How Will the Power of the Pussyhat Endure?
Pussyhats—pink, handcrafted caps with cat-like ears that were worn during the Women’s March on Washington and in supporting women’s marches around the world—are more than just a visual…
Tag: identity
How Hostels Have Turned Backpackers Into “Brokepackers”
Hostels used to be reliably inexpensive options for backpackers. That is no longer the case. Michelle Jones In May 2014, having recently completed my master’s degree in anthropology,…
Native by Design
Who has the right to manufacture, sell, wear, or display objects and designs that come from or are inspired by Native Americans? Alannah Giannino/Flickr In March 2016, Denver,…
The Good Old Days
Every summer, festivalgoers gather throughout the American West to relax in the sunshine, smoke a little pot, and dance to the sweet, nostalgic sounds of bluegrass music. Bluegrass…
Fractocurrentism and the anthropologist of the future (TAOTF) …
Will be a world view Will reconceptualise disciplinary thinking and skill sets TAOTF will be better known TAOTF will probably do fiewldwork at home, locally or … –…
“Everyone’s Fun is Different:” A Conversation with Gabriel De Los Angeles
Nick here: I had the honor of meeting Gabriel at the Popular Culture Association / American Culture Association meeting earlier this year, where he presented on the phenomenon…
Is the Term “People of Color” Acceptable in This Day and Age?
One day a student approached me after class and asked, “What should I call students who are of Asian descent? Is it OK to just say Asian, or…
How Tourism Reinvented Jesus’ Baptism Site
The Yardenit Baptismal Site is a pilgrimage place that many visitors say allows them to connect to events outlined in the Bible, including the baptism and ministry of…
Casual Racism and the Problem of White Identity
A Family Portrait My family is super white. We love brunch at IKEA, we have varying relationships with rhythm, and we feel slightly guilty about everything. Aside from…
Casual Racism and the Problem of White Identity
A Family Portrait My family is super white. We love brunch at IKEA, we have varying relationships with rhythm, and we feel slightly guilty about everything. Aside from…
Black Lives Matter and Reflections from a Civil War
The Black Lives Matter movement is seeking to put an end to the inequities faced by blacks in the United States. In Sri Lanka, the failure to redress…
Trump and the Echo of Amache
The barracks that once stood at the site of Amache were home to more than 7,000 Japanese-American internees during World War II. Esteban M. Gómez In the southeastern…
In the Journals – October 2016
Welcome back to In the Journals, our monthly look at some of the many different publications on crime, law, security, and the state. With the fall semester coming…
Selling Dreams of the Good Life in Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, as in other countries around the world, multilevel marketing companies like Mary Kay appeal to potential recruits by promising new economic opportunities and a revitalized sense…
The Perennial Power of Ritual
A rain dance won’t make water fall from the sky. Casting a spell won’t cure cancer. Tarot cards can’t really reveal the future. Yet rituals like these have…
Can an iPhone App Help Save an Endangered Language?
About half of the world’s languages are expected to disappear by 2100 if nothing is done to stop their decline. To counteract this trend, some tribes are using…
Creating and debating Harari identity over the internet
This is the tenth (10th) set of notes under the theme of media and change in preparation for the volume Postill, J., E. Ardevol and S. Tenhunen (eds.)…
How Twin Culture Challenges Our Notions of Self
Sameness is often seen as the defining characteristic of identical twins, but this impression is a result of Western stereotypes about the meaning of selfhood. Lisa Wiltse/Getty Images…
Arizona’s Inmate Firefighters
In the state of Arizona, all able-bodied incarcerated people are required to work. Most prison jobs are monotonous and consist of low-skill, assembly line–style labor. The hourly wage…
#Review: The Color of Modernity. São Paulo and the Making of Race and Nation in Brazil
The Color of Modernity. São Paulo and the Making of Race and Nation in Brazil is an ambitious effort to rethink the formation of a regional identity and perceptions…
Food Anthropology, A Tribute to Sidney W. Mintz
What are your essential articles for teaching a Food Anthropology course? What most distinguishes Food Anthropology from other ways of studying food? What are the most important insights…
Let’s Keep Arguing About Flags and Statues
The Confederate flag, which many people see as a symbol of America’s racist past, continues to spark debate. fauxto_digit/Flickr Last summer, the Confederate flag was finally taken down…
Europe’s Destructive Spirals of Distrust
On February 6, 2016, thousands of people protested the immigration of Muslims, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and other cities across Europe. Peter Dejong/AP Photo Controversies around minori…
Elusive Caimans and the Anthropologist as Devil
books and arts Lucas Bessire. 2014. Behold the Black Caiman: A Chronicle of Ayoreo Life. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. 296 pages. Dust In this poignant and…