Visual and Textual Depictions of Philanthropists

Mentor Areas

While I have many published articles related to  philanthropy, visual analysis is a new field. For example, Interpreting meaning behind visual cues (position, scale, hierarchy). Students with a background in art history would be welcome 

Description:

This proposed research examines how donors have sought representation throughout the ages.

Throughout history, individual donors and their families have played a critical role in shaping cultural, religious, and social landscapes. Their contributions have often been immortalized through various forms of representation, such as having their names on buildings (such as names of  buildings on campus) inscriptions, sculptures, paintings, architectural dedications, as well as digital and media portrayals. These representations do not merely acknowledge generosity; they also represent and encode power dynamics, social hierarchies, and the evolving relationship between wealth, virtue, and identity.

This study seeks to trace the evolution of how donors have been represented across different historical periods, exploring the intersection of art, politics, religion, and social status.

Preferred Qualifications

Skills:  to have good writing skills and s to have the following skills OR willing to learn new skills such as 

  1. to do visual research
  2. to do textual  research and  
  3. interpreting meaning behind visual cues in depiction of donors

The successful candidate will be a current undergraduate student(freshman, sophomore or Junior) interested in the topic to investigate using text and visual analysis to answer the following questions

  1. How have donors been visually and textually represented in different historical and cultural contexts?
  2. What symbols, motifs, and narrative devices were employed to convey donor status, piety, and power?
  3. How do shifts in donor representation reflect broader societal changes in attitudes toward wealth, charity, and self-promotion?
  4. In what ways have modern digital and media representations of donors continued, transformed, or subverted historical traditions?

Details:

Preferred Student Year

First-year, Second-Year, Junior

Academic Term

Spring, Summer

I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).

Volunteer

Yes

Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.

Paid

No

Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.

Work Study

Yes

Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.

Researcher