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15 May 2025
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- Article24 August 2021
The Lilith Challenge
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. - Article3 May 2023
Beyond Blackface: Minstrel Shows in Modern Day America
This essay explores the history of Blackface in America and how not addressing or treating Blackface as a taboo has allowed for microaggressions within the media to continue. - Article14 November 2022
Shades of Emotion: Color and Emotion Study
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. - Article14 November 2022
Michelangelo Buonarroti and Homophobia in the Renaissance
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. - Article18 December 2023
The Influence of High Renaissance Art on the Mannerist Movement: Examining Representative Works of Rosso Fiorentino, Pontormo, and Bronzino
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. - Article27 June 2024
The State of Democracy in South Africa
Abstract: On pen and paper, the country of South Africa fulfills the requirements to be a democracy. However, the country has been evaluated to be a flawed democracy and there is an elevated warning issued for the state by The Fragile State Index. This research seeks to find the root causes contributing to the decline of the state of democracy in South Africa. This state plays an important role in global politics. South Africa is a member of both G20 and BRICS, which are influential groups in the global arena. Further, the country exercises considerable regional influence as well as being among the top exporters of platinum, iron, and coal. The role that South Africa plays on the global stage makes the country’s state of democracy an international concern. Additionally, South Africa operates under a parliamentary republic system of government, similar to many other nations including the United Kingdom. Yet these other nations do not face the same state of democracy as South Africa. Consequently, the decline of the state of democracy in South Africa is not a result of its system of government. Rather, it is a result of the political culture within the country. Although political culture is notoriously difficult to quantify or measure, several factors can offer insight into the matter. More specifically, factors in South Africa that contribute to the political culture include corruption, voter participation, and inequality. In turn, these factors negatively impact the political culture within the country, which leads to the troubling political trajectory that can be seen today.