Professor Esther Chung-Kim, David Lee, and Megan Luong

Cost of Practicing Religion

This project examines the connection between religion, materiality, and economics. Because religious practices have arisen within specific economic contexts, they have been shaped by them. More specifically, this project looks at the materials used in the churches, especially related to the practices of the sacraments, the sermon, and poor relief during the early modern Reformation period. Tensions over material economies and spiritual ideals created conflict, which required repeated interventions before such problems were mitigated or resolved.

Professor Suryatapa jha and jaimie almaraz

The Accidental Invasion: Introduction of black mustard plant in California–a case study ontheside-effects of human intervention on native biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability

Plants are major determinants of stable physical and ecological environments and have played an essential role in shaping human civilizations and society. However, humans have been responsible for exploiting plants–altering and damaging native flora. In this project, we aim to understand the extent of the negative effects that human intervention has on plant biodiversity and well-being. Emphasizing on the introduction of mustard in California by Spanish explorers, we attempt to address the historical timeline and reasons behind it and its repercussions, as a voracious invasive, on the native plant species of the region. Taking historical and contemporary socio-cultural commentaries, we will compare the dichotomy of academic conversations around black mustard plants–as one of the most viable crops in the East on the one hand, to being one of the most infamous weeds of the West on the other. Additionally, we will analyze pre-Columbian plant biodiversity of California to that of the modern times to delineate what imparts the resilience in mustards and how it takes over the native plant population in this region. This study, helmed by humanistic and natural science inquiries, will enhance our understanding of interspecies relationships, factors that contribute to environmental hardiness and species biodiversity, and above all, of the relationship between humans and plants in their natural environments.

Professor Minju Kim and Amy Kim

Wobbly Honorific: Hybridization of Honorific and non-honorific markers

The Korean language is well-known for its intricate honorific system, which consists of two layers of subject honorific and hearer honorific. The subject honorific marking (indexing deference to the subject of the sentence)is realized by adding si and the hearer honorific marking (indexing deference to the hearer)is realized by adding honorific speech level markers such as yo to verbs. This study examines the emergence of a new, hybridized speech level. The speech level is hybridized in the sense that where the hearer and the subject of the sentence remain the same (e.g., you look tired today!), the hearer honorific yo is absent whereas subject honorific si is present. This is wobbly and unstable since on one level, the speaker shows deference to the hearer but on another, not. This form has not been appropriately discussed in the literature. Using natural conversation and drama conversation corpora, this study examines by whom and for what purpose this form is used. Honorific markers index not only deference but also interpersonal distance. Preliminary research shows that among other situations, when acquaintances of similar age who normally use honorific speech level momentarily switch to this level momentarily to mark personal closeness. Adult children also switch between non-polite and this form back and forth to their old mother or grandmother in order to index their closeness as well as deference. By seamlessly weaving through the conversation switching between honorific and hybridized honorific form, speakers can create and negotiate their relationship with their interlocutors moment-by-moment.

Professor Gaston Espinosa, Mayeli Santos, Joy Zhu, Miranda Chen, and Diana Simonds

Crisis in Ukraine

This summer grant project seeks to build on my past research on Ukrainian independence, politics, religion, and society through a series of scholarly research activities noted below to be carried out in cooperation with two summer student RAs. These activities include tracking down scholarly books and journal articles, primary sources, interviews, speeches, newspaper coverage, documentaries, and Youtube and other video coverage on the following six intersecting topics:

• Ukrainian Religious Nationalism and the Struggle for Independence, Democracy & Freedom,

• Russian Religious Nationalism as a Rhetorical Motivating Factor in the Invasion of Ukraine,

• Political Ramifications of the Creation of a National Ukrainian Orthodox Church,

• Role of Protestantism in the Struggle for Democracy and in Independence Movements,

• Crisis of Higher Education for Faculty and Students during the Russian Invasion, and

• Role of Churches, Mosques, and Synagogues in Peacebuilding efforts & helping IDPs