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Pushing The Limit: An Analysis Of The Women Of The Severan Dynasty, Colleen Melone

Honors Projects

By applying Judith Butler’s theories of identity to the imperial women of the Severan dynasty in ancient Rome, this paper proves that while the Severan women had many identities, such as wife, mother, philosopher, or mourner, their imperial identity was most valued due to its ability to give them the freedom to step outside many aspects of their gender and to behave in ways which would customarily be deemed inappropriate. Butler’s theories postulate that actions create identities and that these identities then interact to form new possibilities for action. Using Butler’s theories, this paper first examines the actions of the …

Agitprop In Soviet Russia, Kevin Brown

Constructing the Past

Throughout the Soviet Union, propaganda could be seen everywhere - from art galleries to movies to street comers, Russian culture was flooded with pro-Bolshevik sentiments. Agitprop theatre, unlike other propaganda that was inaccessible to the working class, effectively appealed to and indoctrinated Russia's lower class citizens.

Triumph Of Light Or A Beacon Of Hope: A Modernist Reevaluation Of The Enlightenment, Mallika Kavadi

Constructing the Past

Between 1900 and 1907, Gustav Klimt produced Philosophy, Medicine, and Jurisprudence, three paintings that caused a major controversy in academic circles of Vienna. Representing Modernist thought that had evolved as a progression of the Enlightenment tradition, these paintings, especially Philosophy and Medicine, are philosophical works that correctly interpret and comment upon the role of Philosophy and Medicine as professed by the Enlightenment thinkers.

Frank Lloyd Wright And Francis Wilde Little, Elizabeth G. Muir

Constructing the Past

Frank Lloyd Wright is held to be one of the greatest American architects, one who forever changed the norms of architecture with his genius. With such a prestigious reputation, it is difficult to imagine Wright bowing down to his client's wants and needs during the building of a home. But when I decided to analyze the relationship between Wright and his client Francis Wilde Little, I was surprised to find that Wright did just that. Wright not only bowed to Little's needs, he actively had to change multiple aspects of his plan to suit Little's desires. In this paper, I …

The Futurist Movement In Russia: Futurism's Role In The Work Of Composer Alexander Mosolov, Tia L. Sprengel

Constructing the Past

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, Russia has been known for its tumultuous political, social, and economic climates. Coups, revolutions, and uprisings were so commonplace that "the man on the street seemed to feel that it made no difference who was in charge, since things were so bad they could not possibly get any worse." While this volatility may have been a nuisance to the common man, it was both a blessing and a curse for Russian artists. While it sometimes encouraged them to explore different modes of artistic expression, it also often resulted in the brutal repression of …

Hitler, Himmler, And Christianity In The Early Third Reich, Christopher Tatara

Constructing the Past

With the rise of the National Socialist movement, Germany became a hostile environment to many minority groups. Communists, homosexuals, and the Jewish community were all targets of the Nazi Party's aggressive rhetoric and physical assaults, but these actions have often overshadowed the Nazi's persecution of larger majority groups. German Christian communities, both Catholic and Protestant, would eventually be repressed by the Nazi government as well. Why did the Nazis do this? What shaped the Nazi Party's Christianity policy into one of hate and suppression? Both Adolf Hitler's and Heinrich Himmler's personal views on Christianity formed the basis of the Nazi …

The Pervasive Politics Of Sir Francis Bacon: An Examination Of The Trial Of Sir Walter Raleigh, Kenneth J. Tymick

Constructing the Past

Sir Francis Bacon was a corrupt political pedant, a shameless puppet for James I, and an incorrigible opportunist. He was a frustrated man bedraggled in matters of morals, a bold and blatant self-promoter, and his conscience was perpetually drenched in the swamp of his own financial destitution. Although he remained one of the most brilliant scientific minds in England during the seventeenth-century, during his life Bacon was verily detested by his contemporaries. To achieve his lofty ambitions as advisor,judge, and ultimately Lord Chancellor to the King, Bacon would betray friend and benefactor, publicly and privately, without remorse. He would never …

The Morality Of An American Infidel, Ryan M. Winter

Constructing the Past

Never in American history has an outspoken freethinker gained so much widespread attention as Robert Green Ingersoll. One of the greatest orators in American history, Ingersoll traveled across the country entrancing audiences with his astonishing speaking skills, quick wit, and genuine concern for humanity. Despite the religiosity of his audiences, Ingersoll's ability as an orator allowed him to speak freely about his nonbelief at a time when it was usually dangerous to do so. Some Christians like to think they have a monopoly on virtue and that nonbelievers must be tempted by sin, so Ingersoll debunked this misconception with logic …

Religion And The Maintenance Of Hierarchy In Murder Pamhplets In Renaissance England, Jennifer Black

Constructing the Past

In early modern England, common people often received news of current events through cheaply printed and widely distributed pamphlets. The more interesting of these pamphlets were entirely devoted to relating stories of recent crimes, especially murders.

While at first reading [one such] pamphlet appears to be a simple news tabloid, it is, under the surface, much more. Murder pamphlets such as A Briefe Discourse served as messages to the public, instilling religious morals and the importance of maintaining the Great Chain of Being.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt And The New Deal: A Product Of Many Minds, Emma Florio

Constructing the Past

Franklin Delano Roosevelt looms large in American history as the man who led his country through the Great Depression and a World War. His dominance of the presidency and in American citizens' hearts and minds before and after he died make his personal and political impact in the Great Depression seem perhaps greater than they were. Certainly, he held great sway over the American people and can claim major responsibility for the New Deal and its policies but he was not the sole contributor, and certainly not to the values of the time. While Roosevelt may have instigated many of …

Ireland: Savior Of Civilization?, Patrick J. Burke

Constructing the Past

One of the most important aspects of early medieval Ireland is the advent of Christianity on the island, accompanied by education and literacy. As an island removed from the Roman Empire, Ireland developed uniquely from the rest of western continental and insular Europe. Amongst those developments was that Ireland did not have a literary tradition, or more specifically a Latin literary tradition, until Christianity was introduced to the Irish. Once introduced to the island through Christianity, however, the early Irish mastered the language with astonishing pace.

The Practicality Of Slavery In Latin America, Amy Werner

Constructing the Past

Christopher Schmidt-Nowara's book, Slavery, Freedom, and Abolition in Latin America and the Atlantic World, addresses the fact that Latin America has always been a place of great struggles and triumphs. While inconsistency and danger have always had a stronghold in this place, serious traditions have developed as well. Slavery is one of the most apparent examples of this; an analysis of how it functioned is highly revealing of the historical past. Without it, the development of Latin America would have been far less productive. It was an economic gold mine that was integrated into society and that was why …

The Fiery Cross: The Klan's Fight To Save America, Andy M. Kozlowski

Constructing the Past

The Fiery Cross, published monthly by the Ku Klux Klan out of its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, took it upon itself to address all of these growing issues. Through this periodical, the KKK was determined to spread its own views: opposition to the New Deal and its Communist-like programs, anti-immigration, and opposition to American involvement in the European war. In its publication, the Ku Klux Klan preached about the creation of an America for Americans only.

Blind Philhellenes Vs. Selective Consumers Of Foreign Cultures: A Reassessment Of The Ancient Greco-Roman Literary Record’S Portrayal Of The Gauls In Light Of New Archaeological Evidence, Kevin P. Sweeney

Constructing the Past

The issue of perspective is intrinsic to historiography. This is evident in the ancient Greco-Roman literary record, specifically the limits placed on its value to modern academics by the ethnographic biases of its authors. However, with the rise of the post-processual approach to archaeology over the past thirty years, modern historians have begun to address this issue. By utilizing the impartial records offered by excavation, these scholars have increasingly managed to circumvent ancient authorial subjectivity and reevaluate the modern preconceptions it created of the world of antiquity. An example of the archaeological record's value in reassessing the inherent prejudices of …

The People's Phenomenon: "Author's Song" In Khrushchev's Soviet Union, Sarah K. Moir

Constructing the Past

A massive shift from the Socialist Realism that predominated under Joseph Stalin, the bard culture that arose during Nikita Khrushchev's "Thaw" was fostered by the illegal underground transmission of tapes known as “magnitizdat”. Three well-known faces, with even better known voices, led this movement: Vladimir Vysotsky, Bulat Okudzhava, and Alexander Galich. In a way that was uniquely Soviet, the bard culture took root and transformed the everyday of the Soviet people.

We Will Never Speak Of It: Evidence Of Hitler's Direct Responsibility For The Premeditation And Implementation Of The Nazi Final Solution, Kevin P. Sweeney

Constructing the Past

The “Intentionalist vs. Functionalist” debate has raged amongst academic historians for decades, centered on the question of whether Adolf Hitler personally premeditated and instigated the Final Solution, or whether the idea and its implementation developed more gradually out of a collaborative effort within the ranks of the Nazi bureaucracy. This paper seeks, through careful analysis of Nazi primary source materials, to establish an “Intentionalist” argument in favor of Hitler being directly responsible for the premeditation and implementation of the infamous Nazi attempt to systematically annihilate the entirety of Europe’s Jewish population.

The Search For Perfection: Lake Forest And The Progressive Era, Caitlin G. Carr

Constructing the Past

Lake Forest, Illinois in the Progressive Era was a highly exclusive safe haven for the elite of Chicago. Lake Forest, however, was more than a high priced suburb for successful businessmen and the children of entrepreneurs; it was a community where wealthy individuals would attempt to create the perfect environment. This paper will explore how the residents attempted to create a perfect community, from the European culture they chose to imitate to the architecture they chose for their estates, as well as the social world they created for themselves.

The Sorrows Of The Prince Charming: The Tragic Life Of Crown Prince Rudolf, Yunya Yang

Constructing the Past

The Crown Prince Rudolf (1858-1889) was the heir of Franz Joseph I, emperor of Austria, and his wife Elizabeth of Bavaria, the beauty of Europe. He was famous for his love affair with the then 17-year-old Baroness Mary Vetsera and their double-suicide in Mayerling. The death of the young and charming prince appalled turn-of-the-century Vienna. This paper briefly examines the life and death of the prince, which include his relationship with his family, his personal goals and pursuits, and his romantic involvement with Mary Vetsera.

Arthur Schnitzler’S Dream Story: Fridolin’S Dream As Schnitzler’S Subconscious, Sarah K. Moir

Constructing the Past

Arthur Schnitzler’s short story Dream Story offers a unique insight into the subconscious of Schnitzler himself, provided through the choices of character names, and the experiences he details throughout the story. The character of Fridolin provides a stunning foil to Schnitzler’s own life. Additionally, Schnitzler serves as an emblem of the fin-de-Siècle Vienna personality: sexually liberal with a chauvinistic bent.

The Enemy Within: Homosexuality In The Third Reich, 1933-1945, Eliot H. Boden

Constructing the Past

From 1933 to 1945, the Nazi regime in Germany ruthlessly targeted homosexuals, particularly men, as enemies of the state. While Nazi doctrine officially repudiated same-sex romance, actual policy toward homosexuals in the Third Reich was by no means consistent. This paper examines the components of Nazi racial doctrines and the subtle ways in which the hyper-masculine ethos of the regime in fact encouraged male bonding and homosexual behavior. The differing views of prominent Nazi leaders on the issue of homosexuality are also discussed. The paper concludes by comparing the punishment of homosexual behavior among German soldiers in the Schutzstaffel (SS), …

Hezbollah's Resistance, Jay P. Heidekat

Constructing the Past

No abstract provided.

The Great Depression: Catalyst For Change In America's Game, Lauren M. Vorel

Constructing the Past

The Great Depression devastated countries around the world socially, culturally, and economically. In the United States, nearly all aspects of culture were affected, including leisure and recreation. America's pastime, baseball, was hit hard by the decrease in attendance that resulted from widespread unemployment and financial difficulties. In response to the downturn, professional baseball made several innovations to the game in an attempt to bring in more revenue. In this essay, I will attempt to prove that the Great Depression, though economically devastating, resulted in the modernization of the game of baseball.

Napoleon Bonaparte’S Concordat And The French Revolution, Kristen A. Hosack

Constructing the Past

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius XVII signed an agreement called the Concordat, which was an agreement between the French state and the Catholic Church that reconciled the Church with the anti-religious policies established during the French Revolution. This paper discusses the conflicting viewpoints held by various historians concerning the legacy of the Concordat; that is, did the agreement fulfill the religious goals of the early revolutionaries or did it betray their ideals? Ultimately, the paper concludes that the Concordat did indeed uphold the religious principles established during the early stages of the Revolution.

The Literary Lincoln, Rachel Hatch, Tim Obermiller

Illinois Wesleyan University Magazine, 2002-2017

Discovering what Abraham Lincoln read offers important clues about who he was, according to a new book by English Professor Robert Bray.

Building A Meritocracy: The American Precedent For Wealth Redistribution, Micah D. Bobo

Undergraduate Economic Review

This work investigates the use of wealth redistribution mechanisms in establishing and promoting meritocratic practices in early United States history. From the fifteenth to eighteenth century, the reward system used in exploration, colonization incentives, and land redistribution techniques are examined. During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the effects of industrialization and education on social mobility are reviewed. Finally, the social and economic factors resulting in southern secession, particularly slavery, are examined. While the concept may be unpopular in modern society, wealth redistribution mechanisms were essential to cultivating merit-based social mobility and overall societal stability throughout the period covered.

Goddesses, Priestesses, Queens And Dancers : Images Of Women On Sasanian Silver, Mary Olson

Constructing the Past

This paper will address the interpretations of the “dancing girls” within four specific examples of Sasanian silver vessels. Within these vessels, we will examine both the external origins of the imagery and the internal explanations that arise. These readings are largely confined to: 1. religious (goddess or priestesses), 2. royal (depictions of noble women), or 3. decorative (with a primarily erotic connotation). After we address all of the possible meanings attributed to the “dancing girls,” we will examine the importance of these labels and ask if identity connotes value. Does this necessarily mean the works must have symbolic or metaphorical …

Heraclius And The Evolution Of Byzantine Strategy, Bob Ekkebus

Constructing the Past

The Byzantine military strategy expressed in the 10th century treatise On Skirmishing marked a decisive shift in Byzantine strategy and an entirely new mindset in approaching war. What is unique about this strategy is that it was not created during a war against the Arabs, but before they existed as a military power. The foundation was laid during the Emperor Heraclius's Persian campaigns of 622-628. To demonstrate the key contributions of Heraclius, these Persian campaigns shall be analyzed and compared with the advice prescribed in On Skirmishing. Also, the military events recorded by Theophanes of the 7th and 8th centuries …

Can A Nazi Be A Hero?, Emily Paras

Constructing the Past

This paper centers on John Rabe, a German businessman and Nazi, who, according to several historians, helped save roughly 250,000 lives during the Rape of Nanking. He did this by establishing and serving as director of the “International Safety Zone.” This paper’s research question is how did Rabe reconcile his Nazi beliefs with his heroic actions during the massacre? This paper will argue that Rabe’s heroic actions were not inconsistent with his membership in the Nazi Party.

Subordinate Woman Or Favored Leader: Portrayals Of Mary Magdalene In Christian Canonical & Non-Canonical Gospels, William S. Miller

Constructing the Past

By comparing these Christian texts, both canonical and non-canonical, I will examine similarities and differences between the texts with regard to Mary Magdalene and interpret her textual representations. While comparing these criteria, I will simultaneously show that the two general representations symbolize a disagreement between two major sects in early Christianity on the roles of women in religion.

The Remains Of Alexander The Great: The God, The King, The Symbol, Lauren O'Connor

Constructing the Past

Each site, Siwah, Aegae, and Alexandria, represents a particular facet of Alexander—the god, the king, the symbol—and it is clear who would have benefited from putting forth and standing behind each side of the man. The meanings associated with the three potential burial sites and the intentions of each site’s main supporters offer a complex and telling view into Alexander and the post-Alexander world.