http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/rap Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:30:02 -0400 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:30:02 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1941/towards-a-new-consensus-the-post-centenary-historiography-on-the-origins-of-world-war-i By Arvand A.M. Fata - The causes of the First World War remains a historiographical topic of contention more than 100 years on from the start of the conflict. With the passing of the centenary in 2014, a new wave of publications has expanded the scope and depth of historians' investigations on the outbreak of the Great War. By reviewing the recent English-language literature and comparing the various approaches academics have taken to analyse the July Crisis, it is clear that we have entered a new historiographical 'phase:' a flourishing of theses and arguments which have followed from - yet remain distinct to - the... Fri, 25 Feb 2022 09:45 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1941/towards-a-new-consensus-the-post-centenary-historiography-on-the-origins-of-world-war-i http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1896/ethnography-folklore-afanasev-and-russian-self-identity By Margaret R. Devlin - While the history of ethnography in Russia dates back to the Kievan Rus era, modern ethnographic production in Russia developed in the 17th century and expanded during the late 18th and early 19th centuries as interest in folktales and in the lives and natures of Russian peasants exploded amongst the Russian elite. This paper briefly explores the history of Russian ethnography before examining the Russian concepts of narod (народ, the people) and narodnost (народность, the Russian soul). This work examines the folklore collections of Alexander Afanasev and his process of editing... Thu, 08 Apr 2021 03:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1896/ethnography-folklore-afanasev-and-russian-self-identity http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1875/the-graphic-novel-as-argument-visual-representation-strategy-in-kyle-bakers-nat-turner By Jacqueline Rodriguez - Traditional slave narratives follow a set of conventions that helped abolitionists recognize them as factual and trustworthy stories. Previously enslaved authors subverted those conventions to take control of their narratives and expose white abolitionists’ selfish motivations. In Kyle Baker’s graphic novel retelling of Nat Turner’s life story, free from the conventions of those traditional narratives, the reader is provided a new perspective on Turner’s story with an emphasis on reader participation. His graphic narrative prioritizes the black story without a white person... Thu, 11 Feb 2021 11:41 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1875/the-graphic-novel-as-argument-visual-representation-strategy-in-kyle-bakers-nat-turner http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1873/propaganda-idealism-and-subculture-the-evolution-of-che-guevaras-image-in-chinese-cultural-memory By Linda Gao - Being a worldwide popular icon, the Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara has been differently re-appropriated by a variety of movements across the globe; but his reception and symbolization in contemporary China has been less discussed by western scholars. This paper examines the image and reception of Che Guevara in Chinese cultural memory from the 1950s to the present, revealing his manifold significations endowed by different social groups in various historical contexts. He evolved from a propagandized model of the socialist revolution and anti-American hero endorsed... Tue, 09 Feb 2021 02:42 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1873/propaganda-idealism-and-subculture-the-evolution-of-che-guevaras-image-in-chinese-cultural-memory http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1857/hans-bellmers-dolls-and-the-subversion-of-the-female-gaze By Hannah J. Wetzel - Hans Bellmer’s Die Puppe (The Doll) photographic series is perhaps one of the most bizarre works to come out of the surrealist group in the early-to-mid twentieth century. Of every peculiar aspect of the photographs, perhaps the most striking is his treatment of vision. Bellmer always poses his dolls, which he disassembles and reassembles into various unnatural shape, so they face away from his camera. Sometimes, he removes their eyes altogether. Bellmer himself wrote extensively about his doll, which was also featured in the surrealist magazine Minotaure. Many of the themes his doll project... Tue, 05 Jan 2021 03:35 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1857/hans-bellmers-dolls-and-the-subversion-of-the-female-gaze http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1791/terry-richardson-and-the-celebration-of-porn-chic-a-critique-of-fashion-photography By Yasmeen Sabet - In On Photography, Susan Sontag derides photography for generating a sense of false objectivity. Focusing on the moral implications of taking a photograph, she explores the relationship between artist and subject, exposing photography as a medium contingent upon violating its subjects.[1] Engaging with Sontag’s text, the following analysis studies fashion photography as a site embodying this exploitation, revealing the disturbing power dynamic between a defamed fashion photographer and his underage subject. In deconstructing Terry Richardson’s 2011 image of Lindsey Wixson (fig 1),... Mon, 07 Sep 2020 10:51 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1791/terry-richardson-and-the-celebration-of-porn-chic-a-critique-of-fashion-photography http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1774/the-aftermath-of-agent-orange-combating-slow-violence-necropolitics-and-stigma-in-vietnamese-communities By Dan N. Dinh - Although the Vietnam War officially ended in 1975, the long-term effects of the toxic contaminant, dioxin, found in Agent Orange continues to be a large public health issue. Throughout this paper, the theoretical framework of slow violence will be utilized to highlight the effects of the temporality of toxins within bodies and how toxins act as agents to affect human bodies transgenerationally. Moreover, the theoretical framework of necropolitics will be utilized to analyze how marginalized communities are deemed expendable by large power structures that keep bodies in a constant state of injury... Mon, 02 Dec 2019 09:28 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1774/the-aftermath-of-agent-orange-combating-slow-violence-necropolitics-and-stigma-in-vietnamese-communities http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1737/mindfulness-based-art-therapy-a-review-of-the-literature By Liza M. Hinchey - The concept of mindfulness, which originated from early Buddhist practices, historically encouraged an enlightening meditation that focused on awareness of one’s emotions, sensations, and consciousness (Smalley & Winston, 2010). Today, mindfulness practice continues to be defined as “an awareness of self and a capacity to reflect” (Smalley & Winston, 2010), but has branched out from its roots as a Buddhist meditation method to become integrated into psychology as a means of coping with a variety of conditions including anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse, and other... Wed, 09 May 2018 05:27 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1737/mindfulness-based-art-therapy-a-review-of-the-literature http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1717/benefits-of-interactive-music-therapy-on-children-with-autism By Michael Zhitnitsky - Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a wide range of severity, encompassing mild to severe levels of social, communicative, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. This social functioning disorder affects every 1 in 68 children born in the U.S., with prevalence rates doubling since 2000. ASD is associated with left hemisphere responsibilities, such as decreased joint attention, inability to comprehend social cues, insufficient linguistic knowledge, and a difficulty forming meaningful relationships. Children with ASD are faced with many problems, including a lack... Tue, 02 Jan 2018 09:11 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1717/benefits-of-interactive-music-therapy-on-children-with-autism http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1654/the-evolution-and-devolution-of-mental-health-services-in-australia By Lila P. Vrklevski - This article provides a brief historical overview of the development of mental health services in Australia. It commences with the establishment of the first public asylum, Bethlem Royal Hospital, London, in 1247, the arrival of the First Fleet on 24 January 1788 at Botany Bay, New South Wales and the establishment and growth of asylums in Australia. The article identifies some of the major social, historical, medical and political developments that have influenced our understanding and treatment of mental illness and the mentally ill. The article then traces the evolution and development of the... Tue, 17 Oct 2017 08:44 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1654/the-evolution-and-devolution-of-mental-health-services-in-australia http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1432/the-importance-of-the-ras-raf-pathway-in-cancer-development By Gina M. Kelley - The Ras/Raf pathway is a crucial cell signaling pathway utilized by eukaryotic cells for growth and proliferation, and it is highly conserved amongst all eukaryotic organisms. Mutations in this pathway lead to uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cancerous cells, effectively giving them a major advantage over normally functioning cells. Not surprisingly, numerous specific mutations and epigenetic changes to these proto-oncogenes contribute to carcinogenesis in colon, skin, breast, lung, and other cancers. In this review, I explore the role of the Ras/Raf pathway in many different types of... Mon, 15 Aug 2016 05:51 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1432/the-importance-of-the-ras-raf-pathway-in-cancer-development http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1409/the-uprisings-of-nat-turner-and-john-brown-response-and-treatment-from-the-abolitionist-movement-and-the-press By Franco A. Paz - This paper examines two influential slave uprisings and the treatment these received by both the abolitionist movement and the press. The first section explores the country’s reaction to John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, as well as his subsequent trial, conviction, and execution. The second section discusses the media coverage of and reaction to the Southampton Insurrection, the largest slave rebellion in the history of the United States. The third section explores the contrasting reactions to Nat Turner’s and John Brown’s respective revolts, and analyzes some... Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1409/the-uprisings-of-nat-turner-and-john-brown-response-and-treatment-from-the-abolitionist-movement-and-the-press http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1402/the-impact-of-music-on-emotion-comparing-rap-and-meditative-yoga-music By Matthew Kwong - Music has accompanied major social events throughout the history of mankind. Major gatherings such as weddings, graduations, or birthdays are usually recognized by a familiar tune. There is evidence that music plays a large role in emotional processes within the brain. An individual’s emotional state of mind can directly impact daily cognition and behavior. Studies have shown that music has the ability to regulate a wide range of both positive and negative emotions. This study was conducted to determine the degree of music’s influence on aggression using two extremes of genre: relaxing... Tue, 03 May 2016 09:24 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1402/the-impact-of-music-on-emotion-comparing-rap-and-meditative-yoga-music http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1379/the-loneliness-of-digital-devices-examining-removed-photo-series-by-eric-pickersgill By Nicole Litvan - Through her observations, Turkle found that “we [people] defend connectivity as a way to be close, even as we effectively hide from each other” (Turkle, 251). She shows that the growing reliance on technology, which aims to connect and bond individuals around the world, instead creates moments of disjunction and being “alone together” in social settings. In these cases, people are physically together in a home, restaurant, or building, but avoid intimate conversation and interaction because they are mentally in different electronic worlds, thousands of pixels away from... Fri, 18 Mar 2016 12:36 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1379/the-loneliness-of-digital-devices-examining-removed-photo-series-by-eric-pickersgill http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1337/economic-historiography-of-the-war-of-1812 By Dhruv Y. Patel - While the overall focus of most scholarships related to the 32-month War of 1812 concentrates on the war’s political and military history, it is also imperative to examine how scholars and historians framed its economic contexts. In particular, one major discussion is about the economic causes or factors for this conflict, alongside its economic implication. The economic historiography of the War of 1812 received relatively less attention after the war itself and throughout the nineteenth century as historians focused mainly on its maritime aspects. However, contemporary historians of the... Mon, 25 Jan 2016 09:56 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1337/economic-historiography-of-the-war-of-1812 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1278/did-stalin-plan-to-attack-hitler-in-1941-the-historiographical-controversy-surrounding-the-origins-of-the-nazi-soviet-war By Christopher J. Kshyk - The controversy surrounding the origins of the Nazi-Soviet War in 1941, namely over the issue of whether or not Stalin intended to launch an offensive against Nazi Germany that year, has produced a contentious debate between revisionist (i.e. those who believe that Stalin was preparing for an offensive) and orthodox historians (i.e. those who reject the notion of a soviet offensive in 1941). First popularized by Victor Suvorov, the ensuing debate between orthodox and revisionist historians over Stalin’s intentions in 1941 has produced an abundance of scholarly literature, and it is the purpose... Tue, 03 Nov 2015 07:51 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1278/did-stalin-plan-to-attack-hitler-in-1941-the-historiographical-controversy-surrounding-the-origins-of-the-nazi-soviet-war http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1250/how-ralph-ellisons-invisible-man-retold-the-story-of-the-black-american-experience-for-the-cultural-mainstream By Luke D. Mahoney - People love a good story. A good story can be intriguingly informative, a good story can well up deep emotions and a good story can carry culture, history and tradition. It was through storytelling that many ancient cultures preserved and passed down their understanding of the world, their rites and their rituals. It was, and still is, through stories that children become familiar with cultural and societal norms and mores. Stories are important to people, are one of the most important forms of verbal and written communication. People learn about each other through storytelling, solve problems... Mon, 26 Oct 2015 08:24 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1250/how-ralph-ellisons-invisible-man-retold-the-story-of-the-black-american-experience-for-the-cultural-mainstream http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1249/exploring-the-impact-of-the-autobiographical-story-on-learning-english-as-a-foreign-language-case-study-in-the-primary-classroom By Miren Askasibar - This case study examines the effects of an EFL teacher’s autobiographical story on 26 Spanish primary students in terms of comprehension, raising interest, engagement, motivation and willingness to communicate in L2, by comparing it to a story in the ELEANITZ multilingualism project. A questionnaire, a behavioural observation instrument and a post-test survey were used to collect data. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, effect size (Hedge’s g) and content analysis. The results reveal that the students understood the autobiographical story better, found it more... Fri, 23 Oct 2015 11:29 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1249/exploring-the-impact-of-the-autobiographical-story-on-learning-english-as-a-foreign-language-case-study-in-the-primary-classroom http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1234/re-understanding-pompeii-a-history-of-our-interpretation-of-the-lost-city By Annelies Van De Ven - The catastrophic demise of the Oscan-Roman city of Pompeii in 79 A.D. left its mark on our collective psyche. Its remains have long been a staple of archaeology and ancient history curricula while its demise is described in countless books and has served as inspiration for artists since ancient times. Two motifs that recur in discussions of the ancient city are those of mortality and sexuality, both themes that oscillate between the realms of fascination and taboo. This paper will use cognitive methodologies within archaeology to analyse the layers of semantic baggage that have been loaded onto... Fri, 16 Oct 2015 10:21 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1234/re-understanding-pompeii-a-history-of-our-interpretation-of-the-lost-city http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1119/telephone-scatalogia-review-of-current-literature By Alexandra M. Zidenberg And Pamela Wan - This paper examines the limited research conducted on telephone scatologia. Research was found through mining key search terms, such as “telephone scatologia” on Google Scholar. Research shows offenders of telephone scatologia tend to be heterosexual males of average or elevated sex drive, no cognitive deficit, and a history of failed relationships and/or limited social interactions. Studies suggest that there are three main types of offenders, where the first type is profane and immediately suggestive, the second draws the listener in and eventually leads them into offensive suggestions... Thu, 10 Sep 2015 06:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1119/telephone-scatalogia-review-of-current-literature http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1074/using-music-as-an-anti-anxiety-intervention-for-outpatients-undergoing-minor-medical-procedures By Eva D. Daniel, MS, FNP-BC - Many patients experience increased anxiety prior to invasive medical procedures. This anxiety can lead to elevated heart rate and blood pressure as well as increased circulation of the adrenocorticotropic hormones, which can prolong patient recovery time, cause wound infections, and add unnecessary stress to the cardiovascular system. Some recent research analyzes the effectiveness of using music as an intervention for decreasing anxiety in patients undergoing minor medical procedures in outpatient healthcare settings. This paper summarizes recent studies and reviews relevant literature to determine... Mon, 31 Aug 2015 08:21 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1074/using-music-as-an-anti-anxiety-intervention-for-outpatients-undergoing-minor-medical-procedures http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1049/ancient-greek-women-and-warfare-building-a-more-accurate-portrait-of-ancient-women-through-literature By A. H. Aghababian - The present study explores the portrayal of women in ancient Greek literature within the context of warfare. More specifically, this work focuses on Classical Period Greek literature, particularly between 450 and 350 BCE, written by Athenian men. The genres studied include tragedy, comedy, philosophical works, and histories. As a highly elusive and largely unexplored subject, the lives of the women of antiquity are often generalized by modern scholars. Feminists and classicists tend to recombine all the information they find, regardless of genre or context, attempting to produce a well-supported... Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:58 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1049/ancient-greek-women-and-warfare-building-a-more-accurate-portrait-of-ancient-women-through-literature http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1045/the-development-of-the-printing-press-and-the-decline-of-the-chronicle-as-historical-method By Emily (Chavie) D. Sharfman - In his work The Idea of History, philosopher and historian Robin Collingwood outlines the development of historiography by leading his audience on a European cross-continental journey through time. He identifies the early modern period as a point at which there was a distinct change in historical writing. The Renaissance historians of this period brought about “a fresh reorientation of historical studies,” which manifested itself in a more narrative style of writing. The chronicles favored by medieval historians began to sharply decline.[1] Collingwood, along with other historians,[... Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:04 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1045/the-development-of-the-printing-press-and-the-decline-of-the-chronicle-as-historical-method http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1032/developing-weirdness-through-cartographic-destabilization-in-jeff-vandermeers-annihilation By William J. Hugel - In Laird Barron’s (2014) essay for the inaugural edition of Year’s Best Weird Fiction, We Are For the Weird, he details his idea of a weird tale as a story that “contravenes reality in some essential manner . . . [that] emanates disquiet or disorientation” (p. 14). He goes on to quote an interview he conducted with Weird Tales magazine in which he further defines the weird as that which has a “sense of dislocation from mundane reality,” (Barron, 2014, p. 15) a notion that mirrors Jeff and Ann VanderMeers’ (2011) introductory review of another weird tale... Mon, 11 May 2015 09:24 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1032/developing-weirdness-through-cartographic-destabilization-in-jeff-vandermeers-annihilation http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1089/does-bmi-affect-diagnostic-efficacy-of-computer-aided-diagnostic-software-in-the-identification-of-malignant-pulmonary-nodules-in-dual-energy-subtracted-chest-radiographs By Nicholas J. Novak - The increasing level of obesity in the general population of industrialized nations is a major public health concern. While obesity increases morbidity and mortality, increasing body habitus also impacts the utilization and analysis of medical imaging. The purpose of this retrospective pilot study is to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) software (OnGuard™ 5.2) in combination with a hardware based bone suppression tool, Dual Energy Subtraction (DES) radiography on thoracic radiographs of patients with varying levels of obesity. Chest radiographs from 30... Fri, 01 May 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1089/does-bmi-affect-diagnostic-efficacy-of-computer-aided-diagnostic-software-in-the-identification-of-malignant-pulmonary-nodules-in-dual-energy-subtracted-chest-radiographs http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1088/using-flow-cytometry-and-quantitative-real-time-pcr-to-investigate-the-role-of-il-1-in-t-cell-proliferation-and-hiv-1-reactivation By So Hee Moon - With the advent of antiretroviral therapy, suppressing the HIV-1 virus and stopping the progression of the disease are now possible. Even with long-term antiretroviral therapy, HIV reservoirs remain in individuals. These individuals experience an increase in inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1β that results in the proliferation of CD4 T-cells. In this study, we explored the relationship between inflammatory cytokine-induced proliferation and reactivation. To assess this relationship, we investigated the role of a specific inflammatory cytokine, IL-1β. It was concluded from our... Fri, 01 May 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1088/using-flow-cytometry-and-quantitative-real-time-pcr-to-investigate-the-role-of-il-1-in-t-cell-proliferation-and-hiv-1-reactivation http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1027/statutory-rape-and-teen-sexting-laws-the-consequences-of-poorly-crafted-legislation By Sarah L. Rankin - Child pornography laws are primarily drawn from the "Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation Act" of 1977. This act targets persons who “transport, ship, receive, distribute, or reproduce child pornography” but precludes minors because they are the subjects of the pornography (Cornwell, 2013). Technology has certainly changed in the 40 years since the penning of this legislation. Many adolescents now have access to smartphones that, among other things, enable them to privately take and send sexually suggestive pictures and messages, or ‘sexts.’ Technically, this... Mon, 13 Apr 2015 04:32 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1027/statutory-rape-and-teen-sexting-laws-the-consequences-of-poorly-crafted-legislation http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1006/the-researcher-at-the-dance-epistemology-ethics-and-the-ethnographer By Christopher T. McMaster - Before the ethnographer can enter the field of research, indeed, before the researcher can interpret data from the field, he or she must first be aware of how knowledge and meaning are made. The epistemological lens the ethnographer uses will have crucial implications on the hows and the whys—not only of the research itself—but on the role of the researcher. This essay will argue (with the assistance of two young parents, one salmon, and a farm yard full of dancers) that the only ethical ethnography is critical, and the responsibility of the ethnographer is to actively participate... Fri, 06 Mar 2015 04:22 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1006/the-researcher-at-the-dance-epistemology-ethics-and-the-ethnographer http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/980/treating-bulimia-nervosa-with-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-and-interpersonal-psychotherapy By Jodi-Ann A. Dattadeen - Bulimia nervosa represents a significant source of morbidity among young women. This review compares cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for the treatment of bulimia nervosa in young women. CBT has been established as the most effective treatment for bulimia nervosa. However, research has shown that focal interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) may provide a comparable alternative. A major comparative multisite study found that at the end of treatment, IPT was less effective than CBT, but during follow-up the difference between the two treatments disappeared due... Sun, 01 Feb 2015 11:11 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/980/treating-bulimia-nervosa-with-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-and-interpersonal-psychotherapy http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/984/how-the-electrical-activity-and-synaptogenesis-of-neurons-contribute-to-the-efficacy-of-neurofeedback-therapy By Sabrina Perry - Neurofeedback Therapy (NFT) is a type of biofeedback therapy specifically targeting the brain and nervous system. According to the Mayo Clinic, biofeedback is defined as a technique one can use to learn to control the body’s functions, done usually by connecting one’s body (bio) to electrical sensors that help you receive information about it (feedback). This can help people focus on making subtle changes in their bodies, such as relaxing certain muscles to achieve certain results, such as pain reduction. Subsequently, the Task Force on Nomenclature specified that the presentation... Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/984/how-the-electrical-activity-and-synaptogenesis-of-neurons-contribute-to-the-efficacy-of-neurofeedback-therapy