Progress Update #1 (09/25/25)

 Hi everyone! I am currently in the midst of confusion for thesis...I feel like my idea is too broad; should I focus on the US or on a global scale? What key features of each subculture should I highlight? What time period should I focus on? I think after next week, I'll have somewhat better footing on understanding what path I need to take after going through my sources in depth. I'm still hopeful this thesis will turn out well; I just need to lock in...

Progress Update #2

 Hi Everyone! 

As the end of the semester nears, the thought of completing a thesis becomes a bit scarier... I feel like I definitely need to research for more sources, because I don't think 15 sources is enough with my topic, and maybe look for writing that focuses more on the fashion aspect of Afrofuturism and Afropunk subcultures. I also still need to reach out to my potential exhibition space, so that is also on the upcoming to do list. I'm sending good vibes to my future self so that I lock in and get this all completed in time!

Some Mood Board Inspiration:

   

Mid Semester Update | Bella Paniccia

Happy October! I can't believe we are halfway through the fall semester already! I've been making progress on my literature review, accumulating tons of sources, and organizing everything on index cards, something that Dr. Decker recommended I do to help organize everything. I will say that my notes and index cards are starting to look like a crime investigation board (all I need is some pins and a red string), but I am starting to see more connections between each of my sources and topics, which is super exciting.

 ⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆

Bella

Update

 Hello, this is my mid-semester update. Right now, I am working on finishing up my literature review and reaching out to The Cary Collection here at RIT. I am planning to get in contact with Professor Galbraith to see how the collection currently displays and educates on medieval manuscripts and art. Something I've learned recently is that many different museums approach manuscript digitization and education in different ways.

Mid-Semester already!? Let's see some updates.

     Hello again,

As everyone else has already posted, it's been a wild ride during this process, but I feel the fire that remains constant in my belly has gone from a low and slow burn, to a Molotov. 

Rain and I have a meeting with a prospective exhibition space, and I have emailed SO many more. Be persistent, be annoying, go get what you want, because it will come to you. 

I'm currently starting to sketch out some potential pieces for the display, as well as working on my final Lit review to submit. Today I was the sacrificial lamb in a peer review, and the feedback was wonderful. I feel like I'm right where I should be.

I hope you all do too.

Until next post...

-Lee

Thesis Advice and Slight Progress Update! :)

 Good morning everyone!!

The semester has been picking up speed and that hasn't helped my scattered brain really prepare to climb the massive mountain that sits in front of me that is this thesis exhibition. Rather than having a bunch of updates on what I am doing I more so have advice... DON'T BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP!!! I have had the pleasure of working with the curator of the Watts Museum at the University of West Virginia to include some editorial cartoons from a traveling exhibition on the Mine Wars of West Virginia designed to commemorate the centennial of the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed uprising in American History since the Civil War, for those who are unfamiliar, thanks to the people at the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum in Matewan, WV who I reached out to and got me in contact with her. Make this a project you love to have in your portfolio and reach out to anyone who you think could help make it exactly that; something you love. As for my thesis exhibition itself, finding a location has been the biggest struggle but struggle is a part of the process; nothing good comes easy. Overall not much has changed since my last update just a constant brainstorm that would probably give anyone who could hear the inside of my brain a heart attack as well as some object curation which I will not be sharing because that's spoilers! Also, literature review is due Tuesday and I don't know about everyone else but to me that is absolutely TERRIFYING so keep pushing forward and make this something you're proud to talk about!!

A Brief Mid-Semester Update

 Hello, I'm back again with another update on my thesis progress!

Everything is going smoothly so far, and I'm working on my final literature review. The draft is finished, and now it's all about putting what I have in my brain onto paper. 

I'm still feeling great about my topic, but it's a bit too broad. I narrowed down the overall subject to museums in the United States because it is what I'm most familiar with, and it would add importance to the paper. 

Something I've learned throughout this process is how to manage one large thesis project alongside my other classes and their smaller, yet equally essential, projects. 

Overall, I'm confident about my thesis and its importance to the museum and archive community as a whole.

Till next update,

Jacob M

Mid-Semester Update! | Sophie Abatiell Tommola

 Happy Week 8, MUSE-ers!!

Things are definitely picking up with the school year and thesis research, and I'm very much feeling the stress of senior year right now. But on the bright side, we're almost to the quarter-way mark of this year-long project!

I want to compliment all of my peers for their hard work. I've really enjoyed talking through and reading everyone's work so far. You all are doing great! I also want to thank you all for giving me constructive feedback in return. I find it super helpful to get a fellow peer's perspective when troubleshooting, rather than just getting advice from our faculty members who have already gone through this process at least once.

Final drafts of Lit Reviews are almost due, so there is still a lot of work to be done, but we're getting through it! I'm still really enjoying my research and prep for my project, so I'm excited to keep chugging along to the finish line, even though it isn't easy.

Best of luck to everyone!