A number of department faculty have conducted research on symbolism, symbolic meaning, and symbolic practices (Harvey, Taube, Ryer, Ness, Ashmore); dance, movement, and bodily performance (Ness, Taube); representation and performativity (Schwenkel, Ness); art and aesthetics (Taube, Schwenkel, Ossman, Ness); architecture (Ashmore, Schwenkel); images and global media (Ossman, Schwenkel).