Diary for 8th of April to 15th April 2009

Lucy apologises to all her readers but she will not be able to post a blog this week as she is off scampering about, exploring new lands, meeting new people and tasting different culinary delights! Stay tuned for next week for more anthropological events, books and radio programmes.

Diary for 1st April to 7th April 2009

THURSDAY 2nd April - Moon Watching

For centuries the moon has been associated in different cultures with the basic rhythms of life as well as religious symbolism and mythology. For people with extremely deep pockets, space travel has provided the ultimate opportunity for a close up encounter with the moon. The rest of humanity can enjoy the bathed light of a moon drenched evening, or viewing the moon through a telescope, which is exactly what I am going to do! From the 1st to the 5th of April there will be opportunities to enjoy moon watching at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. People will be able to look at the moon through a 28 inch telescope, the largest of its kind in the UK. Admission is free. For more information take a look at this website.



FRIDAY 3rd April- Tokyo Sonata

For those of you familiar with Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa's work, the filmmaker has steered away from his traditional horror fare to do a film which depicts the darker side of human nature while giving us a glimpse at some of the social problems which exist in contemporary Japan. Tokyo Sonata is a black comedy about a 'normal' Japanese family. When the father looses his job unexpectedly and keeps it secret from his family, a domino effect of lies and a breakdown of communication gradually leads to the family's destruction. Tokyo Sonata is being screened at the Institute of Contemporary Arts at 6:15pm tonight. Tickets are 8 pounds for adults and 7 for concession. To book tickets take a look here.



SATURDAY 4th April- In search of a medicine woman

As part of the London International Documentary Festival, there will be a screening of the film 'Noshinto Shamporo' (My daughter Shamporo) at the British Museum this afternoon. Taking place in the central rainforests of Peru, Elias the leader of the Ashaninka tribe decides to return to his birthplace to search for a medicine woman who will teach his daughter Shamporo all about plants and ceremonial rites. The film will take place inside the BP lecture theater at the British Museum at 3pm. Tickets are 3 pounds. For more information about the film take a look here.


SUNDAY 5th April- Was Manchester built on Slavery?

Eight museums and galleries from the greater Manchester area came together in 2007 to commemorate the bicentenary of the abolition of the British slave trade in 1807. In a project called Revealing histories, the group of museums and galleries developed exhibitions, events and activities aimed at exploring the legacies of slavery in their collections, communities and in their region. The projects and activities have been documented and put together in a wonderful website called: Revealing Histories, debating slavery. The website is divided into three sections, explore, investigate and debate. This a fantastic teaching and learning resource.



MONDAY 6th April- Un voyage a Canada

Today I am going to the Canada House Gallery, just near Trafalgar Square to see a new exhibit called Nunavut Our Land- Notre Terre. Established on April 1st 1999, Nunavut is the newest and largest of the Northern territories in Canada and is an area of growing international importance. The exhibit marks the 10th anniversary of celebrating Nunavut's establishment as a seperate territory. The exhibit contains Inuit sculpture and photographs of everyday life in Nunavut by Patrice Halley. The exhibit is free, and you can visit from 10:00am- 5:30pm.



TUESDAY 7th April- ASPEKTY Festival of Visual Anthropology: call for films

For all of you aspiring anthropological filmmakers, the annual ASPEKTY anthropological film festival will take place this year in Torun Poland, between the 27-29 of November 2009. The festival aims at exploring different areas of culture with the main goal of presenting 'the audience with diverstiy of human experience and the multiplicity of ways to express onself within a society and the world'. The festival is now calling for films to be submitted. The deadline for submissions is 1st August 2009. For more information about the festival and submitting your film, take a look at this website.




WEDNESDAY 8th April- Chewing for the environment

Those of you who go to Waitrose for your groceries or afternoon snack might have noticed a new product on the shelves called Chicza. Chicza is a new type of chewing gum that is organic and biodegradable. Following from an old Mayan tradition, Macario Leyva (a gum farmer from the Mayan rainforest) and his consortium of chicleros are hoping to launch a niche product that will not only provide an alternative to the toxic substance (that costs the British government 413 million pounds a year to remove) but a product that links back to Mayan cultural heritage and farming practices. There is a very interesting article from the Telegraph about the gum and the project, which you can read here.

Diary for 26th March to 1st April

THURSDAY 26th March - No Heartaches in Heaven

Today I am heading to the music department at the City University London to attend a seminar that explores the connections between music and the social, political context of aboriginal experiences in Western Canada. 'No Heartache in Heaven' is a song about suicide by Chris Beach, an Obijwe Metis songwriter and playwright. The song (along with Beach's other works) reflects his own experiences while addressing some of the key issues and discourses on aboriginal suicide in Manitoba and the effects it has on family members and the community. The seminar is free and open to all. The talk will take place in room AG09 (College Building, entrance on St. John's street) from 2-4pm.

FRIDAY 27th March- Conversations in Film

Today marks the beginning of the 3rd London International Documentary Film Festival. In association with London Review of Books and sponsored by Ecover, this festival brings together a wide range of international films that engage the audience in relevant social, cultural and political issues that affect us all. In addition to film screenings there will be panel discussions with filmmakers, academics, activists with the aim to encourage dialogue and exchange of ideas between interested groups of individuals. You can listen to interviews and read reviews of some of the films on the festival website. The films will be screened in a variety of venues across London, including the Barbican, the British Museum and Curzon, Soho. You can find out more about the schedule of events and ticket costs through the festival website.

SATURDAY 28th March- Exploring Africa's diversity

Today I am heading to the Horniman Museum to explore one of their permanent exhibitions entitled 'African Worlds'. The exhibition, is the first one in Britain dedicated to African art and culture. There is a fantastic mix of objects, decorative arts, and sculpture from Egypt to Zimbabwe celebrating the history, creativity and diversity of Africa. Entrance to the museum is free. For more information about the exhibit take a look here.

SUNDAY 29th March- Planning a trip to Bristol

The Association of Social Anthropologists (ASA) is hosting their annual conference this year at the University of Bristol from 6th-9th of April. The ASA was founded in 1946, and is an association dedicated to promoting the study and teaching of social anthropology. The conference this year is called: Anthropological and archaeological imaginations: past, present and future. The aim of the conference is to reconsider the complex connections between social anthropology and archaeology. Although not necessarily for beginners of anthropology, there are a lot of interesting discussions and films that are accessible. The cost of registrations is quite high (even for students) but it might be good to think of creative ways to fund your trip.

MONDAY 30th March- Free online access to a new journal

For those of you interested in tourism and the exchange of goods and services then you should take a look at this free online journal called ' Journal of Tourism Consumption and Practice'. The journal has recently been established, and its aim is to publish original, peer reviewed articles, shorter discussion pieces, book reviews and conference reports on tourism in its broadest sense. The current issue has articles looking at topics ranging from Holocaust tourism, to evaluating how 'green' cities like Wellington New Zealand actually are. For more information about the journal, take a look here.

TUESDAY 31st March - Anthropological research in London

Those of you already doing anthropological research in London or are thinking of doing so, you will be pleased to know that there is a newly established network called FiLo- The Fieldwork in London Research Network. The network is run by researchers themselves and aims to bring together ideas, suggestions for fieldwork sites, help on accommodation, providing tips on good literature and network opportunities. The network is not bound by any university or discipline, but welcomes all researches interested in projects and areas within London. For more information, or to register onto their mailing list email: filo.network@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY 1st April- Seeking sounds

The British Library has a new addition to their Archival Sound Recordings website called Traditional Music from India. The recordings were all undertaken by ethnomusicologist Rolf Killius as part of a collaborative project between the Horniman Museum, the British Library and Rolf. The project was set up in 2000 with the aim of recording, documenting and researching folk, devotional and ritual music of India, as well as collecting relevant musical instruments. The instruments now form part of Horniman Museum's permanent collection. You can access the recordings at the British Library through the Listening and Viewing Service.

Diary for 19th March to 25th March 2009

THURSDAY 19th March - Cultural Tourism

For those of you interested in cultural heritage, regeneration and tourism development, Leeds Metropolitan University has developed a new MA in Cultural Tourism. The Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change is providing an innovative Masters which includes a wide range of modules from the structures and dynamics of international tourism, to the role of museums, festivals and cultural events. Students on the course will have the opportunity to work on a 'live' case study relating to the cultural sector and develop their ideas, knowledge and research skills. For more information on the MA visit this website, or email Dr. Philip Long at: culturaltourism@leedsmet.ac.uk



FRIDAY 20th March- Mystic Healing and Self Discovery

What would happen if we tried to learn from shamans ( mystics and healers of indigenous communities) and applied their age-old techniques to our lives today? Anthropologist Susan Greenwood, has studied and written several books on altered state of consciousness and shamanic consciousness. She will be teaching a course called Experiencing Shamanic Consciousness at the University of Sussex in the summer, where participants (through reflection, discussion, painting and movement) will explore shamanic traditions and the ways in which certain techniques help to develop creative imagination and personal insights. Click here to find out more about the course. For a great overview of shamanism and what shamans do, take a look at this website.



SATURDAY 21st March- Iranian Photography Now


Today is the beginning of an exhibition of contemporary Iranian photography at Rose Issa's studio on 269 Kensington High Street. The exhibition demonstrates the works of 38 Iranian artists whose traditions, styles and techniques emerge from their various backgrounds and experiences living in Iran and abroad. The exhibition runs until 18 April and is open to the public by appointment from 1-6pm Tuesday to Saturday. For more information on the exhibit and to book your place email: info@roeissa.com or phone: 020 7602 7700.







SUNDAY 22nd March- Pop Idol in Afghanistan?!

Tonight I am going to go see a documentary called Afghan Star at the Curzon Renoir Theatre at the Brunswick Centre. The film is an exploration of a growing phenomenon in Afghanistan - Pop Idol. Over 2000 people are auditioning, many taking substantial risks in order to be part of a music contest which some Afghans see as going against religious and cultural traditions. The organisers believe that they can 'move people from guns to music', and already there are thousands of people voting in their favourite singers using their mobile phones. The film has won the World Cinema Audience and Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival 2009. For information about the film visit this website. Take a look here, for film times and ticket prices at Curzon.


MONDAY 23rd March- Internet Anthropology

For those of you who are interested in finding out about anthropological resources on the Internet, how to evaluate them and use them effectively, Dr. Hector Blackhurst has developed a great interactive website called the Internet Anthropologist. The website works as an online tutorial designed to self-teach ways to find anthropological websites, discover tools for searching the web and critically evaluating sources of information. Have a go and see how well you do!






TUESDAY 24th March- Are you an Activist Anthropologist?

Have you ever thought of what makes someone an activist? Is it their actions, attitudes, ideas or sayings? Richard H. Robbins along with his students from State University of New York, Plattsburg have created a website which includes an An Activist Anthropologist's Toolkit. The toolkit features knowledge, experience and training which anthropologists 'have' and which the website argues makes the discipline ideal for educating activists. Take a look and tell us what you think!





WEDNESDAY 25th March- Stories from the past

Tonight I am heading to The Foundling Museum to hear life stories of people who were former pupils at the Foundling Hospital. The Foundling Hospital was London's first home for abandoned children and functioned as such for 200 years before closing in 1956. The museum is now undergoing a two year oral history project (with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund) to collect the stories and experiences of the Foundling Hospital's former pupils. The evening will be an opportunity not only to examine the project as a case study for collecting oral histories, but also to engage with the pupils themselves. The programme starts at 7pm. Tickets are 8 pounds for adults and 5 pounds for concession. Visit this website for more information.

Diary for 12 March to 18th March 2009

THURSDAY 12th March- Celebrating women filmmakers

There are only a couple more days for you to catch some breathtaking films made by women around the world. The Bird's Eye View Festival is taking place in several venues around London at the BFI's Institute of Contemporary Arts and the Gate and at picturehouse cinemas all over the UK. To feast your fantasies or alternative egos, this year's festival's retrospective focus is on female seduction on screen: Vamps, Vixens and Femme Fatales! To find out the full programme and the list of venues visit this website.



FRIDAY 13th March- Imponderabilia

University of Cambrdige's Social Anthropology Society (CUSAS) has succeeded in developing a multidisciplinary, anthropological student journal. Impoderabilia is a journal which "tries to blur and overcome the boundaries between institutions, disciplines, theories and between undergraduate and postgraduates". The journal is open to contributions from students both within and outside the UK. Tonight is the launch event at Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, Old Library at 5pm. There will be a panel discussion with a keynote speech by Marilyn Strathern, followed by a drinks reception and dinner. The dinner costs 10 pounds. For further information about the journal and how to contribute, please email: journal.imponderablilia@googlemail.com



SATURDAY 14th March- Social Sciences for everyone!

If you have not yet had a chance to go out and attend some of the free social science events that are taking places all over the UK as part of this year's ESRC's Festival of Social Science 2009, I would strongly recommend that you do so. There's a fantastic range of films, talks, events, dealing with topics such as responses to climate change, grandparenting, citizenship, the health and benefits of organic food. You can download the full programme and list of venues for the festival here. Alternatively, if you are near Fitzroy Sq. I have a few extra programmes at the Royal Anthropological Institute if you would like to drop in, and pick one up!



SUNDAY 15th March- Beautifying the world- one plot at a time..

For those of you who were able to make it to Exploring Food, Connecting Communities last Sunday at the British Museum, you would have had an opportunity to listen to Richard Reynolds speak about guerilla gardening and the world of illicit cultivation. Richard's moto is "Let's fight the filth with forks and flowers". Although not an anthropologist by trade, Richard's book Guerilla Gardening, and his blog express an anthropological take on the communities around the world which are practicing illicit cultivation of unused lands, exploring why and how they do it, the challenges they face, and the results they achieve. Through one case study of guerilla gardening you can find out a lot about particular geopolitics of a given area. For more information or to join a group visit Richard's website.





MONDAY 16th March- Is uniqueness in the eye of the beholder?

Today I am going to try out an online activity which will allow me to explore the unique aspects of myself and my body in comparison to other people. For the National Science and Engineering Week 2009, the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford, has devised an online activity which allows you to explore different characteristics of yourself from different body shapes, to the ability to smell flowers, which some scientists think are controlled mostly by your DNA. You can have a go by logging on to: http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/uniqueness. I am hoping to find out new unknown secrets about myself... perhaps some ultimate powers of some sort..






TUESDAY 17th March- Food and Architecture

Most of us in our everyday lives and thoughts about food, do not (I assume) think of architecture or urban development. Yet, when you listen to Carolyn Steel speak about her research for her book Hungry City, and the ways in which cities like London have been developed and shaped by food, the connections become apparent and obvious and you start to wonder why you don't think of these relationships more often. Hungry City, explores "food's journey from land to city, through market and supermarket, kitchen and table, waste dump and back again, to show how food affects all our lives and impacts the planet". To find out more about the book, hear excerpts read by Carolyn and learn more about her biography, visit Carolyn's wonderful website.




WEDNESDAY 18th March- An edible outdoor adventure

Those of you who were at The Social Life of Plants event at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew last Saturday would have had a chance to see the amazing display of wild edible plants and herbs that Professor Gordon Hillman and his colleagues, which they collected from Sussex. Those of you who live near the South Downs Way or have access to other green areas of the countryside, might be passing some edible treats every time you are walking your dog or going for a weekend stroll. If you are interested to learn more about these outdoor greens, there will be a Wild Food and Ancient Plant Use course at the University of Sussex which will commence on 25th April 2009. For more information or to book phone: 01273 678527.

Diary for 5th March to 11th March

Lucy would like to apologise sincerely to all her readers, but unfortunately she will not be able to post this week's blog. Not to worry though! next week she will be back in full force with more anthropological goodies to share with you all.

Diary for 26th February to 4th March 2009

THURSDAY 26th FEBRUARY - Tehran's unofficial rock music

Today I am heading to City University London, for an Ethnomusicology seminar called: Skinny jeans, Persian carpets, and indie rock: expressions of identity in Tehran's unofficial rock music. Bronwen Robertson, from University of Melbourne spent a year doing research, living, performing and working with Tehran's unofficial musicians. During this presentation he explores the findings of his research and demonstrates the ways in which today's upper middle class Tehrani youths are using Facebook, Myspace, and other online network communities to raise the profile of their music as well as express questions of their changing identities. The seminar is free, and all are welcome. The event is from 2-4pm in room AG09 College Building entrance on St.John's Street.

FRIDAY 27th FEBRUARY - I'm packing my bags.. and ready to go

How many of us have been at a crossroads in our lives where we have had to choose the next step not knowing which direction to go or where it would lead us? A travelling suitcase exhibition opening in DMT Galleries in The Camborne Centre in Cornwall, reflects migrant workers' journeys in search of new beginnings. Created by Bridging Arts in partnership with University College Falmouth, the exhibit presents work by 3D design students as well as films made by migrants from around Europe and beyond. The exhibition entitled: I Packed This Myself, Who Am I?, runs from the 7th till the 21st of March. Entrance is free. A preview party will be held on the 7th from 6:30-9:30pm and will encompass a performance by Sophie Maura.

For more information please email info@bridging-arts.com

SATURDAY 27th FEBRUARY - A newly renovated Pitt Rivers

I was very excited the other to find out that the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford will be re-opened in May following a major face lift of its entrance, education facilities and environment. The museum contains an amazing collection of archaeological and ethnographic objects from around the world. During the refurbishment, 5,342 objects were removed in order to let building take place. These have been safely returned with the addition of eight new display cases focusing on painting and decorative styles. The re-opening of the museum will be celebrated with a programme of activities. Click here to find out more about the new facilities and changes at the museum.

SUNDAY 1st MARCH - Celebrating Darwin

All over the country there are exhibits in museums and galleries, articles in the newspapers, programmes on t.v. and most recently special edition stamps to celebrate Darwin's bicentenary. Darwin, whose theory of evolution revolutionised the way we view our relationship to animals and our understanding of the diversity of species, is still a controversial figure to this day. For more information on events, activities and programmes around the country and the fascinating history of Darwin man and legacy, take a look at this fantastic website .

MONDAY 2nd MARCH- Project IDK " I didn't know"

Today I am heading to Goldsmiths University, Room RHB 256 at 5:00pm for a film screening and Q & A session about a project run by Cambridge House in partnership with Young People's Project. The project called IDK , ' I didn't know' involved recruiting young people and staff from Camberwel, Bermondsey and Rotherhithe to participate in workshops which reflected upon extreme historical examples of prejudice and their outcomes and repercussions in our current lives. As part of the project the group took a trip to Germany and Poland to the Holocaust Memorial in Auschwitz- Birkenau. The film explores the group's experiences, feelings and journeys throughout the project. The event is free, and everyone is welcome. To find out more about the event and the project itself, look at this website.

TUESDAY 3rd MARCH- Stories of childhood through clay

The Director of the Foundling Museum, Lars Tharp, is a ceramic expert who has lectured extensively all over the world about ceramic history and material culture in 17th and 18th century England. He is well known on BBC One's Antique Roadshow and on BBC Four. On Friday the 13th of March, he will be giving a talk at the Foundling Museum illustrating childhood images in clay. His collection commences with the traditions of England expanding internationally. The talk is 10 pounds. Booking can be made by calling 020 7841 3600.

WEDNESDAY 4th MARCH- North American Textiles: A cultural history

Textiles of the North American Southwest is a fantastic website created by The Smithsonian Centre for Education with the collaboration of the Department of Anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History and the Mexico-North Research Network. The website displays, through the use of images, object descriptions, a timeline, map and glossary, the way in which Native North Americans and Hispanic residents of the North American Southwest have expressed the changing circumstances of their lives and their sharing of ideas through their weaving traditions.