Research Spotlight - Alyssia Miulli

Alyssa spent time doing anthropological research in Jasper, Indiana, a small rural town in the southwest corner of the state. Since 1979, Jasper has held a Strassenfest (street festival). The 2024 Strassenfest represents decades of evolving relations of the town's German heritage and its cultural proximity to the Sister City of Pfaffenweiler, Germany. Her project highlights the multifaceted function of strong ethnic roots in small American towns, while discussing the intentional creation of cultural heritage for generational advantages. By analyzing the form and function of the Strassenfest over the past 45 years, as well as the current discourse among participants in the festival, Alyssa hopes to present Jasper, IN as a case study to evaluate the concealed purpose of heritage-based celebrations in rural America as a method of transferring cultural traditions and moral priorities to future generations.

Alyssa says, "Throughout my time in Jasper, I learned just how crucial it is to immerse yourself in your study. If I had not gone to Jasper, interviewed people, and created long-term relationships with the community, I would not have been able to grasp the true idea of what Jasper stands for. As a scholar, I believe that my job is not that of a reporter, but instead a student. Logistical information exists in censuses and webpages, but the cultural information of people's ideas, beliefs, relationships, inner psyche, and morals can only be discovered with true human connection."