Communication Arts Senior Exhibition

Gordon College ClubHouse (GCCH)

I conducted qualitative research, including an interview with the Director of Student Activities. I found a clear need for a system that highlights student activities and volunteering opportunities without overwhelming students with excessive information. Many students struggle to engage with campus events, clubs, and service opportunities because information is scattered across multiple platforms and often gets lost in crowded email inboxes. As a result, they have difficulty staying aware of what’s happening on campus or finding opportunities that align with their interests. A centralized platform that clearly presents events and allows students to filter by interest and availability would make it much easier for them to get involved. Communication plays an essential role in addressing this issue; a unified system would enable the college to share information more effectively, making it simpler for students to discover opportunities, stay informed, and participate in the areas that matter most to them.

Let There Be Light: A Practical Analysis of the Purpose of Lighting Design in Small Churches.

Many small churches do not realize that they can afford lighting, and therefore, they often do not consider how it could impact their worship. Additionally, many Christians do not understand why churches might incorporate lighting as part of worship. Through research and the construction of a simple lighting design, this project explores whether the use of lighting in a church service is theologically justified and whether it can be beneficial to worship. Lighting communicates emotion and intention, and the choices of light type, color, and brightness influence how attendees perceive the service and enter into worship. This project taught me the importance of understanding a theology of worship and the role of technology in church settings. I learned about the emotional impact of light and how it can be used to draw a congregation into worship.

Removing the “Post” From “Post-Truth Era”

When it comes to the spread of news in the media, we are living in a post-truth era. This means that people are influenced more by content that appeals to their emotions than by content grounded in objective facts. One factor that exacerbates this problem is the rise of short-form content on social media. I researched the impact that the normalization of short-form content has on Gen Z and learned that combating the spread of misinformation requires more than simply building digital literacy. Gen Z is entering adulthood, and we will soon greatly influence the state of the world. It is important that we understand the negative effects of the post-truth era so that we can change the ways we communicate through social media and ensure that our generation and future generations can re-emphasize truth in the news.

Are You a True Believer?: Music as Political Awareness and Call Out

America has never been flawless. Racism and bigotry have long been embedded in our political systems. As Trump enters another presidency, these issues have only been brought further to light. However, many people either choose to be, or are unknowingly, oblivious to what is happening. I’ve noticed that, whether online or through fully produced recordings, songs are being used as a form of political expression: To educate, inform, and call out injustice. But one song stood out in particular. Through its haunting production and piercing lyrics, Hayley Williams’ “True Believer” directly calls out the South and, by extension, America’s current state. In this paper, I analyze the song’s rich lyricism and connect it to our current political climate before asking a larger question: Is this musical medium the most effective? Is music becoming a new way for us to make difficult topics digestible while still reaching a mass audience?

Designing for Who We Desire: How Church Websites Determine their Congregation

A church website’s homepage can tell you more than just the basics about the church; it can also reveal whom the church hopes to attract to its congregation. Using Framing Theory, I examined the homepages of four Presbyterian churches in New England to identify their priorities and the audiences they are designing for. By choosing what information to highlight and how to frame it, churches signal the kinds of people they want to draw to their services. This process helps prospective members and church seekers find a congregation that aligns with their priorities, particularly those from vulnerable demographics or minority groups.

The Alabaster Projection: Exploring Beauty, Faith and Meaning in the Mundane

In a world overwhelmed by media and image culture, beauty is often reduced to perfection rather than spiritual depth. The Alabaster Projection explores beauty as a form of spiritual communication, one that reveals what we believe about God, others, and ourselves. We draw inspiration from the biblical story in Mark 14:1–11, where Jesus says of the woman with the alabaster jar, “She has done a beautiful thing to me.” This project uses storytelling, rhetorical analysis, and personal reflection to reclaim beauty as an act of worship. It teaches us that communication not only shapes perception but also invites sacred wonder back into our lives, reminding us that beauty can speak truth, awaken faith, and invite us into deeper encounter. Ultimately, it reveals that to communicate beautifully is itself a holy act.

The Algorithm of Anxiety

TikTok’s algorithm is changing how people engage with social media—and it’s having a serious impact on mental health. This presentation explores how features designed to keep users hooked, such as endless scrolling and constant comparison, can lead to anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and stress. By breaking down how the app works in simple terms, the talk reveals how these patterns influence thoughts, moods, and behavior—often without users realizing it. Using relatable examples and current research, it shows how small design choices can create significant emotional effects. The goal is to help people recognize these patterns and make more mindful choices about how they use social media. Whether someone is trying to feel less overwhelmed, improve focus, or build healthier online habits, this talk offers practical insights for a more intentional digital life. It also highlights how communication can play a powerful role in shifting media habits and supporting mental well-being.

The Weight of the Unspoken

My project explores how suicide is discussed online and how digital spaces shape conversations around mental health. I wrote a paper analyzing both the problems and the benefits of these discussions, examining how online platforms can either support vulnerable individuals or unintentionally silence them. Through this work, I learned that the topics people often avoid are the ones that matter most. Being honest and acknowledging discomfort is essential for creating genuine understanding that can help others. From a communication standpoint, I saw how communication plays a crucial role in addressing this issue. When pain cannot be expressed, silence follows. That silence still communicates, and it becomes our responsibility to recognize it and create space for honest expression. Communication is not just speaking. It is noticing, listening, and responding in ways that help break the silence surrounding mental struggle, which hundreds of thousands of people experience.

Energy Drinks Advertisement: Who Sold You Your First Sip

You are the target of every advertisement created. Energy drinks are frequently marketed to adolescents and college-aged students through strategic communication. To name a few, Red Bull, PRIME, Celsius, and ALANI have curated their online presence specifically to reach you. According to Uses and Gratifications Theory, audiences choose media based on what they want or need. Through semiotics, ads and commercials attempt to sell you an aesthetic. Influencers, celebrities, and athletes also play a powerful role in persuading audiences to indulge in energy drink consumption. This reflects the Two-Step Flow Theory, in which media outlets rely on public figures to shape audience opinions and build trust. Because they know what is best for you, don’t they? Who better to sell you a “lifestyle” than corporations driven by profit, companies that ultimately know nothing about you.

The Spectacle of Suffering

This project addresses the problem of how prominent and frequent portrayals of suffering on screen negatively impact our ability to empathize with each other and alter our worldview. In exploring this topic, I found research studies documenting the dramatic increase in media portrayals of violence and emotional turmoil, as well as Susan Sontag’s Regarding the Pain of Others, a book that examines the crisis of empathy versus desensitization, how suffering is represented in media, and how such representations shape our worldview. Suffering has become a spectacle in the media for our entertainment. We no longer see it as a tragedy but as theater. This issue is crucial for Communication Arts students. Media communicates messages, and we are the ones who will be creating that media. We have a responsibility to understand the impact our messages have on others.

Made for More

I created a self-reflection film addressing the concept of "Calling" in the Christian life. This visual project follows the narrative of my own story and how I believe God has led me to pursue my calling. Many believers struggle with recognizing that God has more planned for their lives and often feel unsure about how to follow the passions placed on their hearts. After seeking wisdom from various pastors and theologians, I explored what Christians are truly called to do. Through this process, I learned how Scripture discusses calling and how we can discern what God desires for us. This topic is vital to communication, as Jesus commanded his followers to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are called to communicate the Gospel.