Creative approaches to emotional expression animation

In facial expression research, it is well established that certain emotional expressions are universally recognized. Studies into observer perception of expressions have built upon this research by highlighting the importance of particular facial regions, actions, and movements to the recognition of emotions. In many studies, the stimuli for such studies have been generated through posing by non-experts or performances by trained actors. However, character animators are required to craft recognizable, believable emotional facial expressions as a part of their profession. In this poster, the authors discuss some of the creative processes employed in their research into emotional expressions, and how practice-led research into expression animation might offer a new perspective on the generation of believable emotional expressions

Why Brownsville Failed to Become ‘The Next Coral Gables’

During the early 1920s, Brownsville and the greater Lower Rio Grande Valley region had an opportunity to expand their economic base from one focused solely on agriculture to one that embraced both agriculture and tourism. Despite the efforts of non-Texas boosters and businessmen, most South Texas residents remained unenthusiastic about the prospect of becoming the next Coral Gables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR

We are not Tijuana: The Valley Protests Washington\u27s Crackdown on Gambling

During Prohibition, the US Treasury Department limited the number of hours that international bridges spanning the Rio Grande River were open in an attempt to control such illegal activities as gambling. Brownsville, Texas, typically received an exemption for the bridge between Brownsville and Matamoros, Mexico, by arguing that Matamoros lacked the vice problems that had prompted the border restrictions elsewhere. The article discusses actions taken when, in August 1931, Brownsville was not exempted

Considerations for believable emotional facial expression animation

Facial expressions can be used to communicate emotional states through the use of universal signifiers within key regions of the face. Psychology research has identified what these signifiers are and how different combinations and variations can be interpreted. Research into expressions has informed animation practice, but as yet very little is known about the movement within and between emotional expressions. A better understanding of sequence, timing, and duration could better inform the production of believable animation. This paper introduces the idea of expression choreography, and how tests of observer perception might enhance our understanding of moving emotional expressions

Investigating facial animation production through artistic inquiry

Studies into dynamic facial expressions tend to make use of experimental methods based on objectively manipulated stimuli. New techniques for displaying increasingly realistic facial movement and methods of measuring observer responses are typical of computer animation and psychology facial expression research. However, few projects focus on the artistic nature of performance production. Instead, most concentrate on the naturalistic appearance of posed or acted expressions. In this paper, the authors discuss a method for exploring the creative process of emotional facial expression animation, and ask whether anything can be learned about authentic dynamic expressions through artistic inquiry

What Hinders Victims from Reporting Sexual Violence: A Qualitative Study with Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges in Hungary

While rape historically remains underreported all over the globe, and criminal justice factors contribute to this problem, we investigate unique circumstances that might influence reporting inclinations by Hungarian victims of sexual violence. Among other possible factors, victim-blaming, institutional desensitization, and a lack of trust in the criminal justice system and in the community are discussed. The in-depth interviews (n = 22) with law enforcement and criminal justice professionals conducted in 2018 in Hungary reveal roots of underreporting in the complexities of the criminal justice system: there is a failure to prioritize victims’ needs—mental care services, physical and privacy protection—and a focus instead on solely providing legal justice. The further deficits that can be found among professionals’ attitudes and behaviors in the courtroom are products of the following: a lack of standardized protocols in addressing the needs of victims; a dearth of technical and evidence-based knowledge and training; a lack of supervision and trauma-informed services to practitioners; high caseloads; a focus on the goal of high conviction rates; not providing open communication toward victims; and a shortage of standardized protocols in dealing with victims

Community Engaged Research Academy at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth: Reflections, Visions, and Plans

The Community Engaged Research (CER) Academy at UMass Dartmouth began in 2015 to develop and support dynamic research efforts, in partnerships with community organizations, agencies, and public services, with the goal of seeking external funding to support substantial CER projects. Its primary aim is to engage research-active faculty who are working, specifically, with community partners in the UMass Dartmouth catchment area. Further, the CER Academy actively seeks to build a community of like-minded scholars in interactive, supportive, and didactic processes. The coordinator of the CER Initiative facilitates modules, with activities designed to mentor CER Academy scholars during and after their participation in the structured curriculum of the CER Academy. Beyond the interactive curriculum with a cohort of CER Scholars, ongoing mentorship continues for as long as CER Scholars want/need support to develop durable community partnerships. Plans going forward include 1) working with community-based professionals in UMass Dartmouth catchment area agencies and organizations to participate in the structured CER Academy with their respective CER Scholars; and 2) to incentivize and recruit, and then to educate and engage, undergraduate students to develop skills and experience in community engaged research in an academic CER Student-Scholar Partnership Program. This poster articulates the development, curriculum, work, and plans of the UMass Dartmouth Community Engaged Research Academy, to disseminate our experience and vision, and to invite collaborations with potential community partners and CER colleagues across the UMass System

UMass Dartmouth Community Engaged Research Academy: Some Methods to Develop Inclusive CER

Breakout Session 1A: The UMass Dartmouth Community Engaged Research Academy has completed two years of CER skills building, mentoring, seed funding, and other resources, with seven supported CER scholars to date. This interactive breakout session draws on the curriculum of the CER Academy to build particular skills, stakeholder analysis and mapping of needs that together chart the path to inclusive and practical CER proposals, and lead to creative, relevant approaches to grant seeking. In a stakeholder analysis, the goal is to identify who is involved in a CER issue, to what extent they are engaged at the start of the process of identifying needs to be addressed in the research, how likely they are to try to address the issue and remain involved as those who have a stake in outcomes, and what might happen post-research findings, leading to impact, implementation, and dissemination. The mapping of basic and perceived human needs (adapted from David Gil’s Unraveling Social Policy) deepens researchers’ understanding of the problems they will address, in a format that serves as a readily accessible communications tool for working with community partners. This training workshop will address stakeholder analysis, mapping basic and perceived human needs, and CER grant seeking through the analysis of a CER disparities issue as a case study. At the end of the workshop, participants will have learned a clearly articulated process for working through these essential steps toward inclusive CER, and to engage, more effectively, with community partners challenged by health disparities