Blaise's Research Topic

For my research essay, I am going to look at the architectural advancement. My exhibit will be The country of Dubai because in the last 20 or so years they have become the frontrunner in the architectural innovation (ie. rotating buildings, underwater hotels, the world islands, etc.). There are many arguments on whether these multi million dollar investments are beneficial  projects and I plan to take a closer look.

Emilia's Essay Topic

For the research paper, I would like to analyze Amazonian Indians and their role in the “eco-politics” of rainforest conservation efforts. Specifically, I will look at how the interaction of Brazilian Amazonians and Western environmentalists is creating a convergence of the two cultures; incidentally, the meeting of native and foreign societies has allowed Indian shamans to gain political leverage in the indigenous rights/rainforest preservation movement. Although the shaman’s emergence in global eco-politics has been beneficial in raising awareness of the Amazon’s environmental issues, it has also prompted local non-Indian Brazilians to label them as pawns of Westerners intent on implementing environmental “imperialism.” I was intrigued by the domestic issues at play here – namely, how the creating of a new political role for native shamans has led to an internal rift between different groups of Brazilians. To me, it was interesting to examine the merging of Amazonians and Westerners under the banner of environmental action as having possibly divisive implications for local Brazilian society.

Geoff's Research Essay Topic

For my research essay, I would like to investigate the role of mathematics education and how it is relevant to everyday life. The main question that I will try to answer is "Is Everyday Mathematics Truly Relevant to Mathematics Education?" My exhibit will most likely focus on a mathematical equation and its application to everyday life. One of the sources I will use to explore this topic is David W. Carraher and Analucia D. Schliemann's work in the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, which I found at JSTOR.

Nicole's Research Essay Topic

For my essay, I think I would like to try to answer the question of what is the purpose of art. For my exhibit I want to look at the painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso and possibly some quotes written about the painting as well. I think that this painting will be an interesting exhibit for my topic because the painting itself has multiple functions: educational, cathartic, eye-catching, etc. It will be interesting to see what my conversation authors include and leave out of their analyses on the purpose of art and how the painting Guernica might add to their analyses. 

essay idea

I would like to expand on the Kimmels idea of baseball as a way of reconstructing American masculinity and a way of teaching values and ethics and apply them to sports in general, particularly football. As an exhibit I would like to use ivy league football which was dominant and extremely popular at the time. I would use "Ivy league football, orgins of an American obsession" by Mark Bernstein for a possible source of evidence. I would also like to talk about why the Ivy league was so proud of athletics and why schools felt it necessary for a complete education.

Sarah's Essay Topic

I would like to examine street performers in society.  So far, I have found evidence that street performers (buskers) do not merely perform as they wish, interacting only with their audiences; rather, they are heavily regulated by the government, which defines busking and restricts the times and places in which it may occur.  This fascinates me--busking seems so spontaneous and free, yet there seem to be actors at play that might be shaping the spectators' cultural experiences on the street.  For an exhibit, I would probably use a written government policy that I found from Ballina Shire, Australia, which lays out the Shire's definition of, and restrictions on, busking.

Essay idea

I want to look into the influence of journalism on young kids.  Specifically I would like to look at magazines influences on young girls.  Either looking at a magazine like Cosmo or Vogue and see how it influences girls sexual relationships or eating disorders with young girls that would like to be more like the models in the magazines they are reading.