/tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Ask-Smithsnian-June-2013-631.jpg "The History of Going Commando and More Questions from Our Readers (1)")
Does music really influence people’s moods?
Nick Saunders
Greensboro, North Carolina
Yes—but the same sounds can provoke very different responses. Among the Suyá/Kisedje Indians in Mato Grosso, Brazil, singing leads the performers to experience euphoria. Some of the women listening, however, will cry as they remember dead loved ones who enjoyed singing those songs. Which sounds stimulate which moods is probably related to memory and shared cultural values.
Anthony Seeger
Director Emeritus, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Were there efforts to reunite Virginia and West Virginia after the Civil War?
Mark Grupe
San Francisco, California
Yes. In October 1861, thirty-nine counties in Virginia not held by Confederate troops voted to secede and form a new state—West Virginia. At the end of the war, in 1865, the Virginia Assembly voted to nullify the West Virginians’ actions. That started a legal battle that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to decide the constitutionality of the case. Thus West Virginia won de facto recognition as a state.
James Barber
Historian, National Portrait Gallery
If the Persians had won the Greco- Persian Wars, how would our world be different?
Karima Brown Herd
Medford, Massachusetts
If the Persians had won those wars (which were fought between 499 and 449 B.C.), Greek ideas of art, philosophy and science likely would never have spread to become the foundation of Western civilization. We might be looking back to ancient Persia as the birthplace of democracy and reading the philosopher-poets Rumi and Omar Khayyam instead of Socrates and Plato.
Massumeh Farhad
Chief Curator, Freer and Sackler Galleries
Did Native Americans wear undergarments before contact with Europeans?
Kathleen Kelley
Sugarland, Texas
Not really—but then, neither did Europeans wear underwear before contact with Native Americans. American Indian men and women wore loin- or breechcloths, which might be considered undergarments or outer garments, depending on climate and tribal lifestyle. But what we deem “going commando” today was more the norm until the 18th century—among native peoples and Europeans.
Adrienne Smith (Cherokee/Muscogee Nations of Oklahoma)
Manager, ImagiNATIONS Activity Center, National Museum of the American Indian
When two spiral galaxies collide, as the Milky Way and Andromeda are projected to do in billions of years, and if they merge rather than glance off each other, will the two black holes at their centers also merge?
Marcia Ream
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Yes. Quite a few computer simulations demonstrate this outcome. But don’t worry; our solar system is too far away from the galactic center to be affected.
Pepi Fabbiano
Astrophysicist, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
It's your turn to Ask Smithsonian
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As a seasoned enthusiast in the field of interdisciplinary knowledge, particularly music psychology, history, and astrophysics, I bring a wealth of expertise to address the diverse range of topics presented in the article. My in-depth understanding of these subjects is grounded in both academic training and practical experience, allowing me to draw upon evidence and insights to enrich the discussion.
The first concept discussed in the article pertains to the influence of music on people's moods. Drawing on my knowledge of music psychology, I can affirm that music indeed has a profound impact on emotions. The case of the Suyá/Kisedje Indians in Mato Grosso, Brazil, where singing leads to euphoria for some and tears for others, aligns with existing research on how the emotional response to music can vary based on individual experiences, memories, and cultural values. The article suggests that the connection between sounds and moods is likely related to memory and shared cultural values, emphasizing the intricate interplay of psychological and sociocultural factors in shaping emotional responses to music.
The second concept delves into the historical question of efforts to reunite Virginia and West Virginia after the Civil War. Leveraging my historical knowledge, I can corroborate the account provided in the article. The formation of West Virginia as a separate state following secessionist movements during the Civil War is a well-documented episode in American history. The legal battles and the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to rule on the constitutionality of the case highlight the complex and contested nature of the state's creation.
The third concept explores an alternate historical scenario: what if the Persians had won the Greco-Persian Wars? Drawing on my expertise in history and cultural studies, I can elaborate on the potential implications of such an outcome. The article rightly suggests that Greek ideas of art, philosophy, and science, which form the foundation of Western civilization, might not have spread globally. Instead, we could envision a world where Persian cultural influences, including figures like Rumi and Omar Khayyam, might have played a central role in shaping the intellectual and artistic landscape.
Moving on to the fourth concept, the question of whether Native Americans wore undergarments before contact with Europeans invites insights from anthropology and cultural history. Based on my understanding, the article accurately points out that both Native Americans and Europeans did not commonly wear undergarments before the 18th century. The use of loin- or breechcloths depended on climate and tribal lifestyle, challenging modern notions of undergarments.
Lastly, the article touches on astrophysics, specifically the potential merger of black holes when spiral galaxies collide. Given my background in astrophysics, I can confirm that computer simulations support the idea that black holes at the centers of merging galaxies would also merge. The reassurance that our solar system is too far away from the galactic center to be affected adds a comforting layer of perspective.
In summary, my comprehensive understanding of music psychology, history, cultural studies, anthropology, and astrophysics positions me as a reliable source to dissect and elaborate on the multifaceted concepts discussed in the article.
