This creative project explores the sentiment of nostalgia that is on the rise among a segment of the young Chinese population. I analyze the trend from three perspectives: as a social-psychological emotion, as political commentary, and as a manufactured taste...
Play is a fundamental human activity that has been enjoyed by people of all ages and cultures throughout history. In this essay, I hope to explore how the concept of “play” is manifested in video games about the emergence and...
"Playin' Tha Game" explores the connections between black gangsta rappers, black basketball stars, and the degree to which they are vocal about black sociopolitical issues. Specifically the 1992 Dream Team members and L.A. based gangsta rappers were studied. Through analysis...
Even within an increasingly digital age, the body on stage continues to operate as an impactful and historically charged mode of communication, on both an individual and societal level. Theatre, I argue, is inherently a <em>medium of memory, </em>and as...
Through a close analysis of rape jokes from mainstream American comedy, my thesis focuses on the ways women comedians utilize humor as a possible tool to challenge rape culture. To ground my inquiry, I look closely at the content, the...
This project provides an oppositional reading of ABC's popular <em>Bachelor </em>franchise, arguing that these reality dating programs present viewers with specific narratives of gender, sexuality, class, and race that contribute to greater hegemonic discourse that reifies heterosexual marriage. Through a...
This senior project includes a project statement and an autobiographical graphic novel that documents the author's personal experience during the pandemic. The purpose of this project is to reflect on the continuing situation of the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, it hopes...
In my thesis I discuss single player digital games. I examine a family of views in critical game studies called ludocentric views, which are the most prevalent methods of analysis in academic games studies today. These views closely resemble formalist...
Space is inherently embodied–to be in space one must physically, three-dimensionally, encounter it. But what would happen if the sensory, affective, embodied human was at the center of spatial design? What would be the role of the senses and how...
Here you will find digitized archival collections, oral histories, and more. We are continually expanding the collections and improving access. You may find additional digital resources that reside outside the digital library here, and a selection of Online Exhibitions here.
Collections Overview
The Archives & Special Collections Library is part of the Vassar College Libraries system. It holds the rare book, manuscript, and archival collections of the college. It collects, preserves, and makes available rare and unique collections, and also engages in teaching and outreach activities. This collection of finding aids describe items in both the Virginia B. Smith Memorial Manuscript Collection and the College Archives.
The Vassar College herbarium holds over 8,000 specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, and algae. Holdings are primarily from northeastern North America, and include collections made by several notable 19th century botanists. To learn more about this project visit the website here.
Vassar College's institutional repository reflects the research and scholarly output of the Vassar College community. It provides access to senior theses, peer reviewed open access articles, and projects from a wide range of disciplines.