Student Independent Projects Social/Cultural Studies 2013:

• Main Authors: Pike, Stephanie, Power, Sarah, Spence, Kenneth
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland 2013
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/11810/; https://research.library.mun.ca/11810/1/SCS_combined_document.pdf

One of the requirements for the Social/Cultural Studies degree at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University is the satisfactory completion of an independent research project. This in-depth and self-directed study allows students to engage in a topic of their own choosing, wherein they apply the theoretical and methodological skills and insights acquired throughout their programme. The three essays in this volume convey some of the ways students have creatively applied concepts and theories from anthropology, folklore, and sociology - the core cognates of Social/Cultural Studies, to look at aspects of everyday life in order to see them in a new light. The research of the 2013 graduates presents a range of issues including changing notions of beauty, identity, oppression, colonization, and occupational culture. In “Through Western eyes: A study of South Korea's Rising Beauty Industry”, Stephanie Pike examines recent trends in South Korea’s beauty industry and some of the manifestations that have stemmed from its new ideal beauty standard. An application of Sociological theories of Glocalization, Hybridization and Simulation to unique cultural formations such as K-Pop, Flower Boys, and Uljjangs or ‘best face’ phenomenon has allowed her to investigate local cultural developments in light of self-image and their relationship to popular culture and media in South Korea. In particular this research probes how traditional perceptions of the body are now merging with Western world style Capitalism to create culturally unique forms. Sarah Power’s research, entitled “Internalized Colonialism And Western Newfoundland Aboriginal Identity”, probes the notion of internalized colonization with a group of people of Aboriginal descent living in Western Newfoundland and Labrador. Working from the premise that the more widespread and normalized the oppression towards Aboriginal people is, the more they begin to internalize and normalize these forms of oppression themselves, she investigates issues of Aboriginal identity and self concept ...