Anthropologos

Speaking of (hu)man      |    Innovating Anthropology

[lfrecha-blog]

I have to disagree. 

Isn't it similarly narcissistic to venerate the human body as a near-perfect ‘machine’  (as is often the case in Western biomedicine), as it is to consider it a “mutated flesh bag” that we can “hack”? 

The body is infinitely more dynamic than that!  

Now, I’m not at all against bio-innovation. But perhaps the trick is not to hack but to harness the body’s infinite potential. 

Moving beyond the Western paradigm of body-mind dualism might be a good start. 

[lfrecha-blog]

How Do We Normalize Pregnancy?

Is our cultural antipathy toward pregnancy and children creating a health hazard?

I would argue it’s more of a love-hate relationship with pregnancy than “cultural apathy”. 

In any case, while changing the cultural perception of pregnancy via health care providers may be a good START...What of the medicalization of pregnancy? Does resorting to health care providers run the risk of positioning or re-positioning pregnancy as a medical condition, and therefore, ab-normal?

Sounds like a job for: medical anthropologists.

How about introducing medical anthropologists as allied health care professionals?

[lfrecha-blog]

Urban gardening in Greece – A new form of protest

Guerrilla gardening and local consumer-producer networks are redefining life in today's Greek cities. While the crisis has shifted politicians' attention away from the climate, “transition and recovery movements” work hard to keep the environment on the agenda.

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“Guerrilla gardening” 

That’s got social enterprise potential!

[lfrecha-blog]

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May-September, Monday to Sunday, 4-8 pm, across Ontario 

LANDSCAPING HAPPY HOUR!

What is it with small-town Ontario obsessive lawn care behaviour?! 

If only we invested the same amount of time and effort into urban gardening and food production, we could improve food security across Northern Ontario.

Now, how to convince locals to value food gardens over manicured lawns?

[lfrecha-blog]

Gore Street Café: Black Bean Burrito and A Slice of Dignity à La Mode Please!

Nicole and Sam were new to town, had been around for just five months or so, when they decided to give a wild kick at the can and try to make a living in the Sault by doing good things for their neighbourhood. Good things like increasing food security, celebrating arts and culture, supporting localRead More

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Young people integrating good food, arts and culture, and components of social enterprise to contribute to food security in Northern Ontario. Much needed.

[lfrecha-blog]

Oliver Sacks on Learning He Has Terminal Cancer

I am now face to face with dying. But I am not finished with living.

Part 3/3 

Cancer: A ‘not-so-bad’ way to die?

[lfrecha-blog]

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Further to my last post: How about this perspective?

[lfrecha-blog]

There’s a better way to die, and architecture can help

In this short, provocative talk, architect Alison Killing looks at buildings where death and dying happen -- cemeteries, hospitals, homes. The way we die is changing, and the way we build for dying ... well, maybe that should too. It's a surprisingly fascinating look at a hidden aspect of our cities, and our lives.

Part 1/3

An innovative and interdisciplinary perspective on spaces for death and dying - though not a lot of practical advice on how her ideas might be more broadly implemented.

I’ve been thinking about something similar for cancer care: changing the (mostly Western) culture of fear and grief around cancer, by changing the way we talk about and experience death.

[lfrecha-blog]

One of my favourite things about living in Paris.

There was something really awesome about getting know every stop, every direction, and every colour on this map. It felt like ‘owning’ the city.

More importantly, perhaps, every metro ride was an optimal occasion assorted ethnographic ‘fieldwork’ and insight.

Combining this map with ethnographic ‘clues’ would make a great children’s game and education tool...

[lfrecha-blog]

I’m not one to share my thoughts and ideas all willy-nilly...

But here goes: a glimpse into the inner workings of my brain on all things human and applied anthropology for your reading pleasure.