Dr. Chris Houston

Biography

Chris Houston joined Macquarie University in 2005, where he teaches anthropology, having previously been part of the anthropology program at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. His teaching focuses on political anthropology, urban anthropology, and the anthropology of art, including co-convening core units for the Master's Research in Anthropology. His research interests span a broad range of topics within anthropology, particularly in relation to the dynamics of the city, politics, and lived experiences of Islam, including the potential for political activism through art and craft. Houston has conducted extensive fieldwork in Istanbul, where he lived for several years, investigating Islamic and secular social movements in Turkey. His work examines the intersection of Islam within the Turkish context and the organization of space and political practices related to nationalism and republicanism. Recent projects culminate in a historical analysis of the built environment in Istanbul through the lens of social movements and the significant political events surrounding the military intervention of 1980. Houston also explores phenomenological anthropology, emphasizing primary concepts that can elucidate the human engagement with meanings and material culture.

Research Interests