George Mentore

George Mentore is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of Graduate Admissions at the University of Virginia’s College of Arts & Sciences. His work focuses on Amerindian and Caribbean studies, emphasizing the anthropology of knowledge, power, and emotion. Mentore earned his Ph.D. from the University of Sussex (1984) and studied at the London School of Economics, where he engaged with Structural-Marxism. His research critiques Eurocentric anthropological paradigms, advocating for interpretative rigor in understanding diverse social worlds.

• Education:
• Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Sussex, 1984
• Studies in Anthropology, London School of Economics and Political Science

Mentore’s research bridges philosophical anthropology with subaltern perspectives, exploring themes like indigenous epistemologies, shamanic practices, and the intersection of power and cultural expression. Notable works include Abandoned People, Madness, and the Untranslatable (2011) and Of Passionate Curves and Desirable Cadences (2005). His recent publications address lowland South American societies and the ethics of ethnographic representation.

His articles and monographs reflect a commitment to redefining anthropological methodologies, particularly in analyzing Amazonian and Caribbean contexts. Mentore’s forthcoming work, The Doubling: Preliminary Essays on Empathic Anthropology, further explores empathetic engagement in fieldwork.