Music and Theatre Making In Canadian Prisons

The benefits of engaging in theatre- and music-making have been well proven for various populations. (see Črnčec et al. 2006; Lehmberg and Fung 2010; Salur et al 2017, etc.) These benefits are particularly significant for individuals who have experienced trauma, especially incarcerated individuals. (see Kyprianides and Easterbrook 2020; Reid 2019, etc). Music and theatre programs vary in Canada, and are present in many Canadian prisons. In this paper, I examine two programs more closely: the grass roots program Pros and Cons at The Joyceville Institution in Kingston, Ontario, which involves a collaboration between volunteer musicians and a group of incarcerated men, and Diane Conrad’s work with a young offender’s facility in Alberta Canada, where she employed devised theatre techniques to create meaningful theatrical pieces within the prison’s walls. Both these programs are working towards a similar goal: preparing the incarcerated individuals to return to society through practicing and rehearsing healthy community and citizenship through collaborative music and theatre. While this is an admirable goal for this work, the conversation surrounding music and theatrical work in prisons has been focused on its rehabilitative aims and properties. In this presentation I will explore the features of both programs, examine the rehabilitation goals and the focus on rehabilitation in the literature on prison-based music and theatre programs, and discuss ways that Transformative Justice and the Abolitionist movement can be supported through these arts-based initiatives.

The Dark side of helping: Escalation of commitment

In the real world, employees may be presented with difficult tasks that could be tackled in multiple ways and with available resources. On top of this, with deadlines, few external resources, and other tasks that employees typically face, thinking tends to be narrowed and so do the actions that follow. This could lead to a persistent course of action that leads to failure. We call this situation escalation of commitment. When our coworkers offer help and we are stuck and have invested time and effort into near-impossible tasks, is it worth accepting this offer of help? Or, would we rather risk more time and resources and instead persist in solving this near impossible problem? In the latter option, the individual may experience burnout and stress. For the organization, deadlines would not be met, and objectives could not be accomplished. My research looks at these helping behaviours and whether they lead others astray in an escalation of commitment. Specifically, I predict that individuals who have invested in a failing course of action are less likely to abandon this path when they receive help from others. This intersection of escalation and helping behaviours are important because when employees attempt to help a coworker who is invested in an extremely difficult task, they may be doing more harm than good.

NKR-P1B Receptor Expression and Function in the Different Innate Lymphoid Cells of the Lung

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) are the majority of ILCs in murine lungs at steady state. ILC2s are the main producer of type-2-cytokines, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-13, and amphiregulin, playing key roles in lung tissue homeostasis, airway responses to pathogens and allergens, and in cancer-related defenses. ILC functions are regulated by cell surface receptors. NKR-P1B is an inhibitory receptor, which recognizes C-type lectin-related protein (Clr-b) as its ligand. NKR-P1B is expressed on subsets of natural killer cells, ILC2, ILC3, γδ T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells in a tissue-specific manner and regulates NK cell and ILC3 functions in the gut. Expression and function of NKR-P1B in the lung ILC populations is unexplored. Moreover, Clr-b, the ligand for NKR-P1B, is expressed in the bronchial epithelium, endothelial cells and in lung parenchyma, but its role in immune regulation in the lung is unknown. We hypothesize that ILC2s in the lung express NKR-P1B, and their function is regulated by the NKR-P1B:Clr-b recognition system. Using wild-type (WT) and NKR-P1B-deficient mice, we study the expression of NKR-P1B on lung ILC2, and the function of NKR-P1B:Clr-b recognition system in ILC2 development and function. We compare the phenotype, frequency, numbers and cytokine production by ILC2s upon stimulation between WT and NKR-P1B-deficient mice using antibody staining and flow cytometry analysis. This study will reveal the role of NKR-P1B as a model system for its human homolog, NKR-P1A, in the regulation of ILC development and function, advancing our understanding of how immune responses in the lung are regulated.

Investigating the species-specific association between anuran calling phenology and air temperature

Climate change has been associated in phenological shifts for a variety of taxa. Amphibians, specifically the order Anura (frogs and toads), are considered particularly vulnerable due to their sensitivity to anthropogenic and environmental change. Previous research has documented shifts in the timing of anuran breeding that can be attributed, in part, to climate change, with potential implications for reproduction, survival, and development. This study aims to investigate how air temperature is associated with anuran calling phenology. I will examine the temporal trends in spring and summer air temperature in a lake in northern Ontario, Canada. and quantify seasonal patterns of calling anuran species using acoustic monitoring over a four-month period. I predict that there will be interspecific variation in peak calling associated with air temperature. Additionally, I expect to find asymmetrical association between air temperature and anuran species’ calling behaviour – wherein prolonged breeding species will have a larger optimal temperature range for calling compared to explosive breeding species. The findings of this research will aid in future conservation and provide insight for management strategies of anurans in Canada in response to anticipated climate warming.

Fighting climate change: What’s being mindful, outside and at school got to do with it?

Although climate change education strategies have succeeded in spreading awareness, they also create a sense of fear and urgency that not only fails to change environmentally unsustainable behavior but may increase this behavior. The failure of current strategies and the paradoxical increase of environmentally unsustainable behavior may be explained by a theory known as terror management theory. This theory posits that if people are faced with an existential crisis, like climate change, they may cling even tighter onto their current ways. A novel solution to alleviate terror management theory is inspiring and empowering people. Inspiration and empowerment will teach people to see environmentally sustainable behavior as a healthier alternative to their current ways rather than an existential crisis. Therefore, they are more likely to welcome change rather than fear it. My study aims to see if mindfulness, connection to nature, and differing undergraduate programs affects sustainable consumption behavior. These factors are thought to inspire and empower people. If these factors can affect sustainable consumption behavior, then they may inspire and empower people to fight climate change. I predict that individuals who are more mindful and connected to nature will also have more sustainable consumption behavior. Furthermore, programs that highlight environmental issues will allow students to have a better connection to nature and more sustainable consumption behavior. If there is evidence to support, my hypotheses then factors that influence sustainable consumption behavior should be taught in schools. These factors would not only increase environmental behavior but increase the student’s overall wellbeing.

Folk-Inspired Neoclassical vs Folk-Inspired Compositions

My research project focuses on folk inspired music of Poland, England, China, and Ireland. In my applied lessons on clarinet, I studied two neoclassical Polish folk pieces, so the question answered in the research is how the two neoclassical Polish pieces compare to folk inspired pieces from other countries. The pieces chosen for this study are mainly pieces that I have heard before. Therefore, I chose the pieces based upon my familiarity with them. Folk music expresses the sounds and rhythms that represent countries all over the world. Over time these sounds and rhythms evolve to reflect the country at that moment. This study will reflect how folk music was implemented into different pieces with a focus on Polish neoclassical folk pieces versus English, Chinese, and Irish folk pieces. There is a detailed analysis focused on two Polish compositions. While the focus of the other global pieces is to allow one to understand how folk music was being used in compositions specific to the country being studied. The purpose of this study is to understand how folk tunes and characteristics can be expressed through larger compositions, and how the different countries and genres approached that. Furthermore, the study compares Polish folk music to the folk music of other countries and where Polish folk composers stand in originality and experimentalism with the composers of England, China, and Ireland.

An Interpretation and Analysis on the Polychromy of Attic Korai from Votive and Funerary Contexts

The characteristic woman of Archaic Greek sculpture, the kore (pl. korai) stands proud, rigid, frontal, and omnisciently smirking at her viewer with the famous Archaic smile. She has been interpreted as an attendant, goddess, or deceased maiden, wearing representations of draped diaphanous robes, jewelry, and bearing offerings. Yet where her now clean marble surface exists once was intricately illuminated with vibrant pigments, inlaid stones, metals, and often accompanied by accessories of various materials. Recent advancements in analytical techniques have enabled scholars to delve deeper into the study of these sculptures, uncovering traces of pigments which would otherwise be left undetected. However, the image that these colours paint has yet to be thoroughly analysed and a history of intentional removal and surface cleaning has postponed a complete evaluation of the sculptures. In Attica, from the sixth to the early 5th century BCE, korai reflect stylistic progression and variation within and between archaeological contexts. A palette of colours was used to display features now lost to the modern eye. This paper examines the korai, proposing meaning through colour, patterns, and representations. Using polychrome reconstructions, spectral data, pottery, archaeological evidence, and ancient literary sources, the author interpreted the polychromy and decorative elements of Attic korai from votive and funerary contexts. Asking questions on symbolism, utility, cultural connection, and identity of the sculptures; this paper explains the use of pigments in relation to the symbolism of the sculptures and to their role in the greater framework of the Archaic Greek world.

Changes in Knowledge Across Time

Our study focuses on children’s understanding of their own knowledge and how it changes over time. Preschool-aged children perform above chance when asked about current knowledge, but only children older than 5 years of age performed above chance for past, future, or intraindividual knowledge (Atance & Caza, 2018; Caza et al., 2016). However, we do not currently know whether awareness of past and future knowledge is related. While this type of awareness seems conceptually related to metacognition (the awareness of one’s own ignorance or knowledge; Rohwer et al., 2012), the relation to this skill is unknown. Thus, the goal of the current study is to investigate how children’s awareness of their own epistemic knowledge is related to their metacognitive abilities. This study will explore children between the ages of 3.5- through 5-years-old, who will be assessed on their understanding of their current, past, and future knowledge, as well as other tasks assessing metacognitive skills. Further, we will explore the role of theory of mind and inhibitory control. We predict that children who do well on the epistemic knowledge task for the past will display better performance on the task asking about the future, and that both will be related to the other cognitive skills measured. Due to the current global situation, we converted our study materials to an online format. Our poster will highlight this process and discuss ways to approach challenges in online developmental testing. Though data collection is ongoing, we present initial insight into the process, drawbacks, and benefits of online testing. Keywords: Epistemic Knowledge, Metacognition, Theory of Mind, Child Development References Atance, C. M., & Caza, J. S. (2018). “Will I know more in the future than I know now?” Preschoolers’ judgments about changes in general knowledge. Developmental Psychology, 54(5), 857–865. http://dx.doi.org.proxy.library.carleton.ca/10.1037/dev0000480 Caza, J. S., Atance, C. M., & Bernstein, D. M. (2016). Older (but not younger) preschoolers understand that knowledge differs between people and across time. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 34(3), 313–324. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12130 Rohwer, M., Kloo, D., & Perner, J. (2012). Escape from metaignorance: How children develop an understanding of their own lack of knowledge. Child Development, 83(6), 1869–1883. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01830.x

Analyzing the Past, Rationalizing the Present, and Formulating the Future of Injection Sites

The Opioid Crisis has historically been a major threat to the Canadian population, and continues to affect the health and wellbeing of Canadians today. This ongoing public health crisis demonstrates the exponential growth of opioid related deaths and drug overdoses, particularly in the midst of a global pandemic. The effects of Covid - 19 have shown a drastic increase in opioid related deaths over the past year. It is important to note that vulnerable individuals are facing a surplus of challenges both physically and mentally during this unprecedented time due to lack of shelter, resources, and support. To adequately care for struggling individuals, it is essential to consider the implication of supervised consumption sites, commonly known as safe injection sites (SIS). They provide a safe and clean environment for injections, a supportive community for drug users, well as resources for preventative and extended healthcare. Though negatively perceived throughout society, these sites offer nutritious food, hygiene supplies and the basic necessities in order to sustain one’s well being and optimal health. Nonetheless, this would not be possible without greater funding from the government that will in turn allow for greater expansion and overall accessibility of these resources. This will hopefully assist in ending the stigma that lingers around SIS while closing the divisions within society. Each individual is entitled to feeling supported and welcomed in a community where they can express their true self without being judged.

Prosodic Interactions in Anishinaabemowin Verbs

This research aims to better understand the link between prosody and verbs in Anishinaabemowin by investigating pitch placement in relation to verb placement in Anishinaabemowin utterances. The data is from a story by Ogimaawigwaebiik archived in Dibaajimowinaan; Anishinaabe Stories of Culture and Respect. Anishinaabemowin, also known as Ojibwe, is a member of the Algonquin language family and is spoken throughout Southern Ontario and the Northern United States (Fairbanks, 2017). It is a polysynthetic language meaning it primarily uses affixes to convey meaning, particularly on the verbs. Prosody is the organization of various linguistics units (words, pitch, tone) into an utterance in the process of speech production. It conveys not only linguistics information but also contextual cues, intentions and attitudes (Fujisaki, 1997). This research utilized two audio softwares, Audacity and Praat, to clean and segment the audio into utterances and then token sentences were selected based on verb placement (verb initial, verb second and verb final). These token sentences will be analyzed for pitch placement and then compared to see if verb placement affects prosody, further expanding on the current literature which states that pitch defaults to the verb (Frazier, accepted). This research is particularly important because there is a gap in existing literature on prosody in Anishinaabemowin and there are no experimental studies such as this. References: Fairbanks, B. (2017). Ojibwe Discourse Markers. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. Frazier, S., Déchaine, R.M, & Dufresne, M. (accepted). The Syntax of Discourse: What an Anishinaabemowin Oral Text Teaches Us. 2020 CLA Proceedings. Fujisaki, H. (1997). Prosody, models, and spontaneous speech. In Computing prosody (pp. 27-42). Springer, New York, NY. Ogimaawigwaebiik [Nancy Jones] 2013. Gakina Dibaajimowin Gwayakwaawan. In Dibaajimowinaan; Anishinaabe Stories of Culture and respect; Nigaanigiizhig [Jim Saint-Arnold] (ed.), Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, 9-10.