Shellie Clark | University of Rochester (original) (raw)

Papers by Shellie Clark

Research paper thumbnail of The Sexual Revolution of the "Roaring Twenties": Practice or Perception?

Journal of Student Research, 2016

Even after the passage of over 80 years, the perceived radical shift in morality in the 1920’s de... more Even after the passage of over 80 years, the perceived radical shift in morality in the 1920’s defies concrete definition. Many popular images seem to offer evidence that indicate a change in sexual propriety, with portrayals of scantily dressed flappers swigging illicit liquor from flasks, and racy advertisements for silk stockings showing off women’s legs, so soon after a time when women were covered from the neck to the ankle even at the beach. Religious and conservative leaders alluded to a total collapse of morality and blamed popular entertainment for degrading America’s youth. This paper analyzes primary sources from the 1920s in an effort to determine the attitudes of the people who experienced, and often shaped, the era. These sources suggest a wide variety of opinion among Americans and the existence of a fully developed sexual awareness lurking beneath the veneer of polite society long before the “roaring twenties.” Although it is not possible to prove or disprove a true ...

Research paper thumbnail of More Than a Pretty Picture: The Function of Art in the Plague Years

UNCA 15.00 The main purpose of this paper is to determine the multiple functions of works of art ... more UNCA 15.00 The main purpose of this paper is to determine the multiple functions of works of art created during outbreaks of plague in Europe, and to determine whether those functions were intended by artists during creation, or if the people adapted the pieces to their own uses. Far more than decorative pieces for the homes of the rich or houses of worship, plague-era art was comprised of layers of rich symbolism that held messages for the people, urging them to repent for their sins, to keep their souls in a state of readiness, to pray for intercession, and to have hope. While it is impossible to determine the specific intent of most works at the time they were created, primary documents offer evidence of the reasoning behind their creation, and examination of their use by the public supports those reasons. Cultural analysis shows how, in their frame of reference, medieval and renaissance people could believe in the power of driving out negative thoughts which could lead to plague, and in the benefits of sponsoring art in exchange for divine intercession. As a method of describing plague and its treatments, art offered the both the illiterate and the educated an understandable guide for locating, identifying, and lancing buboes, and for dispelling miasma. Warning of methods of transmission, some plague-era art was woefully destructive in its scapegoating of the Jews, while some examples were eerily accurate in their depictions of rats and human contact as sources of contagion. As a religious tool, plague-era art offered divine explanation, hope, and comfort to a population which often questioned God, the church, and their own faith in the face of mass devastation. As a form of expression, plague-era art helped give a voice to the unspeakable fear, grief, and loss, along with a sense of chaos, experienced by plague sufferers and survivors. As historical records themselves, pieces created during plague years have left a chronicle for modern audiences of how a devastated Europe processed such a monumental human tragedy. In conclusion, this research has shown that works of art served multiple purposes for societies that experienced plague, and primary documents support the thesis that many of those functions were intended by artists creating the pieces. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

Research paper thumbnail of Soothing the Savage Beast: Music in the Cultural Cold War, 1945-1991

From the beginning of the Cold War, music was recognized by governments as a powerful tool to per... more From the beginning of the Cold War, music was recognized by governments as a powerful tool to persuade people that their particular way of life was superior, a “soft power” to be wielded in the cultural battle that resulted when atomic power raised the stakes of military conflict. Musicians and consumers, however, were not without agency in the messages they produced and embraced, and their messages frequently came into conflict with both communism and the Western world. Utilizing government documents, news sources, oral histories, and song lyrics, this paper examines the interplay of music, government, and the people during the Cold War. The study of the effects of music on Cold War politics and the relationships of people to their own governments provides evidence of the power of music to influence historical events, and illuminates the lengths to which government agencies have gone to control that influence.

Research paper thumbnail of Love, Letters, and the Institutions of Gender and Marriage in the Nineteenth Century: The Marriage of William Henry and Frances Seward

Research paper thumbnail of The Price of Patriarchy: What the System Cost the Women of the South in the Civil War

0 Southern patriarchy caused increased hardship for white Southern women when the men sworn to pr... more 0 Southern patriarchy caused increased hardship for white Southern women when the men sworn to protect them left to fight the Civil War. The romanticized ideal of the Southern Belle was never so much a reality as a goal that the Southern plantation elite and their admirers aspired to, but the very real limitations that ideal imposed on women left the majority unprepared to fend for themselves and their children in the absence of their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons. In the wake of the war's devastation, those who survived had some difficulty taking up their old image.

Research paper thumbnail of More Than a Pretty Picture: The Function of Art in the Plague Years

The purpose of this paper is to determine the multiple functions of works of art created during o... more The purpose of this paper is to determine the multiple functions of works of art created during outbreaks of plague in Europe, and whether those functions were intended by artists during creation, or if the people adapted the pieces to their own uses. Beyond decoration, plague-era art utilized new and established symbols that carried messages for the people, including religious themes of comfort, hope, wrath, and appeasement, diagnosis and treatment of plague, and possible sources of infection, including miasma theory and scape-goating of the Jews. Cultural analysis shows how, in their frame of reference, medieval and renaissance people could believe in the power of driving out negative thoughts which could lead to plague. Research shows that works of art served multiple purposes for societies that experienced plague, and supports the thesis that many of those functions were intended by artists creating the pieces.

Research paper thumbnail of The Sexual Revolution of the Roaring Twenties: Practice or Perception?

Even after the passage of over 80 years, the radical shift in perceived morality in the 1920’s de... more Even after the passage of over 80 years, the radical shift in perceived morality in the 1920’s defies concrete definition. Many popular images seem to offer evidence that indicate a change in sexual propriety, with portrayals of scantily dressed flappers swigging illicit liquor from flasks, and racy advertisements for silk stockings showing off women’s legs, so soon after a time when women were covered from the neck to the ankle even at the beach. Reports from religious and conservative leaders alluded to a total collapse of morality and blamed popular entertainment for degrading America’s youth. This paper observes and analyzes primary sources from the 1920s in an effort to determine the attitudes of the people who experienced, and often shaped, the era. Examination of these sources reveals a wide variety of opinion among Americans, and the existence of a fully developed sexual awareness lurking beneath the veneer of polite society long prior to the roaring twenties. Although statistical data on the most personal aspects of people’s lives is not available to prove or disprove a true “revolution” in sexual morality, this paper will contribute to the ongoing discussion of the values which changed, and those which were simply exposed by the light of a more tolerant time.

Research paper thumbnail of A Rightful Place in History: The Essential Contributions of African American Women in the Black Power Movement

A study of the contributions and challenges faced by African American women in the Black Power Mo... more A study of the contributions and challenges faced by African American women in the Black Power Movement. Frequently sidelined by the historical record, many women made essential contributions to the movement while fighting a "double V" campaign against racism and sexism simultaneously.

Research paper thumbnail of The Sexual Revolution of the "Roaring Twenties": Practice or Perception?

Journal of Student Research, 2016

Even after the passage of over 80 years, the perceived radical shift in morality in the 1920’s de... more Even after the passage of over 80 years, the perceived radical shift in morality in the 1920’s defies concrete definition. Many popular images seem to offer evidence that indicate a change in sexual propriety, with portrayals of scantily dressed flappers swigging illicit liquor from flasks, and racy advertisements for silk stockings showing off women’s legs, so soon after a time when women were covered from the neck to the ankle even at the beach. Religious and conservative leaders alluded to a total collapse of morality and blamed popular entertainment for degrading America’s youth. This paper analyzes primary sources from the 1920s in an effort to determine the attitudes of the people who experienced, and often shaped, the era. These sources suggest a wide variety of opinion among Americans and the existence of a fully developed sexual awareness lurking beneath the veneer of polite society long before the “roaring twenties.” Although it is not possible to prove or disprove a true ...

Research paper thumbnail of More Than a Pretty Picture: The Function of Art in the Plague Years

UNCA 15.00 The main purpose of this paper is to determine the multiple functions of works of art ... more UNCA 15.00 The main purpose of this paper is to determine the multiple functions of works of art created during outbreaks of plague in Europe, and to determine whether those functions were intended by artists during creation, or if the people adapted the pieces to their own uses. Far more than decorative pieces for the homes of the rich or houses of worship, plague-era art was comprised of layers of rich symbolism that held messages for the people, urging them to repent for their sins, to keep their souls in a state of readiness, to pray for intercession, and to have hope. While it is impossible to determine the specific intent of most works at the time they were created, primary documents offer evidence of the reasoning behind their creation, and examination of their use by the public supports those reasons. Cultural analysis shows how, in their frame of reference, medieval and renaissance people could believe in the power of driving out negative thoughts which could lead to plague, and in the benefits of sponsoring art in exchange for divine intercession. As a method of describing plague and its treatments, art offered the both the illiterate and the educated an understandable guide for locating, identifying, and lancing buboes, and for dispelling miasma. Warning of methods of transmission, some plague-era art was woefully destructive in its scapegoating of the Jews, while some examples were eerily accurate in their depictions of rats and human contact as sources of contagion. As a religious tool, plague-era art offered divine explanation, hope, and comfort to a population which often questioned God, the church, and their own faith in the face of mass devastation. As a form of expression, plague-era art helped give a voice to the unspeakable fear, grief, and loss, along with a sense of chaos, experienced by plague sufferers and survivors. As historical records themselves, pieces created during plague years have left a chronicle for modern audiences of how a devastated Europe processed such a monumental human tragedy. In conclusion, this research has shown that works of art served multiple purposes for societies that experienced plague, and primary documents support the thesis that many of those functions were intended by artists creating the pieces. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

Research paper thumbnail of Soothing the Savage Beast: Music in the Cultural Cold War, 1945-1991

From the beginning of the Cold War, music was recognized by governments as a powerful tool to per... more From the beginning of the Cold War, music was recognized by governments as a powerful tool to persuade people that their particular way of life was superior, a “soft power” to be wielded in the cultural battle that resulted when atomic power raised the stakes of military conflict. Musicians and consumers, however, were not without agency in the messages they produced and embraced, and their messages frequently came into conflict with both communism and the Western world. Utilizing government documents, news sources, oral histories, and song lyrics, this paper examines the interplay of music, government, and the people during the Cold War. The study of the effects of music on Cold War politics and the relationships of people to their own governments provides evidence of the power of music to influence historical events, and illuminates the lengths to which government agencies have gone to control that influence.

Research paper thumbnail of Love, Letters, and the Institutions of Gender and Marriage in the Nineteenth Century: The Marriage of William Henry and Frances Seward

Research paper thumbnail of The Price of Patriarchy: What the System Cost the Women of the South in the Civil War

0 Southern patriarchy caused increased hardship for white Southern women when the men sworn to pr... more 0 Southern patriarchy caused increased hardship for white Southern women when the men sworn to protect them left to fight the Civil War. The romanticized ideal of the Southern Belle was never so much a reality as a goal that the Southern plantation elite and their admirers aspired to, but the very real limitations that ideal imposed on women left the majority unprepared to fend for themselves and their children in the absence of their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons. In the wake of the war's devastation, those who survived had some difficulty taking up their old image.

Research paper thumbnail of More Than a Pretty Picture: The Function of Art in the Plague Years

The purpose of this paper is to determine the multiple functions of works of art created during o... more The purpose of this paper is to determine the multiple functions of works of art created during outbreaks of plague in Europe, and whether those functions were intended by artists during creation, or if the people adapted the pieces to their own uses. Beyond decoration, plague-era art utilized new and established symbols that carried messages for the people, including religious themes of comfort, hope, wrath, and appeasement, diagnosis and treatment of plague, and possible sources of infection, including miasma theory and scape-goating of the Jews. Cultural analysis shows how, in their frame of reference, medieval and renaissance people could believe in the power of driving out negative thoughts which could lead to plague. Research shows that works of art served multiple purposes for societies that experienced plague, and supports the thesis that many of those functions were intended by artists creating the pieces.

Research paper thumbnail of The Sexual Revolution of the Roaring Twenties: Practice or Perception?

Even after the passage of over 80 years, the radical shift in perceived morality in the 1920’s de... more Even after the passage of over 80 years, the radical shift in perceived morality in the 1920’s defies concrete definition. Many popular images seem to offer evidence that indicate a change in sexual propriety, with portrayals of scantily dressed flappers swigging illicit liquor from flasks, and racy advertisements for silk stockings showing off women’s legs, so soon after a time when women were covered from the neck to the ankle even at the beach. Reports from religious and conservative leaders alluded to a total collapse of morality and blamed popular entertainment for degrading America’s youth. This paper observes and analyzes primary sources from the 1920s in an effort to determine the attitudes of the people who experienced, and often shaped, the era. Examination of these sources reveals a wide variety of opinion among Americans, and the existence of a fully developed sexual awareness lurking beneath the veneer of polite society long prior to the roaring twenties. Although statistical data on the most personal aspects of people’s lives is not available to prove or disprove a true “revolution” in sexual morality, this paper will contribute to the ongoing discussion of the values which changed, and those which were simply exposed by the light of a more tolerant time.

Research paper thumbnail of A Rightful Place in History: The Essential Contributions of African American Women in the Black Power Movement

A study of the contributions and challenges faced by African American women in the Black Power Mo... more A study of the contributions and challenges faced by African American women in the Black Power Movement. Frequently sidelined by the historical record, many women made essential contributions to the movement while fighting a "double V" campaign against racism and sexism simultaneously.