Richard Fox

Richard Fox is a Professor & Chair in the Department of Pacific and Asian Studies at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Humanities. His research focuses on the historical and ethnographic study of religion, media, and performance in South and Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and the Malay region. He holds a PhD in Anthropology and Religious Studies from SOAS (2002) and a Habilitation in Anthropology from Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg. His work bridges anthropology, religious studies, and media theory, with notable publications on Balinese culture, scriptural practices, and the role of media in shaping religious identity.

• Leadership roles: Chair of Indonesia/Timor-Leste Studies (AAS), Co-chair of Religion in Southeast Asia (AAR), Founding Editor of Heidelberg Ethnology.
• Key publications include More Than Words: Transforming Script, Agency, and Collective Life in Bali (2018) and The Materiality and Efficacy of Balinese Letters (2017).
• Grants: Henry Luce Foundation grant for Timor-Leste studies.