Arts and Humanities Commons^™

That '70s Show: A Realistic Depiction Of Sexism, Meleah Hartnett

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: I have been a loyal viewer of the hit sitcom, That ‘70s Show, for years. In total, I have probably watched the entire series two or three times. However, it was not until recently that it struck me how sexist the show was. Upon first watching That ‘70s Show, I thought it was a surface-level sitcom celebrating the colorful and hazy 1970s. After rewatching and evaluating the stances presented in multiple episodes, however, I see that it is more representative of society’s view on women than I originally thought. I believe that both the subtle and obvious sexism in …

Polarization And The Modern Media Landscape, Mark Walsh

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: This paper serves as an in-depth look into the partisan bias that exists in today’s mainstream and social media outlets and platforms, and concludes that this lack of objectivity further divides, polarizes and radicalizes the American populace. The evidence gathered supports the general claim that the mainstream media is indeed politically and ideologically biased to a certain extent, as are numerous influential social media blogs and news sites. Both loyal Democrats and Republicans enclose themselves within these ideological echo-chambers of their own making, based upon the news outlets they choose to use, as well as the way they choose …

Reforming The Juvenile Justice System: Rehabilitation And Key Factors That Influence Juvenile Crime, Caitlyn Kenville

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: Aaron Phillips, a man from Pennsylvania, has been in prison for over three decades for a crime he committed when he was seventeen years old. When Aaron was seventeen, he and his friend stole and elderly man’s wallet and pushed him down in the process. Although the man was injured, he was up and walking after his injury. About two and a half weeks after the incident, the elderly man died from cardiac arrest, after having surgery to repair his fractured hip along with a separate intestinal surgery. Aaron was convicted of felony murder and tried as an adult. …

Strength In Numbers: The Power Of Alliances In The Handmaid’S Tale And 2017 Women’S March On Washington, Caroline Paley

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: Margaret Atwood captivates her readers as she spins the tale of a futuristic version of our own world after a totalitarian regime takes over. She welcomes the readers to the new, radical society, formerly the United States, known now as the Republic of Gilead. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood tells the story of a woman in this dystopian future who, like so many others, has been stripped of all her liberties and whose sole purpose is to reproduce for the overall good of society. Birth rates have declined and many citizens are sterile due to environmental pollution and …

The New Right: The Blue-Collar Ideological Shift Towards A Conservative Populism, Julia Detmer

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: “Make America Great Again” the populist rally cry of the 2016 Election was championed by none other than now President Donald J. Trump. His appeal to the populist blue-collar working class was shocking to some, but historically not unexpected. His promise to bring back manufacturing jobs to the United States by having “fair trade” resonated with the disenfranchised working class who felt once again left out politically, socially, and economically by the government and its seemingly progressive state. This promise however was not original. Ronald Reagan, the Republican “messiah” campaigned on this saying, attempting to restore hope in the …

Female Genital Mutilation: The Price Of Tradition, Erin Kerwin

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: Female genital mutilation is a form of gender-based violence that impacts girls and women in many regions around the world. Conventional wisdom mistakenly defines FGM as the removal of the clitoris, but there are three additional types: partial or total extraction of the clitoris and the labia minora, the narrowing of the vaginal opening, and other harmful non-medical procedures that mutilate the vaginal area (Siddig). This atrocity is predominantly performed in Nigeria and other African countries, but also other places in the world including the United States. Israa Siddig, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist, explains, “[FGM] is still practiced …

Fast Changes Through Slowing Consumption: The Need For Sustainability In The Fashion Industry, Melissa Boehlert

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: In 2015, a court in Bangladesh upheld charges against 38 people accused of murder. With a death toll of 1,135 people, and thousands more injured, few were able to escape the bloodshed unscathed. Years later, the bodies of 200 people remain lost. A manhunt for those involved lasted four days, as the accused attempted to flee the country. Those charged with murder in Bangladesh can face the death penalty (Calvo, Amanda). In America, people continued their daily lives unaware of the trial taking place. However, we were more connected to the trial than we could have realized or imagined, …

The Inclusion Of Lgbtq Yal In The Curriculum: Can It Foster Acceptance?, Alysha Mercendetti

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: Acceptance, whether it be by friends, family, teachers, or peers, is crucial for any teen. Finding acceptance can be significantly more difficult for a teen going through the coming out process or maybe one that has already done so but is still not feeling completely okay in his or her own skin. Along with the fact that the world is highly a heteronormative one, society holds extremely shortsighted views and lacks knowledge on the subject of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning sexualities, and this ultimately plays a huge role in why LGBTQ teens are either too afraid to …

The ‘Perks’ Of Controversial Texts In Curricula: The Benefit Of Young Adult Literature On Adolescents In The Classroom, Carly Hurst

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: Have you ever heard a song on the radio with a terrible beat or a screechy singer but had eloquent lyrics? Like a diamond in the rough, the true beauty is buried underneath layers of dirt. This premise can be seen in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a young adult novel surrounded by controversy. Due to its somewhat risqué themes, the book is undoubtedly ribald, thus causing quite a flurry by parents about its use in curricula. However, this novel should not be censored because it not only integrates modern young adult literature into classrooms, relating better …

Egyptian Revolution: The Music Of Reform, Clair Herman

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: On January 31, 2013 National Public Radio (NPR) reporter Leila Fadel broadcasted an interview with Omar Kamal, devout Salafi turned beat boxer in Cairo, Egypt. Kamal was a drug addict and a drummer who decided he wanted more out of his life and searched for fulfillment in Salafi Islam. The Salafist sect is a very traditional, strict and conservative form of Islam which, among other things, discourages its followers from playing music – especially the kind of angst-filled rock that Kamal was playing. In an attempt to find direction, Kamal gave up his music and followed the religion to …

The Civil Rights Movement: The Power Of Television, Amanda Philley

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: “I am not a nigger” (Thomas). These five words seared through American television screens in May of 1963. James Baldwin, a preacher and novelist, declared his freedom from the chains of discrimination in an interview with Kenneth Clark and forever changed the conscience of black and white television owners. When asked if he was optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the nation, Baldwin made one thing clear: the fate of America lies within the ability to answer the question, why was the ‘nigger’ created? Born in Harlem in 1924, Baldwin grew up following in his father’s footsteps as …

Egypt In January 2011: Social Media As A Tool And Not A Cause Of The Revolution, Jillian Tobin

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: On January 28th, 2011 Al Jazeera English broadcasted an image of hundreds of Egyptian citizens massed on the Nile Bridge facing armed police forces (“Police attack praying Egyptians”). In order to prevent the citizens’ advance, the police arrived in tanks and pelted them with water cannons and tear gas. However, these deterrents did not dampen the Egyptians’ drive. They continued to advance by organizing themselves in rows in order to endure the obstacles as one. Ultimately, the Egyptians forced the drastically more equipped police forces to withdraw and gained access to the other side of the bridge. Their noble …

Defying The ‘Magic Circle’: Unethical Acts In Virtual Worlds, Michael Bohling

3690: A Journal of First-Year Student Research Writing

Overview: This article investigates the complex and controversial exclusion of real world law from virtual worlds. By including examples of several documented unethical acts that have occurred in virtual worlds, this article suggests that real world law should be carried into virtual spaces in order to protect users. Some forms of protection discussed within this essay include the transfer of property rights and consequences of legal prosecution in order to deter unethical behaviors. Finally, this article includes benefits of adopting these strategies, while also acknowledging the potential negatives.

Imagine a world where you can be perfect; a world where you …