Solares' Blog

For my Research Proposal Assignment, I focused on how interpretations of mermaids have changed from early folklore to modern media. My research process began by narrowing my topic from a broad interest in mermaids to a more specific focus on how mythology has been adapted and twisted over time. Using the library helped me find good journal articles that were credible and I found a lot of sources with one database which was very convenient. One specific thing I learned about my topic is that mermaids were originally portrayed as dangerous or symbolic figures connected to fears of the ocean, rather than the friendly characters often seen today and what I grew up seeing. Even in modern shows we only see a glimpse of mermaids and their true origin so that was really interesting. I also realized that I tend to be too broad when Im doing these assignment and I need to narrow down and focus on more specific details instead of the topic as a whole.

 For the Annotated Bibliography assignment, I started with brainstorming what exactly I wanted my research to be based upon. I knew my topic, but I wanted to know what about mermaids would be interesting. Once I decided I then focused on reading each source, evaluating the credibility, context, and tone of the articles. Knowing what I was trying to cover, helped with sticking to the idea I was trying to prove and not repeat myself. One interesting thing I learned was how much mermaid representations have changed over time. I started with very little knowledge about their history from being dangerous mythological beings to symbols shaped by gender norms, spirituality, and modern media. I also realized I am way better at summarizing than critiques. It was difficult picking out little details from a source with so much information. Although I did end up getting the hang of it I found myself repeating what I was saying and finding enough things to critique.