36th Annual Student Research Conference
Accepting Rejection: A Journey of Family History, Culture, and Self
Dalaney D. Widiger♦
Dr. Adam Davis, Faculty Mentor
This multimodal project delves into the influences of local, family, and personal history and culture to explore the self as I consider my personal rejection of much of my childhood culture, while also accepting the complexities this creates in family dynamics and relationships. As the last member of ten generations to reside in a small Southern Illinois farming county, I trace the theme of cultural rejection throughout my family history, utilizing material culture, living memory, and genealogical research. Guided by Collin Woodard’s work, American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, I seek to understand the local culture my family has occupied and practiced for over two-hundred years as a way to understand myself, my beliefs, my values, and my mannerisms. Finally, in his project I will consider the role of family culture, history, and self-reflection within the creation of individual identity.
Keywords: Family History, Local History, Culture, Identity, Genealogy
Topic(s):English
Folklore
History
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 302-4
Location: SUB Georgian Room A
Time: 2:00