CASE: Spring 2023

Madeline Allen 
Victoria’s Secret’s Illusion of Perfection 

Victoria's Secret is a brand that for a long time dominated the fashion world in many different ways. The media created by this brand during its height of popularity created a multitude of issues in our society. Many of these issues have directly affected women when it comes to body insecurities, sexuality, how they are seen by men, and overall confidence. To address these issues and their effects, I have researched and written an analysis of specific pieces of media created by Victoria’s Secret. In my paper, I discuss how the brand has changed over time and if they have really become a more positive and inclusive brand. I’m hoping this project will raise awareness in how the media can affect how we think of ourselves and others.  

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Zachary Bennett 
Embracing the Craft: A Film on Loneliness 

To feel alone, yet surrounded by community, is a reality that many college students are facing. Statistics conducted from a 2022 survey reveal that 53% of current college students reported that they are concerned with feeling lonely, and 47% reported they are concerned with feeling isolated (Sodexo). Challenged by the societal expectation to branch out into different environments, the new generation of students on this planet are constantly searching for ways to not only fit in, but also be seen and heard by others. At the same time, they are attempting to find spaces where they themselves feel comfortable in hope that they can channel their own sense of inner creativity and genius. This project sheds light on the lonely lifestyle of those who want to see their envisions carried out in the world.   

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Devin Benoit 
Stop Scrolling Campaign 

I’m sure at some point today or another you have scrolled through social media to either check a friend's post, look at a meme, or even just waste some time. People today with the booming success and constant marketing of social media have been almost consumed daily by their devices and the media within it. In a lot of cases more time has been spent on their devices than communicating face to face with their peers. My video campaign is made to bring awareness to the anti-social nature of social media and create more face-to-face connections within this technological age. In so many cases people isolate themselves from the world around them with social media and technology but communication and emotion are what brings people together. This campaign is supposed to bring awareness to the problems that can be caused by social media and hopefully create a more personal and communicative society. 

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Alexander Bishop 
Men’s Mental Health: A Topic That’s Not Hot Enough  

When mental health is talked about, men usually aren’t the ones thought about. A lack of awareness about men’s mental health permeates our campus, cultures, and spans throughout generations. My project aims to find out why, and how we can better raise awareness for men struggling with mental health. I have created a mini-series of articles that highlights five men, all from different walks of life who have one thing in common, mental health. Whether they are young or old, from the U.S. or not, men need to know that their mental health matters. This isn’t an issue that only affects strangers, but those closest to us. My project captures the startling truth of mental health among men and why this topic shouldn’t be swept under the rug or treated as a taboo topic, because lives depend on it and those lives may be closer than you think.  

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Lilly Brito  
“Do you know my name?” - A Social Media Campaign focused on International Women in Film  

The film industry in the last few years has been finally bringing more diversity in the roles of directors, producers and actors. However, the majority of this industry is still male. The name of the campaign has the purpose to show how little these women are acknowledged in everything they achieved so far. Therefore, my project has the goal of highlighting international women in film and the projects that they have done, and how important it is to have them in the industry as they bring a new perspective of diversity and creativity. I’ll focus mainly on Instagram, telling the story of 5 different international women and the film features that they already worked on inspiring other international women to do the same.

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Ben Calianga 
GRIT 

College is a transformational time in our lives. We receive opportunities to explore our passions and make countless connections. These connections we make have a strong influence on our lives. We communicate ideas, emotions, and values with the groups we are a part of. But with all the possibilities, college can be a challenging time seeming impossible to navigate. It is increasingly easy to lose yourself and feel alone. My project, "GRIT," is a short documentary film exploring the relationship between Gordon Track & Field and senior captain Joe Tibbles. GRIT is the motto of this team which impacted Joe while at Gordon. My project shows how this community shaped Joe and gave him direction during college. I hope to show how to make the most of this time through Joe's story. 

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Avonlea Cummings 
Understanding America’s Insulin Crisis: How Do Media Narratives Influence Our Perception of the Insulin Crisis? 

Prices of insulin have sky-rocketed in the last twenty years across America. As three major companies have owned 90% of insulin products it has been a difficult market to make more affordable treatments for those with diabetes. These excruciating prices have impacted patients with diabetes tremendously, and this has surfaced a new crisis America is facing, the Insulin crisis. I have researched and written an in-depth critical analysis of the impacts this crisis has had on American families, I have analyzed crisis statements from those in need, and those in charge. This analysis dives deep into how media narratives can shape our understanding of the insulin crisis. Our generation and the generations to come to need more awareness of the reality of this crisis impacting millions, the more we are aware, the best we can get help for our community. 

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Rachel Fodera 
Talk to Strangers?

We’re all the protagonists of our own story. At least, we believe that we are. But do we truly reflect on how our lives intersect with those around us? Do we glean from others? Do we listen? Whether we have been impacted by our individualized society, sense of polarization, or reliance on technology, we all have experienced how difficult it is to connect with one another. In order to address this issue, my project seeks to paint a picture on how to connect with others, and why we would even do it in the first place. Through various interviews, artistic expression, and a social experiment, “Talk to Strangers?” shows the audience the importance of truly seeing one another, even when it’s just for a moment. This video seeks to affirm the importance of conversation and listening as principal ways that we can love our neighbor, and ultimately, see more of the image of God. 

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Xahn Frater 
Let Go and Let God as a College Athlete 

My project is a video that shows my process of letting go of the sport I love, basketball.  The video will have clips of interviews, me playing basketball and one of my mentors who speaks on this problem that many college athletes face. Often, college athletes have dedicated a great deal of their lives to their sport and realizing that their time playing their sport competitively has come to an end can be very difficult. In the video I will have voiceovers of me talking and music playing in the background as well, it will be almost like a mini documentary. My overall goal with this video is to encourage college athletes who aren’t able to play their sport after college, to know that the end of their competitive sports days is just the end of a chapter and there are still many more to go. They will find that same sense of fulfillment elsewhere in whatever God has called them to do.   

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Savannah Gibble 
Slow Solutions in Fast Fashion 

Your shirt tells a story. What does it say? Awareness regarding clothing production and consumption has risen to public debate and conversation. With the rapid industrialization of the West a disconnection has come from where we gather and produce our resources. This project focuses on the roots and effects of fast fashion on producers, consumers, and the environment. The problem, fast fashion, is examined in a podcast format. The audience is introduced to several solutions, one being thrifting. The second portion of the project is a visual collection of how you can thrift well too. Our clothing communicates a lot about us and our posture in society. By examining the stories behind fast fashion, we can take tangible steps toward creating a more effective and sustainable fashion industry. 

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Lilli Johnson 
The Care and Keeping of YOU: A digital guide to the menstrual cycle 

By her mid-twenties, a woman has likely endured more than 250 menstrual cycles. Despite the routine nature of this monthly process, many lack a holistic understanding of what actually occurs. The human body goes through drastic changes from adolescence to adulthood, and it is important to expand our knowledge alongside these developments. If women are to live healthy, fulfilled lives, we must do our very best to educate and equip them to do so. “The Care and Keeping of You” addresses the gap in women’s health resources and introduces animated shorts that explain the hormonal shifts and characteristics of each unique phase in the cycle. Throughout this project, I have discovered the unique power of motion graphics to simplify complex topics and provide lasting understanding. My hope is that this project will give young women the fundamental knowledge to cultivate their own menstrual well-being.  

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Christopher Landry 
The Charlatan's Manifesto: The Rhetoric of the Anti-Vaccination Movement  

In an age where scientific information and education are more accessible than ever, how is it that misinformation seems to spread more effectively than truth? What does effective science communication look like, and why is it so hard? This project aims to examine these questions through a case study of one of the most infamous misinformation campaigns of all time: the assertion that vaccines cause autism. Specifically, this project aims to perform a rhetorical analysis on the movement’s founder, Andrew Wakefield, and explore how he was able to manipulate thousands of people into believing an anti-scientific claim with no evidence behind it. The ultimate goals of this project are to explore the rhetoric of misinformation and to better understand the anti-vaccination movement, which began when one man told the most dangerous lie of the 21st century and forever altered the face of public health.  

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Morgan Pierce 
Karpophoreó: Reducing Food Waste 

Apples get bruised, potatoes start to sprout, carrots get slimy, and so they get thrown out. “Karpophoreó: Reducing Food Waste” is a series of posters designed to provide aesthetics while also communicating simple ways to reduce food waste. Karpophoreó is the Greek word meaning “to bear fruit.” We can bear good fruit in our lives through being rooted in Christ and can be reminded of this by how we steward the relationships in our lives, as well as our environment. I hope that people will use these designs not just as decor for their homes, but also to aid in informing them on how to properly store their produce for the longest shelf life. Reducing food waste not only aids in saving money on weekly groceries, but also provides the market with more food to feed the hungry and reduces the toxic emissions caused by food waste in landfills. 

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Dominic Portelli 
Community, Identity, Hospitality: A.S.I.A. Awareness Campaign 

For students to perform at their highest, they need to be comfortable within their environments. College can be a tough transition, especially for international students who may not even speak English. There is also a prevalent problem of mental health and stress on college campuses. How depression and poor mental health gets someone is by making them feel so alone. However, in a community where people have similar experiences as you and are going through a similar stage of life, it’s hard to feel alone. Asian Student In America (A.S.I.A.) is a club at Gordon College that acts as a home for Asian students on campus. They promote community and fellowship amongst Asian students and educate the greater student body. I believe the biggest issue with this club is that not many students know about it. So, it’s my goal to raise awareness by making an advertisement for them to get the word out to the Asian community. I want every Asian international student to know that no matter how far away from home they are, they’re never alone.

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