THE RUHLMAN R C O N F E R E N C E 9:30–10:40am guage, and disability. With a focus on four Cross-cultural Research Literature and the Arts discourse variables—question-and-answer sequences, expletives (profanity), honorif- Construction of Gender: ics, and indirection—the study aims to Why There Are Indirect Speech Insight into Japan and Korea (panel) identify stereotypes associated with female Acts: A Response to Bertolet (panel) Science Center 396 vs. male speech and explores the role Pendleton West 117 of disability in their perpetuation. The Gender is a social construct expressed by Shan Shan Tam ’10, Philosophy and each individual in accordance with a social major questions addressed by this film- based linguistic analysis are as follows: Architecture, Kimberly Goyzueta ’11, standard. This panel examines native Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences, and 1) Are the disabled subject to the same portrayals of gender in creative outlets, Margaret Hall ’11, Psychology language-related gender stereotypes that and the use of language and other social ADVISOR: Mary Kate McGowan, Philosophy behavior, to examine the expression of characterize the speech of nondisabled Suppose a diner asks, “Can you pass the gender in modern Japan and Korea. men and women (e.g., women’s speech is “powerless” and/or “cooperative”)? and salt?” Although her utterance is literally a Real Men Wear Sequins: Performing 2) can physical disability, both in Oasis question (about the physical abilities of Gender on the Takarazuka Stage and more generally, in Korean society and the addressee), most would take it as a elsewhere, be a hyperbolized expression of request (that the addressee pass the salt). Maureen E. Wynne ’09, Economics and femininity itself? The request is performed “indirectly” by Japanese Language and Literature way of “directly” asking a question. ADVISOR: Eve Zimmerman, East Asian Are the Gay Guys Uniquely Gay?: Accordingly, this utterance is known as an Languages and Literatures Cross-culture Influence on Gender indirect speech act. On the standard Japan’s all-female Takarazuka Revue has Identity and Expression account of such speech acts, a single utter- been staging large-scale musicals to mostly Laura M. Corser ’10, East Asian Studies ance constitutes two distinct speech acts. female audiences for almost 100 years. and Political Science On this account then, “Can you pass the Using makeup, costumes, and movement, ADVISORS: Eve Zimmerman, East Asian salt?” is both a question and a request. In Takarazuka actresses create stylized por- Languages and Literatures, and Sun-Hee a provocative essay, Rod Bertolet argues traits of both genders that say much about Lee, East Asian Languages and Literatures that there are no indirect speech acts. societal perceptions of what constitutes According to Bertolet, “Can you pass the Over the last 25 years or so, the popular the “ideal” man or woman. However, are salt?” is only a question. Using what we culture exchange between Japan and Korea these representations static? Changes in learned in Philosophy of Language, we exploded. This exchange has led to an the Takarazuka repertoire over the past argue against Bertolet and argue for the increasing intersection of cultural attitudes 15 years could be a reflection of a greater existence of indirect speech acts. towards different individuals in today’s redefining of gender roles in Japanese society. This study analyzes both the society as a whole. This presentation Wit and Wellesley: Taking Ourselves fictional and nonfictional cross-cultural will explore the conventions of gender Less Seriously (long performance) influence of each country’s attitude toward construction on the Takarazuka stage and gender, language, and sexuality through Schneider Theatre, Black Box how they have been applied to recent points of shared contact. More specifically, traditional and less traditional roles. Lynne Adams ’09, English and Middle it strives to view a few different examples Eastern Studies, Claire Ayoub ’11, of cultural attitudes towards An Analysis of the Language of Societal Middle Eastern Studies, Mary-Katherine Misfits in the Film Oasis homosexuality in Japan versus that in Batson ’10, English, Nisha Bedi ’10, Art Korea through the analysis of language History, Sarah Case ’10, English, Kat Jenny S. Lee ’09, Cognitive and and other social behavior displayed in Chen ’12, Missy Ford ’09, Political Science Linguistic Sciences points of cultural intersection: the popular and Philosophy, Haley Harris ’12, Lilli ADVISOR: Sun-Hee Lee, East Asian Korean drama Coffee Prince, the Japanese Johnson-Moffet ’11, English, Olivia Languages and Literatures and Korean versions of Antique Bakery, Kingsley ’11, English, and Simi Oberoi ’11, This study investigates the relationship and pop-culture figure Harisu. Political Science between language and gender in modern ADVISOR: Sarah Wall-Randell, English Korea based on a set of discourse data To making fun of “that girl,” to making from Lee Chang-Dong’s film Oasis. fun of society girls, to making fun of each Constructing a complex image of marginal- other, Dead Serious has been mining the ized individuals, the film calls attention veins of comedy gold since 1066 C.E. But to various issues surrounding gender, lan- 16 THE RUHLMAN R C O N F E R E N C E 9:30–10:40am making it all up isn’t all fun and games. In Art, Feminism, and the Home: point in its history, as well as share some their Ruhlman debut, Dead Serious pres- Domesticity Reexamined (exhibition) of the difficult choices I faced during the ents an insightful yet frivolous, enriching Jewett Art Center, Student Gallery translation process. yet not-for-profit, intelligent yet not, and above all sustainable and digestible look Brittany Sundgren ’09, Studio Art ¿Qué hago yo aquí?: Fictional into the innards of improv. Come observe ADVISOR: Phyllis McGibbon, Art Representations of Latin American the elusive and endangered comedy Immigration to Spain and the U.S. My independent studies in printmaking improv troupe in their natural habitat, as this year have explored issues of feminist Megan Briggs ’09, Comparative Literature they not only perform what they’re known art. Throughout the year, I have been ADVISOR: Elena Gascón-Vera, Spanish for but all teach the pillars of comedic considering the concept of home and The United States and Spain have distinct improvisational theatre. Dead Serious. For belonging by viewing objects through a histories of immigration: whereas the U.S. Serious. (Performance sponsored by the feminist lens. I wanted to explore and has always been a country of immigrants, letters “D” and “S” and also audiences like present these ideas using different visual Spain has traditionally exported people you....please?) formats, including handmade books, abroad, and it has only become a recipient prints, sewing, and performance. Along César Franck and His Violin and of immigrants in the last two decades. the way, I have become particularly Nevertheless, immigration is a touchy Piano Sonata (long performance) interested in traditionally feminine objects subject in both countries, with heated Pendleton West 220 associated with the home: aprons, spools, debates not only in politics but also on the teapots, and the like. Currently, we are Pui Man Rosalind Lai ’11, Neuroscience, streets. This presentation summarizes the seeing a kind of new domesticity, or and Jane Park ’11, Biological Sciences findings of my senior honors thesis, reclaiming of domesticity emerge; motifs ADVISOR: Jan Pfeiffer, Music which analyzes the fictional yet realistic and styles reminiscent of those used in the representations of the Latin American The nineteenth-century Romantic Era is 1950s and ’60s are popular once again. immigrant experience in three novels, two characterized by its passionate and expres- This, in conjunction with my studies, from the US and one from Spain. All of sive nature, and its unlimited imaginative has led me to create a dollhouse that them pay special attention to the complex and fantastical possibilities. In Belgium, a reconsiders the ideas of feminine objects realities faced by children and adolescents, dominant force in music at this era was and their place. especially the conflict between integration César Franck (1822–1890). Over his life- and tradition. time, Franck’s compositions included Exiles at Home operas, symphonies, organ works, and the (short talks) Science Center 277 Dirasat Al-Adabiyyat Al-’Arabiyya: Violin and Piano Sonata in A major, being Discovering Arabic Literature at A Young Author’s Potential: Exploring among Franck’s best-known compositions. Wellesley Yukio Mishima through His Debut Work The term “sonata”, in Latin literally means Liz Stickney ’09, Middle Eastern Studies Maya Katzir ’09, Japanese Language a piece to be played as opposed to being and French and Literature sung. Sonatas of the Romantic period ADVISOR: Louise Marlow, Religion ADVISOR: Eve Zimmerman, East Asian retained the musical form of the Classical Languages and Literatures After four years of Arabic study both at Sonatas, but emphasized the emotional Wellesley and abroad at Middlebury, in possibilities that were never achieved The popular yet controversial Japanese Egypt, and in Morocco, two students before. Franck’s Sonata in A major (1886) author Yukio Mishima submitted his first decided to explore Arabic literature is a perfect example of this sonata of the work of fiction for publication in 1941, at in order to continue their progress in Romantic period. Franck uses the cyclic the age of 16. “A Forest in Full Bloom,” mastering the language. Structured around form in which same musical themes are a highly developed piece of short fiction, informal weekly meetings, discussions of developed throughout the piece, resulting touches upon elements of Mishima’s contemporary literary works by writers in a unity among the four movements. childhood, while also using strong from Taha Hussein to Hanan Al-Shaykh metaphors to explore the world around were held in Arabic, enabling students to him.