The Fall 2012 recipients were as follows:
Anna Dardick
Major: Biology / Latin Language and Literature
Project Title: Lost in Translation: Media Coverage of the US HIV/AIDS Epidemic's Blood Bank Controvery
Project Description: By influencing and informing (or misinforming) voters and policymakers, presentations of scientific theories through various media have the power to change the course of history. To investigate this broad topic, I am focusing on the case study of HIV/AIDS in the US, specifically the controversy surrounding blood banks and the idea of mandatory HIV blood screening tests and questionnaires, which occurred approximately from 1982-1985. A combination of conventional and summative content analysis methods will be used to evaluate newspaper and magazine articles from national news-setters (e.g. New York Times), gay media (e.g. Bay Area Reporter), and scientific sources (e.g. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) published between 1/1/1982 and 12/31/1985. Articles will be analyzed for the presence of language which reflects a bias or subtext, and the frequency of this language will be analyzed using SPSS frequency and correlation functions, expressly to compare the content of national and niche sources. The articles will also be assessed for presence/absence of certain themes, such as: “Does this story favor the institution of regulations on who can donate blood?” and “Does this story mention civil rights/prejudice in relation to blood bank policies?” In addition, I will evaluate media responses during blood bank controversy under current models of effective communication. I intend to give educational presentations to employ said communication techniques and propel scientific research into relevant human reality.
A. D. Hogan
Major: Politics
Project Title: Embodies Praxis: a Genealogical Exploration of Women Theorizing the Political
Project Description: Forthcoming.
Julia Melfi
Major: Theater & Art History
Project Title: The Bacchae in Edinburgh: Reimagining the Role of Gender in Classical Greek Tragedy
Project Description: Last spring an ensemble of Oberlin students, including myself, adapted a devised, site-specific theater work based on the Classical Greek tragedy, The Bacchae by Euripides. Our goal was to reinterpret this tragedy into a piece that pushes contemporary notions of what theater is. The ensemble is deeply committed to the work’s continual evolution and eventual performance at the Fringe Festival for a week in August 2013. The Fringe Festival is the world’s largest arts festival that occurs every summer through the entirety of Edinburgh, Scotland. As Europe is the center for devised, experimental and interdisciplinary theater, participating will allow us to better understand this kind of performance. Our performance does not attempt to solve the numerous gender contradictions in this play, but rather, expose, explore and leave them open to new interpretation. But there are still issues we can further illuminate. The Fringe Festival provides a setting to engage in a global conversation with other theater makers about gender and feminism in Classical texts and how to best interpret these issues today. The funds I have received from the Leah Freed Memorial Prize will help offset the financial burden that taking a work like this abroad entails for me. Upon our return, we hope to present about our trip and maybe even set up an international exchange by hosting visiting artists if they are able to travel to Oberlin.
Valerie Perczek
Major: Cinema Studies
Project Title: Moving Our Being
Project Description: Forthcoming.
Daniel Quigley
Major: Politics & Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies
Project Title: "Every Story is Different: Queer Perspectives on Gender"
Project Description: The way we view gender has certainly changed radically in just the last several generations. This is a short film exploring the perspectives of four young people and their own experiences with life and gender. Prompted with questions carefully designed to minimize any "demand characteristic" response, each volunteer was encouraged to be honest without regard to any goal beyond honesty. The intention of the film is not to reinforce an image or promote a thesis, but rather to provide an oral history. Every Story is Different is four people navigating four unique, youth experiences.
Sarp Yavuz
Major: Studio Art
Project Title: In the Closet
Project Description: Forthcoming.
