Tag Archives: ethnography

PLACAS: Events on Ethnography, Theatre, and Latino Cultural Production

placas

Join SED for a three-day series of events celebrating Latino cultural production, ethical research practice, and ethnographic design in anticipation of the theatre production PLACAS: The Most Dangerous Tattoo. The play follows the life of a Salvadorean ex-gang member and his journey to remove his tattoos, save his son, and explore his identity. Written by Paul Flores (UCSD alum) and directed by Michael John Garces (Cornerstone Theatre), PLACAS is based on the life of activist and founder of Homies Unidos, Alex Sanchez, who is played by Ric Salinas of Culture Clash. The play will be performed at Lincoln High School in National City, April 23-25. Playwright Flores, activist Sanchez, and the rest of the cast will be engaged in multiple events at UC San Diego to discuss documentary practices and social justice issues.

MONDAY, April 20th
12:00 – 2:00 PM
RAZA RESOURCE CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM

UCSD alumni discuss how cultural identity is an asset for community organizing, and how UCSD prepares graduates for leadership in community transformation and social justice campaigns.

TUESDAY, April 21st
4:00 – 6:00 PM
VISUAL ARTS @ SME (STRUCTURAL & MATERIALS ENGINEERING) ROOM 149

An excerpt from the critically acclaimed play by UCSD Writing/ Literature alum Paul S. Flores about transnational gangs, tattoo removal and healing. Followed by a discussion with cast and gang peacemaker Alex Sanchez.

WEDNESDAY, April 22nd
3:00 – 5:00 PM
VISUAL ARTS @ SME (STRUCTURAL & MATERIALS ENGINEERING) ROOM 408

The Studio for Ethnographic Design presents playwright Paul Flores and activist Alex Sanchez. Flores will discuss the relevance of ethnographic practice in developing his documentary theatre work PLACAS: The Most Dangerous Tattoo. The workshop will also feature gang peacemaker Alex Sanchez, who will reflect upon his experience in collaborating with academics, journalists, and artists in general, and ethnographers in particular, in developing projects of mutual concern.

Cripping/Disabling Ethnography: A discussion with Cassandra Hartblay

CrippingEthnographyTHURSDAY, March 12th
2:30 – 4:30 PM
VISUAL ARTS @ SME (STRUCTURAL & MATERIALS ENGINEERING), ROOM 204

Join SED for a discussion on ethnography and disability co-hosted with the Center for Humanities Research Group Translat(e)ability: Borders, Disability, and Crip Collaboratives. Cassandra Hartblay – a PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – will present work on the tensions and possibilities of producing ethnographic work in relation to critical disability studies.

Cassandra Hartblay is an award-winning scholar of disability and postsoviet Russia. An ethnographer and cultural anthropologist by training, her work contributes to interdisciplinary conversations in queer/feminist disability studies, global studies, and infrastructure studies. Cassandra’s work on comparative regimes of productivity and dependency, as related to gender, disability, and the welfare state between the United States and Soviet Union in the 20th century, received the competitive Irving K. Zola Award for Emerging Scholars in Disability Studies in 2013. She has also worked as an applied qualitative researcher with the Soros Foundation, contributing to a collected volume on inclusive education in Central Asia. She is a dedicated ethnographer devoted to community engagement, critical praxis, social change, and fostering cross-cultural understanding.

Suggested Reading:
Hartblay, C. (2015). “It’s just for the check mark”: Minimum Requirements, Global Friction, and Inaccessible Accessibility Ramps in Russia. Work in Progress.