CRCC Seminar

Transnational Charisma and Traveling Spirits: How Religion Moves across a Global Landscape

Organized by Janet Hoskins and Macarena Gomez-Barris

The unprecedented movement of people in our globalized world has also revitalized many forms of religious expression. This year’s CRCC seminar focuses on experiential or charismatic religion and its relation to migration, transnational commerce, and trans-local politics in both contemporary and historical contexts. The mobility of people and spirits transforms notions of landscape, place and belonging, as well as the relation of religion to international markets, and humanitarian concerns with social welfare, human rights and health. The new seminar is organized by Janet Hoskins and Macarena Gomez Barris, assistant professor of sociology and American studies and ethnicity. The seminar is presented in collaboration with The College Commons, a “series of provocative conversations that bring faculty and students together to explore the world of ideas.” As in past CRCC seminars, the conversations will include presentations of works in progress to promote scholarship and stimulate interdisciplinary discussions.

All interested faculty and graduate students are invited to participate in the seminars, but they must indicate their interest and reserve a seat by sending an e-mail to Sumaya Abubaker abubaker@usc.edu. Graduate students who participate in the seminar may apply for up to $1,000 in funding to attend professional conferences. (They must first present their work in progress at the seminar and then present the revised paper at professional conferences.) Prior to the event, an e-mail announcement and the paper(s) for the seminar will be sent to registered participants.