senior thesis 2013: abstracts and presentation times
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Senior Thesis 2013: Abstracts and Presentation Times
At Woods High School, all seniors engage in a year-long independent research project. The Senior Thesis class teaches them how to organize their research, but all content
and revelations are created by the students.
By the end of the year, they have completed a 25-30 page research paper, which includes a Literature Review of pertinent research in their field as well as a Thesis, in which they
are able to put forth their own contribution.
This research and thesis are presented by each student in April and May of each school year. The presentations include a talk given by the student and a designated period for
the questions of audience members afterward.
These presentations represent the culmination of each senior’s dedicated work, and we welcome all members of the School of the Woods community to attend!
Presentations are held in the Community Meeting space on the Woods High School campus.
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Katie Miller Monday, 4/22, 11:35-12:20 “The Omega Ratio: Striving for Balance in Life” 5 C.J. Pfutzner Tuesday, 4/23, 11:35-12:20 “The Pursuit of Happiness: Why the Government Should Place Importance on the Well-Being of the People, and Why the People Need This” 6 Rebecca Arnold Wednesday, 4/24, 11:35-12:20 “The Wolf that Cried Dog: Why Wolf Hybrids aren’t Good Companions” 7 Isaac Arch Thursday, 4/25, 11:35-12:20 “The Autodidact’s Guide to Polyglottery” 8 Daniel Howell Thursday, 4/25, 4:15-5:00 “An Alternate Model of Reality: Paradigms Exploring Consciousness as the Unfolder of the Perceptible Universe” 9 Daniel Lin Monday, 4/29, 11:35-12:20 “Energize the Future: How Electric Cars can Steer us Toward a Better Tomorrow” 10 Lauryn Welling Tuesday, 4/30, 11:35-12:20 “Adopting a Biomedical Model for Psychiatry: An Analysis of the Potential Benefits and Feasibility” 11 John Tofuri Wednesday, 5/1, 11:35-12:20 “’It’s Dangerous to go Alone:’ Video Games as a Social Medium and Facilitators of Socially Positive Phenomena” 12
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Eric Grass Thursday, 5/2, 11:35-12:20 “The Constitution of Education: Changing the Fundamental Principles of Public Schooling” 13 Rachael Leonards Thursday, 5/2, 4:15-5:00 “The Unseen Truth: The Harmful Effects Flouride has on Your Health” 14 Hank Montgomery Monday, 5/6, 11:35-12:20 “Exploring Sustainability: The Balance that Built Us” 15 Michelle Deden Tuesday, 5/7, 11:35-12:20 “How Horseback Riding Neutralizes Disabilities and Creates a World of Equals” 16 Rachel George Tuesday, 5/7, 4:15-5:00 “Why Study History, Nowadays?: How Historians can Stay Relevant in a Sea of Subjectivity” 17 Christina Loos Wednesday, 5/8, 11:35-12:20 “Using Odorants Scent-sibly in the Workplace” 18 Marina Smith Thursday, 5/9, 11:35-12:20 “Tasting Imperfection: An Exploration of the Japanese Aesthetic Wabi Sabi Through a Culinary Experience” 19 Johnathan Scott Thursday, 5/9, 4:15-5:00 “The Purpose of Dreams: Mind, Body, and Soul” 20 Susana Hart Monday, 5/13, 11:35-12:20 “The Virgin Mary’s Legacy: How Archetypes Shape Relationships Between Men and Women in Modern Day Societies” 21
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Lauren Bodron Tuesday, 5/14, 11:35-12:20 “One Person’s Noise is Another Person’s Music” 22 Nikky Kunkel Tuesday, 5/14, 4:15-5:00 “Seeing Pain: A Comparative Approach to Relieving Migraine Visual Auras through Schizophrenic Pharmacotherapy” 23 Adriel Barrios-Anderson Wednesday, 5/15, 11:35-12:20 “Bringing Bach to the Bedside: An Integrative Approach to Exploring the Curative Effects of Music and the Benefit of Integrating Music into the Hospital” 24 Caroline Connell Thursday, 5/16, 11:35-12:20 “Phases and Stages: Learning about Child Development” 25 Nik Crawford Friday, 5/16, 4:15-5:00 “Prairie Brook Lane: The Musical” 26
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Katie Miller
Monday, April 22
11:35-12:20
The Omega Ratio: Striving for Balance in Life
There are many factors that contribute to the health of an individual. This paper
addresses one of these elements that many are unaware of, the balance between omega-3
and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 and omega-6 are essential nutrients that the body
does not produce and therefore must be obtained through diet. An equal balance
between these two nutrients helps to maintain a larger homeostasis within the body.
Unfortunately, the average American consumes an excess of omega-6 and an inadequate
amount of omega-3. This paper explains the consequences of this nutritional imbalance,
the benefits of correcting it, and numerous strategies with which one may cultivate a
balance between these two fatty acids.
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C.J. Pfutzner
Tuesday, April 23
11:35-12:20
The Pursuit of Happiness:
Why the Government Should Place Importance on the Well-Being of the People, and
Why the People Need This
The government needs to focus attention on the happiness of the people. This
need is a fundamental aspect of the United States’ government: it is penned into our
hallowed Declaration of Independence. The need is currently drastic because of the
large number of people who are not happy; evidence of this can be found in surveys from
the American people and can be compared to other similar nations. The results show
that the people, as a whole, do not know what their needs are or what makes them
happy. The government has the ability, by studying the psychology behind our nation,
to find out what the people need and has the ability to change the environment of the
people, i.e. the United States. I propose a new attention be paid to studies of our
happiness, and our government may better allow the American people to be happy.
This thesis describes the need for the government’s attention and the potential that the
government has to create this happier society.
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Rebecca Arnold
Wednesday, April 24
11:35-12:20
The Wolf that Cried Dog: Why Wolf Hybrids aren’t Good Companions
In this paper, I look to answer two main questions: First, what’s the history of
breeding wolves and dogs? Secondly, do wolf hybrids make good pets? In order to
understand wolf hybrids, it is necessary to do some research into the history of wolf
domestication, the traits of wolves and dogs, and the inter-breeding of the two. There
are two ways that people think about wolf hybrids: they either love them or they hate
them. Both groups need to understand that they still have wolf traits and need to be
cared for differently than other dogs. I describe how to take care of one and what you
need and I warn you about the dangers of having one. My goal is that if people can
properly care for wolf hybrids then we can reduce the number of wolf hybrids being
taken to sanctuaries.
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Isaac Arch
Thursday, April 25
11:35-12:20
The Autodidact’s Guide to Polyglottery
The purpose of this paper is to create a guide for learning a language with a
focus on attaining fluency as efficiently as possible. In hopes of achieving this, two main
ideas have been applied to the creation of this guide, Steven Krashen’s theory about
second language acquisition and memory techniques from Ancient Greece. Krashen
states that fluency emerges when grammar rules are no consciously learned through
direct instruction but through focusing on the meaning of any given input and as a
result acquiring them subconsciously. This is similar to the process by which children
acquire their first language. Memory techniques, in contrast to rote memory, emphasize
visualization and association instead of only repetition. Memory techniques present an
effective means for learning vocabulary. Learning vocabulary by utilizing memory
techniques fulfills Krashen’s requirement of meaning because the more words of any
given input one knows the easier it will be to arrive at meaning.
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Daniel Howell
Thursday, April 25
4:15-5:00
An Alternate Model of Reality: Paradigms Exploring Consciousness as the Unfolder of
the Perceptible Universe
In this paper, I propose an entirely different model of reality based not on the
interactions of matter as is proposed by our common worldview, but on the idea that
consciousness itself is the basis of reality as we know it – giving new importance to the
very nature of our awareness and ability to perceive. I define how we generally and
currently view the perceptible world in terms of material realism and determinism, and
then explore reasons why these ideas are not universal and cannot apply to the
fundamental level of known reality – the quantum level. Current understandings of
quantum behavior including probabilistic existence, nonlocality, and the collapse of the
wave function are described in order to understand how our very awareness is both
comprised of and affects this level of reality. Based on the idea of the conscious collapse
of the wave function, I provide evidence for two theories which claim consciousness as
fundamental - monistic idealism and panpsychism. Finally, I highlight some of the
possible problems these theories pose, as well as questions that need to be answered to
truly assert the validity of these theories and the reasons of importance for their
answering.
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Daniel Lin
Monday, April 29
11:35-12:20
Energize the Future: How Electric Cars Can Steer us Toward a Better Tomorrow
This paper will explain why citizens of the world should opt to drive electric
vehicles, which are cars that use one or more electric motor for forward thrust. The
focus of my research is to show how electric vehicles are better than conventional
gasoline-fueled cars. In my thesis, I explain how conventional gasoline-fueled cars harm
the environment. For example, they emit harmful toxins and particles into the
atmosphere, which some argue contribute to global warming. Not only are electric
vehicles safer for the environment, they are also more financially viable than gasoline-
fueled cars. After a few years, electric vehicle owners can save more than $5,000 in fuel
and repair costs compared to owners of conventional gasoline-powered cars. Electric
vehicles are healthier for humans, more cost-effective for the economy, and less harmful
to the environment.
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Lauryn Welling
Tuesday, April 30
11:35-12:20
Adopting a Biomedical Model for Psychiatry: An Analysis of the Potential Benefits and
Feasibility
Psychiatric disorders are currently diagnosed based on observations of external
behavioral symptoms, without an understanding of their internal biological causes. This
model becomes problematic when the line between abnormal behavior that predicts a
brain disorder and abnormal behavior that is merely socially deviant is hard to
distinguish. There is additional concern over the fact that neuroscientists are predicting
a different set of psychiatric disorders based solely on brain circuitry disturbances. The
current model’s subjectivity has led many figures in the field to support a biomedical
model of psychiatry that is based on observable biological differences and views mental
illness as a result of an individual’s genetic make-up and environmental history. The
new field of gene-environment interactions attempts to understand how both of these
agents interact with each other to produce these devastating disorders. This paper will
seek to answer two questions: Is a biomedical approach feasible? Can a biomedical
approach account for the complex nature of psychiatric disorders? I will conclude by
discussing data from the field of gene-environment interactions that predicts that these
disorders are preventable and reversible, and thus gives up hope for the future of
psychiatry.
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John Tofuri
Wednesday, May 1
11:35-12:20
“It's Dangerous to Go Alone”: Video Games as a Social Medium and Facilitators of
Socially Positive Phenomena
In this paper, I examine how video games act as a form of social media. I first
explore how video games have been known to act as a social medium to form the
backbone of the research. I’ve found that the core to the social medium of video games
is not only interaction, but also cooperation. I then look more closely into cooperation
and possible known issues in game environments. I also note how video games act as a
cultural barometer by comparing how societies respond to video games. From this, I
claim that video games bring about socially positive phenomena. I’ve divided these
phenomena into four different scales: Inter-Personal, Massive, Global, and Communal.
Through research and personal experience, I conclude that video games do, in fact,
create socially positive phenomena. Happenings such as “prosocial” emotions and
collective intelligence, as defined by Jane McGonigal, cultural diversification, as noted
by Jim Rossignol, and communal interaction, as postulated by myself, all contribute to
the end of socially positive phenomena.
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Eric Grass
Thursday, May 2
11:35-12:20
The Constitution of Education: Changing the Fundamental Principles of Public
Schooling
Public education in the United States is not living up to its potential. The
purpose of education in the U.S. for the last half century has been unclear, but for the
most part the mentality is: public education funded by taxes needs to have some sort of
economic or political benefit. Unfortunately graduation rates have plummeted; many
U.S. schools’ annual graduation rates get as low as thirty to forty percent. There has
been no evidence showing that how the U.S. educates today promotes economic growth.
Education as it is being used today does not sufficiently meet its intended economic
goal. Many education researchers have tried to solve this problem by changing the
mechanics of a school, but I suggest a more metaphysical approach. By participating in
and observing a Montessori school, I have found that the Montessori method reaches its
goal and the reason that public schools do not is because the system strives for the
wrong purpose. It should not be the goal of the school to promote economic growth.
The goal of educating someone should be to inspire curiosity and to invoke meaning in
students’ lives. This nation’s public school system should work to integrate a new
narrative into the its methodology and psyche that tells of a purpose that fosters
individuals’ development rather than economic potential. Perhaps as a byproduct,
having self-actualized individuals might help grow the economy as well, but that
shouldn’t be the focus. With this goal in mind students would have a reason of their
own to go to school and to become an educated person.
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Rachael Leonards
Thursday, May 2
4:15-5:00
The Unseen Truth: The Harmful Effects Fluoride Has On your Health
In this paper, I examine the different beliefs about fluoride and the harmful
effects it has on the human body. I define what fluoride is and why fluoride was added
into our water systems and the various ways it is being absorbed into the human body. I
look into the history of water fluoridation and the many different things you can
personally do to keep fluoride out of your body. Since the amount you can do to reduce
fluoride intake is limited, I bring up a resolution to how to address change to fully
eliminate fluoride from our water systems.
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Hank Montgomery
Monday, May 6
11:35-12:20
Exploring Sustainability: The Balance That Built Us
Forged from the fires of the industrial revolution, human kind has
singlehandedly changed the face of our planet so much that many scientists are saying
that we are creating a new epoch all together. Such a change does not come at a small
price. In the past century our society has almost completely lost its respect for the
balance of nature to make room for our fast-paced, technology powered culture. While
many see this rise in production and technology as progress, some see it differently.
When looking at extinct societies their collapse always seems to be very soon after their
peak in power. This tells us that our “progress” might soon be coming to an end. So the
question then becomes: how do we avoid this impending collapse? The solution that I
see is not as specific as "let’s let the experts solve the problem,” but instead I propose
that we change the mindset of our entire society. We need to change our practices and
adopt concepts such as Janine Benyus' idea of Biomimicry and William McDonough and
Michael Braungart's Cradle to Cradle philosophy. In order to understand how to change
our mindset so that such practices are seamlessly and naturally integrated into our lives,
first we must understand sustainability in its purest form. This understanding revolves
around the idea of balance and how our world and evolution was the result of such
balance. Finally, we can apply these concepts of balance to the survival of our human
society: a society that is on its way to a complete collapse, unless we can refine our
understanding of nature and learn to live by its law.
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Michelle Deden
Tuesday, May 7
11:35-12:20
How Horseback Riding Neutralizes Disabilities and Creates a World of Equals
In this paper I seek to answer the question, how would one go about starting
their own hippotherapy program and what are the benefits of hippotherapy on people
with cerebral palsy? I do this by using PATH International’s “Introduction to
Hippotherapy,” along with cerebral palsy specialists Randal Getz and Robin Smith’s
understanding of cerebral palsy. Then I connect my understanding of cerebral palsy
with hippotherapy to illustrate how horses help people with disabilities. This
information was learned from an internship I had with the R.O.C.K Program in
Georgetown, Texas, under the guidance of therapeutic riding specialist’s Nancy Krenek
and Karen Gardner. These observations lead me to believe that horseback riding can
benefit everyone physically, mentally, and emotionally through personal experiences.
This is explored through personal experiences and testimonies from those involved in
therapeutic riding.
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Rachel George
Tuesday, May 7
4:15-5:00
Why Study History, Nowadays?: How Historians Can Stay Relevant in a Sea
of Subjectivity
In this Metamodernist age we are facing evidence of subjectivity in all
disciplines. This has caused history to lose its status as a record of truth. Without
history’s reputation of factuality we are left wondering “what is history good for?”
History has power even without objectivity because it has noticeable impact on people
though that impact is formed by the individual’s subjective experience. By examining
history’s roots in mythology this paper seeks to convey history’s power to create
frameworks of belief that orient us in society. History could become a secular
mythology that harmonizes intergroup relations. Therefore historians can concretely
build social cohesion through promoting empathy and constructing identity in
presentations of history.
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Christina Loos
Wednesday, May 8
11:35-12:20
Using Odorants Scent-sibly in the Workplace
Proponents of aromatherapy have claimed that odors are capable of affecting
humans emotionally and cognitively for decades, but the scientific community has only
recently begun to seriously examine this idea. This area of research is a relatively young
one with a comparatively small amount of scientific studies exploring this topic, and
these studies present an interesting question: if odorants are capable of influencing
cognition and emotions, how might we use them in various environment to gain their
benefits? In this thesis, I examine how we might use aromas to benefit workers
cognitively and emotionally and how we would implement them in a working
environment. Taking the findings of various studies into consideration, I examine how
we could use odorants to beneficially affect fatigue, stress and anxiety, and alertness.
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Marina Smith
Thursday, May 9
11:35-12:20
Tasting Imperfection: An Exploration of the Japanese Aesthetic Wabi Sabi Through a
Culinary Experience
The focus of my research is how to communicate an understanding of wabi sabi
through an exercise of both the imagination and the palette. I do this by incorporating
the cookbooks and culinary technique of Shunsuke Fukushima, Hiroko Shimbo, and
local Texas chef Tyson Cole. I first discuss the act of defining wabi sabi (and why that is
impractical) and then I discuss its physical applications – wabi sabi design in particular.
I discuss haiku, pottery, and other art forms in my research, then I begin to explain how
all of these might come together in a fictitious wabi sabi restaurant. In my thesis, I
create an fabricated space in the minds of the readers that encourages an understanding
through experience of wabi sabi, which I hope will create a mutual relationship between
artist and audience – a “definition” of wabi sabi, so to speak. Next, I discuss the
relationship between wabi sabi and food. One way that I examine this is through local
food and sustainability. I also include seasonality and how autumnal cuisine is more
suited to wabi sabi due to the American perception of seasons. I then describe an ideal
menu and some background on each dish, including Japanese green tea and the place of
rice in Japanese culture. Finally, I discuss the relationship of wabi sabi and culinary
presentation, or the beauty of balance, bite, and tasting imperfection.
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Johnathan Scott
Thursday, May 9
4:15-5:00
The Purpose of Dreams: Mind, Body, and Soul
My paper covers how dreams can be interpreted and how dreams can have a
direct impact on health. I explain the current scientific definition of dreams, from when
we have them to possible theories behind why we have them. By referring to Sigmund
Freud’s explanation of the “Early Man” and his understanding of dreams, we can see
how dreams were closely related to religion. This mainly involves ancient Greek and
Roman views. I then move into The Native American view of dreams and some
traditions surrounding them. After addressing some scientific and spiritual
understandings of dreams, I move into how placing a greater meaning of any kind in
dreams can have significant effects on the mind, body and “soul”. By the end of the
paper, I state that the only way to benefit from dreams is if the dreamer takes the steps
to understand and eventually manipulate their dreams.
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Susana Hart
Monday, May 13
11:35-12:20
The Virgin Mary’s Legacy:
How Archetypes Shape Relationships Between Men and Women in Modern Day
Societies
In this thesis, I seek to answer the question: How does the Virgin
Mary’s archetype affect women and men from Chiriqui, Panama? I do this by sharing
the Virgin Mary’s story, how her actions and behaviors influenced men and women lives
throughout history, and connecting this research to my notes and observations on a
field study I conducted in this area. First, I explain the impact the Virgin Mary’s
archetype has had on men and women throughout the centuries. Then, I move on to
share men and women’s experiences and thoughts, and how the Virgin Mary influenced
them. I conclude by stating that education is the way to step away from heavily rooted
gender norms.
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Lauren Bodron
Tuesday, May 14
4:15-5:00
One Person’s Noise is Another Person’s Music
All through out human history and pre-history, there has been music. Music has
been labeled as one of the most uniquely human things we do. And even though music
has been continuously praised, celebrated, taught, and listened to universally, there is
still stigma that’s attached to certain types of music. Music that doesn’t follow the
norm, or music with intense subject matters, or sexual themes is often stigmatized,
stereotyped censored and banned. The fans of such music, and the musicians who play
the music are also subject to ridicule, and social stigmatization. All throughout history
there has been music that has been received a scarlet letter, has been banned, and even
in extreme cases blamed for crimes that listeners of the music have done. This needs to
stop, because music’s universal appeal isn’t going to go away. There is a better
alternative to blame, and their needs to be a shift in focus to the benefits of music,
and recognizing how it bonds people.
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Nikky Kunkel
Tuesday, May 14
4:15-5:00
Seeing Pain: A Comparative Approach to Relieving Migraine Visual Aura
through Schizophrenic Pharmacotherapy
It is commonly believed that any severe headache may be considered “a migraine.” In
fact, migraine is a complex and debilitating disease capable of producing positive visual
phenomena known as visual aura. In this paper, this disease will be clearly defined based
on the qualities outlined by International Headache Society, and the investigation of its
visual aura symptoms will be of great focus. Visual aura’s neurophysiological correlate,
cortical spreading depression, will be examined in order to understand the genesis of
visual aura. Having understood what migraine aura is, schizophrenic hallucinations will
be investigated to draw parallels between the two kinds of hallucinations. Finally, the
concepts of schizophrenic pharmacotherapy will hypothetically be applied to migraine
auras in order to theorize what potential treatment would look like.
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Adriel Barrios-Anderson
Wednesday, May 15
11:35-12:20
Bringing Bach to the Bedside: An integrative approach to exploring the curative effects
of music and the benefit of integrating music into the hospital
Can music heal physical and mental illness? New research in medicine,
particularly in neuroscience, is demonstrating surprising results that indicate music’s
capacity to heal on a level beyond what was previously thought. This thesis explores
current research in order to justify the implementation of music in healthcare. Based
upon that research, I conclude that music has great potential for healing a multitude of
diseases, and that further study could revolutionize healthcare in treating illness. Music
could also play a role in revitalizing personal care in medicine. It can be argued that, in
the modern healthcare matrix, an intense focus on treating disease from the empirical
perspective has led to a culture that appears impersonal and uncaring. This thesis
explores personal accounts that suggest music could serve to change this paradigm and
enhance a sense of individualized care in healthcare. Medicine can become more holistic
by developing a culture that values both the empirical and the personal, and music can
serve as a catalyst for this evolution.
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Caroline Connell
Thursday, May 16
11:35-12:20
Phases and Stages: Learning about Child Development
I have always loved caring for babies and young children. I chose to focus on child
development because it’s important to know what stage the child is developing at.
I wanted to share what I learned because I want people to get excited about child
development like I am!
I will be presenting child development from birth until two. I am focusing on six areas
of child development. These are social interaction, large motor development, small
motor development, sounds and language, sensorial development and stages of
development.
I am hoping that people who want to take in the information will come. It will definitely
be helpful for caregivers of children.
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Nik Crawford
Thursday, May 16
4:15-5:00
Prairie Brook Lane: The Musical
The goal of my senior thesis experience was to learn the form and techniques of writing
a musical and ultimately write and perform my own. In order to achieve this, I
scavenged for many sources in libraries and the internet and ended up with a collection
of books and articles giving me insight into the world of musical theatre.
The information covered corners such as dialogue constructions, character development
in songs, how to stage a scene, producing on a budget, and designing lighting and
sound set-ups for performances.
I then wrote my own musical using the knowledge accumulated, and plan on
performing it with a full cast on the date of my presentation. Here’s a short synopsis:
When Daniel J. Foster is forcibly admitted in to a mental asylum after an incident involving
flushing down his live pet goldfish, he quickly learns this is no mere hospital for the mentally
challenged. The asylum itself is presented to be an entertainment business open to the public,
where the patients are put on display for viewers’ pleasure. Through sketchy relations with other
patients, Daniel has every intention to break out of the asylum and does his best to hatch a plot-
all the while trying not to let the haunting death of his goldfish, Kelly, hold him back.
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