Dr. Fenella Cannell

Biography

Fenella Cannell is an Associate Professor at the London School of Economics, specializing in Southeast Asian anthropology. She has conducted extensive research on kinship and religion in the United States, specifically focusing on Catholic rice-farming communities in the Philippines during various periods of fieldwork from 1988 to 1997. Her research emphasizes how these communities navigate 'culture' in post-colonial settings, with particular attention to women's roles in arranged marriages, spirit mediumship, and the involvement of saint's cults and popular performances such as transvestite beauty contests. Cannell has also contributed to the historical understanding of the Philippines during the American colonial period, examining education, kinship, and gender dynamics. She is currently supervising several postgraduate students conducting research in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, and is planning further studies in the region. Additionally, Cannell has conducted a two-year research project on American kinship religion, particularly concerning Mormonism, with field research in upstate New York and Utah. Beyond her fieldwork, she has written on the intersections of Christianity and social theory, enhancing the academic discourse on these themes.

Research Interests