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Academic concentration: socio-cultural anthropology; media; ethnomusicology; social movements; visual, musical and performing arts; human/civil rights; ethnographic filmmaking; and edutainment.

Geographical and population focus: Caribbean (Cuba and Puerto Rico); Latin America; and Latinos in the United States.

Education

Ph.D., Anthropology; ICGC MacArthur Fellow (2010)
Thesis: Son Dos Alas (They Are Two Wings): A Multimedia Ethnography of Hip-Hop Between Cuba and Puerto Rico
Concentration: Ethnographic audiovisual production
Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota

M.A. Anthropology (2001)
Thesis: Graffiti Art: Research, Methods, and Ethics
Concentration: Social art movements and urban studies
Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota

B.A. College of Liberal Arts (1997)
Majors: Anthropology and Spanish
University of Minnesota

Fundación Ortega y Gasset (1994, UMN freshman study abroad)
Department of Social Sciences and Economics, Toledo, Spain

 

 

Print Publications

2013   
(In print) – “Review: Soñando se resiste, hip-hop en la calle y al parque”
Boletín Cultural y Bibliográfico de la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango, issue 84. Bogotá.

- (In print) – “Hip-Hop in Puerto Rico” and “Hip-Hop in Cuba”
The Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. Volume 9: Caribbean and Latin American Genres [ed. by David Horn and John Shepherd]. Bloomsbury Publishing: London and New York.

2012   
“Entre |<< (rebobinar) y >  (reproducir): la realización de Son Dos Alas.”
Movimiento: La Revista Cubana de Hip-Hop. Cuban Institute for Music (ICM), issue 10. Havana.       

- “Review: Hip-Hop Japan: Rap and the Paths of Cultural Globalization by Ian Condry.”
The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. Volume 18. June 2012, Vol. 18 Issue 2, p. 491-493. London.

2011   “
Son Dos Alas” In Urban Move Magazine. Vol. 1, issue 1. p. 19. Puerto Rico.

2009  
“Se Habla: Los Aldeanos” In Hip-Hop Nation, with Sirag Nabih, nu.114. Madrid, España

“Ladies-Hop – La participación histórica de las mujeres en el hip-hop” In Movmiento: La Revista Cubana de Hip-Hop. Instituto Cubano de la Musica, issue #7, La Habana, Cuba (in print).

2008  
“¿Y mi Cuba donde esta?. on-line publication at www.emetreceproductions.com, dic 1,
B-Girl Be: Celebración de Mujeres en el Hip Hop” In The House Magazine, v. 31, fall 06
“Habana Hip Hop Desde el Reel” In The House Magazine, v. 30, summer 06

2008           
“Ladies-Hop – La participación histórica de las mujeres en el hip-hop” In Movmiento: La Revista Cubana de hip-Hop. Instituto Cubano de la Musica. Issue #7, La Habana, Cuba.

2006   
“B-Girl Be: Celebración de Mujeres en el Hip Hop” In The House Magazine, v. 31, fall 06

2006           
“Habana Hip Hop Desde el Reel” In The House Magazine, v. 30, summer 06

2005    “
The Dynamics of A Canvass: Graffiti and Aerosol Art” In Public Art Review, Forecast, St. Paul. MN Fall/winter 05 v. 16, issue 34, n 3.

2005   
“Hip Hop Habana from the Reel”In The Minneapolis Liberator. vol 4.4. Mpls. MN.

2005            
“Graffiti Arts’ First Lady, Interview with Lady Pink” In the Minneapolis Liberator. vol 4.3. Mpls. MN.

2001   
“Girls and Graffiti” In Girlhood in America: An Encyclopedia, with Austin, Joe [co-author], Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO Publications, (2001)

2001           
“Tagging an Ethnography: Methods and Ethics in Researching Graffiti Art.” In partial fulfillment of Master’s Thesis; Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota.

“Graffiti: A Social Resistance Movement.” In partial fulfillment of Master’s thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota.

1999   
“Lady Pink” An interview with New York muralist and graffiti writer Lady Pink, Minneapolis: reproduced by author (1998; TXu.895.393 © 1999).

1997           
  “Graffiti: A Cultural Analysis of Graffiti and Twin Cities Guerrilla Artists”Baccalaureate Thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota: (1997;VAu.391.983 © 1997).

Speaker / Lecturer / Panelist @ Conferences & Festivals                   

Mar. 2013      
Entre |<<  (rebobinar) y >  (reproducir): la realización de Son Dos Alas
(upcoming)      Society for Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology (SLACA) IV annual conference (Post-National Transformations: Culture and Politics in Latin America and the Caribbean), Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico.

Feb. 2013      
Between >  (play) and |<<  (rewind): The Making of Son Dos Alas
St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN.

Aug. 2012      
Between >  (play) and |<<  (rewind): The Making of Son Dos Alas
Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN.

Jan 2010     “Encuentro con Melisa ‘Emetrece’ Riviere: exposición videográfica y presentaciones en vivo.”
La Madriguera, Asociación Hermanos Saíz, La Habana, Cuba.

Nov 2009     “Entrepreneurship & Academia: Ethnographic Production of Hip-Hop in Cuba”
Multicultural Student Community Dialogue, University of St. Thomas, Mpls, MN

Oct 2009     “Son Dos Alas: Hip-Hop Habana from the Reel”
Anthropologists on Globalization series
Department of Anthropology, Carlton College, Northfield, MN

May 2009  “Son Dos Alas: Hip-Hop in Cuba and Puerto Rico” (English & Spanish)
World Languages Day, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota

April 2009  “Reggaetón” lecture / panelist for on-site book release
Sagrado Corazón University, San Juan, Puerto Rico

March 2009 Keynote: “Planet Hip-Hop: A Global Phenomenon”
American Association of University Women, Mpls, MN

Oct 2008   “Son Dos Alas: Hip-Hop Habana from the Reel”
Institute for Global Studies, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN

August 2008  “La historia y desarrollo del reggaespañol al reggaetón” Agencia Cubana de Rap, Casas de Cultura, La Habana, Cuba

April 2008  "Hip Hop Culture and American Politics: Past and Present" American Studies, University of Minnesota
             
“Puerto Rock & Latin Hop: The Spanglish of the Rhyme”
Department of Anthropology, AcadeMIX Conference, Haverford College, Philadelphia

March 2008  “Son Dos Alas: The Cultural Diffusion of Hip-Hop in Cuba and Puerto Rico”
Department of Anthropology, Spelman College, Atlanta

Feb 2008  “Hip Hop Habana From the Reel”
Walker Art Center in collaboration with Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN

Sept 2007  “Graffiti Marketing: Origin & Future”
  Consumer Insight Annual Conference for General Mills at the Walker Art Center

July 2007 “Historia y desarrollo del reggaetón en su context caribeño” 3º Simposio de Hip Hop Cubano, Agencia Cubana de Rap, Casas de Cultura, La Habana, Cuba

May 2007 “Son Dos Alas: Hip-Hop in Cuba and Puerto Rico” (English & Spanish). World Languages Day, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota

April 2007 “From Bomba to Hip-Hop”
“Son Dos Alas” MSUM Unity Conference, Univeristy of Minnesota, Moorhead.

“The Emetrece Textbook: Afro-folkloric Roots of Hip-Hop and Reggaetón” Richfield High School edutainment talk

"Art, Activism, and Scholarship: Hip-Hop”
 Dept of American Studies, Macalester College, St.Paul, MN

Dec. 2006 “Hip-Hop Herstory”
The Many Faces of Hip-Hop Lecture Series
The Dean for the Study of Race and Ethnicity and the American Studies Department at Macaester College, St. Paul, MN

Sept. 2006  “Castro and the Cuban Revolution: The Hip Hop Revolution” Political Science Department, Macalester College, St.Paul, MN

August 2006 “Cuba After Castro: the Revolution within the Revolution” Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Minnestoa, Minneapolis, MN

July 2006  Keynote: “El papel de la mujer latinoamericana dentro de la cultura hip hop” 2º Simposio de Hip Hop Cubano
, Agencia Cubana de Rap / Instituto de Cultura, La Habana, Cuba

April 2006  Keynote: “Hip-Hop y Reggaetón: el Latinismo del Movimiento” 7th Annual Latino Youth Peace Conference, La Oportunidad, Minneapolis

Dec. 2005  Keynote: “Latin Hip-Hop & Reggaetón Fundamentals” PRISM Hip-Hop Conference, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Nov. 2005  ‘Leading Through Song: Music, Social Activism and Democracy’ 2005 Leadership Conference, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN

Oct 2005  Keynote: ‘Hip Hop Habana From the Reel’
Theatre Casa Cruz de la Luna, San German, Puerto Rico

June 2005  “Hip-Hop Scholarship”
B.Girl.Be Talk and Panelist, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN

April 2005 “Hip-Hop in Cuba and Puerto Rico”
Institute for Global Studies Talk Series, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

August 2004 “Audio-Visual Ethnography”
Asociación Hermanos Saíz, La Habana, Cuba    
     
2002 “Responsible Conduct of Research”
Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

1998  Keynote: “Graffiti Art: A Cultural Production”
Wexner Theatre for the Arts, Ohio Humanities Council, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Grants, Fellowships & Awards

2009  
CNN Heroes Nominee

2007           
Department of Anthropology Block Grant to complete write up and audio engineering of dissertation research.

Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fellowship Finalist

2005           
Barcelo Collaborative Multicultural Grant, Office of University Women to co-author a film about women in Hip Hop with Rachel Raimist, fellow graduate student in Women’s Studies.

Premios Lucas Music Video Awards Nominee (La Ley 5566 with Anonímo Consejo, Cuba)

2004
MacArthur Scholars/Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change Dissertation Fellowship for dissertation research of the four elements of hip hop in Cuba and Puerto Rico during 2005-2006.

 Department of Anthropology Block Grant to present a hip-hop music audio-visual production series at the 2004 X Habana Hip Hop Conference in Havana, Cuba.

2003           
University of Minnesota Humanities Institute Summer Graduate Fellowship awarded to produce a film documentary of the ‘IX Habana Hip Hop’ conference in Havana, Cuba.
           
CLA Excellence in Teaching Award – student nomination for GloS 3144 & 3101.

2002   
Faculty Grant-in-Aid from the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, with Professor August Nimtz (Political Science) for film/video training in conjunction with the Cuban Institute fro Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) and equipment allocation for “Revolutionary Cubanas,” a documentary of the life histories of women who fought in Cuba’s revolutionary war. Grant from the University of Minnesota in collaboration with ICAIC in Havana, Cuba.

2001           
MacArthur Scholars/Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change Pre-Dissertation Fellowship received for pre-dissertation research and technical training with the Cuban Institute for Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) in Havana, Cuba.

2001   
College of Liberal Arts, Office of the Dean, Graduate Research Partnership Program received for archival research on the role of women in the Cuban revolutionary war at the Biblioteca Nacional José Martí, Havana, Cuba.

1998           
Department of Anthropology Block Grant received for interviewing women graffiti artists in New York and Puerto Rico.

1997           
Department of Anthropology First Year Graduate Tuition Fellowship.

Teaching