Anthropological Writing as Activism


Featuring Michael Herzfeld and Manuela Pellegrino

Friday, October 18, 2019
6:00-8:00pm
Doors open at 5:30pm
House A

Directions and Visitor Information

Seating is limited. Please register at Eventbrite by October 10.

The event will be live-streamed. Please check the CHS website for viewing instructions the day of the event.

About the event

Can anthropological writing endorse political activism? What is the social impact of anthropological research? How can anthropological writing reveal issues of power and promote empowerment?

Michael Herzfeld and Manuela Pellegrino will discuss their recent fieldwork in Greece and Italy, and reflect on the challenges of anthropological writing as activism. Participant observation remains the cornerstone of anthropology, while ethnographers practice “observant participation,” engaging actively with the very topics they intend to investigate. Herzfeld and Pellegrino will consider longstanding concerns about the objectivity of anthropological studies, and ethical questions about “giving voice,” advocacy, and the need to recognize the inherent ideological dimension of anthropological work.

Learn more about the presenters on our website.