Compass (Journal)
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Cosplay as armour
No full textThis narrative photo-essay discusses cosplay as a form of emotional armour and how it allows individuals to explore identity. The author uses a personal negative experience to illustrate the use of cosplay as emotional armour
New Methods for Establishing Time of Death when Dealing with Natural Mummification from Bog Environments
No full textNatural mummies are human and animal remains that have been naturally preserved over time. In most cases, these mummies are formed through a combination of environmental factors such as the soil\u27s chemical makeup, temperature, and humidity. One of the most well-known, yet uncommon, examples of natural mummies are those found in bogs, wetland environments characterized by low oxygen levels and acidic water. Mummies discovered in these bog environments will be the focus of this paper. It will discuss the challenges associated with establishing the time of death for natural mummies. Various factors influence the mummification process including the acidity of the water, temperature, and the presence of microorganisms. As a result, traditional methods of estimating the time of death, or post-mortem interval (PMI), may not be reliable. This paper will also review recent advances in the field, including but not limited to stable isotope analysis, DNA sequencing, and proteomics. This will allow researchers to understand the taphonomic processes at play and improve the accuracy of time of death estimations. Overall, this paper provides practical insights into the complex processes involved in determining the time of death in natural mummies and offers information about new technologies useful for researchers in this field
Clothing As Window to the Soul: How Clothing Influences the Relationship between Individuals Identity and the External World
No full textIndividuals’ interaction with the external world is almost always influenced by their clothing, whether through personal choice, their “habitus”, dress codes, etc., through shaping how other view/interact with them, influencing their understanding of their identity, and conversely of influencing how others view them though how they dress. As a result of this, different clothing styles can evoke different connotations based on the viewers assumption of the ideals of the groups or contexts that the wearer’s clothing connects them to, such as formal office dress and LGBTQ+ fashions, whether by choice or by pressure. Also, through dress individuals can internalize these ideals of the group, to influence their view of themselves, and in turn how they interact with the outside world. Furthermore, clothing can also highlight a person’s individuality through failure to conform, evoking a different individual-world interaction. Regardless, an individual’s desire to express themselves and externalize the internal can lead to clothing construction or altering to better represent themselves, and/or their relationship to a group
An Editorial and an Image: An Ode to Visual Anthropology
No full textThe following few pages are our journal’s ode to visual anthropology through my description as one of the co-editors of Compass and the image I captured during a fieldwork in Konya, Türkiye in 2022, which was the winner of the Images of Research 2023
How the Lion Groomed the Lamb: The effects of Media on Young Girls
No full textGrowing up in North America, girls are bombarded by messages about how they should behave. This process starts at a young age with little girls watching Disney Princess movies and learning they need to be submissive, quiet, and pretty. As they grow up, contemporary vampire fiction takes the reins and teaches girls that the ideal romance is one where they are isolated, physically weak, victimized, and afraid. In both, their purity is fetishized, and they are expected to give up everything for their male partner. This article explores both ideas throughout the span of an adolescent girl\u27s life and then compares them to a YouTube trend “Am I pretty or ugly?” This trend has young girls who seek validation make videos that ask the internet to judge their appearance for a boost in their self-esteem. Instead, they are met with malicious comments that reinforce the ideas they were taught in the popular culture discussed above. Overall, my findings are that these messages, often created by adult men, are grooming young girls to be submissive housewives who are taught that their value as a woman is tied to a specific concept of purity, and that one’s partner being physically threatening is a sign of love
The Effects of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 on Pseudoarthrosis and the Forensic Implications
No full textPseudoarthrosis is the presentation of false joints or non-union, primarily in long bones. While pseudoarthrosis most often presents as the lack of union between parts of a fractured or broken bone, it is also suspected that pseudoarthrosis results from a congenital disorder of unknown origin. While the etiology is unclear, there is an association with a congenital defect in neurofibromatosis type 1 gene through the neurofibromin protein. This defect occurs during the germ line mutation of conception and is often identified during early childhood. Pseudoarthrosis is more often difficult to detect in adults as it is frequently corrected during childhood. Germ line defects along the neurofibromin protein often result in a lack of communication from the reticular activating system (RAS) molecular signaling, which, in turn, impacts skeletal osteon production. Consequently, osseous lesions may develop and lead to a lack of cellular control over osteoblast signaling in the long bones of the skeleton. Understanding the origins of congenital pseudoarthrosis and its relationship with neurofibromatosis type 1 could lead to a better understanding of both conditions. Understanding these conditions can be useful for interpreting forensic contexts. These contexts include having the histological knowledge of osteology in these diseases for identification purposes. Given that both neurofibromatosis type 1 and pseudoarthrosis are uncommon conditions, their presence may aid forensic practitioners in determining cause of death or identification of the individual. This paper reviews new advances towards understanding the root cause of pseudoarthrosis
Consequences of the Human Animal Relationship: Pathologies of Sled Dogs in the Circumpolar North
No full textPathologies are rarely studied in sled dogs of the circumpolar North, even though lesions on their remains can give many insights to the relationship between Indigenous peoples and domestic dogs such as subsistence and mobility patterns. Some of the more commonly discussed conditions include spondylosis deformans, fractures, and dental trauma. However, it should be noted that these conditions are still fairly uncommon in the general literature. In sled dogs, spondylosis deformans stems from osteophyte formation on the vertebrae due to the degradation of the annulus fibrosus in the intervertebral disk. Fractures develop from human disciplinary action, bite wounds, or kicks from draught animals. Finally, dental trauma typically presents as intentional tooth removal or enamel hypoplasia. Pathology studies in dogs are uncommon due to a lack of comparative modern pathological collections, and due to a lack of recording in assemblages. Future research could develop the literature by examining collections from Yamal, Siberia
The Aesthetic Asceticism of the Mad: A Look into Baulism and the Bauls of Bangladesh
No full textThe Bauls of Bangladesh, West Bengal, and other parts of India are a distinct ascetic sect that practices spirituality through songs, music, and poetry that were passed down orally from a teacher (Guru) to a disciple (Shirsha). Their ideology is a mix of yogic-tantric practices of Buddhist Sahajiya, Vaishnavism Sahajiya, and later Sufi thoughts. Bauls are often called a heretic sect because of their rejection of institutionalized religion, consumerism, society, and, for many Bauls, even marriage. Baul songs and spirituality emphasize the search for the connection between man and the Divine and love and symbolize the Bengali folk identity.
In this paper, placing Baulism within the Anthropology of Art vs. Aesthetics discourse, I show how Baul songs, and their lifestyle can be both. I discuss the rising appropriation of Baul folk music and aesthetics by modern media and in capitalist spaces and how it started to gain traction when the elite society started to acknowledge Bengali folk music. Baul giti (song) is an established genre of music, and they tend to mediate between both art while providing aesthetic appreciation. With the rise of village core aesthetics and romanticization, their music, style, and philosophy have found new spaces in media, fashion, and business
The Role of Social Media in Iran: Finding Community Through the Death of Jina (Mahsa) Amini
No full textThe rise of social media has created a new form of activism whereby individuals can connect globally to stand against oppression. Social media has provided a platform for people to share their opinions on important issues and raise awareness. The modern generation has a unique reliance on technology and have found ways to use content as a tool. Social media account holders are able to influence and create action. This virtual globalization allows for new ideas and thoughts to be broadcasted freely and enables individuals to find their respective groups online. It has also created a sense of community and belonging for people who may not have had access to such support in the past. As a society, we are aware of the negative downsides of social media and its effect on the confidence and status of individuals. The case study I will explore in further detail is that of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini, also known as Iran’s Woman, Life, Freedom movement. I will analyze the influence of social media following her death and the geo-political context that explains the current polarization in Iran. Exploring the effects of social media in Iran through the Amini case can provide greater insight into how a community is built and maintained during a tragedy