I'm a faculty member at the Annenberg School for Communication.
I teach courses in freedom of speech, in taboo, and in ritual forms
and practices. Now and then I teach courses about literacy
practice, and about the social impact of technology.
I'm interested in the perceived borders of things. Especially
social borders that give a shape to culture. Borders tell who
belongs and who doesn't, and what it's all right to do and what
isn't okay. Gender, race and class are borders that many
people are currently interested in. I'm interested in the fact
that they're borders, and I want to know how they do border work.
My current research focus is on national symbols and patriotic
practices that constitute group borders that are matters of life
and death. I want to understand how national symbols acquire
power, how that power is replenished, and how it is lost.
Current courses:
UNDERGRADUATE
