His study of an early 20th century icon receives award for research on media and war from the American Journalism Historians Association.
Professor of Communications Harlen Makemson’s most recent research received honors at the American Journalism Historians Association convention Oct. 6 in Salt Lake City.
Makemson’s paper, “From Gibson Girl to Gibson Goddess: The World War I Illustrations of Charles Dana Gibson in Life Magazine,” received honorable mention for Outstanding Paper in Media and War. The paper examined the famous artist’s drawings that appeared in the humor-oriented publication and discovered that the iconic Gibson Girl was used to argue for a more aggressive U.S. role in the conflict. By doing so, she adopted persona beyond the Beauty or Sentimental typologies that had previously defined her.
Founded in 1981, the American Journalism Historians Association seeks to advance education and research in mass communication history. Members work to raise historical standards and ensure that all scholars and students recognize the vast importance of media history and apply this knowledge to the advancement of society.