Abstract Abstracts

Tree Hugger
Living in a place like Ellicott City, MD it’s easy to look upon a tree as a mundane object without any second thought. There are so many of them, what can you expect one to do? But truly, what place does a tree serve in society- other than a nice addition to a community or a place for smokers to enjoy their cigarettes under? From biblical times and stories of the Tree of Knowledge to the South Asian Rudraksh and its spiritual value, the tree is a valued entity that has a plethora of traditions and customs to explore.
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Make it Work
“Make it work!” Tim Gunn exclaims as he motivates the designers on Project Runway with his gruff voice. Making it work in the fashion world means putting together pieces into an aesthetically eye pleasing composition. But, not everyone takes such thought into his or her wardrobe, claiming they do not have time to make statements with their attire. However, by trying not to make a statement, aren’t they making one anyway? What are the various proclamations one can make with what they choose or do not choose to wear and how do they vary based on background and environmental factors? What made the 80’s “THE 80’s”and what how do we incorporate older styles into more contemporary terms?
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Please Don’t Stop the Music
Music, in the simplest terms, has been a means to express, to learn and to teach- whether you are the one making the music or listening to it. It is also a means to judge or be judged. Wherever you go, you can find yourself identifying music clusters, whether it is the die-hard metallic fans, the soulful R&B listeners or people who simply refuse to listen to anything “mainstream”. What causes these tastes in music based on status and how do these music preferences effect people on day to day life- from what they choose to wear to whom they choose to hang out?
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