Diary for 11th September to 17th September 2008

THURSDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER - Funereal inspiration

A relaxing afternoon today as I'll be tuning in to the airing of the Radio 4 afternoon play. 'Worktown' is inspired by photographs of Bolton and Blackpool, taken by Humphrey Spender in the late 1930s for the 'everyday anthropology' organisation 'Massobs'. It follows a funeral procession through the cobbled backstreets of the towns, and intermittently dips into slices of life on its way. Poetry, dialogue, monologue and song are combined to create a picture of the richness of local life at the time. The play will be broadcast at 14.15, but should be available on the BBC's listen again service for a week after. You can also listen whilst watching a slide show of some of the photographs here.




FRIDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER - Watching yachting, seeing cycling and perusing ping pong

If, like me, you took a break from quite so many cultural excursions recently to settle down in front of the Olympics, then you might be interested to know about the two day conference happening this weekend at SOAS. 'Documenting the Beijing Olympics' will look at the ways in which the games were recorded in both audio and visual mediums. It is being co-run by an anthropologist, Dr Lola Martinez, and many of the sessions (led by a combination of film-makers and academics) are relevant to anthropology, which often considers the significance of visual representations. Each part of the conference is related to a different element of the Games, from the torch relay to anticipating London 2012, and will concentrate on how the Olympics become remembered by observers thorugh the media they absorb. Entrance to the conference is FREE, and it runs over the full 2 days, but you should register with Jane Savoy before attending on js64@soas.ac.uk or 020 7898 4892.





SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER - Painted veils

Today I will be at an exhibition by the Moroccan artist, Hassan Hajjaj, that has just started at the Leighton House Museum in West London. Dakka Marrakesh, or 'Marrakesh Beat' is a series of images that combine traditional forms of dress with highly commercialised contemporary brands. The idea is to question stereotypical perspectives people might have of Arabic women - so for example one image features a woman wearing lots of make-up whilst sporting a veil covered in the Louis Vuitton logo. It's interesting to the anthropologist for the way such juxtapositions highlight what is sometimes called an 'Orientalist' point of view - namely only seeing non-western people in a cliched way. There is a talk by the artist today at 15.00 and the exhibition in general is open between 11.00 and 17.30 except Tuesdays - admission costs £3 or £1 for students.


SUNDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER - Anthropology VJs

Last week, the Guardian ranked its' top 50 arts videos on youtube, and amongst the eclectic collection was some footage shot by the famous American author Zora Neale Hurston, who started out as an anthropology student. The footage in the clip is from one her trips in the 1920s, and is a great example of the way the internet has brought many anthropological resources and records to a wider audience. The film is overlaid with Hurston singing a then-popular song called 'Uncle Bud', so it is not just a record of the society she was filming but also of her own background. It is one of many anthropologically-related films about, which also include this pretty unusual remix of various ethnographic films here! Sing along now - 'Uncle Bud's got gals long and tall/ And they rock their hips like a cannonball, Uncle Bud.'



MONDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER - Bringing Ethiopia to Oxford

The Pitt-Rivers Museum, that anthropological treasure trove, is currently closed for refurbishment so tonight is a rare opportunity to head along there. They are holding one of the regular 'Friend's lectures (in the new extension to the building), which is being given by Hassan Arero, from the East Africa section at the British Museum. He will be talking about 'Ethiopia at the British Museum' and the many objects on view from their collections, including religious artefacts and pieces traded along the merchant route that ran between the Mediterranean and the Far East. There are refreshments being served from 17.45pm, with the lecture at 18.15 - visitors who aren't 'friends of the museum' are welcome but are asked to make a £2 contribution towards costs.





TUESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER - In search of homeland

On Monday I want to attend the start of a new film season at the Goethe-Institut in London. Heimat? What Heimat? means "Homeland? What homeland?, and the series of films being shown are all interrogations of what exactly the concept of homeland should, or can, mean. Their 'anti-heimat' perspective - a reaction to stereotypical 1950s' films from the Austro-Germanic region - is interesting for its subversive take on that area. Films to be shown include Heart of Glass, directed by Werner Herzog, who has frequently borrowed from anthropology in his filming techniques and collaborations. The season last until 2nd October, and admission for each screening is only £3 - look on the website for more details of the schedule.




WEDNESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER - Film Flea Market

This evening I'm heading along to The Fleapit in Columbia Road, East London for the first of two nights of film screenings from the current crop of students on the MA in Visual Anthropology at Goldsmiths University. Subjects range from a portrait of a blind Irish goat farmer, to an investigation into the regeneration of Morecombe pier and a memoir of a former leper colony off the coast of Crete. Entry to the whole evening is FREE and each film lasts no longer than 25 minutes so no need to worry about turning up late - the documentaries start showing from 18.00. You can also view the work of previous years' students online here.

Diary for 4th September to 10th September 2008

THURSDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER - Running away to the circus

On Thursday I'll be donning my leotard and hanging from a trapeze to listen to 'Journey of a Lifetime', broadcast last week on Radio 4. It featured recent university graduate and anthropologist Emily Ainsworth who won a Royal Geographical Society competition to go on a 3 month trip of a lifetime. She spent three months traveling with, and hoping to perform alongside, one of the many small family circuses in Mexico. Performance has often been a key area of study in anthropology, so Emily should provide some great insights from her experience. You can study the anthropology of performance at many institutions. You can also view some photos of her trip here, and learn more about the scheme on the RGS website here.



FRIDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER - Just what is an anthropological film?

In the last couple of weeks a very prominent member of the visual anthropology community, the American professor Jay Ruby, has released a paper arguing that ethnographic film has become too similar to mainstream documentary in its definition, and that, as such, anthropologists should look towards creating a new kind of 'anthropological cinema'. Ruby's theory is studied on all visual anthropology courses, and is significant for its strongly-argued distaste for films which claim to be ethnographic (like many TV programmes) but which in fact do not really undertake a thoroughly anthropological approach. He has begun a new interactive project, encompassing text, photography and film which he argues is more valid as an anthropological understanding. At the other end of the scale, people argue that almost all film can be 'ethnographic' so Ruby's latest paper, which is clear enough for newcomers to understand is well worth a read. It may well affect how you judge some of the other things I mention on this blog!







SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER - Voices from the Nile

Today I'm going to browse a web resource I found out about at last week's conference in Slovenia - it's also a good example of what Ruby (see yesterday's entry) might be talking about when he refers to a anthropological approach to film. 'Voices from the Blue Nile' is an online resource of photographs and filmed interviews with people from Bonga, a refugee settlement in Ethiopia for people exiled from Sudan. It includes over two decades worth of material on their culture and history, and seeks to put different clips alongside each other in order to increase their significance. Therefore, on one page for example you can watch six different aspects of children's lives in Bonga. Plans for the future include showing three different points of view on the same incident, and also comparing archive and contemporary footage of a musician playing the same instrument. An abstract of the paper which was presented about the website is also available here, and the site should be developing rapidly over coming months.



SUNDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER - Native in Newcastle

On Sunday I will be up at the Baltic Centre in Gateshead to see one of their current exhibitions by Japanese, New York based artist Mariko Mori. Her work focuses on video and self-portraiture, particularly the imagination and fantasy. It has also investigated 'native cultures' and universal consciousness in relation to nature! It's of interest to anthropologists because she believes in offering multiple perspectives on her subjects, trying to escape narrow cliches or stereotypes. She also thinks it's important to reflect upon our own culture before we attempt to understand other ones. The exhibition runs until 14th September and runs between 10.00 and 18.00.



MONDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER - A story of Love And Valour

There are only a few days left if you want to catch the 'Ramayana' exhibition at the British Library that I've mentioned previously on the blog. The Ramayana is one of the most important texts in Hinduism and its influence on culture and society can be seen throughout the world. Today there is also a kathakali performance occurring at 15.30 - a traditional dance well-worth seeing -the dancers make-up will be being applied from 14.00. The website for the exhibition also has many fascinating resources, including podcasts and a video of a whirling dervish that recently visited! The exhibition is open daily (times vary - see here for details) and admission is FREE.


TUESDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER - Observing the observers

A reminder today in case you haven't already booked tickets for the event featuring Kim Longinotto that's occurring on Thursday 11th September at the BAFTA. As I mentioned on the blog a couple of weeks ago, Longinotto will be in discussion with two other film-makers who make films in an ethnographic way... Simon Chambers' film Every Good Marriage begins with Tears won the film prize at last year's RAI Film Festival, and together with film-maker George Amponsah they will be discussing why they make films in an observational style. To whet your appetite, you can read a short interview with Longinotto on the Bafta website here, and also watch her Divorce Iranian Style on the 4docs website. The event begins at 18.30 for a couple of hours and tickets cost £5.



WEDNESDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER - The importance of Art

This afternoon, I'm attending a talk at The British Museum, being given by anthropologist Max Carocci, on Native American ceremonial art. Art and anthropology frequently overlap as fields of study, because of the information an artwork can give one about the status of certain symbols, people or objects in a society. As I mentioned on the blog a couple of weeks ago, Carocci is a specialist in Californian Native Americans, having done his PhD on homosexuality amongst that community. The talk begins at 13.15 in Room 26 and is FREE to attend, just drop in.

Diary for August 28th to September 3rd 2008

THURSDAY AUGUST 28TH - Bring me his head


Today I'll be down at the British Museum for a screening of a short documentary about the 'Head of an Ife King', one of the most famous objects in the museum's wide-ranging ethnographic collection. It is part of a series of films about the museum's most iconic objects - this head belongs to Oni, the King of the Ife from Nigeria, supposedly the place where people descended form heaven on an iron chain to populate the world. The head would have been used in many different ceremonies - you can find out more here. The screening begins at 15.00 in the Stevenson Lecture Room and entrance is FREE - however you are advised to book ahead, which you can do online.






FRIDAY AUGUST 29TH - First hand voices

Come Friday I want to check out a new online resource which has recently been created by the 'communication' NGO Panos. They have just launched Video Voices as part of their Survival Strategies project, which presents first-hand accounts by the indigenous people of Madagascar about the ways they are dealing with environmental challenges of today in connection with their traditional cultural ways of farming. Panos, much like anthropology, aims to enable cross-cultural communication by listening to and understanding the experiences of people around the world and trying to make other people understand how and why they live like they do. There are lots of interesting resources on the website, so it's well worth a couple of hours of your time.



SATURDAY AUGUST 30TH - More technical wizardry

On last week's blog I mentioned the work of an anthropologist who has been working extensively in the development sector, looking at ways in which technology can be of benefit to the many projects therein. The author of that piece, Ken Banks, has very kindly been in touch and pointed me in the direction of another of his articles specifically on the relationship between anthropology and technology, and how he thinks it can make the world a better place. The article also includes a straightforward explanation of anthropology, which might be useful for any of you who are always getting asked exactly what it is they do!



SUNDAY AUGUST 31ST - Message in a bottle

Such are the wonders of the 'interweb', this week I'm blogging direct from the European Association of Social Anthropologists meeting in Ljublana, Slovenia. There are around 2000 anthropologists here discussing everything from spirit mediums to women's football in Romania, and from international migration to Serbian education systems. It's all based around the motto of 'experiencing diversity and mutuality' and lasts for four days. For those of you who aren't here, reports, photos and interviews will be posted on the website over the course of the conference, which should provide a fascinating insight into some of the different things anthropologists get up to and are interested in.



MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1ST - Watching the Guarani

Today sees the screening of a new Italian film about an indigenous community, called 'The Birdwatchers'. The only hitch with going to watch it is that it's at the Venice film festival, but I thought it worth mentioning on the blog anyhow for the fact that many of the actors are Guarani Indians, who see the film as a way of campaigning for recognition of their land rights, which have been steadily eroded by various corporations. The film depicts the love story between a Guarani and the daughter of one of the local landowners, amid all the problems that exist in the background, including the horrifically high suicide rate amongst the Guarani. It has an excellent website, where you can watch a trailer of the film, learn more about the issues involved and also look out for news of screenings in the future a little closer to home.







TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2ND - The race for The White House

With the US Presidential race hotting up fast, I was interested to read this week that Barack Obama's mother studied anthropology at university before he was even a twinkle in his eye. Perhaps some of the wisdom of anthropologists has survived in the gene pool (biology never was my strong point) because the Presidential hopeful seems to retain a number of anthropologist supporters because of his more liberal stance than the current incumbent. In the months leading up to November watch out for studious ethnographers everywhere sporting one of these rather natty 'Anthropologists for Obama' tshirts (I'll be getting mine in pomegranate). If you're particularly keen to get involved the producers also have a blog for signed-up members and Obama aficionados - the idea being that his first-hand experience of various cultures makes him more anthropologically minded.





WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3RD - Living and Dying

I'm back down at the British Museum today for a talk by anthropologist Lissant Bolton, who will be providing an Introduction to the Living & Dying gallery. The Gallery is a permanent collection curated by Lissant, who specialises in the Pacific, with a focus on 'gender and kastom in Vanuatu, and on the indigenous use of collections and cultural knowledge'. The exhibition looks at the ways different people around the world deal with issues of health, well-being and, on the other hand, illness and death. For a taster of what you might find there, you can view pictures of some of the objects on the website. The talk begins at 13.15 in Room 24 and last for 45 minutes - admission is FREE and you can just drop in.

Diary for 21st August to 27th August 2008

THURSDAY 21ST AUGUST - Texting for change

I was surprised last week to hear of an anthropologist gracing the pages of PC World - it just goes to show the breadth of subject matter that anthropology has to offer, and the many different specialisms. Ken Banks studied Anthropology and Development at Sussex University, and has since gone on to investigate the way technology, and more specifically mobile phones, can be used by grassroots organisations around the world to change lives. Anthropology and development are often closely linked because of their common focus on those living on the margins of society, and their partnership can be a positive force in encouraging policy-makers to look at things from another perspective, rather than relying on top-down presumptions. The article, and Banks' website, are an interesting example of how anthropology can help inspire career paths and decisions.





FRIDAY 22ND AUGUST - The world comes to Ireland

I'm popping over the Irish Sea today for the Festival of World Cultures, which is held annually in the port town of Dun Laoghaire. It's a carnival of music and arts from across the world, including contributors from places as diverse as Algeria, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Mali, Morocco and many more. It aims to increase cross-cultural understanding and appreciation, as well, of course as the opportunity to have a good 'craic' at the same time. The Festival runs all weekend, and you can book online - do it fast though as some events are filling up already. There's everything from West African praise songs to performances from Japan's most distinguished geisha...





SATURDAY 23RD AUGUST - Remembering slavery

On Saturday I'm getting nautical and heading over to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, South East London. Today is the International Day for the Remebrance of the slave trade and its abolition, so the museum is holding a day of talks, discussion and music entitled 'resistance remembrance renaissance'. First up, beginning at 16.30, a panel of speakers will be discussing the 'cultural legacies' of slavery by looking at the role carnival plays in British society, how World War 1 impacted upon race, and a look at the first female black millionaire. Then, at 19.00, there will be a performance by British jazz trumpeter Abram Wilson and his band, in celebration of the first ever public performance of African American music in the UK (in 1873). The night wraps up at about 20.00, and tickets for the whole thing cost £8 (or £5 for just one of the two sessions) - it's a good idea to book ahead. There's also a series of other workshops going on throughout the day - have a look on the website for more information.


SUNDAY 24TH AUGUST - Loving the local

This Sunday provides the ideal opportunity to settle down and leaf through a new anthropological study of 'The Enduring Appeal of the Local', which has just been released by the Social Issues Research Council. It's based on a piece of research originally done in the 1930s when members of Massobs - the 'everyday anthropology' organisation mentioned from time to time on the blog - undertook a 2-year long look at the rituals of behaviour in Britain's pubs. They discovered that pubs were unique in British society for the amount of time and money that British people spent in them, but also and most importantly for the social interaction they offered...not necessarily the alcohol. The new report, which you can read in full online, comes to much the same conclusions and says that humans across the world will continue to meet for a drink, because it offers the basic face to face contact that all human relationships need - unlike relatively new methods such as mobile phones and facebook, for example. Bear in mind that the new report was commissioned by a pub chain when you read it though, - there's a chance it may have influenced some of the conclusions!


MONDAY 25TH AUGUST - Learning to observe

A very early heads-up today for an exciting event taking place next month that is almost guaranteed to sell out. Three film-makers with strong associations with anthropology, some of whose films are housed in the Royal Anthropological Institute's archive, will be present for a discussion on observational film-making. Beginning at 18.30, Kim Longinotto - acclaimed director of 'Divorce Iranian Style (and many more...) will be interviewed by two up-and-coming observational film-makers, including Simon Chambers, director of Every Good Marriage Begins with Tears, which was awarded the film prize at last year's RAI film festival. There will also be sneak previews of Longinotto's latest film. The event is taking place in the impressive setting of the BAFTA building in central London, and tickets, which can be booked online, cost £5 each.




TUESDAY 26TH AUGUST - Standing out in a crowd

According to author Tim Parks, who claims much of his work is inspired by anthropology, headhunters and pianists are very similar beings. He has just released a novel entitled Dreams of Rivers & Seas, which recounts the reunion of a son and mother, following the death of their father/husband. The deceased man in question had become an anthropologist during his lifetime, and elements of his character are based on the 1930s anthropologist Gregory Bateson, who pioneered a theory of society that suggested the individual's role in shifted according to the networks he/she was caught up in - previously it had been understood as predetermined. Whilst Batseon was studying 'headhunters' from Papua New Guinea, Parks suggests you can see similar things occurring even within families. If you want to know more you can read a review of the book here, or it is available in shops and online now.

WEDNESDAY 27TH AUGUST - Imagined reality

Continuing with yesterday's combination of anthropological 'reality' and imagination, today I'll be listening again to the first two programmes from a mini-series currently running on Thinking Allowed. 'Thinking and Place' looks at the ways in which artistic interpretation of locations, and the lived reality of daily experiences in those places, impact upon one another. The first episode featured a rural ethnographer in discussion with author Joanna Trollope about what constitutes the 'rural idyll' and how desirable that idyll in fact is... This week, it was the turn of the suburbs to come under examination - as social scientists discussed with author Will Self why the suburbs are so popular, yet so often ridiculed. Next week is a live show about imaginations of 'the city', some of whihc will be featured as a video on the Open University's linked website.

Diary for 14th August to 20th August 2008

THURSDAY 14TH AUGUST - The meaning of weapons


This afternoon I'm going to wander over to The British Museum for a talk by anthropologist Max Carocci on Native American Weapons: Protection & Magic. He will be talking about how weapons have a long history of cultural meaning in Native American society. Interestingly, such symbols have in recent years also been 'appropriated' by several American sports teams - many an American football fan might brandish a plastic tomahawk for instance - and it is a subject which has also been written about by anthropologists. Dr Carocci conducted his phD research on being gay and Native American in California, so is something of an expert on the area. The lecture begins at 13.15 in Room 27 and admission is FREE.



FRIDAY 15TH AUGUST - Fancy making a film?

For the budding film-makers amongst you, this weekend might be the time to start thinking of ideas for a new ethnographic film festival aimed specifically at students. Hosted by the Goldsmiths University Anthropology Society, the ISEFF 2008 is not until mid-November, but the deadline for film submissions is 22nd September which does not leave you an enormous amount of time if you want to get making films. Running over two days, the festival is divided into 'anthropology as service' - looking at how anthropology is being used in non-academic settings, and 'aesthetics of encounter' - about the value of visual ethnographic research. You can download more information about the rules on the website, and if you needed any more incentive there's also cash prizes available...



SATURDAY 16TH AUGUST - The Tide of Life

On Saturday I'm going to an exhibition at Tate St.Ives featuring artist Adam Chodzko. Although he doesn't refer to anthropology directly in his work, there is much that it has in common with the subject. This collection, 'Proxigean Tide' is a retrospective from his career, which has often focused on the rituals and cultural practices of people on the margins of society. By reflecting artistically on these social spheres, he makes the viewer reconsider their own relationship to life, which can often also be the outcome of anthropological research. The exhibition is open daily until 21st September, between 10.00 and 17.20, and entrance costs £3.75 for students. You can also view a filmed interview with Chodzko here.





SUNDAY 17TH AUGUST - Resistance is not so futile

A fine read on the cards for today, as I'm going to learn more about a text recounting an anthropologist's adventures around the globe organising and participating in anti-globalisation protests. 'Resistance' is usually a key section of study on any undergraduate anthropology degree, so 'Networking Futures' should be a fascinating look at a fairly abstract part of society. The author, Jeffrey Juris, particularly looks at the way political activism has developed using technology to avoid hierarchy and operate efficiently without much money, as well as giving many examples of the kinds of people who make up these networks. The book is available to buy online, though is only directly on sale in the US at the moment.



MONDAY 18TH AUGUST - Metalheads

Some time ago on the blog I mentioned the documentary film Metal - A Headbanger's Journey, which followed a Canadian anthropologist and heavy metal fan's investigation into the subculture and community of heavy metal. The film provoked such a wide response that Sam Dunn - the anthropologist and director - has decided to make a follow-up about metal music in some places less renowned for their love of the genre. If you've ever wondered what the difference is between Indonesian death metal and Iranian thrash metal is, then Global Metal is the film for you. You can find out more about screenings on the film's website and also view a trailer here.


TUESDAY 19TH AUGUST - First dates with a difference

Today I'm going to 'tuck into' a book that has just been published, bluntly entitled "Come on shore and we will kill you and eat you all". It's a fascinating blend of a love story, travelogue and anthropological fieldwork....of sorts. The author, Christina Thompson, is a respected anthropologist, who married an indigenous Maori over twenty years ago, and has as a result become fascinated by 'contact encounters' or the interaction between people from entirely different communities. The book recounts how she has analysed her husband, and their relationship, over the years, and takes its title from Darwin's exclamation when he arrived in New Zealand in 1835, with a rather scared and stereotypical attitude towards the locals. The book is available to buy online and you can read a review here.






WEDNESDAY 20TH AUGUST - The reason behind the rhythm

I'm going to end the week with a bit of a boogie down at the Horniman Museum, for a session that's part of their ongoing series of summer dance events. 'Merengue with Mandacaru Dance Theatre' is a lesson in the merengue dance form from the Dominican Republic. As well as being a good opportunity to learn a few new moves, it is also a good example of the role dance can have in society, and how we can often learn more about a community through their cultural performances. It is said that the steps to the dance originated on the island's plantations, when enslaved people, who cut sugar cane to the beat of drums, were chained together and so were forced to drag one leg. Intriguing stuff - there are two sessions from 14.00 until 14.30 and 15.00 until 15.30, and admission is FREE. You can also study the Anthropology of Dance at Roehampton University - clink here for more details.

Diary for August 7th to August 13th 2008

THURSDAY AUGUST 7TH - Working wonder

Today I'm going to the launch night of an exhibition called 'Working London' at The Gallery in Willesden Green, Northwest London, . Featuring the work of four different artists, it takes a look at the working lives of people in the capital right across the spectrum. Labour has always been an important topic in anthropology, largely because it has such an important impact on how the rest of our lives and society works. The exhibition runs until the end of the month and is open daily between 14.00 and 18.00, except today when the launch begins at 18.00. Admission is FREE - if you want more information you can call the curator on 07919 520 320.





FRIDAY AUGUST 8TH - Don't worry, be happy

A return to the LIDF Encore today, in association with Pocketvisions, as I'm off to the Roxy Bar & Screen in London Bridge for the showing of two films. The first is 'Are you Happy?', made in Iran, in which the film-maker went into the houses of various different people from distinct sections of Iranian society and posed them the very simple question of the film's title. It's inspired by Chronicle of a Summer, directed by Jean Rouch in the 1960s, and one of the most famous ethnographic film-makers of all time, in which he used the same approach to ask people in Paris about their lives. The film is followed by Feminin Masculin, a short film about the first female bus driver in Tehran - you can also view it online at the excellent 'Why Democracy?' website. The films at the Roxy being at 18.30 and entrance is FREE.



SATURDAY AUGUST 9TH - More than just a sport?

I mentioned Professor Susan Brownell on the blog some months ago, but since the Olympics begin today I thought I'd flag up a quick update. She is an American anthropologist undertaking research in Beijing on the wider role that sport plays in the body politic and culture of China, particularly in relation to the imminent Games. In the last few months her book on the subject, 'Beijing's Games: What the Olympics mean to China', has been published and you can read sample chapters of the text online. Sport and anthropology is still a relatively small, but growing, area of work - surprising perhaps given its prominent place in our society, However, there are a few other books about on the subject, and you can study modules that link the two fields on, for example, the BA in Sport at the University of Durham.



SUNDAY AUGUST 10TH - Reel Lives

This Sunday I thought I would check out a fantastic resource that's available down at the British Film Institute on London's South Bank. It's called the Mediatheque, and has an archive of a wide selection of films from the BFI's National Archive. I've mentioned it before on the blog, but the assortment of films available for viewing are constantly changing - and the breadth of subject matter is so great that it's an interesting place to learn a little more about a certain aspect of society, or even to begin a research project. At the moment, highlights include films shot in pre-1950s Tibet before it was taken over by China - The Search for Shangri-La, , and Housewives' Choice - about the lives of British women in the home between 1920 and 1950. The Mediatheque is open from Wednesday to Sunday between 11.00 until 20.00 (with the exception of Tuesday mornings) and is FREE to use.



MONDAY AUGUST 11TH - Squeaky clean gambling

Today it's my regular listen-again session to an episode of Thinking Allowed - last week it featured anthropologist Adam Kuper in discussion with the author of a new book on a cultural history of cleanliness - entitled appropriately enough as 'Clean'. The book looks at the history of personal hygiene from pre-historic times right up until the present day, including several detailed looks at the 'rituals' of personal grooming. The programme also features a sociologist presenting her research on the gambling habits of women, and how their betting influences their wider lives. So if you fancy having a wager on the next time your housemate might actually do some cleaning up, this is probably the radio show for you...


TUESDAY AUGUST 12TH - Strangers abroad

On Saturday I'll be putting my feet up and relaxing in front of 'The Thirties in Colour', a television series recently shown on BBC4 and now available to view online using the iplayer. It focuses on the first colour films made (only by by those wealthy enough to afford the expensive past-time), and how they saw the world around them, both domestically and in faraway places. Many of their observations are steeped in the perspective of the day, with a very superior view of the 'exotic tribes' they saw on their travels. Yet for the early images alone the films are fascinating for their representation of the interaction between westerners and indigenous peoples. For an alternative point of view, you could also try getting hold of 'Cannibal Tours', an excellent ethnographic film that investigates the prejudices of those who embark on invasive tourism - the film's tagline is "There is nothing so strange in a strange land, as the stranger who comes to visit it'.


WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13TH - Stitched up

A new venue to visit today, when I'll be heading to Leighton House in West London - the former home of a Victorian artist. The Royal Anthropological Institute has hosted exhibitions there in the past, and starting this afternoon is 'Stitched' by Iranian artist Farhad Ahrarnia, whose work, much like anthropology, aims to expose the relationship between surface-level perception of people or groups and what lies beneath. There's a talk about the new collection at 15.00, and it is also well-worth browsing the rest of the house's contents, many of which date from Lord Leighton's travels in the Middle East (for a virtual online tour go here). The Museum is open daily, except Tuesday, and entrance costs £3, or £1 for students.

Diary for 24th July to 30th July 2008

THURSDAY 24TH JULY - Getting throaty in Cambridge

I'm kicking off the week in style tonight, as I'm attending a workshop put on by Siberian musicians Altai Kai at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge. The six-piece group from the Altai mountains in Southern Siberia will be performing their unique combination of 'kai' - or 'throat-singing' - accompanied by traditional instruments from the region including horse-hair fiddles and shamanic drums. The songs are designed to gain the favour of the powerful mountain spirits who will protect their hunters and herdsmen. The event is FREE to attend - for more information you can call the museum on 01223 333516, and is a fantastic chance to see the group in a smaller setting before they head off for the likes of the Royal Opera House.







FRIDAY 25TH JULY - Observing Olga

I'm off to Pocketvisions again tonight for what sounds like an ethnographic film in the most traditional, observational definition of the genre. Olga & Time is set in the Italian mountains and depicts a morning-in-the-life of Olga, a cow herdswoman as she works, enjoys nature and boils milk. It is "a poetic visions of a few hours in the life of the earth" and follows in the footsteps of some other anthropological films that have not sought to explain, merely to present. Perhaps most well known of these (and also widely studied on undergraduate courses) is Robert Gardner's Forest of Bliss, about everyday life in the Indian town of Benares. Such films attract a fair amount of discussion as to whether they are more or less helpful as a way of representing society, or corner of society. The only way to decide is by watching one yourself, so that's why I'll be going along to Olga & Time, which begins at 18.30 in London Bridge's Roxy Bar & Screen - entrance is FREE.


SATURDAY 26TH JULY - Silent tongues

On Tuesday I'm going to visit an exhibition being put on in East London by Susan Hiller. She trained as an anthropologist at university and her work has often concentrated on recording human behaviour and the peculiarities of different groups. 'The Last Silent Movie' is her latest work, and is an audio installation made up of extinct or endangered languages. The idea is that by exhibiting these voices she is ensuring that their knowledge continues to provoke meaning even today. The exhibition is showing at Matt's Gallery all weekend, with the film every half hour between 12.00 and 18.00. You can also watch an interview with Susan Hiller here to learn more about her approach to her work.



SUNDAY 27TH JULY - Music from India

More music on Sunday as I'm down at The Horniman Museum in South-East London for the 'Utsavam Fest' going on all afternoon. The event includes an assortment of arts, crafts and food from India and is linked in to the ongoing exhibition Utsavam - Music from India which is running at the Horniman until November. The exhibition features rarely-seen or known instruments from many different parts of rural India, and looks at the different geographical, cultural and social environments in which music is produced (watch a short video here). The event lasts from 13.00 until 18.00 and admission is FREE - the museum is also open until 17.30.



MONDAY 28TH JULY - Snappy dressers

Today I'll be getting suited and booted to sit down and listen to a recent episode of Radio 4's Thinking Allowed, which focused on the overwhelming popularity of the western business suit as the choice of dress for world leaders. The discussants on the show, who include renowned LSE anthropologist Henrietta Moore, will be debating what it is about the garment that is so appealing to those in power. It's all linked to the publication of a recent book 'Clothing: A Global History', coming to a book shop near you soon. Clothing is an important subfield in anthropology, because it is often an important form of cultural expression and, as is the case here, can also tell us a lot about the presentation of power in social relations. You can listen to other talks involving Professor Moore on her website here.

TUESDAY 29TH JULY - Unpacking reality

Today I'll be attending an exhibition recently featured in The Guardian (viewable online) called 'I packed this Myself'. It's organised by the community-cohesion group Bridging Arts and is a series of traveling suitcases that include information and objects relating to the lives of migrant workers in Southern England, aiming to inform local people about their communities and combat some of the rural racism that exists. At the moment, suitcases include one from Eastern Europe and another from Portugal, and they are touring Cornwall over coming weeks. There's plenty of further information and resources on the website, so check it out...




WEDNESDAY 30TH JULY - Women in Benin

Sad news for anthropologists about town, good news for Lucy's suntan - next week I'll be off doing some foreign 'research', so there'll be a brief week off from the blog. To make sure you don't miss out, here's an advance heads-up for another screening 'Upstairs at the RAI' on 4th August. Following the successful event a couple of weeks ago, the film Si-Gueriki - The Queen Mother, directed by Benin film-maker Idrissou Mora-Kpai, will be showing at 18.00, introduced by the director. It is a wide-ranging reflection on the role of Borgu women in their North Benin society, and their changing role and position within the community - you can read a much more detailed summary here. If you would like to attend, the screening is FREE and more information can be obtained from Susanne Hammacher, the RAI film officer on 020 7387 0455.