Elise Bingay
Elise Bingay
MA Student
Elise Bingay (she/her) is a master’s student in the Department of American Studies at GWU. Having graduated from Central Washington University with Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies - Social Science and Anthropology, her research interests span the topics of politics of representation, capitalism, consumer culture, and tourism.
In her last year of undergrad, she focused on her research project “How does the Tourist Gaze Impact Cultural Landscapes in Roslyn WA: A Case Study of the Roslyn Café Mural.” This project employed ethnographic methods to understand how tourists create narratives of place and community through engagement with iconic touristic locations. Focusing on the mural she explored how its feature in the 1990s television show Northern Exposure shapes the touristic landscape of Roslyn.
Where did you go for undergrad and what did you study?
For my undergrad, I went to Central Washington University in Washington State. I earned my Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies - Social Science (IDS) and Anthropology. Within my IDS program, I focused specifically on identity and community formation within American society, critical analysis of capitalism and consumerism, and tourism studies. Anthropology at CWU follows the four-field model so I took courses spanning linguistics, cultural anthropology, archeology, and biological anthropology. Within Anthropology I was particularly drawn to ethnography and cultural anthropology.
My majors led me to a point of interest during my senior year. Thirty minutes outside of my college town is a small rural former coal mining town with a unique and rich history. Having participated in the Roslyn, Ronald, and Cle Elum, Oral histories I began to learn about what the town means to these local residents. A large point of contention within the community is the tourism industry. Becoming increasingly interested in this I started a research project that analyzed the tourism industry using a popular tourist site, the Roslyn Café Mural. This project allowed me to better understand how people make sense of touristic spaces, the influence popular culture has on physical spaces, how people interact with social media to create ‘cultural objects,’ and how a town's touristic spaces are shaped by the local community and visiting tourists.
Where is your favorite place in the world?
My favorite place in the world is Whidbey Island in WA. I grew up in Everett Washington and have many fond memories of visiting Whidbey with friends and family. From boating over with my pops, to taking the ferry to my friend’s cabin, to visiting Fort Casey while camping, Whidbey is second home and is a place where I can be nostalgic while actively making new memories!
Why American Studies and why GW?
As American Studies is within the branch of Interdisciplinary Studies, the branch is of immense importance to me! My undergrad was in Interdisciplinary Studies as it allowed me to explore topics of my interest in a creative and new way. I have Dyslexia which has always encouraged me to think outside of the box. Through my undergrad in IDS I was able to hone in on various points of interest. During my studies, the courses emphasized different parts of American Studies. From systematic understandings to subcultures, the USA has been a topic I always wanted to learn more about. GW’s program seems to be the perfect fit for my lifestyle and learning style—a close-knit department, courses that allow me to explore new and specific topics, and it is in an area where once long-distance relatives will now be close by.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley! I read the book in high school and consistently revisited the themes after finishing the book. With the advancement of AI I have been wanting to revisit the book to see how I might look at the themes with a different lens.