Matthew C. Watson

Matthew C. Watson is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Chair of Sociology and Anthropology at Mount Holyoke College. His work bridges feminist science studies, affect theory, and experimental ethnography, focusing on the historical and infrastructural conditions of ethnographic research in midcentury Chiapas.

• Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Florida, B.A. from Grinnell College

Watson’s research examines the intersection of anthropology, science, and spirituality, particularly through projects like the Harvard Chiapas Project (1957–1980). His work highlights how technologies (e.g., roads, Land-Rovers, mainframe computers) and infrastructures shaped the study of Maya cultures and the development of feminist and cognitive anthropologies.

His 2020 book Afterlives of Affect reimagines Maya decipherment as a spiritual and affective practice, while his 2023 publications analyze the political economy of U.S.-based anthropological projects in Mexico and the role of feminist scholars like Donna Haraway.

Scientific Awards

• William S. Willis Jr. Fellow of the American Philosophical Society (2023)

Watson teaches courses such as History of Anthropological Thought, Issues in Contemporary Anthropological Theory, and Science, Feminism, and Mount Holyoke, emphasizing the ethical and political dimensions of anthropological inquiry.