Histories and Concepts of Anthropological Knowledge

This research grouping, formally established during the previous RAE period, has its roots in the historical and critical work of department founder, Adam Kuper (lineage theory, indigenous people, development of British anthropology). The group brings critical and historical perspectives to bear on key theoretical concepts in the social sciences such as historicity, emotion, ignorance, and memory, as well as on the fundamentals of anthropology: ethnographic practice and writing.

Aims:

To subject key concepts in the social sciences to critical scrutiny
To develop critical historical approaches to anthropological theory
To explore innovative techniques and approaches in anthropological writing
To explore ways of presenting complex ethnographic material to an educated reading public
To develop links with related ventures conventionally outside anthropology (history, psychology, biography, literature, memoir)

Email: Dr Andrew Beatty