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Volume 4, Issue 1 (2025)Read More

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Article
15 May 2025

Diverse Minds: Exploring Individual Differences in Visual Imagery and Special Cases

Kay DeKock
Mental imagery, or more specifically, visual imagery, plays a significant role in human life. For this reason, this paper aims to examine the many aspects of visual imagery with a special focus on inherent differences between individuals. This paper explores the idea of what visual imagery is and how it is represented, from the in-between of the spectrum of visual imagery, to the extreme ends, where lies the conditions of aphantasia and hyperphantasia. This paper covers the core cognitive processes involved in visual imagery and the parts of the brain responsible for them. The idea of measurement and assessment is also delved into, and the issues with current measurement techniques discussed, including self-report measures and performance-based tests. Highlighting gaps in the current research, this paper calls for more research aimed at understanding individual differences within all aspects of visual imagery. Finally, the application of visual imagery into settings such as education, clinical, and cognitive psychological research is discussed.
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Current Articles

Article15 May 2025

The Endurance of West African Textiles Through the Ages

Sarah Isak-Goode
West Africans have a long history of creating distinctive textiles. Yet, they are frequently misunderstood. Though often bold, the patterns and colors used in textiles have a subtle meaning. Separately and together, many of these patterns and symbols represent an unspoken language among natives. Research from the pre-colonial era to the contemporary era has shown that these textiles have persisted because of the reverence West Africans hold for both their heritage and personal expression. Further research is recommended to gain understanding of these textiles, from both the past and the present, as well as the West Africans who have intently carried on their traditions. These textiles continue to shape global perspectives by demonstrating that meaningful cultural expression exists beyond Western traditions, while their rich symbolic vocabulary serves as an inspiration for modern creative innovations across the globe.
Article15 May 2025

Cybersecurity and Global Threats: A Comparative Analysis of Estonia and Russia’s Policies

María Paula Morales Palacios
As digital technology continues to reshape the foundations of modern life, the question of how states respond to cyber threats has become increasingly urgent. This paper examines how political systems shape national cybersecurity policies by comparing Estonia and Russia, two countries facing similar external threats but governed by vastly different structures. Estonia’s democratic framework emphasizes transparency, citizen participation, and international cooperation, while Russia’s semi-authoritarian model centers on state sovereignty, centralized control, and strategic offensive capabilities. Drawing on key historical events, including the 2007 cyberattacks on Estonia and the 2016 attacks on Russian banks, the paper explores how each state’s political cultural and international orientation influence its approach to digital defense and privacy. While their responses diverge in structure and intent, both countries share a recognition of cybersecurity as a national priority and the need to protect critical infrastructure. By placing cybersecurity within a broader political and cultural context, this analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of how governance, power, and digital resilience are intertwined in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Article15 May 2025

Adverse Cognitions: The Effects of Childhood Trauma on Brain Development

Faith Salamone
The effect of adverse experiences in childhood have been known to create lasting difficulties, even in adulthood. While it can be hard to determine the effects of childhood trauma on the brain, many studies have identified areas that appear to be negatively impacted by these adverse childhood experiences. This paper is a meta-analysis of eight articles that have attempted to investigate the effects of childhood trauma on the developing brain. These articles are specifically investigating the effects of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse. The areas that will be discussed in this paper are the prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, the limbic system, and more specifically, the amygdala, and the hippocampus.
Article15 May 2025

Diverse Minds: Exploring Individual Differences in Visual Imagery and Special Cases

Kay DeKock
Mental imagery, or more specifically, visual imagery, plays a significant role in human life. For this reason, this paper aims to examine the many aspects of visual imagery with a special focus on inherent differences between individuals. This paper explores the idea of what visual imagery is and how it is represented, from the in-between of the spectrum of visual imagery, to the extreme ends, where lies the conditions of aphantasia and hyperphantasia. This paper covers the core cognitive processes involved in visual imagery and the parts of the brain responsible for them. The idea of measurement and assessment is also delved into, and the issues with current measurement techniques discussed, including self-report measures and performance-based tests. Highlighting gaps in the current research, this paper calls for more research aimed at understanding individual differences within all aspects of visual imagery. Finally, the application of visual imagery into settings such as education, clinical, and cognitive psychological research is discussed.
Article15 May 2025

Mary Easton Sibley’s Envisioned Societal Roles Through Education

Andrea Gentry
Mary Easton Sibley, the founder of Lindenwood University, was an ambitious and strong-willed woman who promoted educational opportunities for women and minority groups. Biographers of Sibley tend to portray her promotion of education as an effort to empower (and equalize) women and minorities. However, while Mary promoted education for all, she did not promote the same education for everyone. Instead, she imagined education tailored to women, African Americans, Native Americans, and immigrants that would reflect what she considered the “proper” roles played by each in society. This research explores what social movements in the 19th century influenced Mary Sibley in preparing women and minorities for what she considered to be their proper roles in society.
Article15 May 2025

You Are Not the Hero: Women’s Role in “Rapunzel”

Amber Budd
This paper uses the Feminist literary theory to examine the roles and presentation of characters in the fairy tale “Rapunzel” and how the women reinforce patriarchal ideals by conforming to either angelic or monstrous behaviors.
Article15 May 2025

Long Live The Cruel King of England: A Character Analysis of Shakespeare’s “Henry V”

Georgia Coomer
This essay revisits Shakespeare's "Henry V," questioning the common belief that the character embodies the ideal Christian king and heroic military leader. Through careful textual analysis and references to existing literary scholarship, it argues that beneath Henry's esteemed image lies a ruler driven by political strategy, moral ambiguity, and a willingness to act ruthlessly. The analysis highlights three key aspects of Henry’s character: first, his tendency to shift moral responsibility onto others, especially in his discussions with Canterbury about the war with France; second, his capacity for imaginative cruelty, as seen in his threatening speech at Harfleur; and third, his disregard for chivalric codes when he orders the execution of French prisoners at Agincourt. Drawing on insights from scholars like Ronald Berman and Peter Erickson, the essay shows how Shakespeare portrays a morally complex young king whose conscience is “wide as hell,” enabling him to balance virtue and vice based on political needs. This moral complexity enhances Henry V's dramatic impact, making it a relevant study in leadership for modern audiences. Ultimately, the paper suggests that Shakespeare encourages us to look beyond idealized views of kingship, inviting us to reflect on the ethical compromises that often accompany power.
Article15 May 2025

Conformable Kate: Identity and Power in The Taming of the Shrew

Helen Ball
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare is often read as an exploration of power dynamics and abuse, leaving readers to question the extent of Katherine’s power and autonomy in her marriage to Petruchio. Some believe Katherine manages to control her husband, Petruchio, while others believe Petruchio successfully 'tames' her. This essay explores such a question and seeks to answer which character holds the most power within the play. Using textual evidence from the play, scholarship from Natasha Korda’s writing on domesticity and commodity structures in Shakespeare's time, and Gary Schneider’s ideas of the public and private sectors of life and their impact on relational power dynamics, I argue that Petruchio ultimately holds the most power. I further argue that the play successfully uses a framing device to complement these historical and economic factors of power, using the induction scene to allude to Petruchio’s later success in manipulation and control.

Most Popular Articles

Article
24 August 2021

The Lilith Challenge

Sarah Goldblum
Lilith, the female demon, is found all over ancient Babylonian mythology. She is not unique to Jewish folklore but was a part of ancient Babylonian and Assyrian mythology prior to the time of the Rabbis. In this paper, I will explore how her myth is incorporated into Judaism to help explain why evil happens to people who unwilfully sin. I will explore the cultivation and connection between the demon Lilith in the Jewish tradition, drawing from the Talmudic sources, a separate story in the Alphabet of Ben Sira, and the relation to evil. The Alphabet of Ben Sira was written after the Babylonian Talmud: “The Alphabet of Ben Sira is a medieval popular book with a pseudpigraphic character. Its exact date is still a matter of dispute. The majority of experts believe that it was written sometime between the ninth and tenth centuries.”[1] [https://lindenwood0-my.sharepoint.com/personal/ntorbitzky_lindenwood_edu/Documents/Confluence%20S%202021/0104282021-final.docx#_ftn1] This, and the Talmudic midrash about Lilith, were eventually picked up by popular Judaism. In this paper, I follow the development of the Lilith mythology, her beginning as an evil mother goddess, changing to a desert demon, to a baby killer, then to a succubus, and lastly as an explanation of Adam’s first wife in the book of Genesis, which serves as a bases for the Alphabet of Ben Sira.
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Article
14 November 2022

Shades of Emotion: Color and Emotion Study

Sydney Beins
The present study investigated a connection between color combinations, saturation, and emotions. This study collected data from 87 participants from social media sites and the Lindenwood Participant Pool. Participants were asked two sets of questions on an Online Qualtrics survey. The first set exposed participants to images varying in color scheme and saturation and asked them to indicate their emotional reactions toward the images. The second set of questions contained demographic questions. The finding revealed there to be a connection between emotional responses based on color scheme and saturation but not based on both factors. The implications of these findings can help create spaces for individuals in institutions that increase positive emotions and help inspire further research on color combinations and emotions.
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Article
14 November 2022

Michelangelo Buonarroti and Homophobia in the Renaissance

Grace Ray
Tommaso de’ Cavalieri was a young man with an aristocratic background when he first met famous artist Michelangelo Buonarroti in Rome. Tommaso was known to be an incomparable physical beauty, with intelligence and elegant manners, as well as being a member of one of the most illustrious families of Rome—the Orsini. Some have said this is what drew the artist to Cavalieri from the start. Though not much is known about their encounter, it is confirmed that Cavalieri remained a close and loyal companion to Michelangelo for thirty-two years until the artist’s death in 1564. Furthermore, throughout their years together as friends, there passed between them several letters and even a collection of drawings which contain scenes of suggested homoeroticism. Some scholars have stated that Tommaso became the object of Michelangelo’s affection, his muse, and the inspiration for the letters, drawings, and numerous poems. Given the artist’s contested sexuality, the nature of these drawings and the men’s relationship has been examined by numerous art historians. The drawings consisted of classical motifs and narratives which exhibit themes of ecstasy and punishment for partaking in something forbidden. In other words, the drawings present scenes which illustrate giving into something and a subsequent consequence. Additionally, given the homoerotic nature of the drawings, the conclusion would be that homosexuality is the “forbidden fruit” which Michelangelo refers to, and therefore would indicate Michelangelo subconsciously harbored internalized homophobia. This would further indicate a proposed or failed romantic attachment which could not be sustained with the artist’s own internalized homophobia, produced by restrictive laws and a largely Christian society of sixteenth century Italy. Michelangelo Buonarroti gave Tommaso a multitude of drawings, including, The Rape of Ganymede, The Punishment of Tityus, The Fall of Phaethon, The Children’s Bacchanal and The Dream, as well as letters and poetry to communicate certain messages to Tommaso, such as his affections for the young man in a society which had cultivated internalized homophobia for the artist.
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Article
18 December 2023

The Influence of High Renaissance Art on the Mannerist Movement: Examining Representative Works of Rosso Fiorentino, Pontormo, and Bronzino

Jana Ondrechen Hallford
This paper explores the impact of the High Renaissance, led by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, on the development of the Mannerist movement. Specifically, it examines the ways in which three prominent Mannerist artists, Pontormo, Rosso Fiorentino, and Bronzino, built upon the "ideal" art produced during the High Renaissance. Through a comparative analysis of works by the "three greats" of the High Renaissance and those of the three Mannerist artists, this paper identifies similarities and differences in style, composition, and subject matter. It also considers broader cultural influences that contributed to the development of Mannerism. The paper argues that the rules that Leonardo and Michelangelo broke, and the contributions they, along with Raphael, made to the rising status of the artist, paved the way for the innovations of the Mannerist phase. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates the ways in which the High Renaissance substantially changed art and made the Mannerist movement possible.
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Article
27 June 2024

To what extent did Karl Marx's political thought influence the Occupy Wall Street Movement in the 21st Century?

Madalyn Schroeder
The research will investigate the intriguing influences of Karl Marx’s political thought and the Occupy Wall Street movement that came to be in the 21st Century. The study looks to measure the depth and significance of Marx’s influence on a modern sociopolitical movement driven by economic inequality and social justice concerns. By taking a multidisciplinary approach that combines political theory, social activism analysis, and historical context, this investigation shows the extent to which Marx’s ideas informed the ideological foundation and strategies of the Occupy Wall Street movement. By looking through primary sources, protest literature, and the discourse of the movement, this research provides a variated understanding of how Marxist political thought, which originated in the 19th century, is seen within a 21st-century movement, thus contributing to a broader comprehension of the dynamic relationship between historical ideas and contemporary activism. The findings of this study work to create a deeper understanding of the relevance of Marxist thought in the pursuit of economic and social justice, as well as showing its continued influence on the modern sociopolitical landscape.
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