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A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has its doubts about the book Primates of Park Avenue, which claims to provide an anthropological view of moms of New York’s wealthy Upper East Side. I understand such a book’s appeal—it talks about our own society while at the same time

A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media Anthropologist Scott Atran addressed the United Nations Security Council on ISIS’ success in recruiting. You can read the highlights (and see a link to the video) in this New York Magazine article. Canada’s Metro reports on Ford’s first cultural anthropologist, Michael Thomas. Anthropologist Mukulika Banerjee’s

A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media Salon covers Fareed Zakaria’s defense of a liberal arts education on The Daily Show and includes a video clip. Rick Scott is probably sorry he ever said the word “anthropology” at this point. The Edwardsville Intelligencer posted an article spreading the word about anthropology as

A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media In the discussion of female circumcision we often hear the perspective of unwilling participants who seek to escape this tradition, and of course the Western perspective is easy to obtain. Recently, The Atlantic talked to anthropologist Bettina Shell-Duncan and got the missing perspective: women who

A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media South Africa’s Business Day reports on Ford’s use of social scientists to drive innovation in their product line. This desire is reportedly due in part to globalization: expanding into markets where consumers have different values and needs requires using professionals who can uncover that information.

A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media If you enjoy telling people they’re wrong, you’re going to love this article, which contradicts popular wisdom regarding hip width and locomotion. This research calls into question all kinds of thoughts we have had about infant skull size and bipedalism as well. We’re used to

A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media Radio Australia offers a fascinating perspective on “alcohol-fuelled violence,” which is that it is culturally constructed. Dr. Anne Fox, founder of Galahad SMS Ltd. in the UK is featured, and her research immediately brought to mind an article I read in the New Yorker years

A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media Seth Holmes, author of “Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies” was interviewed by PRI’s The World about his field work traveling and working with migrant laborers—from Central California and back to their home in Oaxaca, Mexico. Valentine’s Day must be anthropologist Helen Fisher’s busiest time of year.

A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media Notables A Montana middle school was named for anthropologist Joe Medicine Crow. The Billings Gazette provides an overview of Medicine Crow’s life and achievements. Christian Science Monitor profiles Helen Mack Chang, sister of anthropologist Myrna Mack Chang who was the victim of a state-sponsored assassination

A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media Music communicates a lot—next time you’re watching a movie, pay attention to the way music directs its audience.  But research conducted by anthropologist Nathalie Fernando and neuroscientist Stephen McAdams will probably convince you that music is not a universal language. There are still people in

A biweekly look at recent stories on anthropology and practicing anthropologists in the popular media Two anthropologists argue that most violent crime is committed within the boundaries of moral behavior as defined by the perpetrators. The media are calling it Breaking Bad Syndrome, and the book is called “Virtuous Violence.” If anyone has any opinions on this research, I would