Academic Fictions: 2022
Last year, the Allegra Lab began a thematic thread showcasing a selection of the wonderful “academic fictions” written by students as an assignment for the course on “Cities,…
Tag: ACADEMIA
The search for the worst anthro job ad: An interview with Dada Docot
In September 2021, Dada Docot sent out a half-serious tweet about finding the Worse Anthro Job Ad for 2021. The post got attention, and the search took off.…
On the use and abuse of networks in academia
Like most anthropologists, we have been watching events unfold at Harvard University’s anthropology department over the past weeks: accusations of abuse; letters in support of the man accused…
Who cares? Peer-review at Allegra
At Allegra, we believe and know from our own experience that the fresh eyes of our peers can help us improve drafts, weed out waffle, strengthen an argument,…
Ten Treasures (and a Bonus): A Selection of Anthropological Gems You Might Have Missed from the Past Few Years
I began interviewing authors of fabulous new anthropology books for this space back in 2016. While completing 11 interviews, I also amassed a backlog of more terrific books…
Living Water and the politics and anti-politics of water in Jordan (Part 1)
We are often told that Jordan is one of the most water-poor countries on the planet and it is hard not to recognize the truth of this…
GAA 2021 Conference Diary: Atmospheric Discussions?
In collaboration with the conference organisers, Allegra had reached out to a number of colleagues to submit some impressions in the form of “daily diaries” from the recent…
#A future history of water: Andrea Ballestero’s response
When encountering the generosity of brilliant colleagues, one can only start with gratitude. Add to that a historical moment when a virus has reconfigured the languages, spaces, and…
The only lesson is that there aren’t enough jobs
Every so often something happens that perfectly encapsulates the consumptive death rattle that is the job market in higher education. A few weeks ago, the department of anthropology…
#A future history of water: Strange thing full of water – Alberto Corsin-Jimenez’s comments
Andrea Ballestero (2019). A Future History of Water. Duke University Press. As I write these lines, my home city, Madrid, is covered in a thick blanket of snow.…
#A future history of water: Maura Finkelstein’s comments
Andrea Ballestero,(2019). A Future History of Water. Duke University Press. I have an exercise I like to assign to my students, one that I have adapted from Donna…
#A future history of water: Rachel Douglas-Jones’ comments
As I finished reading Ballestero’s A Future History of Water, the world observed World Water Day 2021. Organized by the United Nations, it has been observed annually each…
EP#81 Lifeworlds & Studying Aoetorea: Susanna Trnka on Traversing Multiple Lifeworlds & Publics
The Familiar Strange · EP#81 Lifeworlds & Studying Aoetorea: Susanna Trnka on Traversing Multiple Lifeworlds & Publics We’re back this week with Joe’s first interview! For this episode,…
Ethnographic Film at the Crossroads
Ethnographic film is blooming Ethnographic film, however loosely defined, is blooming. While to track and map the entire production of ethnographic film appears next-to impossible, I want to…
Évariste Galois: el matemático fugaz
Read Time:5 Minute, 39 Second Algunos misterios siempre escaparán a la mente humana. Para convencernos de ello sólo hay que echar …
Relatos para una reconciliación oportuna
Read Time:9 Minute, 38 Second El antropólogo neoyorquino Elijah G. Costanza realizó entre 1973 y 1975 un trabajo de campo en el val…
On The Culture of Harassment in Archaeology: An interview with Barbara L. Voss
[Content advisory: This article discusses harassment and discrimination in archaeology, including discussion of sexual assault.] On the morning of March 30, 2021, three articles on the culture of…
My Divine Pet Rock
Amusing anecdotes about fieldwork were, from what I could tell, basic currency throughout university halls, on conference panels, and in graduate student lounges. Many of my teachers and…
Ep #71 Entrepreneurism in Academia and Ethics on The Ground: This Month of TFS
The Familiar Strange · Ep #71 Entrepreneurism in Academia and Ethics on The Ground: This Month of TFS This week on TFS, the Strangers continue with our new…
Theory as reproduction: Reflections on the history of doing feminist anthropology in Australia Part 1 and 2
The Familiar Strange · Part 1:Theory as reproduction:reflections on the history of doing feminist anthropology in Australia The Familiar Strange · Part 2:Theory as reproduction:reflections on the hist…
Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Me
In the depths of the Depression, two girls were born to Jewish parents in New York City. One, in 1933, was Ruth Bader, later Mrs. Ginsburg. The other,…
I’ve Never Met Anyone Like Me, But Anthropologists (Not Me) Study People Like Me, Or: What if we trans/non-binary people weren’t just your objects of study?
cw: transphobia, mention of suicide and murder Willow, our cat. I started writing this piece in June. It was during Pride month, amidst JK Rowling’s ongoing public transphobia,…
On Gutters and Ethnography
In a departure from more conventional communication methods in academia, I’m exploring how comics–a medium I love to read and am learning to make (thank you to my…
BIPOC Survival – A Conversation about the Malignant Intersection of Narcissism and Racism in Anthropology and Academia
[This article was co-authored by Anar Parikh and Chelsey Carter. Please cite accordingly.] Content Warning: The topics discussed in this piece share experiences of racism, narcissism, and abuse;…