Middle Tennessee State University: Journals@MTSU
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Ragnhild Jølsen’s “Det Forbandede Ord”: A Fairy Tale of Light and Darkness in Female Desire
Full text linkNorwegian author Ragnhild Jølsen wrote compelling novels, yet her last collection of short stories in Efterlatte Arbeider [Later Work] reveals her artistry through her shorter works and literary fragments. In Efterlatte Arbeider, Jølsen crafts a fairy tale, “Det Forbandede Ord” [“The Forbidden Word”], that tells of a woman gifted with the ability to perceive the darkest evil and the purest beauty in nature, a gift that propels her into exploring the mysteries of nature and creation. Because “Den Forbandede Ord” was uncovered after Jølsen’s death and was most likely unedited, many English-speaking readers have not read it, let alone analyzed it. Given a cursory glance, most readers would understand this story as a mere cautionary tale that warns women against acting on their curiosity about strange men. Due to Jølsen’s nonconformity in her lifestyle and form of expression, however, I interpret Jølsen’s story as one of female empowerment, one that portrays the light and darkness in women’s experiences in the form of a folk tale to assert women’s resilience
Post Secondary Education
Full text linkThe Center for Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) recent released data showing how school districts are recovering from the pandemic effects are sobering and discouraging. These data show that the pace of recovery for all students is slow; however, for low income and diverse groups the pace is not only slow but long-term
Where “dead people lay like saints”: Gothic Modernism in Cormac McCarthy’s Child of God
Full text linkThis paper examines how Cormac McCarthy uses Gothic and Modernist modes in Child of God, a novel primarily known for its place in the Southern Gothic genre. In Gothic Modernism, writers blur traditional literary techniques—in the form of Gothic tropes or stylistic choices such as the framing narrative, unsettling landscapes, or depictions of madness—into Modernist techniques, using experimentation to evoke alienation or engage in social critique. I argue that Child of God, though published in 1973, is a Gothic Modernist text due to McCarthy’s stylistics, aesthetics, themes, and tropes. By looking at the novel through the lens of Gothic modernism, we better understand McCarthy’s reasoning, influences, and methodology for telling the story of Lester Ballard. For example, McCarthy depicts the grotesque, death, and decay in eerie settings suggesting isolation, alienation, disillusionment, and individualism, layering the novel with nuance and experimentation. By bridging gaps between genres, eras, and aesthetics, McCarthy challenges readers’ expectations of the novel form and how we are complicit in our communities. I use research from Gothic Modernist scholars such as John Riquelme and Charles Crow to support the argument that McCarthy, consciously or unconsciously, uses Gothic and Modernist tropes in his stylistic approach to the novel
“Those Who Paved the Way”: A Detailed Look into the Contributions of the USCT in Tennessee
Full text linkThis research paper discusses the significant yet often overlooked role of United States Colored Troops (USCT) in Tennessee during the American Civil War. As the Union Army faced manpower shortages due to heavy casualties, this led to the formation of USCT. Entirely composed of African American soldiers fighting for their freedom and the Union cause, these units were initially relegated to menial tasks, but through admirable efforts proved their capability in combat. In contrast, the Confederacy opposed arming Black individuals, fearing it would undermine their slave-based society. Despite the presence of approximately four million enslaved individuals in the South, the Confederacy’s refusal to employ them as combat soldiers limited their military potential. This paper looks to highlight the vital contribution of USCT to the Union’s success and the impact of their involvement in the war.
 
ECONOMETRICS AND MACHINE LEARNING IN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS EDUCATION: FACTS AND A GUIDELINE ON TEACHING PRACTICES
Full text linkEconometrics, and related courses, are often thought of as the most challenging courses for many undergraduate economics, business, and management students. Using a large international dataset of business and economics syllabi, I show an upward trajectory in including machine learning topics within business syllabi, with a discernible shift of emphasis from econometrics topics. With the growing number of undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds, there is a growing need to improve the teaching of econometrics and make it more inclusive and applicable. I discuss and formalize actionable guidelines for practices and interventions that can improve econometrics teaching and make it accessible and relevant to increasingly diverse students in economics, business, and management schools
Parenting Programs for Current and Post-Incarcerated Fathers: A Literature Review of Attachment-Based and Play Therapy
Full text linkThe purpose of this literature review was to describe the research regarding parenting programs designed for incarcerated fathers. In doing so, this manuscript explores parenting programs and interventions specifically tailored to the needs of incarcerated fathers, with particular attention to those incorporating attachment-based approaches and play therapy. Findings in the literature suggested that play therapy as an intervention shows promise for improving the attachment style of parenting, current and post-incarceration. Further implications that include the potential for reducing recidivism and increasing parenting interventions during incarceration are discussed
Page Turners: Books for Children
Full text linkIn this article, different children’s books are listed with descriptive summaries on each one. The books include: Clever Crow; Girls on the Rise; The Light Within You; No More Señora Mimí; Rebellion 1776, Revolutionary Mary: The true story of one woman, the Declaration of Independence, and America’s fight for freedom; Rocket Ship, Solo Trip; Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel); There Was a Shadow; To See an Owl
George Mason University Libraries Historic Intelligence Speaker Series
Full text linkThe George Mason University Libraries started a new speaker series, the Historic Intelligence Speaker Series, that was complementary to one of our significant special collections on this same topic. This series allowed us to generate interest in and awareness about our special collections, identify new prospective donors to library programs, and cultivate and steward to our current library donors. The high-profile nature of our speakers, geographic proximity to a large relevant community in the Washington, DC area, and broad appeal to alumni have made this series particularly successful
Herbarium as Occult Archive: Feminine Botanical Knowledge in Digital Games
Full text linkThroughout the nineteenth century, herbariums functioned as occult archives, or spaces where botanical knowledge operated as both scientific object and enchantment. While magical properties might appear at odds with scientific ones, this dual nature created productive tensions rather than simple contradictions. Twenty-first-century game design teams, including the creative forces behind Strange Horticulture (Bad Viking 2022), Botany Manor (Balloon Studios 2024), and Potion Craft (niceplay games 2021), have focused on this liminal cultural space of enchantment and empiricism. But before analyzing how these games do so, I would like to address more of the cultural context that makes their existence possible
Introduction
Full text linkThis Fall issue provides readers with a variety of topics that include the impact that COVID-19 had on families and access to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), how an approach called the “philosophy for children Hawai’i” can aid in social and emotional skill development among middle schoolers, how STEM experiences impact cognitive development, and the benefits and limitations of artificial intelligence in the classroom. Furthermore, interventions including filial therapy, adventurous outdoor play, and mindfulness are discussed. The International Journal of the Whole Child continues to be committed to promoting holistic learning and the development of the whole child