Page Text: Borders
Has migration always been a central part of the human condition, or are we in the midst of a global humanitarian crisis? “Borders” invites readers to step inside the lives of those on the frontlines—migrants, refugees, smugglers, guards, aid workers, politicians—to explore how imaginary lines shape identities. This column features uniquely human stories about one of the most complex political issues of our time.
Curiosities
Human beings often infuse objects with deep, substantial meaning. In each post, “Curiosities” explores the nature, importance, use, and changing interpretation of artifacts people have created. The investigation of these curiosities—often tied to current events and holidays—will inspire us to think more deeply about our humanity and the significance of the countless things that surround us.
Entanglements
From the microbes living in our guts to the succulents growing in our homes, we are deeply intertwined with other living things. “Entanglements” explores the messy—and oftentimes fraught—relationships that humans have with other life forms to reveal the ways that people exploit, love, kill, and care for the many beings that share planet Earth.
Field Trips
What is it like to study the skeletons of giant rats and Homo floresiensis in Jakarta? How can a humble clam tell us how sea ice affected hunters in the Aleutian Islands? How do you use the contents of a 19th-century privy to piece together the lives of the women who once inhabited a Boston brothel? “Field Trips” delves into the latest ideas and research in anthropology and highlights how anthropologists interact with the materials and people we study.
Past Columns
“Race”
Each of us has our own notions of what “race” is and what it tells us about ourselves and others. Our roots as humans are tangled, and our complex histories and social constructs make race impossibly difficult to define. This blog explores the factors that make race such a fractious concept and points us toward new ways of understanding its meaning in our lives.