Dr. Paul Basu

Biography

Paul Basu is an anthropologist specializing in critical heritage and museum material culture studies within transcultural contexts. His research employs a wide range of ethnographic and historical participatory methods to explore diverse pasts that are materialized and mediated in the present, influencing future trajectories. Basu's work investigates the complex interrelationships between natural and cultural heritage, as well as how these are entangled with shifting value regimes and geopolitical configurations. His research has notably focused on the re-engagement with colonial archives and collections in West Africa, addressing the ambiguous status of sites of epistemic violence and their potential as resources for communities seeking to reclaim cultural histories and memories. Paul has a background in film and television production, which continues to inform his use of audiovisual and multimodal participatory approaches in research. He has curated numerous exhibitions and consulted in the museum heritage sector, while also serving on various advisory boards. Currently, he is the Principal Investigator for the AHRC-funded project titled 'Museum Affordances / [Re:] Entanglements'. Additionally, he teaches Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology in Master’s programs at the university.

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