Nicholas Tracanna applied research skills to his HITM project and learned about himself as well
By Alyssa Cuevas
English major Nicholas Tracanna became interested with the racial justice events and protests as they developed in the U.S. during the summer of 2020. The more he learned, the more compelled he felt to expand his research into the topic.
During the Spring 2021 semester, Tracanna participated in Florida State University’s Honors in the Major Program, which allows students the opportunity to work on a research project in their academic discipline. Tracanna’s thesis, Spike Lee: The Importance of Representing and Understanding the Opposite Perspective, centered on film director Spike Lee’s 1989 film Do the Right Thing and its depiction of race relations.
“Everything felt like it was aligned to take this opportunity to research more into the history of black filmmaking, Do the Right Thing, and the broader topic of mass media biases,” Tracanna says.
He submitted his findings in late April 2021 on Lee’s filmography, which Tracanna says “offered a glimpse into the complicated reality of race relations in America.” English Assistant Professor Christina Parker-Flynn supervised the project, and after Tracanna defended his thesis, he graduated in Summer 2021 with honors for his English-Editing, Writing, and Media degree.
His project, which can be found in FSU’s Digital Repository, is separated into four parts and includes a brief history of race relations in film, a look at Lee’s signature film style, specifically considering Do the Right Thing, and the impact of the film 32 years later. Throughout the research process, Tracanna says he learned a lot about the history of black filmmakers and filmmaking as well as the themes and messages in the movie.
“Working on this project also made me look inward at my own relative ignorance,” Tracanna admits. “I learned more about black history and black culture in order to understand where it is today. All of this research ultimately gave me a wider perspective and understanding regarding the issues African Americans face today.”
When embarking on an HITM research project, a student in the program must find and work with a thesis director. Thesis directors are often faculty members in the student’s chosen area of study who agree to help guide the student’s research. Parker-Flynn’s research specialties include film theory and criticism, and she oversaw Tracanna’s project as thesis director.
Parker-Flynn did not teach Tracanna as a student, but that did not deter her from working with him. English Associate Professor Alisha Gaines and History Professor Maxine Jones also were on Tracanna’s committee.
I think that his end project was very wide ranging and well done in a different way than it started. Spike Lee was still at the forefront, but it was really great to see Nicholas grow as an honors scholar.
— Christina Parker-Flynn
“One of the advisors in the English department recommended that Nicholas ask if I would like to help mentor his project and I promptly said ‘yes,’” Parker-Flynn says. “He had a pretty clear vision of wanting to do a project on Spike Lee.”
Tracanna’s thesis delves into the extent to which Lee’s work varies from other contemporary filmmaking, specifically in discussing race relations. He writes in the foreword of his project that of particular interest to him was the wide range of opinions on race relations displayed in Lee’s films, which push for more complex conversations surrounding those issues, Tracanna argues.
In addition to her own academic interest in the topic, Parker-Flynn saw Tracanna’s academic skills increase throughout the project.
“I think that his end project was very wide ranging and well done in a different way than it started,” she says. “Spike Lee was still at the forefront, but it was really great to see Nicholas grow as an honors scholar.”
Tracanna spoke highly of working with Parker-Flynn and recommends her as a thesis director to other students.
“Dr. Parker-Flynn made me grow as a writer and a more thorough researcher,” Tracanna says. “She gave the perfect suggestions, while still allowing me to explore my own creativity in the project. It felt like the two of us had an exceptional balance that led us to the most complete finished project.”
Tracanna currently works in media and marketing with Hybrid Performance Method in Miami, and he credits this project as a highlight of his college education. He recommends that other students who have an interest in research participate in the HITM program.
Read Elizabeth Chailosky's article to learn more about the Honors in the Major program. Other details can be found on the Honors College website.
Alyssa Cuevas is a junior who is majoring in English-Editing, Writing, and Media, with a second major in Communication.
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