Digital Commons Network^™

Internalized Homophobia In Midwestern Sexual Minorities, Charissa Farr

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Research into internalized homophobia in sexual minorities has identified several factors that tend to lead to higher levels of internalized homophobia. These factors are parental acceptance or rejection, religion, urban versus rural environment, and societal attitudes. There are, however, few studies that have been done on these factors specifically in Midwestern sexual minorities. Twenty participants that identified as non-heterosexual were interviewed for this study. Participants completed a short quantitative survey on internalized homophobia before being interviewed with questions that looked at the known factors of internalized homophobia as well as what they thought needed to happen for future generations to …

A Semiotic Comparison Of Mayan And Egyptian Hieroglyphs In Relation To Cosmological Beliefs, Annmarie Vazquez

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Hieroglyphs, as a formal writing system, encode information reflective of a culture’s beliefs and worldviews and comprise inscriptions that represent objects (logograms), ideas (ideograms), or sounds (alphabetic or syllabic).  In this thesis, I employ semiotics, the study of how meanings are created by signs and symbols, to investigate Late Classic Maya (~250-990 CE) and Middle Period Egyptian (2240- 990 BCE) hieroglyphs that are associated with cosmological beliefs. In particular, I focus on Egyptian and Mayan hieroglyphs of birds and snakes as well as many other hieroglyphs of nature and celestial bodies. A semiotic approach provides new insights into the understanding …

Contagions Of Doubt: Denialism And The Spread Of Medical Conspiracy Theories, Haley Boom

Anthropology

Denialism and conspiratorial thinking have long shaped public perceptions of science and medicine, but the COVID-19 pandemic exposed how rapidly these forces can evolve and spread in a digital age. This thesis examines the historical roots, psychological foundations, and modern amplification of medical conspiracy theories, with a particular focus on vaccine skepticism and COVID-19-related misinformation. As a literature review, it synthesizes existing interdisciplinary research from psychology, public health, and communication studies to explore how medical conspiracy beliefs emerge from complex interactions between cognitive biases, emotional needs, mistrust in institutions, and evolving media environments. The rise of social media, political polarization, …

Primates Shed Light On Glowing Mammals – Adaptation Or Epiphenomenon?, Juliana Hicks

Anthropology

Fluorescence is the ability of chemicals and materials to give off visible or invisible light after absorbing radiation such as ultraviolet light. Fluorescence has been documented in several mammalian families, yet Primates, as an order, have received limited attention in this regard. Within Primates, the suborder Strepsirrhini has been particularly overlooked. Strepsirrhines are compelling subjects due to their retention of primitive mammalian characteristics, representing a significant knowledge gap with respect to the occurrence of fluorescing pelage within the class Mammalia. To address this gap, we investigated the presence and absence of fluorescence in the pelage of preserved museum strepsirrhine specimens …

Accuracy Of Balance Assessment Metrics Using Wearable Sensors, Brandon Sirof

Anthropology

Balance is a critical part of remaining healthy at all ages. Poor balance can lead to life-changing injury. Balance is typically assessed in a lab using a force-platform (FP), by comparing horizontal movements of the center of mass during trials with eyes open and eyes closed. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether inertial measurement units (IMUs) can be used to accurately measure balance. Simultaneous FP and IMU data were collected for 1 subject for 45s trials with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). We evaluate whether IMU and FP metrics for COM movement (max accel and …

Using Wearable Sensors For Gait Analysis: Measurement Accuracy For Linear Measurements, Evan Block

Anthropology

Measurement and analysis of human movement are necessary in a broad range of clinical, sports performance, and artistic applications. Historically, motion data were typically collected using optical motion capture systems. However, these systems are expensive and can only be used in lab spaces, which limits the range and speeds of human behavior. More recently, inexpensive, wearable sensors called Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) have enabled motion measurement in natural settings, but these systems require validation before use. In this study, we evaluate measurement accuracy for linear displacements obtained using Sparkfun OpenLog Artemis IMUs. We conducted a series of tests, moving the …

“Just Broken Rocks” The Lower Colorado River Through The Lens Of The Coastal Migration Theory, Ruth Musser-Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

My thesis is that archaeological evidence from the Havasu Landing Site (CA-SBR-1456) in San Bernardino County, California, supports the Coastal Migration Theory (CMT) proposed by Davis and Madsen (2020). The CMT suggests that humans followed the Pacific coastline to America during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), approximately 24,000 years ago (Erlandson 2024). I examined the site’s minimally modified cobbles, described as “just broken rocks,” confirming them to meet the definition of “creative minimization tools,” a criterion of the CMT. I found clustering of the minimization and other atypical stone tools with siliceous blade cores representing a 30,000-year-old East Asian technology …

Pedro Aceves Mfa Thesis, Pedro M. Aceves

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

My Work is about looking at Cruising through a queer decolonial lens. Using multiple mediums such as photo, glass, Augmented reality, and film, I explore these queer histories and aesthetics through not just an anthropological approach but also an artistic epistemological approach weaving together narratives of prehispanic and modern queer Latinidad.

Ua12/2/2 Talisman: Connection, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Spring 2025 Talisman:

• Alali, Cecilia & Ragan Harrington. Connection
• Hardesty, Emma. On a Roll – Dungeons & Dragons
• Muscutt, Carson. Grinding Through Life – Molotov Skateshop
• Cox, Kate. Stopwatch
• Harrington, Ragan. 1 Campus, 7 Strangers – Logan Hesse, Nicholas Basile, Spencer Winterbottom, Alliyah Jones, Alex Gehring, Annie McClurg, Rowan Finley
• Vickers, Abigail. Forged in Combat – Mixed Martial Arts
• Wood-Morris, Oli. Survivors to Neighbors – Bosnian Refugees
• Jordan, Shylin. Severed Roots
• Bivens, Emily. Behind the Screen – Social Media
• Dean, Clarissa. Shear Talent – Shake Rag Barbershop
• Sutton, Avery. For the Love of the Old – Thrift Shopping
• Phelps, Maggie. …

The Impact Of Religiosity And Violence Prevention Programs On Violence Amongst Adolescents In The U.S., Ngoc Nguyen, John Paulson, Quentin Maynard, Thu T. Ha

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Youth violence is a societal concern in the United States due to its negative consequences on individuals and communities. The current study aimed to examine the potential mitigating factors of violence prevention programs and religiosity in reducing youth violence among African American, White, Hispanic, and Asian American adolescents in the United States. It also tested the moderation effects of sex on religiosity and violence prevention programs with youth violence. Results of the main effects revealed that adolescents who attended violence prevention programs were generally less likely to engage in violence than those who did not; and that adolescents who were …

Editorial History

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Volume 27, Issue 2 Full Contents

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Statement From The Indiana Academy Of The Social Sciences And Board Of Directors

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Editor-In-Chief's Note, Surekha Rao

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Mission And Editorial Policy

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Mobilizing Discord On The United States’ Many Borders: Critical Social Science And Geopolitical Complexity, Margath Walker

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Attention to the political landscape connecting the United States, Mexico, and Central America has returned with glaring intensity, highlighting the visibly geostrategic elements of bordering practice. Scholars have focused on how state power materializes at multiple scales while at the same time being attentive to the contestable and mutable nature of myriad agentic forces. This talk operates similarly by considering prospects for a frictional and at times ambiguous spatial politics. I extend the notion of discord as a productive lens through which to consider securitization, mobility, and migration. I use two short examples—the border-industrial complex and migrant caravans—to illustrate my …

Author Biographical Notes

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Reviewers And Referees

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

George C. Roberts Award Recipients

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

96th Annual Iass Conference Call For Papers

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Dari Editor Vol. 15 No. 1 (April) 2025, Rahayu Surtiati

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Dalam edisi pertama tahun 2025 ini, kebudayaan berbagai bangsa ditinjau dari berbagai sudut pandang. Penelitian terbanyak menghasilkan berbagai kisah yang berkaitan dengan tradisi: gamelan jawa yang kembali ke jati dirinya (1), perompak di zaman Kerajaan Sriwijaya yang tidak selamanya merampok (4), Kebiasaan jahat pada masa perang selalu mengambil korban perempuan (6), ritual Monibi di Bolang Mongondow untuk minta rezeki (7), tradisi memancing yang berubah praktiknya (9), rajah dan pasaduan dalam carita pantun merupakan ciri khas pantun Baduy (10), Sinkretisme yang masih ada dalam ziarah makam keramat di Banten (11). Selain itu, dua artikel membahas perihal masyarakat Tionghoa di Manado (5) …

Decolonizing Java: Rethinking Gamelan, Bodies, And Cultural Authenticity, Citra Aryandari

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This article critically examines the complex interactions between Javanese identity, colonial influence, and karawitan (traditional Javanese music) through an autoethnographic methodology. By introducing the innovative concept of the ‘body as archive,’ the research explores how embodied experiences function as repositories of cultural memory and resistance. It deconstructs colonial interventions in karawitan, uncovering how documentation, standardization, and systematic recording processes altered the transmission and cultural significance of the art form. The research traces the transition from oral traditions to written documentation, highlighting the commodification of Javanese artistic expressions and the emergence of cultural stereotypes. A central focus of this study …

Arah Baru Politik Kewargaan Etnis Tionghoa Di Indonesia (Studi Kasus Jakarta & Manado), Wasisto Raharjo Jati, Almunauwar Rusli, Rukmana Gonibala, Hendri Gunawan

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

The new direction of ethnic Chinese citizenship politics in Indonesia is marked by a communal revival in non-governmental organizations, media and schools. The past of ethnic Chinese in Indonesia is indeed full of crises, but the future of Chinese citizens in Indonesia really depends on the policies of each ruling regime towards their group. The new direction of ethnic Chinese citizenship politics in Indonesia must be understood as a process of psychological rehabilitation for sentiment and antipathy towards China in the past. The interpretation of social reality and the social movements they carry out on a local scale should be …

Sinkretisme Dalam Tradisi Ziarah Keramat Di Banten, Gita Safitri

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This review will analyze a book entitled Sinkretisme dalam Tradisi Ziarah Keramat di Banten by Helmy Faizi Bahrul Ulumi which reflects the richness of local culture in the Banten region, especially on relic sites that become pilgrimage destinations for the community. The popularity of the sacredness of sacred places is an attraction that not only has spiritual value but also sacredness becomes an important point as an inherent local belief. This review will evaluate the depiction of syncretism in pilgrimage practices to the construction of its meaning.

Types Of Student Translation Errors In English-Indonesian Translation, Haru Deliana Dewi, Andika Wijaya

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This research focuses on translation and language errors discovered in English-Indonesian translation results. This study aims to investigate the types of errors mostly made by Indonesian novice translators. The data were obtained from translation practice assigned to undergraduate students, who were taking the compulsory basic translation course. The respondents, who were native Indonesian speakers, were asked to translate two paragraphs from a given text in class for one hour and send their translations to the raters via email. The raters then marked the errors in the students’ translations using the 2021 ATA’s Standardized Framework for Error Marking. The results of …

Kongsi Kematian Dan Perubahan Ritual Prosesi Kematian Tionghoa Di Padang, Eniwati Erniwati, Yelda Syafrina, Zulfa Saumia

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This article discusses the changes in the implementation of death rituals organized by ethnic Chinese in Padang city. Documents in the form of photos and bylaws of the death ritual procession, an interview, and observations at the funeral home, crematorium of the Chinese socio-cultural and funeral association Himpunan Tjinta Teman (HTT), Himpunan Bersatu Teguh (HBT), and the Chinese cemetery complex in Bukit Sin Tiong and TPU Bungus Teluk Kabung are the sources of this article. The article's findings show that the performance of death procession rituals is an important part that marks the identity of the deceased and the family …

Of Grave Importance: A Collaborative Approach To Archaeological Research On The Cooper River Cemetery, Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, Angelina Towery-Tomasura

Theses and Dissertations

Land dispossession and displacement is a challenge being faced by the Gullah community in Lowcountry South Carolina. Land dispossession due to a phenomenon known as coastal capitalism, or, the increased interest in coastal property, on Daufuskie Island served as an impetus for Miss Sallie Ann Robinson, a Gullah, Daufuskie native, to reach out to academic communities to assist in the preservation of spaces including cemeteries. This led to the ongoing collaborative archaeology project on the Cooper River Cemetery to record information about burials and investigate the presence of those without any headstone markers. The Cooper River Cemetery is one of …

Polemik Catra Pada Stupa Induk Candi Borobudur: Kajian Arkeologi Dan Filosofis, So Tju Shinta Lee, Salim Lee

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This paper explores the profound meaning of the main stupa at Candi Borobudur and analyzes the implications of the proposed catra installation on the monument’s spiritual and cultural values. The interpretation is based on a post-processual perspective that emphasizes the importance of considering context, internal evidence, and internal symbolic relationships rather than seeking externally sourced validation. Through a combination of literature study, observation, and comparative analysis of stupas at Borobudur itself, contemporary Buddhist candis in Central Java, and various types of stupas abroad, this research concludes that the proposal for catra installation on the main stupa of Borobudur lacks …

Ritual Monibi Sebagai Performatif Realitas Sosial Dalam Menjaga Stabilitas Desa Siniyung Kecamatan Dumoga Bolaang Mongondow, Rivo Ronaldo Rivo Inkiriwang, Tony Tampake

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This article aims to explore the practice of Monibi cultural rituals in Siniyung Village, Dumoga Bolaang Mongondow District. The focus of research on Monibi culture is rarely carried out in Bolaang Mongondow. The fact that the only one, that still practices Monibi culture in Bolaang Mongondow is Siniyung Village. The author uses literature review with the aim of exploring the cultural values of Monibi ritual practice in Siniyung Village, and is equipped with interview collection techniques to support the validity of fdata. The Monibi Ritual is studied in the perspective of David Salomon, Monibi ritual as a performative act of …

Praktik Memancing Di Jerman: Kegemaran Dan Tanggung Jawab, Adelia Rachman, Setiadi Setiadi

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Angling has been taking place and is deeply rooted in historically German culture. Its functionality evolves from subsistence, economic livelihoods, customs and traditions, to recreational activities offering enjoyment of nature. Summer field research was conducted around Baden-Württemberg and Hessen with ten anglers of diverse backgrounds living in Germany. The qualitative ethnographic research and perspective-taking approach were applied through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and literature studies to explore the current angling culture in freshwater ecosystem landscapes comprising angling experiences and practices, and anglers’ perceptions. The research findings demonstrate angling goes beyond fondness, it is a matter of responsibility in terms of …