Close-up of the Brazilian flag with the focus on the word PROGRESSO against a rough surface.
Latest NewsSeptember 14, 2023

The Brazilian miracle that wasn’t

In his new book, anthropologist Daniel Reichman finds a competing narrative of progress that reveals a tension at the heart of contemporary Brazil.

Woman at supermarket carries three large packages of toilet paper.
April 2, 2020

Why do people hoard and socialize during a pandemic?

“Proximity is usually associated with intimacy, and distance with strangeness,” explains Rochester anthropologist Robert Foster. “The public challenge at the moment is that we must learn to express our care and concern by maintaining distance, which is counter-intuitive.”

Chinese girl wearing a face mask poses for a photo with a year of the rat cartoon mascot in a busy train station.
January 23, 2020

Millions migrate to mark the Year of the Rat

With an outbreak of coronavirus making for an unusual travel season, Rochester faculty describe the traditions—and logistical challenges—as more than 1.3 billion Chinese go on vacation at the same time to mark the new year.

Wheelbarrows, chairs, and other materials lined up in front of a green hedgerow.
September 16, 2019

How do physical spaces help create community?

In her highly visual, multi-year project “Fertile Ground,” cultural anthropologist Kathryn Mariner is researching placemaking in the city of Rochester, and her focus on how community is formed is shared by this year’s Humanities Center lectures.