Distance, Deceit and Denial This course examines the roles of
distance, deceit, and denial in structuring, reproducing, and
contesting relations of domination and exploitation. Drawing on
a wide range of ethnographic, historical, sociological,
psychological, and anthropological case studies, the course aims
to stimulate imaginative theorizing and generative research
projects about the operation of distance, deceit, and denial in
three specific dimensions: language (euphemism, dysphemism,
public and hidden transcripts, etc.), space (borders, walls,
checkpoints, special economic zones, camps, policing and
surveillance technologies, modes of experience-distant warfare,
etc.), and social organization (the division of labor,
hierarchy, chains of command, etc.). In addition to exploring
distance, deceit, and denial as mechanisms of domination and
exploitation, specific attention will also be given to the
efficacy and ambiguities of movements and technologies that aim
to collapse distance.