Fall 2018: Life and Death

• Poster
  
• 9/21 Global Health Governance: Ebola and HIV/AIDS

  Pamela A. Zeiser, associate professor of political science. Dr. Zeiser provided an overview of global health governance (GHG), discussed challenges involved in GHG, and considered, by way of example, the management of two crises: Ebola and HIV/AIDS. (Facebook Post)

   

   

   

   

   

• 9/28 Life and Death: How Changes in Nutrition Have Affected Global Health and Longevity

  David T. Courtwright, presidential professor and distinguished professor of history.In this entertaining and surprising talk, Dr. Courtwright provided an overview of population increase over time, explained a model for understanding demographic transition, and then considered various theories that attempt to address declines in mortality rates. (Facebook Post)

   

   

   

   

• 10/5 The Mortality Effects of Public Health Policy: An International Collaboration

  Sericea Stallings-Smith, assistant professor of public health. In her talk, Dr. Stallings-Smith explained the evolution of her research as an epidemiologist, highlighting the ways that pursuing her doctoral studies in England has shaped her professional outlook. This was the third event in "Life and Death," the Fall 2018 International Studies Lecture Series, and a unique opportunity to hear a faculty member reflect in personal terms on how they came to do what they do, and how their international experiences yielded life-changing results.(Facebook Post)

   

   

   

   

• 10/12 The Relics and Remains of the Ancient Paquiméans

  Gordon Rakita, professor of anthropology and director of academic technology. In his talk, Dr. Rakita discussed his research into the burial traditions in Paquimé, also known as Casas Grandes, a pre-Colombian community in what is now the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Dr. Rakita highlighted some of the more singular aspects of the archaeological record in this site, and challenged us to consider what the ritual practices of this ancient people might tell us about their social organization and their way of viewing the world. (Facebook Post)

   

   

   

• 10/19 Señorita María, la falda de la montaña (Miss María, Skirting the Mountain)

  We'd like to thank Colombian director Rubén Mendoza for visiting UNF, sharing his film Señorita María, la falda de la montaña, and engaging in a remarkable question-and-answer session with the more than 70 students, faculty and staff who attended this event on 10/19. We're grateful also to Dr. Constanza Lopez, associate professor of Spanish, who organized Mr. Mendoza's visit and moderated the discussion. This event, part of our Fall 2018 Lecture Series, was the result of a collaboration between the International Studies Program, the UNF LGBT Resource Center, the UNF International Center, the UNF Latin American and Caribbean Council, the UNF Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and the UNF Department of English, all of whom provided funds and other resources to make this opportunity possible. (Facebook Post)

   

   

• 11/2 The Biology of Aging, and the Potential for Treating Aging as a Disease

  John Hatle, professor of biology. Dr. Hatle explained the evolution of aging as an area of scientific inquiry, and described his own research in this field using grasshoppers. He also provided an overview of research on aging in human populations, and considered the state of pharmaceutical attempts to slowing aging processes. (Facebook Post)

   

   

   

   

• 11/16 Second Annual UNF International Research Symposium
  Noon-1:15 PM, Poster Session. The students in INS4930 International Studies Senior Research Seminar will present the results of their research related to our semester theme, “Life and Death.” Other students will also present their work on international topics. 
  
  1:30-2:45 PM, Panel Discussion: What is an International Educational Experience? A panel of students from the International Studies Program will reflect upon what they learned through a variety of different types of internationally focused experiences, both abroad and in the U.S. 
  
  Co-sponsored by the International Studies Program, the International Center, and the Office of Undergraduate Research.

Spring 2018: New and Old

• Poster
  
• 1/19 Lysis: Gallery Visit and Conversation

  A gallery talk with visiting artist Andrea Frank, assistant professor of photography and related media, State University of New York at New Paltz, moderated by Sheila Goloborotko, assistant professor of printmaking. Cosponsored by the Department of Art and Design. UNF Gallery of Art. ( Facebook Post )

   

   

   

   

• 2/9 What is Science? Then and Now, Here and There
  Aaron Creller, assistant professor of philosophy. Professor Creller started his talk by discussing the structure of "good thinking" as circular: from assumptions to conceptual framework to experience to dis/confirmation and then back to assumptions. Professor Creller then considered some of the easy answers to the question of what science is (method, moral rationality and material progress, and universal human activity of investigation) and then examined some of the problems with each one (What about accidents? What about the impossibility of pure objectivity? How about the fact that history did not "just happen" for the creation of western civilization?). A possible solution is the “De-Centering Solution,” in which we accept pluralistic approaches to science through other fields, such as those in the humanities, along with understanding the social context of science and how it may be influenced by politics, economics and religion. Professor Creller ended the lecture by asking the audience some questions and helping them think through them using the “De-Centering Solution.” (Facebook Post) 

   

   

• 2/23 Human Response to Natural Disasters in a Digital Age

  Emma Apatu, assistant professor of public health. Dr. Apatu explained that in the last 10 years, natural disasters have caused $1.4 trillion in damages, with 1.7 billion people affected and with 70% of deaths occurring due to earthquakes and tsunamis. Dr. Apatu explained the cycle that is used to prepare for disasters: prepare/prevent, event, respond, recover, mitigate, and back to prepare/prevent. She then described some of the technology used in early detection of natural disasters, such as Ushahidi, a crowd sourcing tool that allows impacted individuals to share information with crisis organizations to show them what areas need help and what is needed. She also described some of the shortcomings of these technologies, such as false alarms. Dr. Apatu explained to the audience a study she had done in the South Pacific, testing at-risk residents' views (measured by knowledge, trustworthiness, and protection responsibility) of four types of information sources during natural disasters: the media, officials (villages chiefs), peers and the at-risk resident themselves. The study concluded that the at-risk individuals rated themselves higher than other sources due to the limited amount of time to interact with others during crises, and that occupation status has an impact on the perceptions that the individuals held. Those who were employed favored other stakeholders more than those who were unemployed, due to the fact that unemployed individuals have less interaction with others who are not family. Dr. Apatu concluded by proposing that technology is beneficial in predicting and responding to disasters, but traditional social factors still play a role in people's decision-making. (Facebook Post)

   

   

• 3/2 Transition of South Korea into a Racially/Ethnically Diverse Society

  Shinwoo Choi, assistant professor of social work. Dr. Choi discussed how South Korea went from being a homogeneous society in 1980 to having a foreign-born population predicted to make up 10% of the population by 2050. South Korea has a strong sense of ethnic nationalism due to a history of foreign invasions and colonization. This nationalism emphasizes an ethos of “one race/one ethnicity” and encourages people to have pride in “pure blood.” The first influx of immigrants followed the Seoul Olympics in 1988. The second wave came in the 1990s, when the number of international marriages increased as foreign women were brought in to address low fertility rates in rural areas. There are three different immigrant groups: migrant workers, multicultural families, and migrant youth. The largest group of immigrants are migrant workers, who comprise 52% of the foreign-born population. Many unseen problems, such as violations of human rights and exploitation and abuse, influenced the creation of a work permit system via the 2003 Foreign Workers Employment Law. Multicultural families consist of a foreign-born woman and a Korean man 88% of the time. The circumstances of these marriages often prevent women from adapting into Korean society, and 24.2% of female immigrants are victims of domestic violence. Multicultural children will make up 30% of the child population in South Korea by 2020. Multiracial children have faced challenges in educational performance and have shown behavioral and psychological problems, which sometimes lead them to drop out of school. Recently, there have been some advances in both policy and pop culture. Foreigners and multicultural families are shown in shows like “Nonsummit” and movies like “Punch.” Laws like the 2008 Multicultural Family Support Law have helped support these families but such measures have many shortcoming, such as a focus on short-term projects and inefficient use of resources. (Facebook Post)

   

• 3/9 International Studies/Digital Humanities Symposium

  Noon-1:15 PM, “Intersections between International Studies and Digital Humanities,” a panel discussion featuring Crystal Andrea Felima, CLIR Postdoctoral Fellow in Caribbean Studies Data Curation, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida; Josh Gellers, assistant professor of political science, University of North Florida; Hélène Huet, European studies librarian, University of Florida, and vice–chair, Florida Digital Humanities Consortium; Barry Mauer, associate professor of English and director, Texts and Technology Ph.D. program, University of Central Florida; and Tiffany Earley–Spadoni, assistant professor of history, University of Central Florida.
  1:30-2:45 PM, Showcase of International Digital Projects. Cosponsored by the UNF Digital Humanities Initiative, and the UNF Center for Instruction and Research Technology. (Program)
  
  

• 3/30 Embroidering for Peace and Memory Showcase
  Constanza López, associate professor of Spanish and student participants. 
• 4/6 From Supply Line to Supply Chains: The US Military and the South Korean “Economic Miracle”

  Patrick Chung, assistant professor of history. Dr. Chung’s talk focused on the role of the U.S. military in the development of South Korea since the 1950s. He began by explaining the global reach of the U.S. armed forces, which goes beyond the battlefield, impacting local communities through businesses contracts and the development of transportation lines. During the Korean War, the military was challenged by the lack of roads, bridges, and railroads for transporting supplies to the front lines. As a result, the U.S. spent about $1 billion creating the needed infrastructure, and this investment spurred the creation of Korean export industries. As an example, Professor Chung pointed to Hyundai, which was founded in 1946 as a small auto repair shop. Chung Ju-Yung, the founder, moved his shop to Busan to be nearer to the U.S. and South Korean troops. With the help of his younger brother, Ju-Yung transformed Hyundai into the preferred contractor of the U.S. military. After the war, the continued U.S. military presence in South Korea allowed such relationships to further develop, setting in motion a process of development that has led to Busan being ranked as the sixth busiest port worldwide in 2014. Dr. Chung also pointed to the darker side of this economic boom, explaining that South Korea's transformation was in large part a function of an abundance of low cost labor, which allowed companies like Hyundai to secure military contracts with the least expensive bids. This vulnerable labor force was largely the result of the displacement and poverty that came as a consequence of the war. Workers were subjected to 12-15-hour work days and other abuses, causing tense labor relations that persist in South Korea today. (Facebook Post)

   

   

Fall 2017: Friends and Foes

• Poster

  

• 9/8 Iterations: Lorrie Fredette

  Gallery visit and moderated discussion with exhibiting artist Lorrie Fredette. Moderator: Sheila Goloborotko, assistant professor of printmaking. Cosponsored by MOCA Jacksonville and the UNF Department of Art and Design.

  (Cancelled due to Hurricane Irma)

• 9/22 Making the Strange Familiar and the Familiar Strange
  Julie Ingersoll, professor and coordinator, Religious Studies Program.
• 9/29 The Evolution of Offshore Financial Centers and Services: Twenty–First Century Economic Development Strategies
  Sharon Cobb, professor of economic geography.

  Dr. Cobb discussed whether small island economies and their relationship to offshore financial centers are a friend or a foe to global finance. Dr. Cobb defined offshore financial centers (OFCs) as “places that host financial activities that are separated from major regulatory units (states) by geography and/or legislation.” Some examples of OFCs include the Cayman Islands, the Isle of Man, and Luxembourg. Companies tend to go offshore to launder, for tax evasion or tax avoidance, to protect assets, and for total wealth management. She explained that causes of onshore–offshore tension include unfair tax practices, money laundering and the lack of transparency in tax information sharing. Dr. Cobb concluded by proposing that OFCs may be both a friend and a foe. They are a friend for economic development in small island economies because they increase public–private interactions and a foe for the onshore world because of the leakage of capital offshore and the tighter regulations. Dr. Cobb posed one final question to the audience: How will Brexit affect this picture? (Facebook post)

   

   

   

• 10/6 Genetically Modified Organisms: Friend or Foe?

  Dave Waddell, associate professor of biology and director, Biomedical Program.  

  Dr. Waddell began by briefly discussing the history of genetics and defining some terms, such as natural selection and artificial selection, to help the audience better understand the debate about genetically modified organisms (GMOs). He explained that GMOs are created when scientists add genes not found in the organism, or remove existing genes, to provide the organism with new traits. Addressing the an ongoing debate about whether GMOs are harmful to human health, Dr. Waddell dissected examples of “scientific studies” that claimed that GMOs are harmful by pointing out the flaws in their research design and execution. He demonstrated, in particular, how some "studies" select information to fit their views, and how many of the people/organizations who conducted these “studies” were unqualified and, most notably, were not trained biologists. Dr. Waddell concluded that, at this point in time, GMOs have not been shown by professionally conducted research to be harmful to human health. He pointed out that GMOs and genetically enhanced organisms (GEOs) undergo rigorous testing for safety before they are available for public consumption and that they do not cause allergies any more than non-GMOs do. He also stated some of the benefits of GMOs, which include the development of human insulin for the treatment of diabetes, greater crop yields, and, as a result of the latter, less land needed for agricultural activities. (Facebook post)

   

• 10/20 Does Your Culture Influence Your Conflict Resolution Style?
  

  Dan Richard, associate professor of psychology and director of faculty enhancement

  Dr. Richard discussed how culture and modes of thinking inform our interactions with others. According to Dr. Richard, individuals tend to prefer either non-dialectical thinking, which involves no contradictions, or dialectical thinking, which tries to resolve two conflicting points of view. Dr. Richard explained a project that he and Dr. Debbie Wang conducted in the U.S., Japan, and China, examining whether East Asian cultures accommodate compromise more than Western cultures. Dr. Richard and Dr. Wang presented people on the street with one of two hypothetical scenarios involving territorial disputes. One hinted at the realities of World War II, with respect to the relationship between China and Japan. The other was similar, but neutral. For both scenarios, in all three countries where they conducted research, participants preferred moderate responses. In the scenario that alluded to WWII, however, China was, surprisingly, slightly more supportive of the unlabeled country on the map that seemed to correspond to Japan. Part of their research also showed that China had a higher preference for dialectal proverbs and was more likely to pursue more moderate means of conflict resolution. At the end of the lecture, Dr. Richard briefly addressed whether the pursuit of revenge varies across cultures. They found that countries that are more indulgent and like to have fun are less likely to seek revenge and that factors such as individualism vs. collectivism, masculinity, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance, did not have much of an effect on attitudes about revenge. (Facebook post)

   

• 10/27 Foes and Neighbors: Community Solidarity in Pinochet's Chile
  

  Alison Bruey, associate professor of history.

  Dr. Bruey discussed Chileans' struggle for human rights under Pinochet’s authoritarian regime, when the violation of many social and political human rights in poor urban neighborhoods led to a deliberate grassroots shift from charity to solidarity--from distributing material aid to a deeper form of social relations based on shared pursuit of common cause. The dictatorship's propaganda posed the secular left and Christians as “foes” and tried to turn neighbors against each other. The Catholic Church and the Left provided paths towards solidarity where both believers and non-believers, “friends and foes,” came together to try to find solutions to shared problems of repression and economic crisis.Dr. Bruey's talk was based on her forthcoming book, Bread, Justice, and Liberty: Grassroots Activism and Human Rights in Pinochet's Chile (University of Wisconsin Press, 2018). (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

• 11/3 Grassroots Social Structures for Combating Stigma and Supporting Families Raising Children on the Autism Spectrum in Jamaica
  

  Angela Mann, assistant professor of psychology,

  Dr. Mann started by giving the audience a quick history of Jamaica and examples of the grassroots support networks being formed there. She discussed some studies on the low rates of diagnosis of autism in Jamaica that showed that children are possibly under diagnosed or diagnosed later than other countries, and that the individuals who are typically diagnosed are those with more severe symptoms. One barrier to receiving a timely diagnosis is the lack of awareness and resources available. For a long time, there was only one specialist on the island who evaluated children with autism. A study done by Dr. Joy Moncrieffe in Jamaica revealed that 80% of participants either knew nothing or very little about developmental disorders and 55% said they were not aware of the available services on the island. The majority of participants believed that, even with the appropriate intervention and treatment, people with disabilities could not be included in society. This is an example of the stigma surrounding autism and similar disorders. Dr. Mann conducted research with 13 mothers of children on the autism spectrum and looked at the journey from birth to diagnosis, the steps the mothers took after diagnosis and the day to day challenges, along with other factors. One thing Dr. Mann found was that mothers said their lives became easier when their child’s ability to communicate and be independent increased. They also found support groups like the Jamaica Autism Support Association invaluable. In recent years, the disability movement in Jamaica has evolved and access to services has improved, along with more rights for disabled people. There is, however, still a long way to go. (Facebook post)

Spring 2017: Unseen Forces

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• 1/27 Forgotten and Invisible: Poison, Medicine, and Scientific Development at Malangali, Tanzania

  Chau J Kelly, Associate Professor of History.

  Dr. Kelly’s talk focused on her efforts to bring to light the event of the forgotten poisoning of 37 Malangali children in 1934 and to better understand the complexity of the situation. She discussed the difficulty working with the three layers of historical memory—the official colonial record, the official finding of the inquest and the community narratives and the decades of silence which have been filtered through anthropologists and the nationalist leader. She described ways that ideas about witchcraft influence how different phenomena are interpreted in this culture and impact the uses of medicine. Dr. Kelly explained the circumstances that may have caused the poisoning and the gaps in storyline that she has been working on reconstructing. She addressed as well the families’ reactions to the events that took place during and after the poisoning and the colonial state’s response. Lastly, she explained how she discovered this tragedy and the research process she has used to investigate what happened. (Facebook post)

• 2/3 U.S. Foreign Policy Challenges Under the New Trump Administration

  Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, Visiting Distinguished Scholar and Director of Public Policy Initiatives.

  Ambassador Soderberg reviewed the activity of the new administration in the first two weeks, along with the impacts of the executive orders that have been issued. She discussed Trump’s choices to lead the the foreign policy and national security teams, and considered issues that the administration may have to address during the President's first 100 days in office. She pointed in particular to the possibility of an early showdown with Russia, and threats from North Korea, Iran, and China, as well as challenges related to climate change, international alliances, cyber and terrorist attacks, and trade. Ambassador Soderberg closed her talk with two pleas, asking the audience to be active participants in the democratic process and to engage with people of differing opinions, by listening to and respecting them. (Facebook post)

• 2/10 A Call for Global Perspective in Signed Language Interpreter Education in the U.S.

  Suzanne Ehrlich, Assistant Professor of Exceptional, Deaf, and Interpreter Education.

  Professor Ehrlich discussed the global deaf community and the need for more global education for signed language interpreters. She explained that the deaf community involves a diverse array of people and organizations, including deaf individuals, interpreters (signed and spoken), academic institutions, community agencies, and international associations. She pointed out that American Sign Language (ASL) is not universal, and that a system called International Sign is used instead as an entry point for discussion between those who speak different signed languages. The reasons behind her call for global education include expanding worldviews, increased concern for social justice, the need for democratic decision-making, the low numbers of students studying world languages in America compared to Europe, and a rise in multinational corporations. Professor Ehrlich also considered the factors that inspired her interest in multiculturalism and a global perspective within interpreter education. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

• 2/17 Stereotypes are Gendered: A Look at the Stereotyping of Men and Women of Various Racial Groups in the U.S. and U.K.
  

  Curtis Phills, Assistant Professor of Psychology.

  Professor Phills discussed differences in stereotypes in the U.S. and U.K. in relation to particular racial groups. He also explained research that demonstrates connections between male attributes and a social group as a whole but there are no connections between the female attributes and the social group. Part of Professor Phills' research focused on how there is no link between the women of a social group and the female stereotypes. He provided definitions for key terminology, including "stereotype," "gendered stereotype," "prejudice," "intersectional invisibility," and "self-esteem." Intersectional invisibility is when a person who possesses multiple subordinate group identities (female and ethnic minority and homosexual, etc.) is rendered invisible related to those with a single subordinate identity. Professor Phills proposed that one reason why people stereotype is that putting others down results in positive feelings in the person doing the stereotyping, lifting that individual's own self-esteem. He further explained that after a threat to self, people tend to increase out-group bias to protect self-esteem. Professor Phills suggested that one strategy that can be used to reduce bias is help participants see out-group members as individuals and not representatives of their group. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

• 3/3 The Impact of Culture on Management Theory and Practice
  Paul Fadil, Professor and Chair of the Department of Management.

  Professor Fadil discussed a broad view of culture and its impact on the way that professional interactions take place. He proposed that a good cross-cultural manager observes social dynamics; listens carefully; approaches situations individually, not as manifestations of generalized rules; remains flexible; relies on intuition; and focuses on the big picture. He explained that culture is learned, shared, trans-generational, patterned, adaptive and, most importantly, symbolic. Professor Fadil considered how culture influences perception, causing categorization, and leading in turn to stereotyping. He suggested that to overcome this cycle, we must consider people as individuals, not as members of groups. Professor Fadil proposed that people in diverse cities, such as Miami and New York City, interact well because their daily interactions with people of other backgrounds counter the tendencies of ethnocentrism and parochialism. He addressed the practical side of these considerations by reflecting on how cross-cultural competency is key to success when doing business in an international context, focusing on his experiences leading international negotiating teams, as well as his research on attitudes toward doing business with partners of various nationalities. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

• 3/10 On the Wealth of Nations in Latin America: Insights from the Writings of Alberto Guerreiro Ramos

  Dr. Sérgio Luís Boeira, Professor, Department of Administrative Science, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil.

  Professor Boeira explained that Guerreiro Ramos was a transdisciplinary author who was marginalized by both the political right and left in Brazil for his criticisms of conventional and supposedly revolutionary positions on the history of literature and the relationship between art and politics. In his last work "New Science of Organizations: A Reconceptualization of the Wealth of Nations," Guerreiro Ramos criticized the market-centric society and proposed the delimitation of the economic system. Professor Boeira argued that to properly measure the wealth of a nation, one needs to include the two types of wealth that are left out of the Gross National Product (GNP): the ecological and the social or cultural. If there is no delimitation, countries with more industrialization will dominate others with greater biodiversity and socio-diversity. Professor Boeira tied Guerreiro Ramos’s work to contemporary issues including energy production, global warming and climate change. He pointed out that Latin America currently produces a small amount of energy through sustainable, renewable sources, and that recently the solar and wind energy markets are becoming more competitive economically, which will benefit Latin America and help de-concentrate the wealth of nations geographically. (Facebook post)

• 3/31 Madalena: The Entangled History of One Indigenous Floridian Woman in the Atlantic World

  Scott Cave, Ph.D. Candidate in History, Pennsylvania State University. Cosponsored by the UNF Latin American and Caribbean Council and the UNF Department of History.  

  Professor Denise Bossy introduced Cave, who graduated from UNF in 2010 with a major in history and minors in Spanish and communications, and in 2012 completed the UNF Master of Arts in History. His presentation on 3/31 dealt with his doctoral research into Madalena, an Indigenous woman who served as a translator after she was captured by the Spanish in 1539. Through his archival work, Cave has traced the complex history of Madalena, who when first enslaved was subjected to sexual violence and hard labor. Not long after, she was sent to Havana where she became a servant to the wife of the governor of Cuba, and learned about Christianity and Spanish culture. After spending ten years abroad, she was put on a voyage back to Florida to help preach Catholicism. All traces of Madalena disappear after the death of the preacher whom she accompanied. At the end of his lecture, Cave asked the audience to consider how many other similar stories of Indigenous people are missing in the history of the Conquest. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

• 4/7 Gender and Politics in French Soudan/Mali: 1955-1968
  Rosa De Jorio, Associate Professor of Anthropology.

  Professor de Jorio discussed the history of women’s formal associations in French Soudan (today’s Mali), from 1955 to 1960. As she explained, these groups were often founded by the educated elite, and focused on issues such as modernizing women’s household chores, increasing awareness about women’s legal rights, salary adjustment and the rights of working women, the establishment of nurseries and kindergartens, and the creation of other family benefits. These groups worked as well to spread information about the their own activities and promote education and employment opportunities for women. The women in these organizations faced many challenges, including rumors started by their husbands or the placing of stringent domestic requirements upon them by their husbands in order to discourage or make impossible their participation. Women leaders were eventually forced to dissolve their organizations and expected to join the Socialist party to fight for independence. As Professor de Jorio explained, the short life, contentious character, and elitism of these first women’s organizations, partly explain why the history of these groups has since been largely forgotten. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

• 4/21 Information Wars: Eastern Ukraine Military Conflict Coverage in the Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. Newscasts (2014-2015)
  

  Nataliya Roman, Assistant Professor of Communication.

  Professor Roman discussed her recent research on media coverage of the ongoing conflict, the bloodiest Europe has seen since the 1990s. Professor Roman’s study was a comparative analysis of news stories related to the conflict on the most popular network television newscasts in Ukraine, Russia and the United States In examining these sources, she analyzed the language used to describe the conflict, the types of interviewees featured, as well as the number of times that civilian and military deaths and casualties were mentioned. Professor Roman ended her talk by sharing some of the conclusions of her study: that the Ukrainian and Russian stations provided largely one-sided coverage; the U.S. network relied to a large extent on U.S. official sources; and there were significant differences in the coverage of deaths and casualties, with the Russian news reporting civilian casualties the most. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Fall 2016: Contested Spaces

• Poster
  
• 9/9 Insecurities, Fundamentalism and Nationalism in India, Pakistan and the Periphery
  Sucheta Pyakuryal, Assistant Professor of Political Science.

  Dr. Pyakuryal's talk focused on the historical causes of tensions and insecurities between the nations of South Asia. As she explained, many difficulties arose due to religious differences and the division of territories centered on separating the religious groups. The growing popularity of nationalism based around these religions has caused further alienation between ethnic groups and nations alike and a rise in animosity. Dr. Pyakuryal's talk discussing the tumultuous relations between the nations of South Asia was a perfect starting point for this semester's theme of "Contested Spaces." (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• 9/23 Authenticity and Appropriation: Culture as Contested Space
  Brandi Denison, Associate Professor of Religious Studies; Sarah Caissie Provost, Assistant Professor of Musicology; and Ben Thompson, Deputy Director, MOCA Jacksonville.

  Speaking from the perspectives from their different disciplines, the panelists worked with the audience to examine processes of cultural appropriation and notions of authenticity. Examples that were raised to illustrate the ideas in play were drawn from a variety of cultural spheres, including music, visual art, clothing, film, and sports. The panelists concluded by considering how students of International Studies can benefit from understanding ways that culture changes hands and from questioning of claims of cultural purity. (Facebook post )

   

   

   

   

• 9/30 Reterritorializing the Spaces of Violence in Medellín through Urban Art

  Dr. Constanza López, Associate Professor of Spanish.  

  Dr. Lopez discussed the use of graffiti in Medellín, Colombia, to transform areas of violence into vibrant pieces of art that reinvent history and culture to focus on hope and peace between all groups. She also spoke of another type of graffiti, less colorful and detailed, that is used to protest the femicide and the other forms of abuse of women that plague Colombia and the world in general. (Facebook post)

• 10/21 Contested Spaces: Gender, Sexuality, and Rights in a Global Context

  A discussion with a panel of UNF student panelists Josef Kim (Psychology undergraduate), Ricder Ricardo (Art and Design undergraduate) and Angel Kalafatis (Psychology graduate student), moderated by Nicholas de Villiers, Associate Professor of English and Film. Cosponsored by the UNF LGBT Resource Center. 

  The discussion focused on questions of gender and sexuality through the lens of the panelists' personal experience, academic work and artistic endeavors. Along with an audience comprised of UNF students, faculty and staff, the panelists explored regional and national differences related to gender, sexuality and rights; the various attitudes, both legal and societal, toward genders and sexuality not perceived as "normal"; the nuances of language related to how we discuss or label sex and gender identities; and the possible benefits of decriminalization of sex work on both the LGBT community and society as a whole. As the fifth event in the "Contested Spaces" Fall 2016 International Studies Lecture Series, this open dialogue brought attention to issues of gender, sexuality and rights not only other countries, but in the United States as well. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

• 10/28 The Variety of Your Tongues and Colors': Borders and Identities in a Post-ISIS Middle East
  Dr. David Schwam-Baird, Associate Professor of Political Science.

  Dr. Schwam-Baird addressed issues in numerous Middle Eastern countries surrounding notions of identity. Most countries in the region, as he explained, are comprised of a variety of ethnic groups who speak different languages and many times practice different religions. The post-WWI creation of new states by Allied powers exasperated regional tensions by arbitrarily forming borders with little thought given to the different cultural groups being grouped together or split apart. National identities are hard to cultivate, then, in this region, a situation that has allowed the extremist group ISIS to gain footholds by touting a goal of the creation of a unified Islamic nation. His talk challenged students to consider how these dynamics might play out in the future, and what the map of the Middle East might look like as conflicts over identity and nation continue to define political struggles in the region.   ( Facebook post )

   

   

• 11/18 Women and Globalization: Do Women Gain and How?

  Mina Baliamoune-Lutz, Professor and Kip Fellow of Economics.

  Professor Baliamoune–Lutz began with an overview of globalization as a process that affects the environment, as well as culture, political systems, patterns of economic development and the wellbeing of people around the world. She addressed potential benefits of globalization—including larger markets, more capital flows and cultural rapprochement—and also potential downsides, such as overproduction, outsourcing of jobs and depletion of natural resource. Professor Baliamoune–Lutz discussed the uneven effects that globalization has on a regional level, as a process that benefits some regions more than others. As examples, she pointed to striking disparities in the amount of Foreign Direct Investment and access to technology in different parts of the globe. She then examined this issue of imbalance from the perspective of gender, comparing the potential benefits to woman—including employment opportunities, enhanced work conditions, and access to skills, finance and technology—to the reality of losses, or no net gains, for women. The disparate effect of how globalization impacts women is a result, she pointed out, of such factors as women’s continuing lack of access to education and technology, their overrepresentation in low-skill work, their lack of ownership of productive assets, as well as cultural and legal systems that are biased against them. Professor Baliamoune-Lutz pointed out the paradox that in many countries, "globalization might constrain women to quit school and work in low-skill jobs." To counter the idea that such gender imbalance is present only in the developing world, she showed data from the 2015 Human Development Report (hdr.UNDP.org), locating the United States between Rwanda and Tunisia on the United Nations Development Programme’s Gender Inequality Index. Professor Baliamoune–Lutz concluded by observing that globalization is part of a historical trend that will continue into the future, and we therefore must find ways to “capitalize on its positive effects and minimize (if not eliminate) its negative effects.” In her final remarks, she urged women to embolden themselves and to insert themselves into positions of achievement—as women have done throughout history. (Facebook post)

Spring 2016: Sameness/Difference

• Poster
  
• 1/22 The Tourist Gaze and Cross–Cultural Cinema

  Nicholas de Villiers, Associate Professor of English and Film. 

  This event inaugurated the Spring 2016 International Studies Senior Seminar Lecture Series, titled "Sameness/Difference." In his talk, Professor de Villiers’ considered theoretical viewpoints on tourism and the way we, as tourists, experience peoples and places. He then discussed the existence of a body of cinematic work that engages with these questions. He illustrated his ideas through a series of short selections of various films, in which he challenged audience members to analyze the dynamics of cross-cultural perception and communication. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

   

• 1/29 Colorism in the 21st Century: Black American Implications of a Global Skin Color Consciousness and Hierarchy
  

  JeffriAnne Wilder, Associate Professor of Sociology.

  In her talk, Professor Wilder discussed the idea of colorism as a framework for understanding discrimination in the U.S. and around the world. She provided specific examples of how colorism has played out within the U.S. African American community, as well as within other racial and ethnic groups in other countries. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• 2/5 The Other: Nurturing a New Ecology in Printmaking

  Moderated discussion and Q&A: Sheila Goloborotko, UNF Assistant Professor of Printmaking and exhibition co–curator/participating artist, and Catherine Graffam, participating artist.

  The members of the Senior Seminar were joined by students from the Department of Art and Design to view and discuss “The Other: Nurturing a New Ecology in Printmaking,” an exhibit of work by women printmakers co–curated by Jim Draper, Coordinator of UNF Art Galleries, and Sheila Goloborotko, UNF Assistant Professor of Printmaking. After a brief introduction by Draper and Goloborotko, participants explored the exhibition, and then reconvened for a conversation with Goloborotko and transgender artist Catherine Graffam, both of whom have work included in the exhibit. The discussion began with a consideration of the technical processes involved in printmaking, and then moved on to the role of gender in the production of art and in the valuation of art as a commodity. The highlight of the event was the opportunity to speak with Graffam and Goloborotko personally about how they approach their own work, and to understand the stories behind the pieces they have on display in “The Other.” The International Studies Program would like to thank Draper, Goloborotko and Graffam for making this experience possible. We are also grateful to MOCA Jacksonville and the UNF LGBT Center, who cosponsored the event.  ( Facebook post )

   

   

• 2/12 Dancing for Snow: Ski Resorts, Cultural Appropriation, and American Indian Ritual Practice
  Brandi Denison, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies.  

  Professor Denison discussed the appropriation of Native American rituals by mainstream white U.S. society, from the nineteenth century to the present, taking as her starting point the “snow dances” performed on various occasions in Colorado since the 1960s. She encouraged the audience to consider not only how Native American religious practice has been packaged for white audiences, but also how those traditions, and the social customs surrounding them, have been transformed by contact with mainstream U.S. culture. Professor Denison asked us to think critically about discourses of cultural authenticity, and to question the notion of ritual as fixed practice, inviting us to see it instead as the shifting reflection of an ongoing process of change and adaptation. Just as Professor Wilder did the week before, Professor Denison challenged us to see differently social mechanisms at work within the United States, and at the same time provided a framework for thinking about other societies around the world, as well as how we interact with other cultures across international boundaries. ( Facebook post )

   

   

   

• 2/19 France’s ‘Others’: Muslim–Arabs in French Society and Culture
  Patricia Geesey, Professor of French and Chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

  Pointing to the actual diversity of French society, Professor Geesey addressed the long history of Muslim–Arabs in France, beginning with France’s military conquest of Algeria in the first half of the nineteenth century. She highlighted the largely overlooked role of the North African troops that fought on behalf of France in World Wars I and II, and the presence of Muslim–Arabs in France as soldiers, guest workers and immigrants throughout the twentieth century. Professor Geesey considered how the unraveling of France’s colonial project in Algeria in the mid-twentieth century impacted attitudes toward France’s Muslim–Arab population, and pointed to key moments in the efforts of that community to assert a bicultural identity within a system that rejects such a paradigm. Professor Geesey also examined how the French concept of laïcité has contributed to tensions between Muslim–Arabs and French institutions that, by defending official secularism, have fostered a sense of isolation and rejection among France’s Muslim–Arab communities. We are grateful to Professor Geesey for this talk, which provided critical background for understanding recent tragic events in France, as well as a framework for thinking about attitudes toward ethnic, religious and cultural plurality, in France, in our own society, and around the world. ( Facebook post )

   

   

• 2/26 Panel Discussion: Technology and Society
  Panelists: Josh Gellers, Assistant Professor of Political Science; Mitch Haney, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Chair, Department of Philosophy; Margaret C. Stewart, Assistant Professor of Communication; and Karthikeyan Umapathy, Associate Professor of Information Systems. Cosponsored by the UNF Digital Humanities Initiative.  

  This interdisciplinary event provided an opportunity to consider the role of technology in our lives on personal, societal and international levels. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

   

   

• 3/4 Faith and Politics in Enlightenment France: The Religious Roots of a Revolutionary Age
  

  Daniel Watkins, Assistant Professor of History.

  Professor Watkins’s talk related to his current work editing a volume of essays questioning traditional approaches to understanding the Enlightenment. His presentation addressed his own contribution to that collection, an article examining the role of the Society of Jesus in the period following the French Revolution. Professor Watkins explained the fierce rivalry between the Jesuits and the adherents of Jansenism, a movement within Catholicism that shared certain features with Calvinism. Professor Watkins invited audience members to consider the role of Enlightenment ideas in this ostensibly theological conflict, and pointed to the relevance of this controversy for understanding frictions over religious practice and the Republican ideal of Laïcité in today’s France. In this way, Professor Watkins's talk connected with Professor Geesey’s presentation a few weeks earlier, and touched on themes we have considered throughout the semester. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

   

   

• 3/25 China and the West/The Idea of ‘China
  We are especially grateful to panelists Paul Carelli, Assistant Professor of Philosophy; Aaron Creller, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Florida Blue Center for Ethics Post–Doctoral Fellow; Sarah Mattice, Assistant Professor of Philosophy; and Yongan Wu, Associate Professor of Chinese. Our panelists drew from their research and personal experiences to lead us in an engaging dialogue about the obstacles we face when trying to understand China from the outside, and the ways that stereotypes and misunderstandings play out in cultural, political and economic interactions. They also addressed problems inherent in referring to China as a singular, unified entity, and considered the implications of China's internal complexity and diversity for the ways we engage with that nation. (Facebook post)

  
  

  
  
• 4/1 Language, Community, and Participatory Ethnography among Deaf Youth in Mexico City
  Anne Pfister, Assistant Professor of Anthropology. Cosponsored by the UNF Latin American and Caribbean Council.

  Professor Pfister’s talk related to field research she conducted at a school for deaf children in the Mexican capital. She invited the audience to reflect upon their own experiences with language in childhood, as well as on the way we access culture through language. She then shared examples of photographs taken by the deaf youth with whom she worked as part of a participatory research project. She discussed how these images reveal these children’s attitudes toward the world around them, as well as how they highlight the culture they constructed within their own community. The discussion that followed included some consideration of societal attitudes toward deafness in Mexico and institutional impediments to providing more extensive resources to this under-served population. Professor Pfister’s lecture closed the Spring 2016 series by providing a unique opportunity to think of research as process that can be collaborative and highly personal. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

   

   

Fall 2015: Movement and Migration

• Poster
  
• 9/11 Strictly American Music? U.S. Jazz Musicians Tackle International Influences
  Sarah Caissie Provost, Assistant Professor of Music

  Professor Sarah Caissie Provost reviewed traditional ideas regarding the African and Latin American influences of jazz, and then examined historiographical discourses that have attempted to deny those influences, arguing for jazz as a form of expression that is purely "American." She examined some possible explanations for these arguments, considering attempts by white musicians and the nascent recording industry to appropriate jazz, as well as ideas expressed by African American pianist Mary Lou Williams, who posited that authentic jazz was rooted the experience of slavery in the U.S., making talk of African and Latin roots irrelevant. (Facebook post )
• 9/18 Immigration and the Experience of Gender
  

  A round-table conversation led by Constanza López, Assistant Professor of Spanish and Director of Voces y caras: Hispanic Communities of Jacksonville. Thomas Carpenter Library Special Collections Reading Room. 

  Professor Constanza López and UNF students Liana Llerandi and Saúl Grajeda shared their insights with us about how gender is lived in the context of immigration. Students from the International Studies Senior Seminar and other guests enjoyed a lively conversation with the panelists about issues related to discrimination, stereotypes, biculturalism, sexual orientation, gender identity, generational divides, and opportunities to effect change. The session ended with a viewing of the fall 2015 exhibit of the project Voces y cara: Hispanic Communities of Jacksonville, on display outside the Special Collections Reading Room on the first floor of the Thomas G. Carpenter Library. (Facebook post)

   

   

• 9/25 Climate Refugees: Uncertainty and Insecurity
  

  Professor Josh Gellers of Political Science discussed the precarious state of climate refugees, whose status is not defined under current international law. He examined several case studies in which populations are on the move or are under imminent danger as a result, directly or indirectly, of climate change. He also discussed possible ways to address to what many regard as an impending crisis. (Facebook post)

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• 10/2 Capturing Movement and Sharing Our Stories through Story Maps
  Chris Baynard, Department of Economics and Geography. 

  Professor Baynard introduced participants to the concept of story maps, a tool for narrating experiences and communicating research results through the use of images and geographical data. He walked us through how to create story maps using two free online applications, Google Picassa and ArcGIS. Professor Baynard provided detailed instructions for getting started with these tools, and encouraged participants to consider how they might utilize story maps in an academic and professional context.  (Facebook Post)

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

   

• 10/9 Interpreting Across Cultural Boundaries: Confucianism as Case Study
  Sarah Mattice, Assistant Professor of Philosophy.

  Professor Mattice challenged us to consider approaches to building “interpretive bridges,” or understanding what the world looks like from different cultural perspectives, using China and Confucianism as an example. She discussed the Western tendency to think of China as “inscrutable,” and proposed that understanding Confucianism is a key to crossing that cultural divide. She offered caveats for how we think about Confucianism and vocabulary for talking about a Confucian world view. She discussed the importance that Confucianism places on learning and the way Confucian thought conceptualizes human relationships, suggesting that these are two critical ideas for understanding the Chinese culture of today. She also offered insights into the relationship between language and culture, proposing that an understanding of how a language functions is essential to gaining access to the worldview of its speakers. (Facebook post )
• 10/16 Rhetoric of Merengue and Bachata in Junot Díaz’s Dominican–American Fiction: Border Culture, Migration, Media Isla

  Greg Helmick, Assistant Professor of Spanish.    

  Professor Helmick began by contextualizing his work through a brief mention of key books on border culture, including several dedicated to the Caribbean. He then reviewed historical factors central to understanding the cultural and racial makeup of today’s Caribbean, and in particular the contemporary realities of the island of Hispanola, shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He discussed bachata as a product of migration (and affinity for "foreign" Mexican forms of music) and merengue as a product of border culture, playing samples of both, alongside Haitian méringue. Professor Helmick explained the use of merengue as a nationalist symbol by the Trujillo regime and the systematic devaluation of bachata as an inferior cultural product linked to notions of poverty and blackness. He then discussed the fiction of Dominican-American novelist Junot Díaz as a form of cultural anthropology, in which the author examines Dominican national identity through music. He finished by reading an excerpt of a work in progress examining this topic in relation to Díaz’s novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. ( Facebook post )

   

   

   

• 10/30 Third New World: Spanish Ethnographies of Early Modern Southeast Asia
  Professor Miguel Martínez, Assistant Professor of Spanish Literature, University of Chicago.

  Professor Martínez discussed his work with a series of Early Modern Spanish texts produced in Asia that reflect a complex interplay of written languages, visual codes and cultural systems. Professor Martínez discussed some of the challenges of working with these multilingual texts, most of which remain unpublished in manuscript form. He invited us to consider these documents within the larger body of writing documenting the Spanish colonial experience, and suggested ways that these texts can expand our understanding of cultural exchanges and processes in the period. This event was co–sponsored by the UNF Latin American and Caribbean Council and the UNF Asia Council. (Facebook post )

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

   

   

   

   

   

• 11/13 Project Atrium: Ian Johnston – Fish Tales
  Moderated discussion and Q&A with the artist: Ian Johnston and Ben Thompson, MOCA Curator of Collections.

  On Friday, November 13, the students in the International Studies Senior Seminar visited the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville to meet Canadian artist Ian Johnston and explore his newest work, “Fish Tales,” part of MOCA’s Project Atrium series. A project that has evolved in part through the Johnston’s travels around the world, “Fish Tales” fits into the artist’s larger body of work dealing with consumerism and the disposable nature of modern culture. Joined by Ben Thompson, MOCA Jacksonville Curator of Collections, Johnston discussed with us the development of “Fish Tales,” and helped us to understand the larger context of his sculpture. Together with Johnston and Thompson, we then viewed “Fish Tales” and explored the Atrium space it occupies, on the final afternoon of Johnston’s installation process. This event provided a unique opportunity for us to consider our course theme, “Movement and Migration,” in relation both to the economic and environmental realities of today’s globalized world and to the process of creating an art in an international context. Our visit to MOCA was also a singular opportunity to speak in a personal way with an artist about the ideas and lived experience behind his work. We would like to thank MOCA Jacksonville and guest artist Ian Johnston for their generosity in making this experience possible.  ( Facebook post )