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Anand Pandian is the Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Anthropology at Johns Hopkins University, holding a joint appointment in Earth & Planetary Sciences. He also serves as President of the Society for Cultural Anthropology and a curator of the Ecological Design Collective. His research focuses on ecological ethics, sustainable design, and participatory anthropology, with fieldwork in India, the U.S., and Baltimore. Education details are not explicitly stated in the text, but his academic trajectory is evident through his publications and roles. Key research areas include environmental humanities, sensory ethnography, and experimental writing. He has authored multiple influential books including A Possible Anthropology (2019) and Something Between Us (2023). His work bridges theory and practice through initiatives like the Ecological Design Collective, fostering collaborations between researchers, artists, and activists. Current projects explore decay as an ecological concept and urban river revitalization in Baltimore. Pandian actively engages in public discourse through lectures and community projects. Grants and institutional roles include department chairmanship, organizing virtual conferences like 'Displacements' (2018), and editorial work for volumes such as Ethical Life in South Asia (2010). His interdisciplinary approach integrates anthropology with environmental science, literature, and design.

• Ecological ethics
• Sustainable design
• Environmental humanities
• +7 more

Nalin Jayasena is an Associate Professor of English Literature at Miami University, affiliated with the Department of English and the Department of Global & Intercultural Studies. He joined Miami University in 2004 after earning his PhD in English Literature from the University of California, Riverside. His research focuses on postcolonial studies, Sri Lankan cinema, and colonial literature, with a current book project on the cinema of the Sri Lankan armed conflict titled *The Bounty of War*. He has organized film festivals showcasing Sri Lankan and Asian/Asian American cinema, emphasizing cultural globalization. Education: PhD in English Literature, University of California Riverside (dissertation on 20th-century British colonial literature and culture). Teaching: Courses include Asia and Globalization (AAA 207), combining humanities and social sciences approaches. He emphasizes critical thinking and problematizing cultural assumptions. His research explores themes such as contested masculinities, colonial legacies, and the intersection of ethnicity and conflict in cinema. He collaborates extensively with graduate students in literature and creative writing, co-presenting research at national conferences. Outside academia, Jayasena credits his mother’s sacrifices as a key motivator and is an avid NBA fan, reflecting on globalization through experiences like watching the 2016 NBA Finals in Sri Lanka followed by an Indian post-game show.

• Postcolonial Studies
• Film Studies
• Colonial Literature
• +5 more

Swarnavel Eswaran Pillai is an Associate Professor in the Department of English and the School of Journalism at Michigan State University. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India and the University of Iowa, he is both an accomplished filmmaker and a scholar. His work spans documentaries like Nagapattinam: Waves from the Deep (2018) and the fiction feature Kattumaram (2019), alongside academic contributions to journals like Intersections and Caste: A Global Journal . His research focuses on Tamil cinema's history, its relationship with Hollywood, and intersections with caste, gender, and technology. Education : Ph.D. in Film Studies (University of Iowa), D.C. in Film Direction (Film and Television Institute of India), B.Com (Bombay University) His recent articles and essays explore themes such as transphobia in Tamil society, caste dynamics in cinema, and the influence of global media icons. His documentary Is It Too Much to Ask? (2016) analyzes housing discrimination through a docudrama lens, while works like Maadathy (2022) address caste and gender representation. The 15 most recent publications highlight his expertise in cross-cultural film analysis, social exclusion, and visual narrative techniques. Scientific awards include the Tamizh Studio Lifetime Achievement Award (2017) , Teacher-Scholar Award at MSU (2016) , and the Tamil Literary Garden Award (2015) . His accolades reflect recognition of his dual contributions to filmmaking and academic research.

• Documentary Film
• Tamil Cinema
• Film Studies
• +5 more

Signe Cohen is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Missouri, specializing in Hinduism, Sanskrit texts, and comparative mythology. She holds a PhD in Sanskrit from the University of Pennsylvania (1999), an MA from the University of Oslo (1994), and a BA from Oslo (1992). Research Areas: Cohen's work focuses on classical Upanishads, exploring concepts like karma and moksha. Secondary interests include ancient Indian automata narratives and mythological parallels across Indo-European traditions. Publications: Author of Textual Criticism and Sacred Texts (2023) and editor of The Upanisads: A Complete Guide (Routledge 2018). Recent articles examine mythological robotics in Sanskrit sources and religious themes in Tamil cinema. Teaching: Offers courses on Norse mythology, Hinduism, Buddhism, and religion in popular culture like 'Harry Potter and Magic.'

• Hinduism
• Upanishads
• Sanskrit Literature
• +5 more

Usha Iyer is an Associate Professor in the Film and Media Studies program at Stanford University , with affiliate appointments in the Center for South Asia , Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity , and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies . Her research interrogates intersections of cinema, performance, gender, caste, and Caribbean-Indian cultural dialogues . Education: PhD in Film and Media Studies (University of Pittsburgh), MA in Literary and Cultural Studies (CIEFL, Hyderabad), MA in Communication Studies (University of Pune), BA in Literature (St. Xavier’s College, Bombay) At the core of her work lies a material history of Hindi film dance , examining how women’s labor shaped Dancing Women: Choreographing Corporeal Histories of Hindi Cinema (Oxford University Press, 2020). Current projects explore Black-Brown media intimacies in the Caribbean and Indian New Waves co-edited with Manishita Dass. Recent scholarship demonstrates choreomusicological approaches to Bollywood song sequences and decolonial pedagogy frameworks. Awards include the British Association of South Asian Studies Book Prize and Global Issue Course Innovation Grant . Fellowship support from Howard Foundation , Stanford Humanities Center , and Annenberg Program (2022-2024). Key Research Areas: Gendered labor in Indian cinema Queer geopolitics in film Transnational media flows Decolonial curriculum design Corporeal film theory Caribbean-Indian cultural solidarities She teaches globally focused courses including Queer Cinemas around the World , Decolonizing Theory , and Global Melodrama , while serving as Associate Editor of South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies .

• Cinema Studies
• Performance Studies
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• +5 more

SJ Sindu is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). They hold a PhD in Creative Writing from Florida State University (2017), an MA in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2012), and a BA from the same institution (2009). Their work focuses on queer studies, postcolonialism, and South Asian diaspora literature. Sindu’s acclaimed novels, such as Marriage of a Thousand Lies and Blue-Skinned Gods , explore themes of identity, family, and cultural conflict, earning awards including the Publishing Triangle Edmund White Award and Stonewall Honor Book recognition. They teach graduate courses in creative writing at VCU and are affiliated with literary journals like Blackbird and British Virginia . Education: PhD in Creative Writing, Florida State University, 2017 MA in English, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2012 BA, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009 Research Interests: Sindu’s work interrogates intersections of race, sexuality, and nationality, particularly through the lens of Sri Lankan-American experiences. Their fiction and essays dissect familial expectations, queer identity, and diasporic belonging. Recognition: Publishing Triangle Edmund White Award (2017) Golden Crown Literary Society Award (2017) American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book (2017) Lambda Literary Award Finalist (2017) Teaching & Affiliations: Sindu leads the Creative Writing program at VCU, mentoring students in fiction and hybrid genres. They contribute to national literary initiatives and have been featured in venues like Los Angeles Review of Books and Autostraddle .

• Queer Studies
• Feminist Studies
• Postcolonial Studies
• +4 more

Lalitha Gopalan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas at Austin, with affiliate appointments in the Department of Asian Studies and the South Asia Institute. PhD, University of Rochester Her research spans Film Theory , Feminist Film Theory , and Experimental Film and Video , focusing on Indian and global cinematic practices. She has authored and edited landmark publications on Tamil cinema, digital India's film landscape, and genre studies. Recent curated projects include Other Species, Other Times: New Video Art from India (2015-16) and Cruel Cinema: New Directions in Tamil Cinema (2011-12). She serves on the editorial boards of Camera Obscura and the Journal of Cinema and Media Studies . Senior Fellowship, Polish Institute of Advanced Study Provost’s Author’s Fellowship, UT Austin Tagore Fellowship, Ministry of Culture (India) Senior Long-Term Fellowship, American Institute of Indian Studies Fulbright Hays-Nehru Fellowship Dr. Gopalan teaches courses like Asian Horror Film and Women Behind the Camera , with Fall 2025 courses listed in the University of Texas catalog.

• Film Theory
• Feminist Film Theory
• Contemporary World Cinemas
• +3 more

Amrutha Kunapulli is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts at The Ohio State University. Her work focuses on cinemas of India, particularly Tamil cinema's globalist tendencies and its positioning within world cinema frameworks. She holds a PhD from Michigan State University and an MA from IIT-Madras. Her research engages with stardom, digital media, and postcolonial theory, emphasizing the intersection of popular cinema and global cultural dynamics. Her monograph Worlding Tamil Cinema (2025) redefines world cinema theory through the lens of Tamil cinema's transnational engagements and historical trajectories. Her articles explore topics like Tamil cultural representation in Hindi cinema, female stardom dynamics, and political cinema in Kashmir. Her scholarly contributions bridge regional film studies with global media discourse. Education: PhD (Michigan State University), MA (IIT-Madras) Key Research Areas: South Asian cinema, global south media, digital media studies Her recent work analyzes Tamil cinema's adaptations of Shakespeare ( Haider ), the socio-cultural networks in Jeet Thayil's Narcopolis , and the evolving role of Tamil cinema in global cinematic landscapes.

• Cinemas of India
• World Cinema
• Popular Culture
• +4 more

Dr. Kristen Rudisill is a Professor of Popular Culture and Director of the Asian Studies Program at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). She holds a PhD in Asian Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, an MA in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School, and a BA from Bryn Mawr College, with additional studies in accounting at BGSU. PhD - University of Texas, Austin MA - University of Chicago, Divinity School BA - Bryn Mawr College Bowling Green State University - MBA, Accounting Specialization Her research spans South Asian popular culture , focusing on Tamil theatre, dance, and literature across India, Sri Lanka, and diaspora communities. She explores intersections of performing arts , Hinduism , and transnational identity , particularly through Tamil film dance and reality television competitions. Recent publications include analyses of Kollywood dance , Bollywood diaspora performances, and Tamil reality dance shows . Her 2022 book examines post-independence Tamil sabha theatre, while current projects involve a study of 'Gaana' dance competitions and translations of Cho Ramasamy’s plays. American Institute of Sri Lankan Studies Fellowship Fulbright Fellowships in India Co-Editor, Indian Theatre Journal special issue on South Asian Reality TV VP of Conference Planning, Association for Asian Performance She teaches undergraduate courses on global popular culture, Bollywood film, and religion in media, alongside graduate seminars on international popular culture and Tamil identity through dance. Her work bridges academic research with cultural advocacy, emphasizing gender norms , diaspora dynamics , and performance as resistance .

• Popular culture in South Asia
• Performing arts in South Asia
• Tamil language and literature
• +4 more

Sascha Ebeling is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations, specializing in Tamil language and literature across historical periods, South Indian cultural history, and Comparative Literature. His research bridges philology, postcolonial theory, and digital humanities. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cologne and previously taught at his alma mater while working as a Tamil manuscriptologist for the Göttingen Academy of Sciences. His seminal work Colonizing the Realm of Words (2010) redefined 19th-century Tamil literary transformation. Key research interests include Tamil epigraphy, post-war Sri Lankan Tamil literature, Tamil cinema, and the global history of the novel. His publications span monographs, edited poetry anthologies, and contributions to encyclopedias like The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics . Scientific awards include the Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft’s Forschungspreis (2007), the Whiting Award (2008), the Tamil Literary Garden’s Outstanding Achievement in Tamil Studies (2010), and the PEN Translates Award (2012). He actively participates in academic conferences on Tamil diaspora, comparative literature, and South Asian cultural studies.

• Tamil Language
• Tamil Literature
• South Indian Cultural History
• +4 more

Amanda Weidman is a Professor of Anthropology at Bryn Mawr College with additional affiliations in the Linguistics Program and Tri-College Center for Social Sciences. Currently on sabbatical leave, she specializes in socio-cultural anthropology with deep regional expertise in Tamil-speaking South India. Education Ph.D. from Columbia University M.A. from University of Washington Research Focus Her scholarship examines cultural politics through sound and performance, analyzing how music mediates social hierarchies, modernity, and identity. Key projects include ethnographic studies of South Indian classical music's institutionalization, cinema playback singing systems, and contemporary transformations of Amman goddess devotional songs. Her methodology combines archival research, participant observation, and performance analysis to explore intersections of caste, gender, and technological mediation in sound production. Teaching Portfolio Weidman's courses demonstrate interdisciplinary range: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology , The Power in Language , Field Research in Linguistic Anthropology , Beyond Bollywood: Popular Culture and Performance in South Asia , The Anthropology of Sound , and Caste and Race: Analogies and Intersections . Her pedagogy integrates sensory ethnography with critical theory, emphasizing embodied knowledge in sound practices.

• Socio-cultural anthropology
• Linguistic anthropology
• Semiotics
• +4 more

Hari Krishnan is a Professor of Dance, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Global South Asian Studies at Wesleyan University, where he also serves as Chair of the Dance Department. His interdisciplinary research explores queer subjectivities, colonial/postcolonial dynamics, and devadasi traditions in South Asian dance. A key publication is Celluloid Classicism (2019), which redefines Bharatanatyam’s history through Tamil cinema’s lens, earning the 2020 de la Torre Bueno First Book Special Citation. He is artistic director of inDANCE, a globally acclaimed dance company, and has choreographed works like SKIN and Holy Cow(s)! , addressing identity politics and cultural taboos. Awards: Bessie Award Nomination (2013), Choreomundus Residency (2015), Pillow Scholar (2018). Teaching: Courses include Bharata Natyam and contemporary dance, with students showcased in performances like 16 Shades of Red and Black Box 3 . Collaborations: Lighting design by John Carr, residencies at UC Davis and Jacob’s Pillow, and international lectures on dance’s sociopolitical dimensions. His work challenges stereotypes through bold choreography and academic rigor, merging classical Indian dance with postmodern aesthetics.

• Queer Studies
• South Asian Dance History
• Colonialism and Post-Colonialism
• +4 more

Constantine V. Nakassis is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on linguistic anthropology, semiotics, and media studies with a regional emphasis on Tamil Nadu, India. Key interests include Tamil cinema, trademark law, youth culture, and the intersection of branding with neoliberalism. He is the author of Doing Style: Youth and Mass Mediation in South India (2016) and is currently completing Onscreen/Offscreen , a book analyzing Tamil cinema. Nakassis organizes the annual Chicago Tamil Forum workshop, fostering interdisciplinary discussions on South Indian media and culture. His work bridges film theory with anthropological inquiry, examining topics like cinematic presence, indexicality, and the ontological politics of media images. Notable contributions include studies on Tamil cinema's use of spoof imagery, the semiotics of counterfeiting, and the role of brands in contemporary society. Nakassis has held editorial roles including co-editing the Cultural Anthropology special issue on 'Brand Neoliberalism' (2013). His publications span journals such as Journal of Linguistic Anthropology , Signs and Society , and Current Anthropology , with a focus on media anthropology and semiotic theory.

• Linguistic Anthropology
• Semiotics
• Film Theory
• +5 more