RAI RESEARCH SEMINAR
SEMINAR SERIES AT THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE
A turbulent quarter-century with the RAI: 1974-2000
Jonathan Benthall, former director of the Royal Anthropological Institute
Wednesday 19 March at 5.30 pm
As part of the RAI’s current investigation of its history, Jonathan Benthall, who was Director between 1974 and 2000, will give a personal assessment of the Institute’s achievements and failures during this period. He was appointed at a low ebb in its fortunes as a result of the termination of the lease at Bedford Square, an uneasy financial situation, embezzlement by an earlier honorary secretary, and the failure of an appointment of a Director in 1973 for only six months. As well as describing how the domestic problems of the Institute and its Library were gradually resolved, Benthall will review the RAI’s involvement in major issues affecting British anthropology during the quarter-century: including the definition and boundaries of the discipline, funding pressures, the call for a more public role, ‘visual anthropology’, the indigenist movement, feminism, the ‘crisis of representation’, and the ethics of fieldwork.
This event is free, but tickets must be booked. To book tickets please go to https://benthall.eventbrite.co.uk/
