Regio Europa

Art, anthropology and authority

- by standplaatswereld

BY FREEK COLOMBIJN “Most anthropologists are failed novelists.” I have forgotten where I heard this quote for the first time or who said so, but it is correct that many anthropologists hope to develop their literary skills. There is perhaps not much difference between anthropologists and novelists, or artists in general. Both anthropologists and artists, or at least most of them, wish to tell something about the world and in their products recreate the world. Both anthropologists and artists begin their exploration of the world by careful observation. Quite a few anthropologists love to experiment with the form in which …

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At Europe’s Threshold – Bangladeshi Migrants in Greece

- by standplaatswereld

By Jessica van Vugt. This photo-essay is about Bangladeshi migrants in Athens, Greece. Using the case of the Bangladeshi migrants, I wanted to explore how the European discourse of strict immigration and asylum policies on the one hand and the growing deregulating labor markets featured by an increasing employers’ demand for cheap ‘flexible’ laborers, on the other hand, shapes the lives of economic migrants in Greece. The accounts of fifteen young Bangladeshi men together with my camera, which was always hanging on my shoulder, tell the story of how they experience, shape and navigate their lives. This photo-essay is based on that …

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‘Wasted hours in the field’ as a key to understanding the research topic

- by standplaatswereld

By Herbert Ploegman  Originally attributed to Winston Churchill, the statement “never waste a good crisis” has become an aforism that, by now, has been appropriated by many voices. The expression carries several layers, all of which contribute to its perceived versatility. Applying the statement to a research field in contemporary Greece may seem ironic or cynical, given the state of ‘crisis’ the country has gone through (or is currently under). Nevertheless, I feel confident enough to do this without too many scrupules. As an anthropologist having spent almost a year in Greece throughout the past few years, I believe that …

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What is troubling anthropology?

- by standplaatswereld

By Matthias Teeuwen            Inspired by Paul Stoller’s 2017 blog ‘Doing Anthropology In Troubled Times’, the goal of this year’s ‘Dag van de Antropologie’ (Annual Anthropology Day) was to reflect upon the role of anthropology in some particularly challenging social issues of today such as decolonisation. This was taken up in various panels and workshops such as the opening panel on ‘Decolonising Anthropology’ and the closing keynote on ‘Racist Sorcery’. Throughout the day I tried to get a feel for what is exactly troubling about these times and what about it is troubling for anthropologists in particular. As the first panel discussion …

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Nederland houdt van gewoon

- by standplaatswereld

Door Irene Stengs. In het kader van ‘onderzoek om de hoek’ kom ik nog een keer terug op mijn veldwerkexcursie naar de Huishoudbeurs van afgelopen februari. In mijn vorige blog omschreef ik deze ‘grootste braderie van Nederland’ als een voor de antropoloog interessante event omdat de beurs in feite een geconcentreerde uitstalling is van allerlei vormen van alledaagse cultuur in Nederland. Veel zaken die in het dagelijks leven een rol spelen en juist door hun alledaagsheid nauwelijks opvallen worden op de Huishoudbeurs ‘uitvergroot, uitgelicht en op een voetstuk geplaatst’. Voor de meeste bezoekers spreekt de invulling en inrichting van de …

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My body, my walk

- by standplaatswereld

by Georgette Veerhuis Two weeks ago I was catcalled while I was making my way through Hull, a port town located in east Yorkshire. This prompted a reflexive stream of thought on how I consciously and subconsciously moved my body through space. It encouraged me to disentangle both the discomfort I felt and the privileges I enjoy.

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Diversiteitsdenken

- by standplaatswereld

Door Thijl Sunier         Multiculturalisme is uit de mode geraakt. ‘De multiculturele samenleving is mislukt’ konden we politici in Europa niet lang geleden horen roepen. Multiculturalisme wordt geassocieerd met wegkijken, met vrijblijvendheid en cultureel relativisme, en met verkeerd beleid. Tegenwoordig zal je nog weinig mensen tegenkomen die er een warm gevoel bij krijgen.

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From supporting migrants to protesting for change

- by standplaatswereld

By Lysanne Vrooman           Almost half a year ago, on the 25th of March 2017, it was the sixtieth anniversary of the treaty of Rome. In 1957 the treaty of Rome was signed by the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Luxemburg, Germany and Italy. The treaty was envisioned to open borders, prevent war and create endless economic and trade opportunities. The countries would not restrict each other anymore. Now sixty years later the treaty that was supposed to unite the countries, is looked at with scepticism and frustrations by some citizens of Rome. The current migration-influx has led to …

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De grens bereikt: leraren staken!

- by standplaatswereld

Door Ike Haasjes          Donderdag 5 oktober is het zover: voor het eerst in jaren gaan basisschooldocenten een hele dag staken op een schooldag. Zij hebben symbolisch geko-zen voor de Dag van de Leraar en trekken dan in groten getale naar het Malieveld om de volgende eisen kracht bij te zetten. 1. Een eerlijk salaris: het primair onderwijs wordt structureel onderbetaald. 2. Een investering in het onderwijs voor minder werkdruk.   Toen ik in 2015 mijn masteronderzoek deed en mijn scriptie schreef over hoe basisschoolleraren omgaan met grote onderwijshervormingen (Haasjes, 2015), heb ik deze ‘eisen’ veelvuldig langs horen …

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Ayahuasca teaches Europe

- by standplaatswereld

By Barbara Arisi      The ancient drink ayahuasca or daime is one of the powerful forces that connects the seemingly distant worlds of Amazon and Europe, ‘indigenous’ and ‘metropolitan’. It is born from the encounter and circulation of many traditions such as popular Catholicism, local shamanism and the Afro-Brazilian  pantheon. Forest beings such as the snake, the jaguar and the humming bird coexist in rituals with saints, gods and spirits. The result is a unique and powerful experience for those who humbly surrender to learn what ayahuasca, a beverage prepared with the jagube vine and the leaves of the chacrona, has to teach.

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