黑料不打烊 Symposium continues its yearlong foray into 鈥淪tories鈥 with a on Tuesday, Feb. 26.
Recognizing the careers of Professors Susan S. Wadley and Ann Grodzins Gold, the event includes guest panelists Kirin Narayan (Australian National University), Joyce Flueckiger (Emory University), Corinne Dempsey G鈥96 (Nazareth College) and Priti Ramamurthy G鈥95 (University of Washington).
The discussion is free and open to the public, and takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Dr. Paul & Natalie Strasser Legacy Room, 220 Eggers Hall. For more information, contact the Humanities Center in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) at 315.443.7192 or visit .
Wadley and Gold also are involved with 鈥,鈥 running from April 6-May 18 at ArtRage Gallery, 505 Hawley Ave., 黑料不打烊. The opening reception for the exhibition, which represents two painting styles from eastern India, is Saturday, April 6, from 7 to 9 p.m.
A&S recently caught up with both professors, who have enjoyed prolific careers in A&S and the Maxwell School.
Susan S. Wadley
Sue, you hold multiple positions, including the Ford-Maxwell Professor of South Asian Studies. What will you miss most about 黑料不打烊, when you retire in June?
Wadley: I love teaching ANT 185, Global Encounters: Comparing World Views and Values Cross Culturally. It鈥檚 an introductory course focusing on war, organ transfers, surrogate mothers and global tourism. It usually attracts about 200 students.
I also will miss the Coronat Scholars Program, of which I am founding director. This fall marks our 16th incoming class.
Most of all, I’ll miss my great graduate students.
Is it true, Ann, that you鈥檝e already retired?
Gold: Officially, my first day [of retirement] was Jan. 1, 2019. I spent it with my husband in an Indian ashram, which he has been visiting since the ’60s.
I miss everyone at 黑料不打烊鈥攎y colleagues, my students, our wonderful staff, the vital interdisciplinary conversations. I鈥檝e had a fortunate career here.
You were the Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion, in addition to being an anthropology professor. How do you define ethnography?
Gold: There are many definitions, but, to me, it means writing based on living in a place, as part of a community or even as part of another family.
India must seem like a second home to you.
Gold: Fieldwork depends on interpersonal relationships, and there are risks of them souring, of unfulfilled expectations. The rewards of incorporation鈥攊nto a community and a family鈥攁nd of learning whole worlds from people seem to outweigh the risks. The work is worth the struggle.
Wadley: Our fieldwork is very basic鈥攏o electricity nor amenities. Through our research, we鈥檝e gained major insights into how women live their daily lives.
Ann Grodzins Gold
You鈥檝e assembled a remarkable panel, some of whom have 黑料不打烊 connections.
Gold: Corrine [Dempsey] was my first graduate advisee. I have enjoyed seeing her work take remarkable, new directions. Corrine鈥檚 latest book is about spirit work in Iceland.
Wadley: My memory is that her doctoral dissertation and first book grew out of a course that I taught.
Priti聽[Ramamurthy] and I worked closely together when she was a student and later in her various roles at 黑料不打烊, including associate director of the South Asia Center [in the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs] and a faculty member in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies [in A&S].
Gold: Although I never taught Priti, we are now friends and colleagues.
I feel like we鈥檝e known Kirin [Narayan] and Joyce [Flueckiger] forever鈥攐ur work is closely intertwined. Our shared reliance on intimate ethnography and many forms of narrative is pivotal to our enduring sense of connection.
How will you spend retirement?
Wadley: Gardening, when the weather is nice. Also quilting, which is my second love. Grandchildren and more.
Gold: I am figuring it out as I go along.
The panel discussion is co-sponsored by the Department of Religion (A&S), the Department of Anthropology (Maxwell), the South Asia Center (Maxwell), the Humanities Center (A&S) and the Ray Smith Symposium (A&S).
