User:Chiwara

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The University of Illinois

The University of Wisconsin

[edit] About Me

Origins: Sweet home Chicago, Illinois.

Education:

Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (Peru): Certificate in Archaeological Studies, 2004.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: B.A. in Anthropology and Art History, 2005.
University of Wisconsin-Madison: M.A. in Art History with a focus on Africa and the African diaspora, expected 2008.

Interests:

I think Africa and South America are just about the two coolest places on Earth, so my interests focus on the arts and cultures of each continent, especially where they intersect. I am especially interested in cultural, musical, and artistic production among less-known African diaspora communities in the Americas, specifically those in Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay.

The theoretical basis for my work focuses on the elimination of strict constructivist categories like "race," "culture," and "authentic," from everyday discourse. I believe that human culture and society consisted, and do consist, on a continuum; that the popular categories of "Western" and "non-Western" have far more difference inside them and commonality between them than difference between them. I am also focused on articulating an argument for the genetic and cultural diversity of African and African peoples, and using this conclusion to then argue against an Afrocentric use of a homogenized view of Africa in opposition to a Eurocentric view - both of which I find flawed and problematic.

Last but not least, I am a huge stickler for citations. I try to cite everything I write, and I get very upset when people defend edits without citations. If it is true, you should be able to find a reference for it.