Culture Corner Exhibit

The University of Tennessee Libraries’ Belonging and Engagement Committee hosts a Culture Corner that highlights the breadth of resources available across the George F. DeVine Music Library, John C. Hodges Library, and Webster C. Pendergrass Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine Library. This display is designed to spark meaningful conversations and promote education and global awareness through books, brochures, bibliographies, and other library materials. It invites students, faculty, and staff to reimagine the role of academic library collections while offering new perspectives. The Culture Corner is located on the second floor of Hodges Library in the Dixie Marie Wooten Commons West.

See our guide for previous culture corner themes and resources.

The PERMA model, developed by Martin Seligman, is a positive psychology framework defining the five core elements of human well-being and flourishing: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. It suggests that cultivating these independent pillars leads to a more fulfilling, resilient, and satisfied life.

Here is a breakdown of the PERMA components:

1. P – Positive Emotions (P)
Refers to experiencing joy, gratitude, contentment, hope, and satisfaction. It is not just about smiling, but fostering a generally optimistic outlook and savoring good moments.

2. E – Engagement (E)
Involves being fully absorbed, interested, and "in the flow" during activities. It is that state where time seems to stop because you are so deeply involved in a task.

3. R – Relationships (R)
Highlights the human need for connection, love, and support. It includes having high-quality, authentic relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.

4. M – Meaning (M)
Relates to having a sense of purpose and belonging to something bigger than oneself. This can be found in spirituality, work, family, or social causes.

5. A – Accomplishment (A)
Also known as achievement, this is the drive to master tasks, reach goals, and feel a sense of competence. It involves perseverance and celebrating personal wins.

Hughes, M., & Miller, A. (2011). Developing emotional and social intelligence : exercises for leaders, individuals, and teams. Pfeiffer/Wiley.

Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The how of happiness : a scientific approach to getting the life you want. Penguin Press. http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip081/2007039942.html

Loehr, J. E., & Schwartz, T. (2003). The power of full engagement : managing energy, not time, is the key to high performance and personal renewal. Free Press.

Hari, J. (2022). Stolen focus : why you can’t pay attention--and how to think deeply again. Crown.

Marsiglio, W. (2023). Chasing we-ness : cultivating empathy and leadership in a polarized world. Aevo UTP, an imprint of University of Toronto Press.

books here

🎶 PERMA Playlist

😊 P — Positive Emotions

Theoretical grounding

Broaden-and-Build Theory (Fredrickson)
Music therapy research on mood regulation, dopaminergic reward, and stress reduction
Educational psychology: positive affect enhances attention, creativity, and learning readiness

How the music functions

Upbeat tempo, major keys, predictable structures
Increases emotional accessibility and lowers affective barriers

Playlist tracks

Happy — Pharrell Williams
Good as Hell — Lizzo
Walking on Sunshine — Katrina and the Waves (CD12884)

Clinical / educational use

Session openers
Warm-ups before learning tasks
Emotional priming in classrooms or therapy groups

🎯 E — Engagement

Theoretical grounding

Flow Theory (Csikszentmihalyi)
Music therapy literature on sustained attention, task persistence, and sensorimotor integration
Educational research on background music and cognitive immersion

How the music functions

Repetitive motifs and steady pulse encourage absorption
Emotional intensity without distraction
Instrumental music supports non-verbal cognitive flow

Playlist tracks

Midnight City — M83 (CD17916)
Lose Yourself — Eminem
Clair de Lune — Claude Debussy, composer (CD17895)

Clinical / educational use

Focused work phases
Improvisation, composition, or expressive writing
Exam preparation or independent learning

❤️ R — Relationships

Theoretical grounding

Attachment theory and social bonding
Music therapy research on group cohesion, synchrony, and empathic attunement
Education literature on collaborative learning and emotional safety

How the music functions