Archive Fever: The Politics and Practices of Digital Preservation and Cultural Memory
What do we choose to save in the digital age, and who decides? We study community archives, endangered digital heritage, and the fight against digital oblivion.
The Sensory Anthropology of Digital Interfaces: Haptics, Sound, and Embodied Experience
Digital interaction is a full sensory experience. We study how touch, sound, and visual design in interfaces shape perception, emotion, and social interaction.
Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Knowledge in the Digital Realm
Indigenous communities assert control over their digital data and cultural heritage. We partner on projects that support Indigenous-led digital archiving and governance.
Activism and Social Movements in the Age of Hashtags and Digital Mobilization
Digital tools have transformed political organizing. We analyze hashtag activism, decentralized movements, and the challenges of sustainability and surveillance.
Digital Religion: Faith Communities, Rituals, and Evangelism in Online Spaces
Religious practice is migrating and transforming online. We study virtual churches, meditation apps, digital pilgrimage, and the rise of new online spiritual movements.
Surveillance Capitalism and the Commodification of Everyday Digital Life
Personal data is mined and monetized, shaping our desires and behaviors. We study the cultural and experiential impacts of living within surveillance capitalism.
The Politics of Open Source Software and Hacker Cultures as Digital Societies
Open source communities are complex meritocratic and gift-based economies. We study their governance, conflict resolution, and cultural values around freedom and collaboration.
Digital Kinship: How Social Media Redefines Family and Intimate Relationships
Platforms like Facebook and Instagram shape how we perform family life. We study digital kinship networks, long-distance intimacy, and online dating cultures.
Platform Labor and the Lived Experience of Gig Economy Workers Globally
The gig economy creates new forms of digitally-mediated work. We research the daily realities, strategies, and struggles of ride-share drivers, content moderators, and freelancers.
Gaming Cultures: From Massive Multiplayer Worlds to Esports Communities
Online games are rich sites of cultural formation. We study guilds, economies, esports fandoms, and the social norms within virtual worlds.
The Anthropology of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain-Based Social Organizations
Cryptocurrencies and DAOs represent experiments in new forms of value and governance. We ethnographically study the cultures and conflicts within these digital economies.
Digital Afterlives: Ritual, Mourning, and Memory on Social Media Platforms
Social media profiles persist after death, creating new digital afterlives. We study the emerging rituals, ethics, and politics of mourning online.
Algorithmic Bias and its Impact on Social Inequality and Cultural Perception
Algorithms are not neutral; they embed cultural assumptions. We investigate how algorithmic bias perpetuates social inequalities and shapes our worldview.
How Memes and Digital Folklore Shape Contemporary Cultural Narratives
Memes are a primary form of contemporary digital folklore, conveying humor, politics, and identity. We analyze their creation, mutation, and spread as cultural texts.
The Ethics of Studying Digital Cultures and Protecting Online Research Participants
Digital anthropology faces unique ethical dilemmas regarding consent and privacy. Our institute leads in developing dynamic ethical frameworks for responsible online research.