How to write an anthropology book that people will read?
Many thanks to Kerim and Alex for inviting us to Savage Minds to share our experiences writing Seeing Culture Everywhere, a book that explicitly targets a general audience. Over the next two weeks we?ll be writing both about the pervasive use of the concept ?culture? in a broad range of global, national and interpersonal settings, as well as about the challenges and successes we encountered in our effort to popularize anthropological perspectives in two settings, Germany and the US.
ACTION ALERT: Sign the Anthropologists? Statement on the Human Terrain System
From the NETWORK OF CONCERNED ANTHROPOLOGISTS, 27 January 2010:
Dear Fellow Anthropologists,
The US Congress is currently evaluating and considering the expansion of the Pentagon?s Human Terrain System (HTS) program, in which anthropologists have been recruited to assist with counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan and Iraq [see here, here and here for more background]. Please join us in expressing our firm opposition to the program and any expansion by agreeing to add your signature to the attached ?Anthropologists? Statement on the Human Terrain System Program.? Modeled after a well-publicized 2008 statement written by economists to oppose the Bush administration?s first TARP program, this statement aims to clearly and concisely state the factual grounds for our opposition.
Paul Farmer testimony at Senate Foreign Relations Committee
from ethnografix by Ryan Anderson
Anthropology, journalism, and relevance
Over at Savage Minds there is a recent post about “anthropological journalism”. This is an issue that has been on my mind a lot lately. Why don’t we hear more from anthropologists? And why is anthropological writing so damn boring (not ALL, just a LOT)? What can anthropology learn or borrow or steal from journalism?
Anthropology Journalism HOWTO
It?s like public anthropology week here at SM! Joana and Pal are writing fascinating stuff about engaging beyond academia. And just to keep the discussion going, I wanted to re-post a comment offered by Brian P (science journalist) which is like a HOWTO for anthropology journalism. I hope he doesn?t mind my shameless re-purposing, but it?s some truly excellent stuff. AAA publicity folks, please take note. My comments are interleaved.
Access Denied
Access Denied is a great new anthropology blog on immigration and health. In particular, the editorial team focuses on the ?vital global health challenge: unauthorized migrants? and immigrants? lack of access to health care services.?
ABA Launches Focus on Haiti Website
The Association of Black Anthropologists (ABA) has created a new ?Focus on Haiti? website that features links to articles, charities, and other materials to help guide those seeking information about the humanitarian crisis in Haiti and ways to help. The new site also includes a list of anthropologists who have spoken about the ongoing relief efforts in the media. Readers can submit additional information to ABA by emailing Bertin Louis at abahaitiATgmailDOTcom.
Writing Together
We?d like to take this opportunity to reflect on authorship in anthropology. The overwhelming majority of anthropology books are written by a single author. This is understandable if you look at the conventions of fieldwork, as well as the hiring processes of universities, for which co-authored works weigh far less than single-authored ones. Yet to us, this seems a real pity, as our experience has been that co-authorship has a number of great advantages.
Herskovits Film Now Airing on PBS Independent Lens
Did you miss the AAA Annual Meeting screening of Herskovits at the Heart of Blackness? Want to share the film with your colleagues and students? This week, the documentary is airing nationally on the PBS series Independent Lens, hosted by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Check your local TV listings.
The Meaning of Water: February AN Now Online
February Anthropology News In Focus commentaries on ?The Meaning of Water? are now posted on our Current Featured News page, free to the public throughout February. Full issue content is available via AnthroSource, including the commentaries, annual meeting coverage, and Knowledge Exchange features examining perceptions of and responses to climate change.
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