First Name:
Jaclyn
Last Name:
Miller
Major Department:
Graphic arts and imaging technology
Thesis Director:
Craig Fischer
Date of Thesis:
May 2011
During my time at Appalachian, most of my honors classes were in the communication department. One topic that was brought up quite a bit that I found to be particularly interesting was women's portrayal in the media. I developed a particularly strong interest in this subject after watching the documentary Generation M: Misogyny in Media & Culture from the Media Education Foundation. My actual major is Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology, so for my thesis, I wanted to create something that combined Communication and Graphic Arts. I also wanted to create something that would benefit me for years after I graduated as a staple in my portfolio. I decided that the best option for my senior thesis would be to write a research paper on the portrayal of women in the media, particularly in advertising, then turn it into a well designed pamphlet that I could show to prospective employers. My goals for this project were originally stated in my thesis proposal as follows: I plan to have lots of sources and do extensive research so I can have the most complete and unbiased view possible when I write my paper and create the graphical representations. Also, I plan to be very involved in the layout and printing process of this project because the hands-on experience will benefit me when I am out in the working world. Ultimately, my goal is to have a printed piece that will not only help me graduate with honors, but will also blow away my prospective employers when I graduate and start interviewing with different companies.