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Thomas Guthrie

Chair, Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology

tguthrie@guilford.edu
(336) 316-2836

Ph.D. University of Chicago
M.A. University of Chicago
B.A. Davidson College

Courses Taught

  • SOAN 103: Cultural Anthropology
  • SOAN 216: The Anthropology of Colonialism
  • SOAN 225: Culture and the Environment
  • SOAN 261: Native North America
  • SOAN 342: Social Theory
  • SOAN 450: Culture on Display
  • IDS 481: The Politics of Difference

Teaching and Research Interests

Since college I have been interested in colonial encounters and cultural representation, especially in North America. While colonizers tend to be ethnocentric, colonialism can also involve admiration for cultural difference. Consider the treatment of indigenous peoples in tourist attractions, multicultural celebrations, environmental campaigns, anthropological texts, and movies from Pocahontas to Avatar. Ironically, even positive representations of the colonized can reinforce old hierarchies. My research and teaching explore unintentional colonial effects.

My courses introduce students to the practice of anthropology, the history of European colonialism, the experiences of indigenous peoples in the United States and other settler colonies, environmentalism and the politics of conservation, museums and cultural tourism, social and political theory, and the treatment of difference in liberal multicultural societies.

I have been conducting research in northern New Mexico since 2002. New Mexico’s double colonial history has resulted in contentious ethnic relations, ongoing struggles over land and water, and concerns about social change. My scholarship examines public efforts to interpret and preserve Hispanic and Native American cultural heritage. I am particularly interested in public history and the work of the National Park Service. I am currently completing a book titled Recognizing Heritage: The Politics of Multiculturalism in New Mexico.

One of the things I like most about Guilford is that it’s a place where we have open conversations about equality, justice, and oppression. I am proud to be involved in anti-racism efforts on campus. Most of all, I am grateful for my students, whose concern for social justice constantly challenges and inspires me.

View my curriculum vitae.

Selected Publications