Disseminating Anthropological Thought: Decolonial Pedagogies, Ethical Engagement, and Public Responsibility

Abstract (English)

Anthropology has long engaged in critical reflections on its own processes of knowledge production and dissemination. Who has the authority to speak, and about what topics? Who is the intended audience of anthropology? What is the purpose of anthropological knowledge—both in relation to the communities it engages with and within the academic institutions where it is often confined? These questions remain pressing and vital as scholars explore ways to challenge hegemonic structures that shape knowledge production and dissemination—not only through traditional classrooms and publishing models but also through public engagement and scholarship.
This panel explores the diverse ways anthropological knowledge and practice are produced, communicated, and disseminated. It challenges conventional pedagogical models, dominant modes of knowledge transmission, and traditional approaches to public engagement. By highlighting diverse and disruptive pedagogical practices—ranging from participatory methodologies and activist interventions to experimental ethnographic writing, multimodal research, and critical classroom pedagogies—this discussion aims to showcase innovative forms of ethnographic engagement that reimagine how knowledge is shared and created.It also calls for spaces that embrace plurality, interdisciplinarity, collaboration, and accountability.
This panel is situated in the intersection of applied anthropology, action anthropology, public anthropology, critical pedagogy, and critical Indigenous studies, bringing together scholars and practitioners to share their experiences, strategies, challenges, and reflections. The discussion will focus on themes including:
• Decolonizing anthropology: Rethinking epistemologies, methodologies, and institutional structures
• Ethnographic ethics and knowledge sharing
• The role of digital media, podcasts, and visual anthropology
• Community-centered research and co-authored knowledge production
• Creative writing, speculative ethnography, and alternative modes of expression
By focusing on critical approaches to the dissemination and production of anthropological knowledge, this panel seeks to foster dialogue on how anthropology remains a relevant and innovative discipline. It continuously reinvents itself, remains accountable and responsive to the communities it engages with, and stays connected to the political and economic contexts in which it operates to advance social justice efforts.