When people think of research, the first thing that comes to mind is usually science of some kind. Research is almost synonymous with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. Research has a place in the arts and the humanities too. Muhlenberg offers opportunities for students in every discipline to conduct summer research, and Sonny Berenson ‘26, Ednah Asiema ‘26 and Marie Tohill ‘25 are three of the students who conducted research in the arts and humanities.
The start of everyone’s research journey is different. Berenson found inspiration through her work as a Dana Scholar. “I was approached by a professor [Kassie Hartford, Ph.D.] about the Mazur Research Grant for Musical Inquiry in the fall of my sophomore year. In the spring, I had been working on my first Dana mentorship project within the music department and I loved it. I thought applying for the grant would be a great opportunity to make money and gain credit working on a project of my choosing.” Berenson’s further conversations with Hartford would lead to the idea for her research project. “From my conversation with [Hartford], I found gender performance and glam rock, specifically focusing on David Bowie, my favorite artist of all time. In this project, I weaved together feminist theory of gender performance with the stage performance of glam rock and heavy metal.”
“I also want fellow students to realize that humanities research is just as vital and exciting as STEM research!” – Marie Tohill ’25
In Asiema’s case, the inspiration came from a class assignment. “I am an international studies major with a focus on Latin America,” she said. “I took a Latin American cinema course with [David Romberg] and after watching ‘City of God’ (2002), I started questioning the portrayal of human rights issues in film—more specifically, the aftermath of these portrayals and so on, and that led me to my research topic.” Asiema’s research “…examines how directors’ backgrounds influence the portrayal of human rights injustices in Latin American cinema, focusing on both documentaries and fictional films and the benefits and challenges of representing such complex subjects on film. By analyzing films that address the Dirty War and ‘Los Desaparecidos’ in Argentina, as well as the exploitation of indigenous communities in Peru, Guatemala and Bolivia, the study explores how filmmakers’ cultural and personal contexts shape their narrative choices and the impact of their work. The research seeks to illuminate the complexities of representing sensitive issues on screen and how these films contribute to the broader discourse on human rights.”
As for Tohill, she found her spark while celebrating the work of others. “I was inspired to do research when I attended last year’s Celebration of Student Research, Scholarship and Creative Work to support my friends. At this event, I realized that I wanted to do research of my own. I also realized that when it comes to picking a research topic, the sky’s the limit! I was inspired to create a project of my own that reflected my personal interests in media & communication.” Tohill used a television show to examine broader issues of intersectionality. “My research is about the representation of intersectional identity within Generation Z on television, specifically focusing on how the intersectional character Eric Effiong is represented in the Netflix original show ‘Sex Education’ (2019-2023). Eric is a Gen Z second-generation Nigerian immigrant living in Britain and a Black queer Christian man. His storyline in the show, directed at a Gen Z audience, reflects how members of Gen Z grapple with complex intersectional identities, such as Black queer Christianity. My writing analyzes how the show transgressively portrays the image of God as a Black woman, defying the colonial, white, patriarchal vision of God spread throughout Global North, as well as rewrites the definition of ‘coming out of the closet’ as a continuous process that exists in multiple shapes and forms.”
The students’ summer research was born out of passion and academic intrigue. There was a lot to be excited about during the research process. Berenson said that “I loved getting to research something that is so important to my life. Music is HUGE in my family—both of my parents were metalheads in the 1980s, and they were beyond proud to see me writing about bands they loved in such a scholarly and academic way. Doing this project paid homage to my roots and my passions. I never thought I’d be able to get paid and receive credit for learning about topics that don’t even feel like work at all.” Asiema said “I enjoyed watching the films and analyzing them and getting a better look into the less known side of Latin American cinema.” And Tohill remarked that “I really enjoyed working one-on-one with my faculty advisor Kiah Bennett, Ph.D. I also enjoyed presenting my research to my peers at a ‘Friday Forum,’ which happens every Friday on campus over the summer, and gives researchers the opportunity to share their projects with other fellow researchers. This made me feel very connected to the other researchers on Muhlenberg’s campus.”
“The research seeks to illuminate the complexities of representing sensitive issues on screen and how these films contribute to the broader discourse on human rights.” – Ednah Asiema ’26
Finally, each of the researchers are eager for their work to have an impact. Berenson stated that “To me, the benefits of this project are moving and ever-present, as it gives a voice to those typically underrepresented or belittled in popular culture. Working on this project also highlights the field of musicology both at Muhlenberg and in the larger academic community—the field is so fascinating and poignant, and I want more people to learn about what it is.” Asiema also is interested in fostering inclusion and understanding, saying that “I am hoping to further convey that visual narratives help bridge the gap between those who have lived experiences of certain issues, and those who are hearing or learning about said experiences, making human rights issues more accessible and relatable to viewers, fostering empathy and encouraging deeper understanding.” Tohill is concerned with changing how the audience thinks, stating “I want others to walk away thinking deeply about the messages of the media that they consume. It would also be cool if people gained a greater understanding about the interaction between identity and religion. I also want fellow students to realize that humanities research is just as vital and exciting as STEM research!”
If you want to learn more about Berenson’s, Asiema’s and Tohill’s research along with the research of others in all sorts of fields, you can attend the “Celebration of Student Research Scholarship and Creative Work poster session” from 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 in the Seegers Union Light Lounge and Event Space.
