Conference Grant Reports: Arianna Khmelniuk at ASTR 2024
We are pleased to support our students sharing their work at the premiere conferences in their field. Arianna Khmelniuk, a second-year graduate student in Art Practice, presented on olfaction, cinema, and cultural identity at the American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) conference in Seattle. From Arianna:
My participation in the ASTR conference was a transformative experience. I was excited to share my research on the intersection of olfaction, cinema, and cultural identity, exploring how smell is used to construct and challenge social norms. Engaging with other scholars in the Virtual Wilderness working group allowed me to receive valuable feedback and deepen my understanding of the field.
The intimate dialogue format fostered insightful discussions, and I particularly valued the feedback from esteemed academics like Katherine Mezur, Walter Byongsok Chon, and Kyueun Kim. Their insights helped me refine my research and broaden my perspective.
This opportunity to explore the sensory dimensions of media has ignited my passion for further research even more. I'm excited to continue my involvement in the Virtual Wilderness community and future ASTR conferences.