burgchardt, Melinda Pupillo, Megan Quinn and Stacey Rodman

This presentation will include several elements. We will show a 55-minute film, "Home From School: The Children of Carlisle." This film explores the history of Indian boarding schools in the United States, as well as the current work of several Native tribes to secure the remains of Native students who died while enrolled in Indian boarding schools. We then will have a faculty panel lead a conversation about the film and recent academic and governmental initiatives related to Indian boarding schools. Following the film, we will offer a small meal for students and other attendees. This meal will emphasize several Native food products.

Japan J-Term program

Old Main 28 (Session E)

"Japan Unveiled: A Journey Through Culture and Adventure"
Japan J-term program
Presented by Morgan Janes
Project advisor: Dr. Shaun Edmonds

Come and explore the wonderful culture and society of Japan through the lens of our 2024 J-term students. Discover and immerse yourself in cities like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Nagano. This presentation will include a thorough and photographic timeline of the planned and unplanned events that took place on the trip, as well as the personal explorations of our students while they were abroad. Beyond the culture and society of Japan some scholarship information will be shared as well. 

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Old Main 132 (Session G)

"Barbie as a Feminist Icon? A Panel Discussion of Greta Gerwig's 2023 Blockbuster"
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Presented by Lexi Golab, Bailey Hacker, Elena Haffner and Kara West
Project advisor: Dr. Jennifer Heacock-Renaud, chair, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

"The year of the girl." So named U.S. media the year 2023, a time that saw cultural expressions of girlhood take center stage, from Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" to Beyoncé's "Renaissance," to increased viewership for women's sports. Perhaps most representative of this trend was Greta Gerwig's 2023 "Barbie," a film that earned more than $1.36 billion across the globe. To date, it has been the highest-grossing film in the 100-year history of the Warner Brothers company and the highest-grossing film ever to come from a woman filmmaker at the domestic box office. While throngs of fans clad in pink flocked to theaters to embrace the film as a celebration of femininity, prominent conservative figures disdained the film's alleged "woke," feminist agenda and its emasculation of Kens everywhere, those plastic and human alike. Yet, the question of whether Gerwig's film indeed fashions Barbie into a feminist icon is a vexing one for feminist scholars. For decades, the Mattel company has couched the Barbie brand in a language of empowerment for girls and women, aiming to show girls that they can do and be anything. At the same time, Barbie's unhealthy body image and beauty standards, the environmental harm of mass-produced plastic, the capitalist power of Mattel, and Barbie's constant heteronormative pairing with Ken have been feminist concerns since the doll was launched in 1959. This panel seeks to unpack Barbie as a fraught cultural icon, a site onto which many of our cultural anxieties and aspirations have been projected. We will consider how Gerwig depicts and responds to patriarchy and how gender in the film intersects with other components of identity on screen, including queerness, race and ethnicity, class, and (dis)ability. 

Creative Writing

Black Box, Brunner Theatre Center (Session H)

"Professional Canaries: a Reading of Creative Work by Augustana Creative Writers"
Creative Writing
Presented by Bethany Abrams, Brooke Borchart, Caitlin Campbell, Katelyn Dennis, Olivia Devore, April Lambert, Sydney Miller, Samuel Rabideau, Taylor Roth, Hallie Weis and Corey Whitlock
Project advisor: Dr. Rebecca Wee

This is a public reading of creative work by Augustana's senior creative writing students. They will read from their SI projects in a range of genres, so poetry, creative nonfiction, short stories, flash fiction and/or excerpts from longer fiction pieces and personal essays/memoir will be shared.