A key part of the experience of migration is not being in full control of one’s circumstances and doing. In this episode, Ingrid Piller speaks with Marco Santello about his research with Gambian migrants in Italy. The focus is on Marco’s recent article in Language in Society about migrant experiences of constraints and suffering.For additional resources, show notes, and transcripts, go here.Reference:Santello, M. (2024). Constraints, suffering, and surfacing repertoires among Gambian migrants in Italy. Language in Society, 1-23. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

Old Delhi's Parallel Book Bazaar (Cambridge UP, 2024) looks at Old Delhi's Daryaganj Sunday Book Market, popularly known as Daryaganj Sunday Patri Kitab Bazaar, as a parallel location for books and a site of resilience and possibilities. The first section studies the bazaar's spatiality - its location, relocation, and spatialization. Three actors play a major role in creating and organising this spatiality: the sellers, the buyers, and the civic authorities. The second section narrativizes the biographies of the booksellers of Daryaganj to offer a map of the hidden social and material networks that support the informal modes of bookselling. Amidst order and chaos, using their specialised knowledge, Daryaganj booksellers create distinctive mechanisms to serve the diverse reading public of Delhi. Using ethnography, oral interviews, and rhythmanalysis, this Element tells a story of urban aspirations, state-citizen relations, official and unofficial cultural economies, and imaginations of other viable worlds of being and believing.Dr Kanupriya Dhingra is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean at the Jindal School of Languages and Literature, O.P. Jindal Global University (India). She researches the History of the Book and Print Cultures, focusing on Delhi (India), from an ethnographic perspective. She earned her doctorate under the Felix Scholarship Fund from SOAS, University of London in 2021, on her dissertation titled “Daryaganj’s Parallel Book History”, which became this Element. She has also published in journals such as The Caravan, Himal SouthAsian and Seminar Magazine. She is also deeply interested in Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu poetry, especially that of Amrita Pritam, and continues to research and translate it. Her creative writing and translations have appeared in Indian Literature (A Sahitya Akademi imprint), Scroll, Indian Writers Forum, Guftgu, Aainanagar, and Antiserious. Currently, she is working on translations of Krishna Sobti and Amrita Pritam. SM Khalid is a doctoral student at the University of Oxford, working comparatively on postcolonial satire in South Asia in Hindi, Urdu and English. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

Walls profoundly shape the spaces we live in and the places we move through, impinge on our everyday lives, and entangle power relations, identity, and hierarchies. Walled-In: Arctic Housing and a Sociology of Walls (Lexington Books, 2024) explores these effects in the context of Arviat, Nunavut. Lisa-Jo Van den Scott lays out the inherent social processes, arguing that walls, in addition to concealing colonial power relations, are boundary objects, cultural objects, and technological objects. Van den Scott's ethnography of Arviammiut's (people of Arviat's) contemporary lived experiences reveals the ways in which Arviammiut are living in a foreign space, how this impacts their experiences, and how they exercise agency in navigating and reinventing these spaces in resilient and heterogenous ways.Michael O. Johnston, Ph.D. is a Assistant Professor of Sociology at William Penn University. He is the author of The Social Construction of a Cultural Spectacle: Floatzilla (Lexington Books, 2023) and Community Media Representations of Place and Identity at Tug Fest: Reconstructing the Mississippi River (Lexington Books, 2022). His general area of study is at the intersection of built-environment, experience, identity, and place. He is currently conducting research on the negotiation of identity and place for residents at the neighborhood level. To learn more about Michael O. Johnston you can go to his website, Google Scholar, Twitter @ProfessorJohnst, or by email at johnstonmo@wmpenn.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

Risa Cromer, an associate professor of anthropology at Purdue University, explores the fascinating world of embryo adoption in her groundbreaking work. She reveals how a group of evangelical Christians established the first embryo adoption program, aiming to 'save' frozen embryos and reshape reproductive politics. Cromer discusses the intertwining of this practice with conservative ideologies and personal narratives, shedding light on the emotional and ethical complexities involved. Her ethnographic insights challenge conventional views and provoke thought on the future of reproductive rights.

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Alyssa Paredes, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, delves into the intricate dynamics of plantation agriculture in Southeast Asia. She examines the historical evolution of plantation capitalism in the Philippines and its ties to global supply chains, particularly in the banana industry. Paredes highlights labor exploitation, environmental degradation, and community resistance, advocating for genuine land reforms that prioritize sustainability. She also connects the Southeast Asian context to broader historical narratives, including ties with the Black Atlantic.

Fazil Moradi, Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg, discusses his book 'Being Human: Political Modernity and Hospitality in Kurdistan-Iraq.' He explores how political violence challenges human connections, emphasizing the ethical responsibility of researchers to engage with survivors' narratives. Moradi highlights art as a form of resistance, showcasing the work of Faik Russell, which symbolizes trauma and resilience. He also sheds light on the experiences of female survivors from the Anfal genocide, illustrating the complexities of memory and the quest for justice.

Lynnette Arnold, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, shares insights from her book about transnational Salvadoran families. She discusses how powerful geopolitical forces impact familial care across borders. Language plays a crucial role in maintaining connections, while digital communication reshapes interactions and emotional support among family members. Arnold also highlights the importance of youth in bridging these gaps and the complexities women face in navigating power dynamics within their families.

Francesco Piraino, an author specializing in Sufism in Europe, shares insights from his research on Sufi communities in Italy and France. He navigates the complexities of contemporary Sufi practices amidst cultural diversity. The discussion highlights the evolution of Sufism in Europe, influenced by migration and societal changes. Piraino critiques rigid Islamic classifications, advocates for fluid identities, and emphasizes Sufi contributions to spirituality and social justice. His work challenges misconceptions and showcases the vibrant tapestry of Sufi life in modern contexts.

In this engaging talk, Professor Shalva Weil delves into the fascinating narratives of Baghdadi Jews in India. She explores their brief yet impactful history, emphasizing the importance of cultural identity amidst modern challenges. The discussion highlights the migration stories and socio-economic diversity within Indian Jewish communities, including the Bene Israel and Cochin groups. Weil also reflects on significant historical figures, the unique contributions of Baghdadi Jews, and the dynamic processes of identity negotiation and community cohesion.

Uroš Kovač, a researcher at the University of Groningen, delves into the lives of young Cameroonian footballers exploring aspirations shaped by masculinity and spirituality. He discusses how the quest for football careers intertwines with Pentecostal beliefs, providing hope amidst economic struggle. The harsh realities of migration challenge these dreams, while traditional masculinity is reshaped through spirituality. Kovač sheds light on how these young men navigate their identities, societal expectations, and the precariousness of their aspirations in a globalized world.