Visiting Author Discusses Theory From the South

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 29, 2010) − Are you interested in social theory and examining common themes of democracy and law between Europe and Africa? The University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences Committee of Social Theory presents its 2010 Distinguished Visiting Author, Jean Comaroff, to discuss her "Theory From the South: Or, How Europe is Evolving Toward Africa" from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1 in the West End Boardroom on the 18th floor of the Patterson Office Tower on UK's main campus.

Comaroff will address certain increasing commonalities shared by the continents of Africa and Europe, the global south and north, including questions of democracy, law, national borders, labor and capital and religion.

Comaroff, a renowned anthropologist and social theorist, is one of the leading contemporary scholars of colonialism, modernity, law and the State. Her research focuses on the making and unmaking of colonialism in southern Africa, in medicine, religion, crime and state transformation. Comaroff is the Bernard E. and Ellen C. Sunny Distinguished Service Professor of Anthropology and Social Sciences at the University of Chicago and the director of the Chicago Center for Contemporary Theory.

Comaroff's lecture is presented by the Committee of Social Theory and sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School and the Office of the Vice President for Research.

Since 1989, the Committee of Social Theory has encouraged and helped form new collaborative projects that are dedicated to understanding society within interdisciplinary historical and contemporary contexts. The committee has grown to include participation from a number of departments and five schools on UK's campus, providing one of the most engaging teaching, research and learning experiences at UK through team-taught seminars, distinguished visiting scholars and public lectures and many occasions for informal social interaction.

Following the lecture there will be a reception for Comaroff in the Gaines Center, Commonwealth House from 6-7:30 p.m.

For more information on Jean Comaroff's lecture, please contact Suzanne Pucci, director of the Committee of Social Theory, at spucci1@uky.edu, Naomi Norasak at nnora0@uky.edu or visit http://web.as.uky.edu/socialtheory/.