Background
Kurin, Richard was born on November 27, 1950 in Bronx, New York, United States.
(Is culture brokered like stocks, real estate, or marriage...)
Is culture brokered like stocks, real estate, or marriage? In this engaging book, Richard Kurin shows that cultures are also mediated and indeed brokered by countries, organizations, communities, and individuals -- all with their own vision of the truth and varying abilities to impose it on others. Drawing on his diverse experiences in producing exhibitions and public programs, Kurin challenges culture brokers -- defined broadly to include museum professionals, film-makers, journalists, festival producers, and scholars of many disciplines -- to reveal more clearly the nature of their interpretations, to envision the ways in which their messages can "play" to different audiences, and to better understand the relationship between knowledge, art, politics, and entertainment. The book documents a variety of cases in which the Smithsonian has brokered culture for the American public: a planned exhibit on Jerusalem had to balance both Israeli and Palestinian agendas; debates over the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival presented differing visions of the American South; and the National Air and Space Museum's controversial display of the Enola Gay prompted the Smithsonian to re-examine the role of national museums. Arguing that cultural exhibits reflect a series of decisions about representing someone, someplace, and something, Reflections of a Culture Broker discusses the ethical and technical problems faced by not only those who practice in a museum setting but also anyone charged with representing culture in a public forum.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156098757X/?tag=2022091-20
( Since its discovery in seventeenth–century India, the H...)
Since its discovery in seventeenth–century India, the Hope diamond, a glimmering deep blue gem weighing over 45 carats, has been shrouded in mystery and steeped in intrigue. In this groundbreaking work, Dr. Richard Kurin goes beyond the speculation to reveal the truth behind a legendary stone. Kurin, a cultural anthropologist, spent more than a decade on the trail of the legendary gem. But the 'curse' that surrounds it, which Kurin puts to rest once and for all, is only one small piece of a long and lustrous story that moves between ancient religion and modern magic, royal power and class rivalry, revenge and greed. Richly illustrated, Hope Diamond works in a grand historical tradition––depicting the specific to reveal the universal.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060873523/?tag=2022091-20
Kurin, Richard was born on November 27, 1950 in Bronx, New York, United States.
Bachelor, State University of New York, 1972; Master of Arts in Anthropology, University of Chicago, 1974; certified in Urdu language, University of California, Berkeley, 1974; Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology, University of Chicago, 1981.
Visiting assistant professor department anthropology, Southern Illinois U., Carbondale, 1981-1984;
assistant professor, Southern Illinois U., Carbondale, 1984-1985;
program coordinator, curator, consultant, Festival of India, Aditi & Mela Exhbns., Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1984-1985;
chair 150th Anniversary Program Committee, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, since 1993;
chair deciduous group, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, since 1997;
deputy director Center for Folklife Programs & Cultural Studies, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1985-1987;
acting director, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1987-1990;
director, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, since 1990;
professorial lecturer, Johns Hopkins University, Paul Nitze School Advisory International Studies, since 1985. Collector American Museum Natural History, Punjabi Indian village artifacts,1970. Visiting instructor community development program Southern Illinois U., Carbondale, 1979-1981.
Program coordinator Indian Puppetry Program, Smithsonian Institution, 1980. Consultant anthropologist Harza Engineering Company, United Nations Development Programme and World Bank, IndusBasin Master Planning Project, 1977. Ethnic tours manager division performing arts On-Tour India Program, Pakistan Program, 1976.
Consultant anthropologist U. Karachi, United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare Family Planning Project, 1977. Member of advisory board Council Overseas Research Centers, 1989. Adjunct Professor George Washington University, since 1999.
Presenter organizations, meetings and workshops.
(Is culture brokered like stocks, real estate, or marriage...)
( Since its discovery in seventeenth–century India, the H...)
Board trustees, Smithsonian Secretary's Republican, Library. of Congress, American Folklore Center, since 1989. Trustee American Pakistan Research Organisation, since 1989. Member Fairfax County Citizen Association Education Committee, since 1991.
Chair commission on education and cultureCulmore Area Citizen's Task Force, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1990-1991. President Bailey's Elementary School Parent Teacher Association, 1989-1991, newsletter editor, 1992-1995. Chair model middle school technical committee Glasgow Middle School, 1995-1996.
Fellow Society Applied Anthropology. Member American Folklore Society, American Ethnological Society, Association Asian Studies, American Anthropol. Association.
Married Allyn Bland; children: Danielle, Jaclyn.