The Anthropology of Violence

What does it mean to "do" or to "commit" violence? How do we recognize it when it is so ubiquitous? Be it through war, ethnic cleansing, social conflict, revolution, or various forms of interaction, the topic of violence has figured prominently in anthropological scholarship as well as social thought throughout history. This course will explore major theories of violence through engagement with social theory, ethnography, and media. We will use a range of perspectives including biopolitics, feminist critique, and queer theory, and host of examples ranging from communal violence to warfare to sexual violence to explore violence in-depth.