William O. Beeman

William O. Beeman is Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Minnesota. He is an anthropological linguist by training. During 2013-2014 he was Visiting Scholar at Stanford University.

William O. Beeman

BiographyEdit

Professor Beeman's scholarly interests and research include sociolinguistics and the semantics of interaction; cross-cultural comparison of theatrical and performance genres; opera; paralinguistic and nonlinguistic semiotics; action anthropology; philosophic anthropology; peasant and nomadic societies. His research in recent years has explored neuroscience and cognition in conjunction with music and theatrical performance.

He is an internationally known expert on the Middle East and the Islamic World, particularly Iran, the Gulf Region and Central Asia. He has also conducted research in Japan, India, Nepal, China and Europe. From 1996-1999 he sang professionally in Europe as an operatic bass. He continues his musical career.

EducationEdit

  • Ph.D.: Anthropology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1976.

SpecialtiesEdit

  • peasant and nomadic societies
  • philosophic anthropology
  • action anthropology
  • paralinguistic and nonlinguistic semiotics
  • sociolinguistics and the semantics of interaction
  • cross-cultural comparison of theatrical and performance genres
  • opera
  • Middle East
  • Islamic world
  • Iran
  • South Asia
  • Japan
  • business anthropology

Selected Research and PublicationsEdit

“The Ta'ziyeh of Hor, and: The Ta'ziyeh of the Children of Moslem, and: The Ta'ziyeh of Imam Hussein (review)”, Theatre Journal, Vol. 55, No. 2, 2003, 359-362 p.

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Contact DetailsEdit