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Caroline Sim is a senior studying English, French, and European Studies. Her research focuses on the historical use of the Dance of Death in literature and art, and her adviser is Dr. Christopher F. Highley from the Department of English.
What specifically do you research? What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently researching the Dance of Death. The Dance of Death, or danse macabre in French, is a phenomenon that began in the late Middle Ages. The Dance of Death occurred in dance, music, literature and art. I am focusing on art and literature. The Dance of Death depicts or describes the moment when Death comes to take a living person. There is a visual/physical exchange as well as a verbal exchange between Death and the individual. Each member of the Medieval social hierarchy are present, representing both the religious and secular orders, from the Pope and the Emperor to the fool and the peasant. I am currently looking at how the English Dance of Death developed through time, especially during and after the Reformation. I am also looking at how the French danse macabre was the impetus and continued to influence the English Dance of Death.
How did you find this research topic?
I came across this topic while taking a course on 17th Century English literature. In that class, I was introduced to Emblematic poetry, which involves a motto (usually from the Bible), a picture and a poem that all interact with each other. I was intrigued by the visual representations and symbols of Death and the various meanings of the skeleton. I asked the professor about other visual representations of Death or skeletons, and she referred me to Holbein and the Dance of Death. The rest, as they say, is history, and in this case, art and literatures as well.
What have been the benefits of participating in research?
Participating in research has helped me to know that I truly will and do love to research. Also, having the opportunity to research will prepare me for future projects as I continue to pursue my education, as well as my career. Doing research this summer has enabled me to study the Dance of Death in depth. I have also learned how to research effectively, how to recognize potential problems and how to better approach certain sources. I have found it very rewarding working with the different primary texts, and seeing not only how the Dance of Death developed, but also how interpretations on the subject evolved.
What advice would you give to current undergraduates who want to get involved in research?
I would suggest that if you are interested in doing research should make sure that you continue to keep in contact with at least one professor in your discipline, or who specializes within your discipline in a sub-specialty in which you are interested. When you do research in the humanities, you may be doing a lot of the work alone, but it is vital to have someone very knowledgeable, with whom you can easily dialogue and learn, to aid in understanding difficult information, in thinking of a new avenue of approach to your research, or even with discussing preliminary sources or findings. Also, when you first approach a professor with a research proposal, make sure you have thought about the project and have a few ideas to discuss with the professor. Just a basic online search is better than a vague notion about an area of study. Also, even if your research allows you to be more independent, make sure you continue to keep your professor updated. You will profit more as a scholar and as an individual the more a professor dialogues with you and gets to know you.
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