If you like beer -- or at least want to know more about it -- and are in the Bay area, be sure to check out the symposium, "99 Bottles of Beer: Global Brewing Traditions 2500 B.C.–Present" on October 10, 2009. It is part of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology's annual symposium and exhibition series focused on the anthropology of food.
More than 100 beer-related objects will be put on display. "The exhibition marks the first time this unusual collection has been on public display," Ira Jacknis, the show's curator is quoted as saying. "It goes well beyond beer as we know it today. The diversity of objects is incredible. On one end of the scale we have traditional German steins and American beer bottles; and on the other, we have artifacts used by ancient civilizations, such as a stunning 4-foot-high Incan jar for corn beer and Egyptian beer cups that are more than 4,000 years old."
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
New Museum Book Series
A news release announces:
UBC’s Museum of Anthropology (MOA) has partnered with one of Canada’s largest independent publishers, Douglas & McIntyre (D&M) in the creation of a book series focusing on Northwest Coast art and culture. This project is part of the MOA’s larger expansion and renewal plan. According to D&M publisher Scott McIntyre, partnering with the MOA made sense, given the mutual interest in BC culture and native communities.
Two books will start off the series, Solitary Raven: The Essential Writings of Bill Reid with introduction by Robert Bringhurst, and Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast by Ian M Thom. These debut titles will be available in the MOA bookstore and traditional book retailers.
The partnership will also sponsor an annual lecture series with the same focus on Northwest Coast art and culture, and will produce additional books tied to that theme. A full-colour volume entitled The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, edited by Carol E Mayer and Anthony Shelton, kicks-off this additional series and will be published in January 2010. Future titles are still being planned.
UBC’s Museum of Anthropology (MOA) has partnered with one of Canada’s largest independent publishers, Douglas & McIntyre (D&M) in the creation of a book series focusing on Northwest Coast art and culture. This project is part of the MOA’s larger expansion and renewal plan. According to D&M publisher Scott McIntyre, partnering with the MOA made sense, given the mutual interest in BC culture and native communities.
Two books will start off the series, Solitary Raven: The Essential Writings of Bill Reid with introduction by Robert Bringhurst, and Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast by Ian M Thom. These debut titles will be available in the MOA bookstore and traditional book retailers.
The partnership will also sponsor an annual lecture series with the same focus on Northwest Coast art and culture, and will produce additional books tied to that theme. A full-colour volume entitled The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, edited by Carol E Mayer and Anthony Shelton, kicks-off this additional series and will be published in January 2010. Future titles are still being planned.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Native Scholarship & Climate Change
Native Scholarship to Study Coastal Climate Change:
We are soliciting applications for a graduate scholarship directed towards evaluating climate change risks to indigenous cultural sites along North American coasts. We are particularly seeking American Indian and First Nation students with knowledge of indigenous cultural practices to explore these issues. Race or ethnicity will not be used to evaluate and select among the candidates that apply.
Funding:
The scholarship will fund two years of study in a Master of Science program at Texas A&M University, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management. Program begins in January, June, or August of 2010. Scholarship is valued at approximately $60,000 over a two‐year period. Awards are approximated at $2,000 per month directed to the scholar. Health and dental insurance is included; remaining funds are distributed for tuition support, travel, and research supplies.
Course of Study:
Successful applicants will work with Dr. Rusty Feagin of Texas A&M University and Dr. David Hurst Thomas of the American Museum of Natural History. Students will create ranked listings of indigenous cultural sites at the highest risk for destruction from climate change impacts; including current in‐use places as well as areas of archaeological significance along North American coastlines. Students are expected to develop research in climate change impacts on coastal regions, the preservation of indigenous cultural sites, and the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to address both natural and social science questions. The scholarship will also enable participation at meetings of the Coastal Barrier Island Network (CBIN), a National Science Foundation‐funded Research Coordination Network in Biological Sciences.
Application Procedure:
Please send a single file that contains:
1. A cover letter that explains your interest in this scholarship.
2. A CV or resume.
3. Contact information for three references, addressed to Dr. Rusty Feagin at: feaginr@tamu.edu
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by October 30, 2009. For any questions, contact Dr. Rusty Feagin at: feaginr@tamu.edu
We are soliciting applications for a graduate scholarship directed towards evaluating climate change risks to indigenous cultural sites along North American coasts. We are particularly seeking American Indian and First Nation students with knowledge of indigenous cultural practices to explore these issues. Race or ethnicity will not be used to evaluate and select among the candidates that apply.
Funding:
The scholarship will fund two years of study in a Master of Science program at Texas A&M University, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management. Program begins in January, June, or August of 2010. Scholarship is valued at approximately $60,000 over a two‐year period. Awards are approximated at $2,000 per month directed to the scholar. Health and dental insurance is included; remaining funds are distributed for tuition support, travel, and research supplies.
Course of Study:
Successful applicants will work with Dr. Rusty Feagin of Texas A&M University and Dr. David Hurst Thomas of the American Museum of Natural History. Students will create ranked listings of indigenous cultural sites at the highest risk for destruction from climate change impacts; including current in‐use places as well as areas of archaeological significance along North American coastlines. Students are expected to develop research in climate change impacts on coastal regions, the preservation of indigenous cultural sites, and the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to address both natural and social science questions. The scholarship will also enable participation at meetings of the Coastal Barrier Island Network (CBIN), a National Science Foundation‐funded Research Coordination Network in Biological Sciences.
Application Procedure:
Please send a single file that contains:
1. A cover letter that explains your interest in this scholarship.
2. A CV or resume.
3. Contact information for three references, addressed to Dr. Rusty Feagin at: feaginr@tamu.edu
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by October 30, 2009. For any questions, contact Dr. Rusty Feagin at: feaginr@tamu.edu
Monday, September 21, 2009
Department of Shameless Self-Promotion
A message from the Department of Shameless Self-Promotion:
At the American Association of State and Local History annual meeting several weeks ago, Museum Anthropology co-editor Chip was interviewed by Dick Miller about his book, Massacre at Camp Grant: Forgetting and Remembering Apache History. The discussion was recorded and broadcast on C-Span this weekend and is now available online here. Chip reports that it was a fun experience, both nerve-wracking and refreshing to have a conference session, typically confined to the small bubble of academic conversation, opened up to a wider audience.
At the American Association of State and Local History annual meeting several weeks ago, Museum Anthropology co-editor Chip was interviewed by Dick Miller about his book, Massacre at Camp Grant: Forgetting and Remembering Apache History. The discussion was recorded and broadcast on C-Span this weekend and is now available online here. Chip reports that it was a fun experience, both nerve-wracking and refreshing to have a conference session, typically confined to the small bubble of academic conversation, opened up to a wider audience.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Books Received
Each month Museum Anthropology receives books for review. Below are the books we've received to date. If you are interested in reviewing any of them, for either the journal or the blog, please contact us at muaeditor@gmail.com. Thanks!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Open Access Compact
An article on a new open access agreement, signed by five elite universities. The agreement compels the universities to develop systems to pay open access journals for the articles they publish by the institutions' scholars.
The article presents different viewpoints on whether or not this proposed model is a good one. (A good string of comments at the end of the article too.) We wonder in particular about the implications for museum and applied anthropologists. If scholars are not part of a university system, but employed in small institutions, non-profits, or even private companies, is requiring payment in order to publish truly equitable and sustainable? This agreement is perhaps a visible struggle of the contending goals of opening up a journal's readership while still encouraging broad authorship.
Jason Baird Jackson -- current editor of Museum Anthropology Review, and former editor of our own Museum Anthropology -- is quoted. Jackson voices some legitimate concerns, but offers that in principle, this compact is an "awesome thing." We agree that the agreement seems to open up some very exciting possibilities.
The article presents different viewpoints on whether or not this proposed model is a good one. (A good string of comments at the end of the article too.) We wonder in particular about the implications for museum and applied anthropologists. If scholars are not part of a university system, but employed in small institutions, non-profits, or even private companies, is requiring payment in order to publish truly equitable and sustainable? This agreement is perhaps a visible struggle of the contending goals of opening up a journal's readership while still encouraging broad authorship.
Jason Baird Jackson -- current editor of Museum Anthropology Review, and former editor of our own Museum Anthropology -- is quoted. Jackson voices some legitimate concerns, but offers that in principle, this compact is an "awesome thing." We agree that the agreement seems to open up some very exciting possibilities.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Returning Sacred Objects
Returning Sacred Native American Objects
By Ann-Elise Henzl, WUWM, Milwaukee, WI
A radio program on repatriation in museums and NAGPRA. WUWM’s Ann-Elise Henzl stopped by the Milwaukee Public Museum where the complex process of returning the items continues. Because Milwaukee County owns the collections at the museum, the government has to approve the transfer of items back to tribal lands.
By Ann-Elise Henzl, WUWM, Milwaukee, WI
A radio program on repatriation in museums and NAGPRA. WUWM’s Ann-Elise Henzl stopped by the Milwaukee Public Museum where the complex process of returning the items continues. Because Milwaukee County owns the collections at the museum, the government has to approve the transfer of items back to tribal lands.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Moquis and Kastilam
Congratulations to anthropologists at the University of Arizona and Hopi scholars at the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office for receiving a $75,000 NEH grant for their collaborative project, "Moquis and Kastilam: The Hopi History Project."
An excellent project that has the potential to greatly expand our understanding of Pueblo history by documenting Hopi narratives that will balance those written by Spanish colonialists. More here.
An excellent project that has the potential to greatly expand our understanding of Pueblo history by documenting Hopi narratives that will balance those written by Spanish colonialists. More here.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Assembling Bodies
An excellent audio slideshow tour, given by Senior Curator for Anthropology, Anita Herle, of a fascinating new exhibit at the Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology: "Assembling Bodies: Art, Science, and Imagination."
The exhibit does not seem to present actual bodies -- à la Body Worlds -- but rather asks probing questions about how the human form is known, represented, experienced. It asks how we understand ourselves through our visible, outward selves, and the invisible things that make us who we are.
The exhibit does not seem to present actual bodies -- à la Body Worlds -- but rather asks probing questions about how the human form is known, represented, experienced. It asks how we understand ourselves through our visible, outward selves, and the invisible things that make us who we are.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
IU Native American Studies Position
The College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University, Bloomington (IUB) seeks an outstanding senior scholar with a specialization in Native American Studies for a tenured faculty position with some administrative responsibilities; advanced junior candidates may be considered, as well.
Responsibilities include normal faculty research expectations, a 1-1 teaching load, and halftime duties as Director of IUB's First Nations Educational and Cultural Center (FNECC). FNECC, established in 2007, has as its mission building the Native American community (students and faculty) within the university, supporting and engaging in active recruitment and retention of Native American students and advancing awareness and understanding of Native Americans/First Nation peoples.
Responsibilities include normal faculty research expectations, a 1-1 teaching load, and halftime duties as Director of IUB's First Nations Educational and Cultural Center (FNECC). FNECC, established in 2007, has as its mission building the Native American community (students and faculty) within the university, supporting and engaging in active recruitment and retention of Native American students and advancing awareness and understanding of Native Americans/First Nation peoples.
Monday, September 07, 2009
New Moctezuma Exhibit
"Moctezuma: Aztec Ruler" soon opens at the British Museum, showcasing more than 130 artifacts never seen outside of Mexico before and purportedly the first major exhibition about Moctezuma's life. A real highlight of the exhibit is the "Codex Moctezuma," on loan from Mexico's National Library of Anthropology and History. Interestingly, according to the curator, Colin McEwan, the codex, which was produced by indigenous scribes, is the only document depicting Moctezuma's mysterious death and suggests an alternative to the conventional theory that he was a willing agent of colonial rule. Seems like a really fascinating exhibit.
Does anyone out there living on or near the Isle of Britain want to review it for Museum Anthropology? If so, email us at muaeditor@gmail.com.
Does anyone out there living on or near the Isle of Britain want to review it for Museum Anthropology? If so, email us at muaeditor@gmail.com.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Harvard Yard Dig
This fall the Peabody Museum-directed excavation continues in Harvard Yard, and as the holes get deeper, the anticipation builds. The area is close to the location of Harvard’s Indian College, chartered in 1650. Diana Loren, who led the summer student dig with Hodge says, "Hopefully we’ll learn more about life at 17th-century Harvard, including Native and Anglo students. That’s the story we want to illuminate."
Special Events:
Sept. 10, 2009: Harvard Yard Excavation Opening Ceremony, 1:30 PM
October 24, 2009: Harvard Yard Archaeology Family Program, 9:30 AM–12:30 PM
October 29, 2009: Harvard Yard Excavation Closing Ceremony and Results Day, 1:00–4:00 PM
Special Events:
Sept. 10, 2009: Harvard Yard Excavation Opening Ceremony, 1:30 PM
October 24, 2009: Harvard Yard Archaeology Family Program, 9:30 AM–12:30 PM
October 29, 2009: Harvard Yard Excavation Closing Ceremony and Results Day, 1:00–4:00 PM
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Archaeology Museum Curator
A position opening with the City of El Paso, Texas:
Arrange for acquisition, preservation, security, authentication, documentation and storage of artifact and museum object collections. Involves: Conduct research to identify, restore and exhibit objects and artifacts. Assure collections are properly handled, restored, and preserved. Initiate new museum programs studying origin, composition, history, and current value of objects. Evaluate exhibition and program proposals from archaeologists, historians and other museums and make recommendations. Coordinate conservation and research of objects and artifacts in the permanent collection.
Job Title: Archeology Museum Curator
Salary: $38,454.89 - $54,913.59 Annually
Job Type: Civil Service
Location: Various Locations within the City of El Paso, Texas
Arrange for acquisition, preservation, security, authentication, documentation and storage of artifact and museum object collections. Involves: Conduct research to identify, restore and exhibit objects and artifacts. Assure collections are properly handled, restored, and preserved. Initiate new museum programs studying origin, composition, history, and current value of objects. Evaluate exhibition and program proposals from archaeologists, historians and other museums and make recommendations. Coordinate conservation and research of objects and artifacts in the permanent collection.
Job Title: Archeology Museum Curator
Salary: $38,454.89 - $54,913.59 Annually
Job Type: Civil Service
Location: Various Locations within the City of El Paso, Texas
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Philippine Exhibit in Iowa
A recent article announces that in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History, the rarely viewed 700-piece Philippine Collection will be showcased at the Old Capitol. The exhibit is called "The Museum Goes to the Fair: Rediscovering the Philippine Collection at the Museum of Natural History."
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