Diary for 30th April to 6th May 2009

THURSDAY 30th April- Listening for free

The Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) has undergone a podcast development project with the help and support of the University of North Texas' Anthropology department. The project provided an opportunity for student volunteers to undertake professional audio recording and editing of the SFAA's annual meetings. At this year's event there was a total of 16 sessions recorded, 7 of which are available on the SfAA podcasts website. To find out more about the team of students who took part in the project take a look here.


FRIDAY 1st May- Silk Road Music & Dance

Tonight at 7:30pm there will be a celebration of Persian and Uyghur Dance on at 78 Bishopsgate in London. Internationally acclaimed dancer Sahar Dehghan will be comming from Paris, to perform the unique Persian Dance and Sufi Whiling Darvishes. Having performed at over 30 international shows you can see videos of her performances here. Sahar will be accompanied by musicians Yusuf Mahmoud (singer and tabla player) and Peryman Heydarian (santour player) and Gulzie Yasin a Uyghur dancer. For more information about the event, email:worldmusicuk@gmail.com. Tickets are £10 in advance and £12 at the door.



SATURDAY 2nd May- Ghostly Matters

On June 4th from 9:30am-5pm, the University of Manchester will host a symposium called Haunted Futurities. The symposium aims to bring together scholars from the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities to discuss subjects that haunt us. The notion of being 'haunted' that is addressed in this symposium is quite broad. It can include looking at the ways in which past events of terror and violence haunt the present, or horrors that are imagined as 'inevitable' as well as 'hopes and dreams for difference and change'. A keynote speaker is Dr. Avery Gordon author of Ghostly Matters: Haunting and the Sociological Imagination. Registration is now open, for more information and booking take a look at this website.



SUNDAY 3rd May- The Many Faces of Buddhism

A three-week long festival that explores various forms of Buddhism and its expression through performing arts, paintings, sculpture and research is being held in varous locations in London. Some of the highlights of the festival include the opening of a gallery of Buddhist sculpture at the V&A, a two week international Buddhism film festival at the Barbican, and an international forum on Buddhism and the arts also at the V &A. The festival has been supported by the Robert H.N.Ho Family Foundation. For those of you interested in learning more about Buddhism and other religions you might be interested to take a look at this Anthropology of Religion course outline and its associated readings.



MONDAY 4th May- Cooking and Chimps

What can biological anthropologists learn from studying the actions and behaviours of our furry relatives? For Dr. Wrangham Professor of Biological Anthropology at Harvard, who has spent the last four decades observing wild chimpanzees in Africa our relatives can tell us a great deal about our evolution, in ways wewould never have assumed. In Professor Wrangham's new book Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human' he argues that it was cooking rather than tool making and meat eating that have set the conditions for human evolution. An interesting converstion with Professor on how and why he supports this theory can be found in this article. For an alternative article on the evolution of cooking take a look here. Those of you who are interested in learning more about biological anthropology and what it's really like to study chimpanzees in the wild, come and try one of the interactive workshops at the London Anthropology Day in July!


TUESDAY 5th May- Oxford Ethnographic Film Society is reborn

Its been several years since the Oxford Ethnographic Film Society has been in operation. With a set of enthusiastic visual anthropology students, and the support of the Oxford Academy of Documentary Film the call to action has been revived. The society which was founded in 2000 by Dr. Alison Kahn, a previous post-graduate Anthropology student at Oxford, aims to provide screenings of a range of ethnographic films which will promote discussions, debates and ideas on anthropological topics. The Film society has set up an excellent lineup this year of esteemed Visual Anthropologists (including Rebecca Savage, Michael Yorke, Andre Singer, and Zemirah Moffat) who will come and speak at the Pauling Centre in Oxford during April and May. For further information on the society, the speakers, and the topics of discussion visit this website.
For those of you who are budding filmmakers wanting to know more about techniques, courses, cameras I recommend you visit the Oxford Academy of Documentary Film website, which has a lot of very useful information.




WEDNESDAY 6th May- An evening of photography, film and debate on sex trafficking

I am going to book ahead for an evening event which will take place on the 13th of May at 7pm at the Human Rights Action Centre in London. Organised by Autograph ABP and Amnesty International the event promises a wide range of activities, discussions and films on the topic of sex trafficking. Photographer Dana Popa, will be presenting her work on Not Natasha, Amnesty International's gender policy adviser Poonam Joshi will discuss recent UK government schemes to protect victims of trafficking, and Frances Brodrick will talk about the Poppy Project's work on trafficking victims in the UK. The discussions will be accompanied by two short films, Emma Thompsons's film on sex trafficking, and Two Little Girls, narrated by Juliet Stevenson. The events is free, but booking is required. To book your place visit this website.

Diary for 23rd April to 29 April 2009

THURSDAY 23rd April- Ownership and Identity in Jewish Music

Today I am heading to City University London's Music Department for another one of their Ethnomusicology Research seminar series. Ethnomusicology explores the social and cultural aspects of music and dance, at a local and internationally level. Today's lecture investigates the characteristics of various kinds of music which are central to Jewish practice and identity. Dr. Nooshin, senior lecturer in Ethnomusicology explores how Jewish communities all over the world have come to absorb (over the period of 2000 years) the influences of their different social and cultural environments, and through intercultural exchange this has shaped their domestic and religious music. The lecture runs from 2-4pm in room AG09 (College Building, with the entrance on St. John's street). Entrance is free and all are welcome.


FRIDAY 24th April- Should Anthropologists work for the Army?

At 11:ooam today I am going to listen to a radio programme entitled Anthropology at War on BBC Radio 4. Mark Whitaker reporting from Washington DC, looks at the recent policy of the United States Army policy to employ Anthropologists and other social scientists to work with soldiers and combat brigades in Iraq and Afghanistan. With the anthropologists' depths of experience and local knowledge the hope is that they will act as cultural mediators, teaching the troops how to act in more culturally appropriate ways, and thereby reducing 'the need to use lethal force'. A lot of controversy has been generated in Anthropological circles as to whether or not this is an appropriate use of their research and expertise. The American Anthropological Association condemns the initiative as being unethical. The situation is made worse by the fact that during the 18 months the policy has been in operation, 3 young social scientists have died.
Have a listen, and tell us your views. Should anthropologists be working in this capacity?



SATURDAY 25th April- London Anthropology Day 2009

For all of you who might have missed last year's event, this year's London Anthropology Day is going to be held on July 9th 2009 at the British Museum's Clore Centre. This free event is aimed at those new to anthropology who are interested in studying the subject at university. It is an open university taster day for teachers, career advisers, and year 12 &13 and FE students. This year we will have 16 universities from all over the UK come and give interactive workshops on everything from forensic science and primate evolution, to sacred music, dress and performance. Bookings are now open. In order to avoid disappointment, it is advisable to book in advance as there are a limited amount of spaces available. To book your free place visit: www.londonanthropologyday.co.uk



SUNDAY 26th April- RAI's 11th International Ethnographic Film Festival

Sponsored by the Royal Anthropological Institute, this biannual festival of international ethnographic film, moves around the UK to different host universities and associated cultural organisations and communities. This year the festival will take place at Leeds Metropolitan University from the 1st-4th July. This year's festival is jointly hosted by the RAI, the Centre fro Tourism & Cultural Change and the Northern School Film, Television, and Performing Arts at Leeds Met University.The festival includes 60 hours of film screenings, and workshops/talks on ethics of filmmaking, participatory youth filmmaking, and salvaging and archiving ethnographic film. The festival will also be followed by an international conference called Emotion in Motion. To find out more about the festival programme, tickets and booking visit this website.



MONDAY 27th April- Generation Net: Arts and Culture in the 21st Century

On the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of May University of Nottingham will have a series of free interdisciplinary lecture series exploring the production and use of different forms of media and the ways in which they generate cross cultural communication, identities and cohesion between communities. Details of the speakers' presentations, their biographies and work can be found here. The talks will be held in room A18 (the Arts Graduate Centre) of the Trent Building at 6pm and will be followed by wine and snacks. Admission is free, but spaces are limited. To book your free space, email Ian Smith at: iainrobertsmith@gmail.com.


TUESDAY 28th April- London's intricate web of linked lives

Surrounded by the masses of humanity that take London transport everyday it is rare that we would stop to think how each of our lives are connected through random occurrences, thoughts, actions places and time. How have these pockets of London's livelihoods come to existence and what connects them to their past and present communities? Running from April till June at Birkbeck Cinema, is a series of films called Working London which from part of the London Screen Study Collection. The films raise awareness of local lives and tensions in London during the 20th century as well as London screen history. All screenings take start at 2:30pm. Today's viewing is entitled Pool of London (Basil Dearden, 1951) and looks at interracial romance 'against the background of London's docks and sailors caught up in smuggling'.


WEDNESDAY 29th April- ORIGINS Festival of First Nations

UK's first festival of First Nations creative arts, bringing together artists and work of indigenous communities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA will take place from 5- 7th May. The festival includes films, theatre and comedy as well as an extensive education programme with workshops and visits to schools. The opening of the festival will be marked by a spectacular Maori welcome ceremony. Other highlights include the UK debut of four internationally acclaimed plays. The festival is produced by Border Crossings in association with Brontisky Associates. For more information about festival events, ticket prices and bookings visit this website.

Diary for 16th April to 22nd April 2009

THURSDAY 16th April- What's the 'Matter' in Anthropology?

How do we relate to the material world around us? What types of relationships do we create with objects, and do those relationships affect the relationships we have with other human beings? These are some of the questions which will be explored at Oxford University Anthropological Society's Centenary Conference on May 13th. The conference will be held in St. Hugh's College from 9:30am-5:00pm. Anthropologists Timothy Ingold, Dr. Dan Hicks, Professor Daniel Miller and Professor Stephen Woolgar will be presenting, while Professor Penny Harvey from the University of Manchester will be acting as chairperson for the day. Tickets are 10 pounds for students and 20 pounds for non-students. For more information and to book a place email: anthsoc@herald.ox.ac.uk



FRIDAY 17th April- Indigenous Rights and Transitional Justice

Today I am going to book a place in advance for a conference held on 1st May 2009, at the Senate House Room, N336 , University of London. The conference is entitled: Recovering Stolen Generations, Land and Culture: Indigenous Rights and Transitional Justice. Organised by the Human Rights Centre and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, the conference explores topics such as the UN declaration of rights for indigenous peoples, language rights and language politics, mobilization, and dealing with historic trauma and reconciliation. The conference runs from 8:30am- 6:00pm. The conference is free and open to all but advance booking is required. For more information or to reserve your place email: troy.rutt@sas.ac.uk



SATURDAY 18th April- Capturing the soul of Shah Abbas on film

Today I am going to the British Museum to see a documentary made about the Shah Abbas exhibition now on at the museum. The film contains footage of religious sites and the buildings of Isfahan, as well as interviews with the curator. The British Museum's Director Neil MacGregor is the film's narrator. The documentary is being shown at 1:15pm at the BP lecture theatre. Admission is free, but booking is required. Take a look here for more information.







SUNDAY 19th April- Art and Atrocity

Today is a study day for adults at the Imperial War Museum London, to examine a current art exhibition called: Unspeakable- The Artist as Witness to the Holocaust. The exhibit explores different ways in which official war artists, contemporary artists, and Holocaust survivors, have used art to try and come to terms with the Holocaust. The study is free, for more information contact: grogers@iwm.org.uk



MONDAY 20th April- Festival of Latino rhythms

Running for its 9th year in a row, La Linea Festival is a Latin music festival which runs just over a month and takes place at various venues in Central London. Celebrating music from a wide variety of Spanish speaking countries and diaspora this year has a special Catalan theme. For more information about the festival and a list of the different concerts take a look at this website.



TUESDAY 21st April- Kanaval exhibition and talk

Tonight at the Photofusion Gallery on 17a Electric Lane, British photographer and filmmaker Leah Gordon will talk about her extensive media work in Haiti with John Curras, Postgraduate Theory Coordinator of Chelsea College of Art and Design. The gallery is hosting an exhibition of black and white photographs of Leah's research on pre-Lenten Mardi Gras festivities in Southern Haiti. The talk explores Leah's new film: Atis Rezistans- The Sculptors of Grand Rue, a documentary about a collective of Hatian artists who use junkyard finds to build their voodoo infected sculptures. John Curras (artist, writer and educator) will also talk about his own work exploring survivals of occult and spiritual belief systems in popular culture and the media. The talk starts at 7:15pm and is 5 pounds for non-members. To book your ticket phone: 020 7738 5774.


WEDNESDAY 22nd April- Chicle- Exploring the world of gum

For those of you who have tried the Chicza and have regained a renewed enthusiasm for chewing gum, you might be interested to explore the subject beyond your taste buds. Jennifer P. Matthews, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Trinity University, is currently publishing a a book called Chicle: The Chewing Gum of the Americas, from the Ancient Maya to William Wrigley. The book explores the history of what we in the West call gum, and the work and culture around chicleros (gum farmers). You can read an excerpt of the book here.

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.