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Christian
Alan Anderson has a background in Southeast
Asian and Chinese studies with a research focus
in Taiwan and Hainan, China. Chris earned his masters
in visual anthropology (2004) and doctorate in
socio-cultural anthropology (2007) from the
University of Southern California. He studies
cross-cultural aesthetics, performance, belief
systems, medical
anthropology, visual
anthropology and Austronesian
Southeast Asia. He has served as
visiting research scholar at Academia Sinica
Institute of Ethnology in Taiwan from 2003-05 and
at the University of
Calcutta Anthropology Department in India 2007. In 2007, Chris expanded his research into the Indian subcontinent, where he conducted ethnographic fieldwork on gender and spirituality in Hindu pilgrimage and foreign tourism. He is currently continuing research on migration, pilgrimage, tourism and intentional communities. His master's thesis "Austronesian Voyaging from Taiwan: Cultivating Amis Folk Songs on the International Stage" is published in the edited volume Austronesian Taiwan: Linguistics, History, Ethnology, Prehistory, and his doctoral dissertation "Betel Nut Chewing Culture: The Social and Symbolic Life of an Indigenous Commodity" is available through ProQuest. |
Education
University
of Southern California, Los
Angeles, CA (1996-2007)
Ph.D.,
Anthropology (Social and Cultural), May 2007.
Dissertation
Title: Betel Nut Chewing Culture: The Social and Symbolic Life of an
Indigenous Commodity in Taiwan and Hainan
M.A.,
Visual Anthropology, May 2004
Thesis
Title: The New Austronesian Voyaging:
Cultivating Amis Folk Songs for the International Stage
Thesis
Film: An Enigma in Taiwan: Amis Folks
Songs on the International Stage
•
Research focus: Austronesian Taiwan, performance theory, globalization,
symbolic capital, Indigenousness, revitalization movements, (auto)exoticization.
•
Coursework: anthropological theory and ethnographic practice, ethnographic
film, visual anthropology, and medical anthropology
California
State University, Northridge,
Northridge, CA, 1989-1995
B.A.,
Anthropology (cum laude honors),
Minor in Social Psychology
Thesis
title: Eco-Cultural Tourism and Cultural Change among the Amis of Taitung,
Taiwan
•
Training
in four sub-fields, specialization in cultural anthropology.
Grants
and Fellowships
Black
Rock Arts Foundation, Burning Man Scholarship
(Aug 2008)
Rotary
International, Ambassador of Goodwill Scholarship
(Jan-Nov 2007)
University
of Southern California, Anthropology Department, Conference Travel Grant (April
2006)
Fulbright
Student Award to Taiwan, ROC
(Feb-Sep 2003) and to Hainan, PRC
(Sep
2003-Jan 2004)
Shung
Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines (Taipei, Taiwan), Research Fellowship
(Mar 2003-Feb 2004)
University
of Southern California, School of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Conference Travel
Grant
(March 2002)
Association
for Asian Studies, Research Travel Grant
(Jun-Aug 1999)
University
of Southern California, East Asian Studies Center, Foreign Language
(May-Aug 1998, Aug 1999-May 2000, Aug 2000-May 2001,
Aug 2002-May 2003)
Teaching
Experience, Research Affiliations, and Relevant Employment
University
of Calcutta, Anthropology Department,
Visiting Researcher (Jan-Oct 2007)
•
Hosted by Gopalkrishna Chakrabarti (Head) and Ranjana Ray during field research
in India
Academia
Sinica, Institute of Ethnology,
Visiting Scholar (Mar 2003-Jun 2005)
•
Hosted by Bien Chiang during ethnographic fieldwork and historical research in
Taiwan
Intel
Corporation, Digital Home Research Group,
Research Partner (Jan-Mar 2006)
•
Facilitator for ethnographic research in Taiwan on gender and culture-specific
issues in developing hand-held electronic products
University
of
Southern California, Anthropology Department
Graduate
Teaching Assistant (Jan 1997- Aug 2006)
• Anthropology 315: North American Indians: History, Religion, and Contemporary Culture
•
Anthropology 273: Non-Western Religious Traditions: Shamans, Spirits, and
Ancestors
•
Anthropology 263: Exploring Culture through Film
•
Anthropology 254: Cultural Change in Oceania: Melanesia, Polynesia, and
Micronesia
•
Anthropology 251: Race, Class, and Sexual Politics in Southeast Asia
•
Anthropology 100: Introduction to Social Anthropology
University
of Southern California, Writing Center, Writing
Consultant
(Aug
1999-Dec 2001)
•
Teaching writing and editing to ESL undergraduate students
Independent
Feature Film,
Cinematographer (Jan-Dec 2002)
•
Director of Photography on “Jack Hammer.” (Sony DV-Cam, comedy/horror, 90
mins.)
•
Director of Photography on “Whigmaleerie.” (Sony DV-Cam, romance/comedy, 90
mins.)
University
of Southern California, School of Cinema, Department of Documentary Film, Cinematographer
(Jan
1998-Dec 2001)
•
Director of Photography on “New Moon.” (2003, Sony DV-Cam color video, 26
mins.), directed by Linlin Wang, produced by Howard Vu
•
Director of Photography on “Hook, Line, and Singer.” (2001, Sony BetaCam
SP, 26 mins.), directed by Norm Anderson, produced by Howard Vu, screened at
2002 San Francisco International Film Festival
•
Director of Photography on “Drowing Man.” (1998, 16mm film, black and
white, 6 mins.), produced and directed by Chad Abraham Minnich
ONE
Institute, International Gay and Lesbian On-line Book Review, Assistant
Editor (Jan-May 1998)
Hauser
Design, Inc., Product Design Research Department,
Researcher (May-Aug 1997)
•
Initiate and produce video interview project
Milken
Family Foundation, Museum of Creativity Project, Assistant
Researcher
(Jan
1996-Jan 1997)
•
Conduct anthropological research for museum exhibit development
Ethnographic
Fieldwork Experience
I
ndependent
Postdoctoral Research, Burning
Man, Black Rock City, Nevada, U.S.A. (Aug-Sep 2008)
Independent
Postdoctoral Research, U.S.
National Rainbow Gathering, Big Sandy, Wyoming, U.S.A. (July 2008)
Independent
Postdoctoral Research, World
Rainbow Gathering, Sanya, Hainan, People’s Republic of China (Apr-May 2008)
Independent
Postdoctoral Research, Intergalactic
Rainbow Gathering, Veracruz, Mexico (Jan-Feb 2008)
Independent
Postdoctoral Research, Sexuality
and Spirituality in Hindu
Pilgrimage and International Tourism in India and Nepal.
Field sites: Calcutta
[Kokata], Darjeeling (West Bengal); Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, Shivaratri in
Varanasi, Holi in Mathura (Uttar Pradesh); Rishikesh, Gangotri/Goumokh (Uttarakhand);
Parvati Valley/Kheer Ganga, Manali/Vashisht Dharamsala/McCleod Ganj/Baghsu (Himachal
Pradesh); Gangtok (Sikkim), Guwahati (Assam), Puri, Konark (Orissa);
Tiruvannamalai, Pondicherry, Madurai, Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu); Varkala, Cochin
(Kerala), Mysore, Hampi, Gokarna (Karnataka); and Goa in India; Kathmandu,
Pokhara, and Janakpur in Nepal (Jan-Oct 2007)
Independent
Postdoctoral Research, World
Rainbow Gathering, Ranong, Thailand (Dec 2006-Jan 2007)
Independent
Postdoctoral Research, Saisiyat
Spirits of the Short
People Ceremony (Saisiyat
Pasida-ay),
Hsinchu, Taiwan
(Dec 2006)
Independent
Postdoctoral Research, on
eco-cultural tourism and folk culture in Naha, Nago and Tokashiki Island,
Okinawa, Japan (Oct
2006)
Independent
Postdoctoral Research, Burning
Man, Black Rock City, Nevada, U.S.A. (Aug-Sep 2006)
Independent
Postdoctoral Research, on
desert dancing gatherings, ‘raves’ including Moontribe, LunarSun, Universal
Minds, Southern California, U.S.A. (Jun 2006-Jun 2008)
Independent
Postdoctoral Research, on
‘Happy Wanderers’ senior’s travel group, and life-history of Marion
Anderson (paternal grandmother), West Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (Jun
2005-Aug 2006)
Doctoral
Dissertation Research, fieldwork
and historical research in primary and secondary Chinese language sources, on
betel
nut chewing practices in Taiwan, Hainan, and Southern China among Chinese,
Taiwanese, Hakka, ‘Ping-pu,’ Amis, Puyuma, and Paiwan in Taiwan, Yami (Tawu)
in Orchid Island, and Hainanese, Li, Miao, Utstat, and Chinese in Hainan. (Jan
2003-Jun 2005)
Independent
Ethnographic Research,
on Beijing Opera Clubs with focus on life-histories histories of Chinese
Nationalist (KMT) veterans who migrated from Mainland China to Taiwan and then
to Monterey Park, CA, U.S.A. (Jan-Dec 2001)
Master’s
Thesis Research, on
Amis cultural performance in Annual Harvest Festivals and eco-cultural tourism
in Taitung, Taiwan and as a volunteer coordinator and videographer on the
‘Amis Folklore Great Singers’ U.S. concert tour in Los Angeles, Santa Fe,
Colorado Springs, Denver, Honolulu, U.S.A. (Sep 1997-Aug 1999)
Independent
Ethnographic Research,
on American folk culture, community and spirituality at Heels and Souls Square
Dance Club, focus on life-history of Marion Anderson (paternal grandmother),
West Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (Jan-May 1998)
Independent
Ethnographic Research,
on homelessness and spirituality, focus on life-history of Louis
‘Shivananda’ Smith, at Santa Monica Beach and the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness in Venice, California, U.S.A. (Sep-Dec 1997)
Independent
Ethnographic Research,
on foot reflexology and ‘alternative healing’ culture, Los Angeles,
California, U.S.A. (Jan 1996-Dec 1997)
Bachelor’s
Thesis Research,
on domestic and international eco-cultural tourism among Amis of Taitung,
Taiwan (Jun-Aug 1995)
Presentations,
Publications and Films
(upcoming)
“Yatra: Foreign Tourists on the Hindu Pilgrimage Trail.”
American
Anthropological Association Annual Meeting, in the panel “Incredible !ndia:
Tourism, Place-making and the Imagination in South Asia.” San Francisco, CA,
U.S.A.
“Betel
Nut Chewing Cultures: The Social and Symbolic Life of an Indigenous Commodity
in Taiwan and Hainan.”
Guest lecture, National Tsing Hua University, Anthropology Department. Hsinchu,
Taiwan. April 16, 2008.
“Reflecting
Traditions: Indigenous Belief Systems in Taiwan, Hainan, and India.”
Invited
paper presentation, World Summit of Indigenous Cultures Conference. Taipei,
Taiwan. April 14, 2008.
“Indigenous
Voices: Ghanaian Video Tales and Two
Homelands: Cuba and the Night.”
Invited discussant, Taiwan International Ethnographic Film Festival. Taitung,
Taiwan. April
13, 2008.
“Methods
of Conducting Visual Anthropological Research in Taiwan: From Amis Folk Songs
to Betel Nut.”
Guest lecture, National Chengchi University, Taiwan Studies Department. Taipei,
Taiwan. November 6, 2007.
“Ambassadorial
Scholar Introduction to Host.”
Rotary Club of Chowringhee, Calcutta [Kolkata], India. March 23, 2007.
“Ambassadorial
Scholar Introduction to Fellow Scholars.”
University of Puget Sound Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Conference. Tacoma, WA,
U.S.A. June 22, 2006.
“Ambassadorial
Scholar Introduction to Sponsor.”
Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake, CA, U.S.A. March 16, 2006.
“Symbolic
Nature of Betel Nut Chewing in Taiwan and Hainan.”
Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness (SAC) Annual Meeting, Asilomar
Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, CA, U.S.A. April 16, 2006.
“Amis
of Taitung, Taiwan.”
Guest lecture, Menlo Avenue Elementary School.
“Cultural
Landscapes of Sanya, Hainan.”
Guest lecture, Zhong Hua University, Department of Architecture and Landscapes.
Hsinchu, Taiwan. November 1, 2004.
“Cultural
Heritage of Betel Nut Chewing in Taiwan and Hainan.”
Pacific Neighborhood Consortium (PNC) Annual Meeting, Academia Sinica. Taipei,
Taiwan. October 20, 2004.
“Betel
Nut Culture in Taiwan and Hainan: Comparative Visual Anthropology on the
Borders of the Chinese Empire and the Austronesian World.”
Guest lecture, Academia Sinica, Institute of Ethnology. Taipei, Taiwan.
September 29, 2004.
“Developing
a Multimedia Cultural Atlas of Taiwan and Hainan.”
Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative (ECAI) Annual Meeting, University of
California, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.
“Locating
Betel Nut Culture in Taiwan and Hainan: GIS Technology and Cultural
Research.”
Pacific Neighborhood Consortium (PNC) Annual Meeting. Bangkok, Thailand.
November 7-9, 2003.
“International
Voyaging from Taiwan: Amis Performance on the Global Stage.”
Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), Doctoral Student Conference, National
Taiwan University. Taipei, Taiwan. March 24-29, 2002.
“An
Enigma in Taiwan: Amis Folk Songs on the International Stage.”
(mini-dv, 35 mins). Produced at the University of Southern California, Center
for Visual Anthropology and School of Cinema. Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. December
2002. Screened at the APRU Doctoral Student Conference, National Taiwan
University. Taipei, Taiwan. Mar 24-29, 2002.
“The
New Austronesian Voyaging: Cultivating Amis Folk Songs for the International
Stage.”
Book chapter in Austronesian Taiwan:
Linguistics, History, Ethnology, Prehistory, David Blundell, ed. Berkeley:
Phoebe Hearst Museum Monographs; Taipei: SMC Publishing, 2000, pp. 282-319.
“Heels
and Soul.”
Film about square dancing in U.S. culture, narrated by Marion Anderson. (16mm
film, black and white, 6 minutes) University of Southern California, School of
Cinema, Department of Documentary Film. Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. March 1998.
Screened at Big Bear International Film Festival, September 17, 2000. Screened
at USC “Out of Bounds” Student Film Festival, April 18, 1998.
“The
New Austronesian Voyaging: Cultivating Amis Folk Songs for the International
Stage.”
Conference on Austronesian Studies in Taiwan: Retrospect and Prospect,
University of California, Berkeley. October 1997.
“Asylum.”
Film about ‘conscious homelessness’ narrated by Louis ‘Shivananda’
Smith. (Super-8mm film, black and white, 8 minutes). University of Southern
California, School of Cinema, Department of Documentary Film. Los Angeles, CA,
U.S.A. October 1997.
“Whose
Culture? Competing Claims to Cultural Ownership: An Amis Enigma in Taiwan.”
Southwestern Anthropological Association Annual Meeting. Los Angeles, CA,
U.S.A. May 1996.
“Culture
in Action: Foot Reflexology, Catholicism, and Culture Change in the Amis
Community of Makalahay, Taiwan.”
Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness (SAC) Annual Meeting, Los
Angeles, CA, U.S.A. April 1996.