The Workshop for Anthropology of Latin America and the Caribbean at the University of Chicago is a forum for the presentation and discussion of new research on Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latin American and Caribbean diasporas throughout the world. It seeks to critically discuss work along broad topical, temporal, and spatial lines. Although most of the research presented is identified as anthropological, WALAC is committed to interdisciplinary approaches and to bringing in work from several disciplinary traditions, including history, sociology, political science, cultural studies, and literary criticism.
WALAC meets every second Wednesday, from 4:30 to 6, in Kelly Hall [KELLY Hall Room 114, Center for Latin American Studies Conference Room]
Wed Oct 10th Roundtable discussion on the current state of Latin American, Caribbean and diaspora anthropology. Led by Emilio Kourí, Alan Kolata, Robin Shoaps and Stephan Palmié, and moderated by Zach Chase. All are welcome to join us in this event, and for an informal pubnight to follow.
Wed Oct 17th Joao de Pina Cabral (Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon) "The Devil and the Brazilian Dilemma" Discussant, Duff Morton (UoC, anth)
Wed Oct 24th (5-6:30) Mary Leighton (UoC, anth/arch)""Did you see any Incas in Peru?": The use of the Inca in the construction of indigenous identity in Peru." Discussant: Dave Pacifico (UoC, anth/arch)
Wed Nov 7th Responding to Apocalypto. Do, and if so, how should academics engage with popular culture? Using the example of the Mel Gisbon movie Apocalypto, we will be discussing the representation of indigenous peoples and the past in popular culture and how - or whether - as anthropologists we can contribute to debates raised by such representations. We will not be showing the movie during the discussion, so please arrange to see it ahead of time. More information and readings are available here
Tue Nov 13th Rocio Magana (UoC, anth), co-sponsored with Workshop on US Locations
Wed Dec 5th Suzel Reily (Tinker Visiting Fellow at the University of Chicago, Reader in Anthropology at Queen's University Belfast) "Local Music Making and the Liturgical Renovation in Minas Gerais" Download paper Discussed by Ieda Bispo (UofC Ethnomusicology)
Thur Dec 6th, Haskell Hall Room 315 Kristina Wirtz (Assistant Professor, Anthropology, Western Michigan University), "Making sense of unintelligible messages in divine communication". Co-sponsored with the Semiotics: Culture in Context Workshop Download paper
Wed Jan 16th Clare Sammells (UoC, anth)"Kiosk Conflicts: A Case of Development Projects and Touristic Space"
Wed Jan 30th Greg Beckett (UoC anth) ""Too much democracy!": Democratic imaginaries and the space of politics in Maritssant (Haiti)".
Wed Feb 13th Zach Chase (UoC, anth/arch)"Suggested approaches toward a satisfactory historical archaeology of colonialism, with particular emphasis on Latin America" Discussant Jonah Augustine (UoC anth/arch)
Wed Feb 27th Nicole Fabricant (Northwestern, anth) "New Geography of Space and Power: Exploring the 5th Indigneous Campesino March for Land and Territory in Bolivia." Discussant Duff Morton (UoC, anth)
Thur March 13th NEW DATE Hilary Parsons Dick, (Postdoctoral Instructor, Anthropology & Center for Latin American Studies, University of Chicago)"En la Ferria de Locos/In the Crazy Fair: Intimate Politics of Recognition in Mexico-US Migration" Discussant Rihan Yeh (UoC)
Wed Apr 9th Marcos Mendoza "Neoliberal Subjectivity and the Risk Ethic of Elite Mountaineering in Patagonia." discussed by: Caroline Schuster (UofC anth)Paper
Wed Apr 23rd Bonno Thoden van Velzen "A Gleam of Gold and the Smell of Witches" co. sponsered with the Workshop on Religion and the Social Paper
Wed May 7th Jonah Augustine (UoC, anth/arch)"The Ontological Stakes of the Fetish: Revolting Objects, Ravenous Mummies, and Robot Poetry" Discussant: Anna Guengerich (UoC, arch/anth)
Wed May 14th Lara Braff, co-sponsored with Workshop for Medicine, Body and Practice
Wed May 21st Dave Pacifico (UoC anth/arch)"Archaeology and the Public’s Interests at El Purgatorio, Casma, Peru" Discussant Steve Kosiba (UoC, arch/anth)
Download paperWed June 4thDuff Morton (UoC, anth) "Recurring Bees: Social Movements, Urban-to-Rural Remigration, and the Dilemmas of Power on a Brazilian Collective Farm."
Student Organisers: Caroline Schuster (carlys@uchicago.edu) and Mary Leighton (maryleighton@uchicago.edu).
To join our email list please sign up here. If you are interested in presenting at WALAC, please email Carly (for anth) or Mary (for arch). For other information on the workshop, email either!
Faculty Sponsors: Manuela Carneiro da Cunha, Robin Shoaps and Stephan Palmié.