To his students, he always likens the camera to a magic carpet, which could lead you on a wonderful journey of discovery. And when he found this run down grocery store turned roadside attraction – and school bus turned chapel – he was captivated. “I wanted to show that to be poor isn’t a crime and that economically disadvantaged people can lead fulfilled and inspired lives, … [Read more...] about Winding road that led to destiny
The pitch was going well; the executive was laughing and taking notes. But then she asked an unexpected question. Could he change the gender of one of the lead characters? A female lead would be more inclusive of the network’s demographics and provide a vehicle for one of its rising stars. Amberg remembers that it wasn’t as simple as saying ‘yes.’ He had to quickly run through … [Read more...] about A working writer
Those are the research questions Dr. Keri Franklin hopes to answer. Franklin's work has led to the establishment of the Center for Writing in College, Career and Community, an endeavor that seeks to support improving student writing for all students, and especially those teachers and students working in rural schools. This new center is the home to the Ozarks Writing … [Read more...] about Transforming student writing in the Ozarks
But a shared interest in the science behind movement ultimately led to a research collaboration between a former collegiate wrestler, Dr. Jim Hackney, and a former professional dancer, Sara Brummel. “The demands of dance and the demands of sports are similar,” Hackney said. “However, many sports are a matter of what you’re doing with something else, rather than how you … [Read more...] about Analyzing the science behind dancers’ artful movements
Missouri State professor Dr. Charlene Berquist hopes to offer victims, offenders and other at-risk youths the opportunity to build the skills needed to pull themselves out of a justice system that may swallow them up. “We’re loud and we’re boisterous. When there’s a conflict, we yell and deal with it, and then we hug and make up.” — Dr. Charlene Berquist Her passion for this … [Read more...] about Communication professor turns childhood curiosity into passion for conflict resolution
“If you're an artist, you're either a hedgehog or a fox. … I'm totally a hedgehog.” — Sarah Williams Occasionally, she gets taken down to the police station on her quest to capture images of her subjects, but usually in her small hometown of Brookfield, Missouri, where she photographs most often, they recognize that she’s on a mission. “I'm working from these terrible … [Read more...] about Adding significance to the seemingly mundane
As a corporate trainer and executive coach for a variety of organizations, Dr. Shawn Wahl, head of the department of communication at Missouri State University, trained individuals how to listen, communicate their needs, persuade co-workers and bosses, motivate teams and navigate through difficult situations with customers and clients. With this knowledge, he’s written five … [Read more...] about Communicating across an ever changing landscape
“There might be images or moods or characters that are suggested by the poetry, and I try to reflect that in the music I write,” said Murray. His piece “Tempest Fantasy,” on the CD “Spellbound” which was released by Navona in 2013 was recorded by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra based in Olomouc, Czech Republic. But its original iteration was vocal music Murray composed for … [Read more...] about Making music in his mind
INT. PIXAR FILM Cast of Characters: Large, masculine, athletic hero Various others who admire the hero On the one hand, the Pixar films are quite progressive and portray men as warm and fatherly, but they often vacillate between this family-man persona and a hyper-masculine male representing a “boys don’t cry” attitude. Having two little boys has given Wooden and … [Read more...] about Couple joins forces to reveal Pixar’s hidden messages
“The Athenians had quite a list of statutes written down on everything from business deals to prosecuting a killer. The really interesting thing is these rules sort of shaped the rules of rhetoric or the art of argument – the way you persuade people to take your side in a case,” Carawan said. While the inscribed laws list the do’s and don’ts of Greek society, Carawan focuses … [Read more...] about Ancient Greece leaves legacy of drama, democracy and argument
Dr. Catherine Jolivette, associate professor of art and design at Missouri State University, will soon release a new book, “British Art in the Nuclear Age” (Ashgate, 2014), which addresses the role of art and culture in the realm of nuclear science and technology, atomic power and nuclear warfare in Cold War Britain. “Researching for this book really brought to light that … [Read more...] about Writing about British culture in the Nuclear age
Since becoming a registered art therapist in 1987, she has hosted a variety of workshops and researched art therapy for children in pediatric oncology units and patients who are terminally ill. Knowing the importance of art in life, especially in the lives of children, she organized efforts to donate more than 150 boxes of art supplies and 75 boxes of craft supplies to … [Read more...] about Sharing the healing power of art