Dark Shamans, Goth and Kittens: Remembering Neil Whitehead

Neil Lancelot Whitehead

1956 - 2012

Amazonian anthropology has lost another innovative voice, cherished friend and "astronaut of the human soul" this month. Neil L. Whitehead was best known for his explorations on the "dark side" of shamanism. Eschewing romantic depictions of benevolent shaman-healers, he drew connections between indigenous sorcery and sexualized tribal and political violence in the Guianas from colonial through modern times.

With his flowing blonde hair, dramatic British accent and electrifying stage presence, Neil looked like he beIonged in a heavy metal band. Which he did. As part of a "performative ethnographic work" in collaboration with Jeff Fields, Neil took on the persona of Detonator, lead singer of Blood Jewel. The band participated in Goth festivals in Europe and recorded bone-crunching industrial music that plumbs similarly dark themes of violence and terror, fetishized sexuality and the post-human condition.

And yet scattered among heavy postings on his Facebook page one also finds warm family correspondence and cute kitten photos. All who knew and admired Neil mourn his passing and honor his legacy.

  

Left: Onstage as "Detonator" with Blood Jewel;
Right: A recent co-edited volume on post-humanity.

More about Neil's life and work:

• Faculty page at University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Selected publications
• Podcast interview: "Dark shamans"
• Lecture excerpt: "Anthropology of violence"
• Words of remembrance, University of Wisconsin-Madison News
• March 23 announcement, Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America
• Obituary, Stabroek News, Guyana
• Online family tribute

"Astronaut of the Human Soul": In Memoriam - Steven Rubenstein

Anthropology is a special vocation; you and I did not select the ordinary job or anything close to it.  We are astronauts of the human soul, half scientist  and half explorer, part poet and part trickster.

-- Steven Rubenstein (1962 - 2012)

This month, the anthropological community lost a provocative and productive scholar, a passionate advocate for indigenous rights, a generous colleague and a gentle friend.  He will be sorely missed.  

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For more about Steven's life and work: 

• University of Liverpool faculty page
• Selected publications available for download
• Death in a Distant Place, PhD dissertation at Columbia University
• Message from Charles Forsdick, School of Languages, Cultures and Area Studies at University of Liverpool
• Announcement (March 2012) by Janet Chernela, Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America (SALSA)
  
• Wikipedia
• Facebook

"Astronauts" quote by Steven courtesy of Juan Pablo Sarmiento Barletti

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Amazonian anthropology lost another "astronaut of the human soul" this month with the death of Neil Lancelot Whitehead:
see "Dark Shamans, Goth and Kittens"