RESEARCH ABSTRACTS
201 . Franz Marc und die idealisierte Natur (Franz Marc and Idealized Nature)
Jennifer Johnson; Dr. Laura Deiulio
Franz Marc was one of the most prominent artists who took part in the expressionist movement in Germany as part of the group “Der Blaue Reiter.” He painted with bold colors and used basic geometric forms to create paintings that depict nature and animals not as realistic, but as an ideal. He was especially fond of horses and his two works, “The Great Blue Horses” and the “The Small Yellow Horses” are very good representations of his style and of expressionism. When compared side by side, the two paintings show interesting contrasts and appear as opposites that complement each other.
202. Paula Modersohn-Becker und die Darstellung der Menschlichkeit: entartet oder modern? (Paula Modersohn-Becker and the Representation of Humanity: Degenerate or Modern?)
Laura Boleyn; Dr. Laura Deiulio
Paula Modersohn-Becker was a German painter during the era of expressionism and was part of Worpswede, a group of artists. Although her paintings were aesthetically appealing, Becker also wanted to emphasize the importance of spirituality and the values of humanity through her paintings, an important ideal of Worpswede artists. Many of her paintings include rural scenes, portraits and nude self-portraits.
203. George Grosz’ Satire im Rahmen der Weimarer Kultur (George Grosz’ Satire in the Framework of Weimar Culture)
Erin Deblois; Dr. Laura Deiulio
This presentation will examine the graphic artist George Grosz. His caricatures and paintings depicting the satirical view of reality have become famous as representations of Weimar culture. For example, “Daum Marries her Pedantic Automaton George” critiques traditional German gender roles. After his emigration to the United States, Grosz continued to react to German political events, as we shall see in his work “The Hero.”
204. Departure: Max Beckmanns Kritik an der deutschen Politik (Departure: Max Beckmann’s Critique of German Politics)
Jessica Neff; Dr. Laura Deiulio
I will be focusing on the "Degenerate Art" painter Max Beckmann, who was classified as both an expressionist (in his early career) and as a member of the later "New Objectivity" movement. Specifically, I will analyze his piece "Departure" (1932). His first in a series of ten triptychs, “Departure” reflects the turmoil and upheaval that was beginning to affect the stability of German life. Furthermore, it stresses the importance of breaking free from this turmoil in search of freedom and a new life, something Beckmann himself eventually achieved by obtaining a U.S. visa.
205. Die Gesellschaftskritik der Neuen Sachlichkeit am Beispiel von Otto Dix (The Social Critique of New Objectivity as exemplified by Otto Dix)
Alexandria Ruble; Dr. Laura Deiulio
Otto Dix (1891-1969) broke away from the expressionist movement to become a leader of Neue Sachlichkeit (“The New Objectivity”). Dix’s art moved away from the emotional provocation of the expressionist movement towards serving as a reaction to the revulsions of society – war and urbanization. Stylistically, he shifted away from “optimistic” depictions of scenery and people to themes of battlefields and overt sexuality. In his attempt to portray the revulsions of society, his art was labeled “degenerate” by the Nazi Regime, confiscated, and subjected to display as an example of the type of art a true German should not make.
118. An Investigation of the Purpose and Effectiveness of the European Union Structural Funds
Jonathan Bray; Steven Redford; Dr. George Zestos
Starting with the Treaty of Rome in 1957, the visionaries of European unification realized that certain geographical regions within the European community (EC) required assistance in order to catch up with the rest of EC. For this purpose the EC adapted the common agricultural, the regional, and the social policies in order to address and deal with the issues of varying levels of development. The main objectives of these policies were the harmonious development of all countries and regions of the EC. The EC financed many projects to build infrastructure, promote rural development, and employment in those areas which experienced chronic decline in population due to migration. We will examine the purposes and roles of the European Communities structural and cohesion policies from their beginnings in 1969 to present policies tackling the its current agenda. Currently these polices are motivate by the Lisbon Agenda, which focuses on transforming the European Union into the most competitive economy in the world. This aims to reduce unemployment and close the standard of living gap within and between the EC member countries. By analyzing the disbursement of funds and the objectives of EC’s three major structure funds, we will evaluate the effectiveness of each of these funds since their implementation. To accomplish this objective we will present data regarding the amount and type of aid given to various countries and regions. We will also analyze the historical performance of EU sponsored projects, by looking at the accomplishments of the aid recipient economies in terms of growth and employment. We realize however, that some of the effects cannot be quantified as the EU aims to improve, the quality of life in the EU by following an inclusion policy aiming to reach all groups in society.
179. Student Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Honor
Bradley Anderson; Kim Henry; Professor Pam Pringle
The Luter Council of the College of Business and Leadership is continuing their research into attitudes and behaviors with regard to honor and integrity among students in the Luter College. In the Spring of 2007 the Honor Council developed a survey instrument with guidance from faculty advisors. Both subjective and objective questions were used to gather factual and opinion-based questions. The survey was pre-tested on a small group of CNU business students to assess its content, length, and appropriateness. Test administration procedures were agreed upon. Courses were chosen to administer the survey that would maximize diversity among the respondents in terms of major and year of study at CNU. Luter faculty were consulted for their permission and honor council students administered the survey in the classrooms. 200 surveys were obtained. The results of this survey were presented at Paideia in Spring of 2007 along with recommendations of possible interventions to increase the level of honor among business students. The Luter Honor Council has taken a proactive role in raising awareness of the importance of honor. Many of the recommendations presented last year have now been implemented. The survey has been administered a second time, in the same manner as last year. A few additional questions have been added to the survey instrument based on discussion of last year’s results. The survey was administered to students within the College of Business and Leadership. The presentation this year will focus on a comparison of the results across the two surveys highlighting the changes observed and lessons learned. The presentation will conclude with a question and answer session about future interventions to continue to improve levels of integrity within the students of the College of Business and Leadership at Christopher Newport University.
141. A Comparison of Organizational Philanthropy in Urban and Rural Areas
Patrick Crow; Professor Pam Pringle
Organizational philanthropy is becoming more and more important in the business sector today; with companies striving to give back more and more to the communities from which they profit. The focus of my research was to compare philanthropy in urban and rural areas and its impact on a variety of stakeholders. I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity at two different locations; Washington D.C., and Hattiesburg Mississippi. I interviewed a variety of stakeholders at both sites, including volunteers, employees, homeowners (recipients of aid), and the local community in order to gain a wider breadth of understanding of what habitat is, and how companies can influence a variety of different people by working through organizations such as habitat . Through the interviews I conducted, I have compiled information regarding the influence Habitat has had on these various stakeholders, as well as some interesting findings in terms of why people volunteer, what the local communities I visited perceive habitat to be, and some key differences between the relatively large D.C. Habitat for Humanity and the Relatively small Hattiesburg Habitat for Humanity. Also, seeing the two different locations and how they are run while working on site for an extended period, I was able to locate some key differences between the two settings and some ways in which they could improve their operations. It is very interesting to see the perspectives of the many different stakeholders, both in terms of similarities and differences, and in so doing one can draw some conclusions as to why companies and other groups should engage in philanthropy through organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.
33. When Course Management Systems Fail: Student and Instructor On-the-Fly Adaptation Behaviors
Jessica J. Andrews; Dr. Gary D. Bond
The purpose of this study was to examine the overall usage of the Blackboard Course Management System (CMS) by students and instructors at an HBCU. System benefits and deficiencies were identified by studying the diaries of instructors and student users. This was a semester long diary study using 215 students and six faculty from six academic disciplines. Students identified problems with the Discussion Board feature when submitting responses, with taking quizzes and tests, and when the system was unavailable. Students adapted by sending assignments via email and delaying the completion of assignments. Faculty identified problems with the test and quiz feature not working properly. Faculty adapted by resorting to other features in Blackboard and resorting to paper and pencil tests or quizzes. Overall, students and faculty are positive about the system when everything works correctly and the CMS is a useful learning tool.
156. Ethnic Conflict and Immigration in Miami
Adam Hembree; Dr. Danielle Velardi
The city of Miami, Florida has transformed from a sleepy beachside town into a thriving multicultural metropolis and the de facto economic capital of northern Latin America since the early 1960s. As a result of the Cuban Revolution and the looming threat of Communism, many Cubans immigrated to Miami as political exiles, and with the aid of the American government, became quickly established as a prominent enclave community. Due to this drastic change in such short time, Cuban Miami has become a hot spot for racial and ethnic conflict from not only Whites, but African Americans as well. Combined with continued mass immigration to the area from the Caribbean and the rest of Latin America, it only further fueled ethnic conflict and spurred reactions from the media and movements such as the “English Only” movement. Through this presentation, the creation of the ethnic enclave will be addressed from its beginnings to its economic and cultural development as well as the varying components of cultural assimilation and pluralism of its key ethnic groups.
29. John Wesley’s Theology of Sanctification and Church Leadership
Justin Pritchett; Dr. George Teschner and Dr. Kip Redick
John Wesley is famed for espousing a theology of Christian perfection, also known as sanctification. This belief often serves as an intellectual grounding for congregations that remove their pastors for ‘moral imperfection.’ Tom Haggard serves as an excellent example. After being caught in a sex scandal the media thoroughly criticizes him. However, it was his own congregation that fired him and forced him to move out of their community. Unfortunately for the congregations this is a misunderstanding of Wesley’s theology. This paper explores the teachings of Wesley in regard to sanctification and asserts that he does not in fact require moral perfection from pastors. Given the understanding that pastors are no more morally perfect than parishioners, congregations that fire and ostracize their pastors are acting outside the teachings of their own religious tradition.
96. A Critique of Postmodernism
Brandon Duke; Dr. George Teschner and Dr. Lori Underwood
Postmodernism concludes that truth or correspondence with reality is impossible due to the problems that are inherent in language. Every thing a human perceives is a text and thus the problem of language is prevalent everywhere. Postmodernist argue that knowledge does not exist, only social conventions. However, the postmodern abandonment of Truth to culture and language is inadequate. This is due to the contradictions that are prevalent in Postmodernism. In response to this, Postmodernist do not believe that there is a need for non-contradiction. This paper will argue the objectivity of The Law of Non-Contradiction and discuss the Postmodern disregard of it. The validity of the foundational laws of logic will both be argued for as being universally True and a means for objectively interpreting text.
167. Anthropocentrism and the Ecological Crisis
Charles Stanley; Dr. George Teschner and Dr. Kip Redick
One of the most pressing issues facing humankind is the growing ecological crisis. In spite of an increased knowledge of the causes of environmental degradation, the environmental ethic and policies intended to balance the relationship between humans and the environment is wholly insufficient. Evidence of this is continued ecological devastation and ever disappearing natural resources. The problem with current environmental ethics is that they are decidedly anthropocentric. The deficiencies in an anthropocentric ethic, an ethic which has by-and-large remained the same since the early 1900’s conservation movement championed by Gifford Pinchot are large and incongruous with continued coexistence and survival. An anthropocentric ethic devalues Nature by identifying it solely with resource, ignores the dependency humankind has on its environment, and disallows the self-identification between humankind and Nature which is necessary to maintain a proper ethical relationship. This paper will show how the deficiencies of an anthropocentric ethic not only continue the ecological crisis but cause it.
1. Hegel and Vedantic Hinduism
Sarah Torres; Dr. Teschner
Explaining reality has been an integral part of many ideological systems, some religious and some philosophical. Explanations may utilize an outside source to explain reality while others may declare all things as undifferentiated. Understanding ultimate reality substantially affects the fulfillment of life’s purpose for an individual, whether that is ultimate knowledge, union with the divine, or enlightenment. Hegel in The Phenomology of Spirirt and Shankara in commentaries on The Upanishads gives individuals a path to understanding reality as undifferentiated. Hegel’s work in the Phenomology of Spirit starts from the perception of the simplicity of matter and moves Geist, spirit, to the understanding of a unifying principle. He develops an ascending system of layers of consciousness that are self sustaining within his system. This method of arriving at a unifying principle is mirrored in The Upanishads. The Hindu ideas founded in The Upanishads describe the layers around atman as a system of ascension one takes to reach the unifying principle. Hegel and The Upanishads are similar in the way the mind processes sense input and both systems have similar levels of consciousness that are not reducible to any biochemical process. Hegel’s evolution of Geist through modes of consciousness is parallel to the Vedantic Koshas of atman. Hegel and The Upanishads are similar in the way the mind processes sense input and both systems have similar levels of consciousness that are not reducible to any biochemical process.
103. 'Phantasia' in Aristotle's "De Anima"
Katherine B Harris; Dr. George Teschner and Dr. Jeffrey Carr
This paper argues that because of the difficulty in translating the Ancient Greek term 'phantasia' in Aristotle's "De Anima", his text is misunderstood. While his use of the term is usually translated as 'imagination', the term has a much broader semantic range, and, in translation, the range is completely unknown or ignored. Because the term was not used often, Aristotle was attempting to define it in regards to the mind. The term is most often related to perception or imagery, which was not Aristotle’s intent. While our difficulty in understanding his work could be related to the fact that, as English speakers, we do not share the perspective that the Ancient Greeks did, our unsuccessful attempts at translating his texts are based on a misunderstanding of his basic vocabulary. Specific attention is given to the text itself, as well as what scholars in the field believe to be true about the term.
177. Analyzing Student Learning of Physics with the Technology Enhanced Learning
Christine E. Buzan; Dr. S. Raj Chaudhury
The Technology Enhanced Learning of Science (TELS) Center has created research-based curriculum modules for students to engage in inquiry-driven, online learning that emphasizes the use of modeling and simulation tools to help visualize physical phenomena. This research project focused on the 8th grade physical science project – “Hanging with friends – Velocity style”. Through this module students used graphical visualizations and online virtual experiments to clarify their understanding of the concept of velocity. Data was collected and analyzed from two different middle school classrooms in the Tidewater area. Two teachers used the project in two differing modes: one as an introduction to the material, and the other as a supplement following traditional instruction. While this study focused on the evidence of student learning and the best use of the module, some attention was also paid to the most effective role of the teacher within the context of implementing these inquiry-based modules.
159. High Resolution 9722 Profiler for Airborne Aerosol Research
Patrick T. Leong; Dr. Dali Wang
The Airborne Particle Emissions group of the NASA Atmospheric Science Directorate currently processes a Met One 9722 Profiler. The Met One 9722 Profiler counts the number of particles within a given sample of gas, organizing the number of particles based upon their size. Commercially, the 9722 Profiler can only distinguish 8 different size ranges of gas particles; however, modern research demands the profiler to distinguish up to 200 different ranges. In order for the Profiler to support the greater amount of size ranges, a high-resolution external multichannel analyzer must be used to bypass the profiler’s original multichannel analyzer. Software must then be developed in order to accommodate for different amount of channels supported, and allow for Atmospheric Scientists to acquire data in a manner that is straightforward, reliable, and flexible. The equipment to be used in the modification of the profiler would be the profiler itself, a multichannel analyzer, calibration equipment, and a software developing environment. The profiler is the 9722 Optical Particle Counter(OPC). The multichannel analyzer to be selected is the Amptek MCA8000A “Pocket MCA.” This device supports up to 16000 channels, and includes API software for the multichannel analyzer. Software for the device is created in National Instrument’s LabWindows CVI development environment. It was chosen for its graphical development environment, and support for the C programming language that the MCA’s API is deployed within. Calibration of the MCA and OPC is performed by a series of in-house custom devices including a Polystyrene Latex Nebulizer and a Condensation Particle Counter.
93. The GEp-III Experiment at Jefferson Lab: Understanding the Structure of the Proton
Amber Marsh; C.F. Perdisat, E.J. Brash, M.K. Jones, V. Punjabi; Dr. Edward Brash
The aim of the GEp-III experiment, which is currently running at Jefferson Lab in Newport News, Virginia, is a better understanding of the distribution of electric charge and current inside the proton. Within the most modern theory of proton structure, known as Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the quarks comprising the proton have complex charge and current distributions, which are in turn responsible for its electric and magnetic properties. In the Gep-III experiment, the charge and current distributions of the three valence quarks of the proton are being analyzed through the measurement of the ratio of two fundamental observables: the electric and magnetic form factors of the proton. These new data will place severe constraints on QCD-based models of proton structure. In this presentation, I will give a overview of the physics of the experiment, discuss the experimental setup, and present preliminary results from the first phase of the experiment, which was carried out in the Fall of 2007.
98. SANE - Spin Asymmetries of the Nucleons Experiment
Eric Jensen; Jefferson Lab; Dr. Edward Brash
The SANE experiment in Hall C at Jefferson Lab will measure the proton spin structure functions in the range of Bjorken-x 0.3 < x < 0.8 for four-momentum transfer squared 2.5 GeV2 < Q2 <6.5 GeV2. The variable x is the usual Bjorken scaling variable x = Q2/(2mν), where ν is the transferred energy and m is the proton mass. The spin asymmetry A1 and the spin structure g2 for the proton will be obtained in a model independent way from inclusive inelastic scattering of polarized electrons on polarized protons in a solid ammonia (NH3) target. A novel type of large solid angle non-magnetic detector, the ``Big Electron Telescope Array'' (BETA) will be used to detect the scattered electrons.
23. Skaz and Social Criticism in Gogol and Bulgakov (On the Outside Looking In)
Kelly Perriello; Dr. Margarita Marinova
Skaz is a product of the Russian formalist movement during the early 20th century. According to Boris Eikhenbaum skaz exists in two forms: simple skaz and imitative skaz. Skaz, in both forms, serves to enhance the formal narration of a story and not just the significance of the plot. Simple skaz generates the illusion of everyday spoken speech through word play, simple sentences, and a reduction to absurdity. Imitative skaz is similar to an actor giving a soliloquy: it is the narrator giving a personal commentary to the reader. Russian author Nikolai Gogol wrote "The Overcoat" as a social criticism using skaz to emphasize the dangers of social mobility. This paper examines Gogol’s antihero Akaky Akakivich in "The Overcoat" in order to highlight Gogol’s influences with skaz on a much later Russian text: Mikhail Bulgakov’s "Heart of a Dog".
84. Motions of Death
Charles Nuckols; Dr. Margarita Marinova
The Death of Ivan Ilyich feels as if it was written to be sculpted into film. The words try to shape themselves, to move across the pages, crossing the boundaries of language, stepping into reality. The pictorial quality of the novella does not merely suggest an adaptation to film, it requires it. Thomas Seifrid suggests that “Tolstoy’s fiction also habitually resorts to vision as a metaphor through which to convey human existence” (Seifrid 437). Translation into film will be the realization of this metaphor. An analysis of portrayals of death in film and the conversion of Tolstoy’s literary techniques to cinematic motion will provide both a microscopic view of the novella and a fresh means for breaking the bonds of ink to paper.
7. Daisy and the Narcissistic Dilemma in Ismail Kadare’s "The File on H"
Jessica Daggett; Dr. Margarita Marinova
Ismail Kadare’s novel "The File on H" depicts the drama and intrigue surrounding the arrival of two Irish Homeric scholars, Bill and Max, to the Albanian town of N---. They come in search of what may be the last of the world’s epic storytellers. Little do they know they themselves are characters in the fantastical epic tale woven by Daisy, the young wife of N---‘s governor. Sadly for Daisy, who would be perturbed to think she might be a mere supporting player in the “adventures” of Bill and Max, her appearances comprise perhaps a quarter of Kadare’s narrative. She is, however, blissfully unaware of her relative unimportance to the drama prompted by Bill and Max’s visit and casts herself as the lovelorn heroine of a great (and wholly fictional) romantic epic about her life-changing encounters with these new and culturally exotic visitors to her country. In Daisy’s fantasies the men have come to town specifically to provide her a source of excitement and sexual intrigue, a remedy to her dull provincial life. These dreamy and fabricated mental constructs and the accompanying egoism that fuels it designates Daisy as a victim of Narcissistic Personality Disorder and, philosophically, frames her perfectly within French feminist philosopher Simone De Beauvoir’s estimation of the female narcissist.
31. Staring Through a Broken Mirror in Ismail Kadare's "The File on H"
Amanda Davis; Dr. Margarita Marinova
Precipitation, in Ismail Kadare's "The File on H," serves the purpose of defining barriers between the disastrous forces of reality and the nourishing, albeit disillusioning, powers of the imagination, in conjunction with images of windows condensed with rain and clouded by fog. Though rain is a permanent feature of the Albanian scenery in the novel, the characters are never initially witnessed willingly subjecting themselves to it; rather, everyone perceives their damp surroundings from behind clouded windows; it is thus Kadare's employment of windows and the effect of condensation upon them which serves as the foremost vehicle in which the relationship between reality and imagination is exemplified.
82. Orality vs. The Written Word: The Influences of Albanian Culture
Katherine Brickley; Dr. Margarita Marinova
The conflict regarding superiority of the written word versus oral tradition is played out within Ismail Kadare’s File on H. This conflict is exacerbated by the existing Albanian cultural standard of orality within an increasingly literary world. Through detailed analysis of the novel enhanced by cultural research, my paper argues that through his novel, Kadare provides defense for the superiority of orality over the written word. I focus on Kadare’s characterization of two main characters: The Governor of N. and Dull, the aural spy, the symbolism and role of a tape recorder which plays a prevalent role in the novel, and textual analysis of the concluding scene of the novel.
19. The Japanese Tea House in Virginia
Jordan Taylor; Dr. Hamilton
I am researching the Japanese Tea House in Virginia which was on the campus of CNC/CNU for almost 20 years. The paper will include the background of the teahouse, the reasons Virginia and CNC had for acquiring the building and the controversy surrounding it, and finally the reason it was eventually moved to Newport News park in 2005. I also hope to go into the broader context of how President Santoro envisioned the teahouse as an outreach to Japan and Japanese business in the area and how he hoped the teahouse would encourage CNC/CNU students to think about other cultures and about international studies in general.
36. Researching CNU: A Changing Mission Under President Trible
Hunter Snellings; Dr. Philip Hamilton
I will be discussing a paper written on a specific aspect of the history of CNU. My paper will deal with the changing mission statement of CNU under the President Trible Era. I will argue that a foundation for change had recently been established previous to Trible's induction as President of the University. Finally, I will discuss points of contention that many of the faculty and surrounding community had with Trible's widespread change at CNU.
68. Student Understanding and Perceptions of the CNU Honor Code
Katie Johnston; Dr. Nate French
This study looks at the understanding and perceptions that CNU students have about the Honor Code. A survey was conducted with 629 student respondents, reflecting 7.75% of the student population. Questions looked at specific actions that would or would not fall under the Honor Code to reflect their understanding and also gain their opinion on whether it should be a violation. Further questions asked about where students learned about the Honor Code, their perception of cheating on the CNU Campus, and the role of the faculty in the understanding of violations and the punitive consequences that would follow. Findings show that students do not understand the difference between the Honor Code and Code of Conduct. The perceptions they have are that any rule you break would be a violation of the Honor Code. Although students do not feel cheating is a problem at CNU, they believe that it is often present on campus.
65. Male Self-Disclosure
Colleen Harkins; Dr. Michaela Meyer
Everyday men and women interact with one another and create relationships which can become stronger than they were before depending on what topics are discussed. Men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, emerging adults, are exploring who they are and what they want to seek out in life; therefore it is important for researchers to discover more about what is taking place within male-female relationships at this crucial point in our lives. My topic of interest centers on the disclosure patterns of young emerging adults and asks the question, “Why do emerging adult males self-disclose personal information to females rather than males?” By interviewing emerging adult males at Christopher Newport University we will learn more about the topics that males discuss, the social support they receive, and finally how they perceive their friendships with males and females. These questions will seek to find out what makes men comfortable enough to disclose sensitive information and also what kind of people they are more or less likely to trust.
11. How Evangelical Christian College Students Manage their Religious Identity
Julie M. Johnson; Dr. Michaela Meyer
With the support of communication studies research within the academic field, the research project exemplifies how communication theories apply in evangelical Christian's everyday lives. Eight Christopher Newport University students were interviewed to find out how they manage their evangelical Christian identities on the secular college campus, CNU. The project yielded that evangelical Christian college students deliberately live a lifestyle that is communicated to their college peers in both verbal and nonverbal ways.
54. News Media Study: The Economist
Jamie Carr; Dr. Brennan Kraxberger
Have you ever thought about the magnitude of negative and pessimistic news that our media covers? The Economist is a British newspaper that believes in free market and trade. It covers news about politics, health issues, science and technology, people, books and arts, business, finance, and the economy. Fifteen articles that concerned Sub-Saharan Africa from the Fall 2007 issues of The Economist were reviewed and broken down into four categories: international, business, Asia, and leaders. These articles were then analyzed and it was determined if the articles had a pessimistic or optimistic view towards Africa or Africans. Comments of disbelief and uncertainty in an article led to the choice of Afro-pessimism while comments with a bright perspective or a positive comment led to the decision of Afro-optimism. Using this method it was determined that the majority of the articles were Afro-pessimistic.
49. Africa : Through the Eyes of The New York Times
Brittany Benson; Dr. Brennan Kraxberger
The New York Times has been a newspaper with a prestigious reputation since the 1850s. Countless articles have been published and thousands of talented reporters have worked with The New York Times. Most of America holds the opinion of this newspaper in high esteem, trusting that the information is truthful and just. Needless to say that the New York Times has credible sources, skilled editors, and reliable information; however, that information is skewed to get a certain feeling across. When recently analyzing The New York Times’ articles regarding Africa, one can see that the reporters don’t give an impression of a bright future for the people of Africa. Out of a sample of fifteen articles, not one gave the reader a positive outlook of the African government or its people. Nearly all of the articles deal with the AIDS epidemic surrounding Africa’s people. The articles that do not deal with AIDS/HIV deal with the corrupt politics that seem inescapable to the African people. Language used, resources cited, and pictures published all seem to give off a negative tone as to the social and economical progress of Africa. In my research I saw that reporters mention progress in Africa, but add another point or two against that progress. My presentation will be dealing with the negative connotations given to Africa and the responsibility that newspapers like The New York Times has in presenting that image.
40. Ensuring Compliance: Libya and the Dangers of Weapons Verification
Andrew Hans Berglund; Dr. Nathan Busch
On December 19, 2003, the Libyan government shocked the international community when it pledged to abandon all nuclear, chemical, and ballistic-missile weapons and programs. This announcement came after more than thirty years of calculated deception and denial techniques by Libya regarding their programs, which were much further advanced than outside intelligence experts had originally judged. Since the landmark decision, it appears that Libya has stuck to its end of the agreement and been considerably accommodating to the work of inspectors. A once vilified “rouge state,” Libya is now one touted as a clear model of success in the “cooperative verification” of weapons of mass destruction. This example lies in stark contrast to the “coercive verification” process undertaken by the United States, and members of the international non-proliferation community, in Iraq following the 1991 Gulf War up until the 2003 U.S.-led Operation-Iraqi-Freedom. Despite the peaceful nature of Libya’s disarmament, it is important to recognize the inherent dangers that may arise and derail the success of the project. Only from recognition of these dangers, can inspectors take the steps necessary to guard against them. Chiefly, the United States and the international nonproliferation community must not make the mistake of assuming that Libya’s recent compliance diminish the need for inspectors to make every effort to verify that clear progress is being made, and that Libya is in fact fulfilling all of its obligations and promises. Secondly, there is a danger that the verification process will be weakened because of politicization amongst the various parties responsible for the de-weaponization of Libya. This study examines these and other problems, as well as the overall effectiveness of the monitoring and verification efforts in Libya. The primary goal will be to make recommendations that will strengthen our ability to fight the future spread of these weapons.
10. The Connection between Human Rights and the Environment
Elyse Thomas; Dr. Kempin Reuter
This paper explores the connection between environmental degradation specifically resource exploitation and human rights abuses through looking at the case study of the Mbuti pygmies of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Indigenous populations often suffer the most extreme human abuses as they are marginalized by society and therefore are easy targets. Land is one of the most important issues concerning the rights of indigenous people. Often indigenous rights to land are ignored and their land is exploited for material use. Indigenous populations lack the capability to claim their land. Competition among different groups to exploit natural resources for profit leads often leads to the abuse of fundamental human rights of indigenous groups. This paper will examine the resource exploitation in the DRC and the various documents pertaining to indigenous people and human rights and attempt to offer solutions to alleviate human rights abuses.
148. Pursuing the Good Community through Art
Brittany Payton; Dr. Quentin Kidd
Explores the role of art in guiding humanity through progress and towards bettering our world. Follows multiple roles of art in developing human culture and how contemporary society has warped the true essence of art. Discusses art's unique ability to facilitate the creative spirit of man.
37. Communication in the College Classroom
Ashley Miller; Dr. Michaela Meyer
This study asks the question "what characteristics do students consider to be important in their college professors"? Previous literature that exists on this topic is between 20 and 60 years old and should be updated to reflect a recent emphasis on education. A survey was presented to the current students of those Professors that have won Professor of the Year the past three academic years at a small, liberal arts university. Their responses were analyzed and shown to reflect an attention to competence and interest in the student, among other things.
117. Network Neutrality is Awesome
Bekah Garton & Aaron Martin; Dr. Nate French
While the Internet might not be legally defined as a place yet, it is most certainly a place of interest for legislation. One particular piece of legislation that has been floating around Washington for a few years now with little to no resolution in sight is network neutrality legislation. There are two competing tensions over the issue of network neutrality. One group of people believe that legislation must be passed to preserve the sanctity of the Internet for those who use it, and the other group believes no legislation is necessary because the market will regulate itself and any efforts by congress will amount to undue meddling. This paper will use the theoretical framework of both public sphere theory and technical sphere theory to illuminate the lack of popular attention that this movement has received. This paper will take a look at different articles from a handful of major news sources that discuss network neutrality. These popular culture citations are used to construct a virtual model of the debate. This debate is then dissected to demonstrate the inability for the issue to emerge from the technical sphere to the longer public sphere. Larger implication of this matter reach into the next decade and beyond; the impact of the eventual resolution will shape the internet for years to come and thus work must be done to determine why it has not received the attention that it arguably deserves.
18. Relationship Maintenance of Emerging Adult Long Distance Relationships
Audra Rowton; Dr. Michaela Meyer
There are over one million people who report being in a romantic long distance relationship (LDR) annually (Dainton, 2002). Of these one million people college students are the most frequently categorized as being involved in an LDR. As high as twenty five to forty percent, numbers vary depending on study, but at least one third of all college students admit to being in a long distance relationship during some duration of their education. Considering these statistics it is surprising that there is not more academic research on LDRs. Instead they have been treated by academic scholars and the public alike as “non-normative” relationships (Emmerson-Sommers, 2005). Long distance relationships are becoming frequently more prevalent due to many advances in American cultural ideologies and systems. These advances include technology, work and education requirements, and mediated culture. It is from these reasons that I chose long distance relationships as my area of focus. The majority of research done on LDRs consists of only practical facts and statistics. With no clear boundaries for studying the various types of LDRs, such as military personal and their spouses, career focused couples, family members, and college students it is difficult to find research on LDRs. Undergraduate education has become such a popular life goal that the influx of relationships which continue after students move away from home to continue their education has reached outstanding levels. These relationships vary from familiar, friendships, or romantic interests. Romantic long distance relationships have quickly become fastening due to personal experience and the negative connotation which generally surrounds them. Further research on LDRs shows that there are many statistics that have recently been gathered, and most of the information is a comparison between LDRs and geographically close romantic relationships. Despite negative criticism the statistics for satisfied romantic LDRs from college students continues to increase. The only way to explore the contradiction of this correlation is to research relationship maitenance tactics used by couples. Therefore the preliminary question that will be researched is: What relationship maintenance techniques are used in emerging adult romantic long distance relationships?
25. Communication: The Success of Prison Education
Christina Jaeger; Dr. Michaela Meyer
In the prison system there is a lack of education as rehabilitation for inmates. Over 95 percent of those currently incarcerated will be back in our society. This education is imperative to the regeneration of their mind and the success of their re-entry. Prison education has proven successful at reducing the recidivism rates from 70 percent to 20 percent. This success of prison education at reducing recidivism is due to the way in which "safe space" is created by the communication process within the classroom. This safe space allows a freedom for the inmates to produce something of value to them and others and leave their failures at the classroom door. An ethnographic study of academic education classes in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center was done, to observe the communication process and how their safe space was created. The physical environment and the management of the classroom were the largest communication factors in creating safe space.
48. Project Lifesaver Provides an Ounce of Hope
Ruth Nagle; Dr. Jean Filetti
Currently in the United States of America there are approximately 4.5 million Americans suffering from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Statistics show that of these 4.5 million, 2,655,000 will wander off from their caregivers and 1.9 million of those will wander off habitually. In this presentation I will introduce the mission statement of Project Lifesaver as well as show who is affected by this program. I will also give the background of Project Lifesaver and how this unique program got started which will also show why this program is so necessary in the community. Personally, this program has a direct effect on my family. My two sons have autism and both are known wanderers. It is not only Alzheimer patients who are prone to wander but those who have Autism, Down’s syndrome and other neurological disorders as well.
212. Filmer l'espace marginal dans La Haine et La Vie rêvée des anges (Spaces of Marginality in Hate and The Dreamlife of Angels)
Andrea Copsey; Dr. Steven Spalding
La Vie Rêvée des Anges and la Haine are two movies set largely on the fringes of major cities in France. La Vie Rêvée des Anges shows the chaotic paths of two young women take in search of some form of stability. La Haine tells the story of three young unemployed men navigating the violence-torn suburbs of Paris. A comparison of the movies show that they both have a different look on a similar reality: the complex spatial relations that define the everyday experience of many living on the edges of French society.
210. Diva et le cinéma postmoderne français (Diva and Postmodern French Cinema)
Jennifer Whitlock; Dr. Steven Spalding
The film "Diva" is a striking example of postmodernist French cinema. Set within a loosely told plot of gangsters, police and innocent bystanders is a look at attitudes about recording and piracy: how alike is the copy and the original? Does it even matter? Made in a world without Internet, "Diva" raises questions that have only grown in importance to contemporary French culture.
211. A la recherche de la guerre perdue, ou comment récuperer la mémoire dans Un long dimanche de fiançailles (In Search of the Lost War, or Recovering Memory in A Very Long Engagement)
Alex Harrington; Dr. Steven Spalding
It takes an exceptional effort to undertake a reconstruction of the past by collecting and piecing together memories. Mathilde’s quest in the film "Un long dimanche de fiançailles" parallels the construction of personal memory – to find Manech, her fiancé who was reported dead in the trenches in World War I, but whom Mathilde insists is alive – with the (re-)construction of cultural memory. Despite this great effort, two unmovable obstacles remain: the impossibility of fully seeing, knowing or understanding the past, and, as the recent passing of France’s last poilu illustrates, the inevitability of permanent memory loss.
169. Debussy - le musicien classique qui ose être différent (Debussy – The Classical Musician Who Dares to be Different)
Andrea Ferrer; Dr. Georgeta Georgescu and Dr. Susan S. St. Onge
Claude Debussy is one the best known French composers of the 20th century. From his very début in the musical world, at the age of seven, he was different. He did not like traditional rules of classical music composition and no one understood him. As he grew, the new and bizarre sounds of his music encountered the new world of modern poets like Paul Verlaine and Charles Baudelaire. This union led to a very important relationship that nourished Debussy and the poets and forever changed the world of music.
168. La Vie à l’extrême : L’influence d’Arthur Rimbaud et de Renée Vivien (Life to the Extreme: The Influence of Arthur Rimbaud and Renée Vivien on the Literature of the Twentieth Century)
Sarah Janeski; Dr. Georgeta Georgescu and Dr. Susan S. St. Onge
Arthur Rimbaud and Renée Vivien, two poets of the 19th century, had very turbulent and rebellious lives. Anti-establishment and non-conformist since their teen years, these two poets became important within the Symbolist movement and had a different, but equally important impact on the literature of the 20th century. Rimbaud became one of the first modern poets to break the rules of traditional poetry and his philosophy of the “unknown” influenced the Surrealist literature. Renée Vivien, on the other hand, used her poetry to glorify the feminine spirit and is recognized as one of the precursors of modern feminism.
170. Simone de Beauvoir ou l’interrogation sur le rôle de la femme (Simone de Beauvoir or the Interrogation on the Role of Women)
Alaina Copsey; Dr. Georgeta Georgescu and Dr. Susan S. St. Onge
Simone de Beauvoir was a revolutionary philosopher and writer of the 20th century. Her masterpiece, “The Second Sex”, had an enormous impact on the feminist movement.
157. The Guns That Pride Called Out: War Myth and Torture in the Western
Matthew Mullin; Dr. Nigel Sellars
Of all film genres, none has captured the American imagination or shaped our understanding of the past like the western. This unique study of the use of torture in westerns, by both heroes and villains, examines how torture closely parallels American involvement in war crimes during foreign conflict. From torture in The Searchers to the recent 3:10 to Yuma, the character of a given conflict is reenacted as Americans search for a historical origin for the current violence. By understanding our experiences in war time, this paper is both topical and engaging as our citizenry debates the use of torture today.
91. Adam's Rib & The Construction of Gender
Amy Weeks; Dr. Irene Grau
The concept of gender surrounds society everyday in infinite forms. One very prevalent and powerful form is the media, specifically film. The literature pertaining to one specific film, the 1949 version of Adam's Rib, discusses how the film addresses gender in five different ways: the debate about women's equality, the construction of masculinity, the construction of femininity, the blurring of the genders, and the power struggle between the genders. However, even with all of this discussion, there are still important points the film brings up but the literature does not address. The conversation surrounding Adam's Rib cannot be complete without addressing how the film relates to the idea of the "man-like woman," the contrast between the historical and present-day role of an adulteress, Liberal Feminism, and standpoint theory.
127. A Violent Exposure of Snow White
Jessica Johnson; Dr. Linda Manning
The research that I would be presenting on is the communication of violence in the fairy tale Snow White. Snow White is a fairy tale that has been told and retold as part of the oral tradition. It was first written by the Brothers Grimm in 1825 and has been rewritten and remade to this day. Walt Disney Inc. is responsible for one of the most successful remakes of Snow White. Walt Disney’s remake, renamed Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was released in 1937 and was the first full-length animated feature to become widely successful across the United States. The most recent version of Snow White was released by Universal Studios in September of 2007, and was renamed Sydney White. With these three versions of Snow White I have analyzed the differences and similarities of violence with the three most predominantly violent scenes. These scenes reveal the struggle between two females. The Queen and Snow White inflict death, torture, and violent behavior towards each other. These differences and similarities will demonstrate changes in violent behavior, demonstrated in the story, through a physical or psychological killing or punishment.
22. Modern Women and the Disney Princess's Happily Ever After Motif
Clare Brown; Dr. Michaela D.E. Meyer
This paper seeks to answer the following research question: How do women use the Disney princess and her "Happily Ever After" motif to make sense of their own romantic relationships? To conduct my research, I surveyed 100 women aged 15-65 and had them answer a few questions about Disney. The ten questions ranged from asking who their favorite Disney princess is to whether or not they believe Disney provides an accurate portrayal of love. I hope that this paper will help us gain a better understanding of why the Disney princess and her "Happily Ever After" motif has such amazing staying power in our culture.
200. Staying True to Medea: Tragedy as Worship
Raychel Loney; Dr. Bradley Buszard
The Trible Library played host to an innovative rendition of Euripides' Medea this semester. Euripides has proven once again that Greek theater is about addressing complex emotions that come with societal problems, emphasizing the universal human condition that makes his play relevant back then and today. Human emotions and flaws have changed very little through the years and I sought to emulate the experience a Greek audience might feel. In order to do this, I focused on the underlying purpose in all Greek theater, worship, through the roles of the gods, mysticism, and our unique chorus.
39. Herbert con Karjan: A Notorious Legend
Amy Katherine Bopp; Dr. Lauren Fowler
Herbert von Karajan is a legend in the field of orchestral and operatic conducting. Born in Salzburg, the Greek musician excelled early at piano and studied conducting at the University of Vienna and the Academy of Music. His first public concert resulted in a position as the musical director in the city of Ulm. This position taught him the basics of conducting that prepared him for his next position as kappellmeister in Aachen. Von Karajan’s emergence as a conductor was well timed, for noted Jewish conductors were forced into exile because of the Nazi occupation. This made room for the young Karjan. However, it was his talent that sustained him once he entered the field. In his later years, Karajan was associated with the Berlin Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, and the Vienna Philharmonic. His conducting is considered a paradox between modern rehearsal techniques and the grandeur of traditional performance techniques. His conducting methods were unconventional but the sound produced from his orchestra left audiences speechless. Herbert von Karajan has been harshly criticized for his affiliation with the Nazi regime to the point that his greatness as a conductor is largely overshadowed. However, he joined the party solely to propel his career to the next level. Furthermore, it is extremely doubtful that Karajan could have anticipated the direction the leaders of his country were going to take when he joined the democratically elected party. In spite of this controversy, Karajan established himself as one of the great European conductors of all time.
143. The Vicarious Role of Arnold Schoenberg on Thelonious Monk and Jazz
William Hanson; Dr. Brockett
Thelonious Monk is one of the greatest jazz composers, and living from 1917 to 1982, he played an important role in the development of jazz and American music. Monk's music was first widely dismissed as nonsense, which paralleled the earlier reaction that Schoenberg received. Nazi Austria dismissed Schoenburg's music, swing, and jazz as a degenerate art form. Growing up in Manhattan, New York Monk was highly influenced by the surrounding culture and music. His family regularly attended church, exposing Monk to Baptist and Methodist music early in his life. Although Monk's father was a hard working member of the workforce he also often played swing music in his household. In Monk's adolescence he was also exposed to the academic music of Juilliard, which was located less than a mile away from his residence. Monk was not the only one taught by an affiliate or professor of Juilliard, but many of his fellow jazz musicians were also instructed. They would go on to spread their version of the academia into the jazz circles and clubs that they played in. Monk's contributions to jazz and American music stem from the combining of his influences: swing, gospel, and the scholastic music of Schoenberg.
154. A Doorway from the Old Russia to the New: The Songs of Sergei Rachmaninoff
Erin Plisco; Dr. Rachel Holland
The tradition of Russian song was established in the nineteenth century, with the period of flourish in Russian literature that is referred to as the “Golden Age of Poetry”. This movement is roughly contemporary with the great age of romantic poetry in Western Europe. With the death of Tchaikovsky towards the end of the nineteenth century, Russia experienced another artistic revival designated as the “silver age”. This movement introduced a wide variety of new trends and an emergence of exceptionally high standards of craftsmanship, and in effect created the Russian school of music. With the rise of the Communist party in the early 20th century, the arts in Soviet Russia acquired a conservative and antiquated character. Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff stands as a doorway between the old Russia and the new, looking back to the romanticism of the nineteenth century and ahead to the first generation of soviet composers. This paper will examine in depth the song style of Sergei Rachmaninoff through the study of his compositions, the influence of the changing Russian culture on his work, and his contributions to the genre of song.
160. World Music Ensembles: Balancing Improvisation, Institution, and the Other
Jonathan Hull; Dr. Shiladitya Chaudhury
Musical improvisation is a combination of ingenuity and inspiration within a shared stylistic context. In many cultures it is seen as the apex of musicianship and success in it requires years of study, exposure, and experience. Scholars who have examined improvisation come to many conclusions but they consent that acquiring an improvisatory vocabulary and grammar, like any language, takes a lot of training. Many world cultures incorporate improvisation in their music as a primary vehicle for musical expression. For many music students learning to improvise is difficult even within the confines of their own culture. In western culture it is typically through jazz that most musicians acquire the skills to improvise. However many universities offer ensembles that provide other modes through which students can become familiar with and cultivate improvisation. World music ensembles are also innovative in their emphasis on study along side of performance thus influencing the expectation of the world music ensemble: to provide a relevant and culturally informed interpretation of the music and if possible elicit a connection with another culture for students. Due to those expectations improvisation is often inherent to the informed interpretation of the music. For students outside of the culture it can be daunting to learn even the basics of another cultures’ music. The responsibility of the student inevitably becomes not just accurate performance but also authentic representation of the culture. Do time restrictions on the contemporary university ensemble detract from the cultural connection both audience and students are expected to experience? Or is it the difficulty of learning another culture’s music and mode of thinking that impinges on the effectiveness of the ensemble experience? Literature research has been combined with field-work done as a participant of Christopher Newport University’s Hindustani Music Ensemble and the College of William and Mary Middle Eastern ensemble.
73. Everyone's Doing It
Michael D Burnett; Dr. John Thompson
Circumcision is an important ritual to many societies around the globe, even those who historically had no contact with one another. This project will endeavor to explain the phenomenon of circumcision, both by explaining its significance to individual religions and by exploring the ritual's universal themes.
8. Desiring Authentic Redemption: Christ as the only redeemer for African tribes
Christina Jaeger; Dr. Teschner
We are all in need of redemption from something. Redemption is the fulfillment of a debt owed. In Central African tribal religions there are many ways in which redemption is attempted, through sacrifice,rituals, and the help of supernatural beings. But how does one pay a debt owed to the Creator of the Universe? According to Christianity there is only one way, through an incarnation, a fully human and fully divine being satisfying the debt. For Christians, Jesus Christ is the only incarnation, and the one that can truly redeem Central African people from their debt to the Creator God. The nature of Christian redemption is that, not only does it redeem the individuals life from debt, but it is also redemption from evil and suffering. For the Christian worldview, indigenous faith and culture is not nullified by Christian redemption, but rather intensified, and experienced in light of indigenous religious understanding.
71. The Intersection of Religion and Gender: Comparing Female Roles in Hinduism
Meredith Forbes; Dr. Joseph Prud'homme
The purpose of this study is to examine the traditional roles of the female sex in Hindu and Muslim societies and to gain a better understanding of how influential Hindu and Islamic religious tenets are in shaping these roles. The overarching research objective is to explore how women of faith view the relationship between their everyday lives and religious belief. Almost all societies that have a large percentage of the population who adhere to Islam or Hinduism are now, or have in the recent past been, male-dominated, and therefore the women of these societies are usually subject to rigid codes in their everyday lives. However, recent changes in globalization and technology have led to changed perceptions by Hindu and Muslim women concerning their role in society, especially in regards to the workforce and education. My research is designed to evaluate the feelings expressed by women of the Muslim and Hindu faith concerning the difficulties presented by their increased participation in society and the question of how they understand the traditional roles designated by their respective religions. My research was gathered through interviews with Hindu women in India, and it situates the information gathered within the secondary literature already available on the topic. My research on Muslim women was gathered through secondary literature available on the topic as well as other sources inspired by Dr. Timani’s “Women in Islam” class.
63. The Construction of the Feminine in Folklore from the Lost Celtic Regions
Nicole Elizabeth Justice-Kleemann; Dr. Mai Lan Gustafsson
The Construction of the Feminine in Folklore from the Lost Celtic Regions in Northwestern Spain Continuing and expanding earlier research on the dissemination of misogyny in Europe during the late middle ages through the beginning of the early modern period, this paper builds upon the idea that the social perception and status of women have deep roots that run counter to contemporary gender constructions which devalue women. The crux of this paper is that older, more positive constructions of women as a gender are discernible in the folklore of Celtic cultures throughout Europe. In Celtic societies women were and still are viewed as conduits of divine revelation. Women of many Celtic cultures had property rights and were active in making decisions concerning their families and communities. Elderly and non-married women were not stigmatized as was common in mainstream European society; rather they were valued as key transmitters of kinship and tradition, and served as healers for their people. Although Celtic women did not share equal status with men, they had a great deal more power than their non-Celtic European counterparts. In addition to the six traditionally Celtic nations in contemporary Europe there are also pockets of people in northwestern Spain who descend from the Celts and retain strong links to their heritage in the form of cultural practices and language. It is the folklore of these peoples that this paper examines for portrayals of the feminine. By drawing a strong correlation between the constructions of the feminine in the six Celtic nations to northwestern Spain and demonstrating through their folklore that their portrayal of women is akin to that of the Celtic nations, this paper makes the case that these areas do indeed have a claim to Celtic identity despite the thousands of years of separation from their Celtic counterparts.
90. Tracing Celtic and Indian Otherworld Descriptions to the Arthurian Romances
Elizabeth Beck; Dr. Terry Lee
Liminal spaces, or the spaces between this world and the next, have many different aspects depending on the culture. Many cultures, however, describe the path to their Otherworld in similar ways. It is in these commonalities that we can see the connections between cultures, especially in the literary works that these cultures inspired. At the same time, a reading of these works through the lens of the various Otherworld descriptions can improve the understanding of these works as a whole. This paper, therefore, seeks to explore some of the Otherworld descriptions found in Celtic and Indian mythology. The most prominent aspects of these descriptions, the difficult journey and crossing of water, will then be traced to the more recent Arthurian Romances by Chrétien de Troyes.
86. Europe Through the Eyes of American Authors in the Nineteenth Century
Frank Garmon; Dr. Andrew Falk
My paper examines the perceptions of American authors towards Europeans in the early and mid-nineteenth century. Almost all of America’s prominent literary figures traveled abroad (with the notable exceptions of Thoreau, Whitman, and Dickinson), with most traveling to Europe. Many of these authors wrote about their experiences in travel literature, often becoming bestsellers. Their travel writings influenced American readers’ attitudes toward Europeans because many Americans who read the novels had never visited Europe. My paper looks primarily at American travel literature and American impressions of European culture. Because many Americans developed their first impressions of Italian culture and geography from reading novels such as Hawthorne’s The Marble Faun, works of fiction that depict Europeans will also be examined in the paper. My paper addresses larger themes of globalization and the impact of travel on cultural exchange through a historical context.
102. The Axis Cartoons: American Propaganda in World War II
Danesha Langley; Dr. Andrew Falk
During World War II, the United States government used a wide range of media productions to push Americans to support the war in any way possible whether it was through rationing, working war jobs, buying war bonds, and/or offering any other forms of support. The government used a variety of news stations, newspapers, magazines, advertisements, pamphlets, and other resources. Hollywood also worked in collaboration with the government to keep the American public informed of the activities happening on the warfront overseas in Europe and the Pacific and on the home front, possibly trying to push for continuous support in the war. Hollywood not only provided war entertainment and American propaganda in its films for audiences nationwide, but it also used subtle and straightforward portrayals of war and the axis powers, specifically Germany and Japan, in its cartoons. At the forefront of this process, MGM, Warner Bros., and Walt Disney Studios cartoons not only provided fun-loving entertainment for children and adults, but their caricatures of Nazi Germany and Japan also shaped how Americans viewed these world powers and German and Japanese Americans during World War II and in the decades that followed. Shortly after Japan’s naval forces attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the U |
