AK
Alexis Kurtz
  • Theatre
  • Class of 2016
  • Andover, CT

Eastern Student Alexis Kurtz of Andover Gives Oral Presentation at CREATE Conference

2016 May 5

More than 250 talented students at Eastern Connecticut State University presented research and creative work at the university's second annual CREATE conference this past April. CREATE stands for Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern, and is the university's premier, academic year-end showcase. At the culminating event, students of all majors presented professional posters, live music, dance performances, artwork, photography, documentaries and panel discussions.

Alexis Kurtz '16 of Andover, who majors in Theatre, gave an oral presentation at the event. Her two presentations were titled "Drawing Photographs: Evidence for the Realities of the Holocaust" and "Modules to Assist Nutmeggers in Performing Six Major American English Dialects for the Stage and Screen."

"Because of the unfathomable severity of the crimes that occurred during the historical period of the Holocaust, there are those who have not been able to accept that such an event could actually have occurred," said Kurtz. "Though the crimes that occurred are unimaginably horrific, and the natural defense to some people in such cases is to deny the existence of the horror entirely, this reaction is not at all acceptable. While it is true that barely any photographic evidence exists from the Holocaust due to the careful censoring by the Nazis and the limitations of earlier technology, there are myriad personal accounts from survivors, some who even witnessed the mass-killing operations in the camps first-hand. Still though, there are those who adamantly deny the Holocaust's existence, and for such adversaries, we must turn to a less-expected means of primary evidence: a child's drawings. As a critical piece of evidence for the realities of this event, we have the work of the young Helga Hoskova-Weissova, a Holocaust survivor who used her artistic talents to capture the genocide as it unfolded around her in the Terezin ghetto. This information is to be taken as seriously as any other form of primary evidence."

Kurtz said of her second presentation: "As a native of Connecticut, I know that I was not aware that I had a dialect until quite recently. In fact, I've never heard anyone speak of a 'Connecticut dialect.' If we, the people of Connecticut do not even know how we speak, how much literature can even be out there to help actors from our dialect region in taking on other accents? As I discovered, there is not much literature at all. As actors, we need to be wholly aware of ourselves and conscious of how we look and sound at all times. Thus, before taking on other styles, visual or vocal, we must first understand our own natural style. But then, in terms of dialect, aren't actors from traditionally underrepresented dialect regions at a disadvantage? What are our options for resources? In answer of these questions, I have developed a set of electronic modules that offer resources and techniques to enable actors who are specifically Connecticut natives to take on dialects from other parts of the United States for performance purposes. Although there are endless common dialects of the English language that can be studied, I have chosen to narrow my research to American English dialects, and then from those I have decided to create modules on the following six common stage dialects: American Deep South, American Southern, Downeast New England, General American, South Boston, and New York. After utilizing these modules, actors will have a clearer understanding of what their own American English dialect is comprised of, how the individual characteristics of this dialect transfer and meld into other American English dialects, and how all of this may or may not change when taking on various characters in a theatrical piece."

Remarking on the variety of presentations, Professor Dickson Cunningham, conference co-chair, said, "CREATE encapsulates the essence of the liberal arts in one afternoon. It is an intellectual smorgasbord."

Speaking to the value of CREATE, Eastern President Elsa Nunez said, "It takes a very strong and dedicated student to produce this quality of work, and it's important for other students to see this output." Praising the faculty, she added, "It takes a committed and skillful mentor to guide students to the work that is on display. Mentorship is such an integral part of undergraduate research."

During the one-day conference, the Student Center crawled with artistic and scholarly activity. Students in professional attire addressed their peers, faculty and family. In the cafe, ensembles performed; in the theatre, student-produced documentaries were shown; in the Betty R. Tipton Room, aisles of posters depicting scientific research were displayed; across the hall, a gallery-worth of paintings lined the walls; and on the ground floor, panel discussions and oral presentations about the humanities took place.