Dr. Ward Keeler

Biography

Ward W. Keeler is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on the intersection of performing arts and language culture in Burma, particularly through the lens of Javanese shadow plays (wayang kulit) and music. He has translated contemporary Indonesian novels and recorded classical Burmese singing. Keeler's recent fieldwork revolves around Buddhist monks living in monasteries in Mandalay, Burma, studying their relationships with laypeople and exploring the mass meditation movement in the country. His ongoing research investigates the lives of male-to-female transvestites in Burma and their cultural dynamics. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, specializing in anthropology and expressive culture, particularly within the contexts of Buddhism, Indonesia, and the Rohingya crisis.

Research Interests