Professor Dr. Brenda Farnell

Biography

Brenda Farnell is an anthropologist with a background in modern dance and dance education. She holds a Ph.D. in Social, Cultural & Linguistic Anthropology from Indiana University, received in 1990. Her research interests coalesce around the rich complexity and diversity of body movement practices in human lives, particularly the relative absence of Western modes of academic thought in this area. Her work encompasses various facets of dance and performance arts, socio-cultural theory, philosophy, and semiotic anthropology. She is known for her contributions to the understanding of movement literacy, visual anthropology, and multimedia ethnography, as well as her studies in Indigenous theater and postcolonialism. Farnell has conducted field research focusing on Indigenous North American communities, particularly among the Plains Indians, investigating areas such as storytelling performance, sign language, embodiment, and Native episteme. She teaches a variety of courses related to anthropology and dance, and her scholarship incorporates insights from linguistic anthropology, embodiment, and the revitalization of endangered languages.

Research Interests

Courses