This year The BIG Contest looked closely at themes of racial and social equity and we would especially like to thank all of the participants and teachers from UNH and CCSNH that have contributed projects that embody a creative vision for a world without injustice. This work, and work like it, shines a light on the critical role that the humanities play in shaping our world. It is through thinking critically, leading, communicating, and working cooperatively, that we continue to drive change.
"There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear.
We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal."
-Toni Morrison. The Nation, 2015
1stPlace: Emma Levin(UNH)
Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pC6XJLn5lPP9VfKsgBrbB0uOABIEPtax/view
Comments from the Judges: Emma Levin has compiled a very imaginative and often fun video on animal imagery in Shakespeare'sKing Lear. Shecombines animation, music, images of Renaissance paintings, definitions, and audio excerpts from the play into a nicely explained analysis.By setting the video up as a fund-raising campaign for the fictitious "Albion Zoo," Levin adds creativity and levity into her well-researched study.
2nd Place: Evan Stanley(UNH)
Link:
Comments from the Judges: Evan Stanley contrasts the exclusive, affluent tourist areas with the nearby poverty-ridden slums in Aruba. He shows his privileged upbringingand vacations as they juxtapose with the poverty of this tropical island. Through this visual comparison, Stanley sends a powerful message of there being two worlds that we live in.
3rd Place: Tinotenda Duche(UNH)
Link: https://spark.adobe.com/page/gcMJ56jC3v2Vi/
Comments from the Judges: Tinotena Duchecombines her own photographs with historical images from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and text to display a powerful message of racial prejudice and perseverance over the past century. The Spark project provides a layered set of resources, and is effectively organized with links to recent web sites and resources.
Honorable Mentions: Danielle Forte and Cassidy Mottola
1st Place: Melissa Sprague et al. (NHTI)
Comments from the Judges: I find this project particularly compelling from both an academic and a public-facing standpoint. The Eye has (again) linked an extensive amount of research into a clean, readable interface, showing a tremendous amount of learning from the students thatcan also illuminate public understanding and therefore facilitate change. This does a great job of artfully weaving together a series of related sub-topics--Education, Advocacy, History, Politics, Social Justice--as relate to indigenous people. It comes across as the beginning of a much larger conversation we will all want to be a part of.”
2nd Place: Vianca Wahju (UNH)
Note: Video shared only with permission of the author, contact hugemanities.project@unh.edu with requests
Comments from the Judges: “Of the many personal narratives and stories, this one dug the deepest in terms of autobiographical material and rich media. It told an effective story of immigrant identity formation in a new community, both the highs and lows, in a way that personalized and richly nuanced broader political debates.”
3rd Place: Kate Persson (UNH)
Link: https://educatetointegrate.weebly.com/
Comments from the Judges: “This is a really interesting and unexpected project that makes the point that Social Justice is a common concern that transcends boundaries andborders while providing a wealth of focused information and resources. Great page design!”
“As far as breadth of ambition, this project well exceeded its peers. It is still in its process of completion but making available tools and resources for immigrant communities settling into different German communities was laudably audacious in its ambition. The website used and extent of the links are a true attempt to make change by providing a clean, usable interface.”
Honorable Mentions: Lily Pudlo, Iian Connor, Larissa Bisette
1st Place: Brooke Marston (UNH)
Link: https://sites.google.com/view/marstonyouthmedia/entry-4
Comments from the Judges: This project has scholarly roots but a playful presence. It is an interesting and relevant game design that combines critical thought with technological exploration –the best of the digital humanities!”
2nd Place: Alice Russell (UNH)
Link: https://javayaga.github.io/hypertext/
Comments from the Judges: “This is a very interesting and innovative approach tothinking about the year through the act of creation. This is a GREAT use of technology, language,and the act of creation here exemplifies the digital humanities.”
3rd Place: Chloe Serena (UNH)
Link: https://www.flipsnack.com/potpourri733/italian-roots-spring-2021-issue.html
Comments from the Judges: “This eZineincludes a wealth of “Italian” content –writing, recipes, original video and original art / painting. There is a wealth of research and also a wealth of dynamic elements! The content is strong and includes personal histories. The content scores very highand the innovation is top notch!”
Honorable Mentions: Danielle Forte for her “Behind the Farmstand” video and Erin Williams for her Renaissance Survivor’s Instagram account
1st Place: Rebecca Nann (NHTI)
Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1leyUSs2s4M8v6Wbc-CprfCOqVd2u_B2A/view
Comments from the Judges: This film is truly a piece of art. As the filmmaker engages us in research, theory, and personal examples, we are simultaneously experiencing “art-making,” collage work, film, music, contemporary images and videos, and historical pieces. The film reminds us that we are constantly consuming and creating art, especially in the time of a pandemic, and the more aware we are of its power, the greater chance we have to reflect, heal, remember, and gain collective strength.
2nd Place: Anneliese Papinsick and Virginia Walsh (UNH)
Link: https://media.unh.edu/media/The+Forgotten+History+of+Women+at+UNHA+The+Citizenship+School/1_pcfj5j7f
Comments from the Judges: The Citizenship School project told this important “forgotten”local story through its own artifacts, newspaper clippings, long ago taken photographs, and a carefully reconstructed narrative. The filmmakers’ research and attention to the true story, including the race issues in the early suffrage movement, allowed the spirit, effort, and ultimate success to be retold. We also hear echoes of contemporary issues related to voter suppression. This project is stark, powerful, and well-researched.
3rd Place: Lilian Pudlo (UNH)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDnIytNlA8U
Comments from the Judges: “Competition: The Journey of a Closeted Athlete” is a film full of images highlighting the vibrancy and joy of sport as it tells a narrative of identity struggle and the will to live “truthfully.” This juxtaposition is a beautiful and necessary contrast and one that the filmmaker reconciles in the end. Sport and life intertwine as we cheer our narrator on toward peace, acceptance, and the hope we see in those last images on the rugby field, all smiles.
Honorable Mentions: Gabby Podmore, Hannah Clark