2020 Anthropology Annual Lecture to feature renowned anthropologist and filmmaker John L. Jackson Jr.

John L. Jackson
John L. Jackson
John L. Jackson
John L. Jackson Jr.

This year’s Department of Anthropology Annual Lecture will be highlighted by a keynote presentation from University of Pennsylvania Professor John L. Jackson Jr., titled “What a Difference Filmmaking Makes: Autoethnography, Multimodality and the Future of Scholarship.”

Originally slated as an in-person event on York University’s Keele Campus back in March, the lecture has been rescheduled for Friday, Oct. 9 at 11 a.m., and will be offered via Zoom Webinar.

York University students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend. Organizers request that those interested in attending register at https://yorku.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcsdeGvpjkqHdeH04cfHUyEMW9XFPl0Pcol.

Jackson teaches in the University of Pennsylvania and is currently the Walter H. Annenberg Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. As an anthropologist of religion, who critically engages with theories of race and ethnicity, Jackson is an accomplished media ethnographer whose work has been widely recognized with numerous teaching awards, funds and grants throughout his scholarly career.

In addition to various scholarly publications he’s authored – including his most recent work, Televised Redemption: Black Religious Media and Racial Empowerment – Jackson has contributed to anthropological research through writing, directing and producing films which have been screened at York University and in several cities across the United States

In his remarks, Jackson will detail his journey as an ethnographic filmmaker, articulating the epistemological and ethical value of multimodal scholarship.

“We are delighted that Professor John L. Jackson Jr. will be delivering our 12th Annual Anthropology Lecture – in spite of the unforeseen delay earlier this year,” Department of Anthropology Chair Shubhra Gururani said. “Prof. Jackson is one of the leading anthropologists who is rethinking the craft of ethnography in interesting and critical ways. He has authored several books and directed films that engage with the questions of race, diaspora, migration, and media in diverse urban settings globally. We are looking forward to engaging with his research.”

The annual lecture is a marquee event for the Department of Anthropology. The yearly address provides faculty, staff and students with a unique opportunity to meet eminent leaders in the field.

For more details on Jackson’s special keynote presentation, click here to download a PDF information poster.