Teaching

I do not teach often, but I love students and teaching when I do. I have taught across the subfields of my discipline, from the anthropology of religion to that of gender; from art and material culture to that of sounds, meanings and language; from a close-up course on Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera to peoples of Latin America. Today my teaching interests have shifted to courses that draw upon linguistic anthropology and are designed for writers, such as: The Anthropology of Prose and Poetry; Insults: Cross-Culturally; Metaphors Cross-Culturally; Sociolinguistics for Writers; Language and Power; Women and Language. Having said that, I really love teaching courses on material culture, on the role of materials in our lives and in the lives of others.

PRAISE

“Hi Professor Bakewell, I’m not sure when you’ll get this email, but I feel compelled to send it now. At the moment I’m in the white heat of writing my thesis. I’m emailing to tell you that for about the millionth time in my last three years at Brown, I have bumped up against (and incorporated) the semiotics stuff you taught us in Anthropology 80: Sounds and Symbols….before I graduate (hopefully in May), and while I’m thinking about it, I wanted to thank you. Anthropology 80 [Sound and Symbols: Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology] is one of the few courses that has had a great impact on both my education and how I view the world.”

—James R. Murdock, Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology, Brown University

“I took [the course] Women Speak because I have taken a lot of critical theory classes in the English department, and I wanted to take a class in linguistics as I intend to go to graduate school for sociolinguistics. Because of the class, I have grown as a writer and a reader and feel more comfortable writing in my own colloquial voice. Professor Bakewell is one of the most intelligent and passionate professors I have ever taken a class with. She pushes students to the best of their abilities while maintaining a comfortable learning environment.”

—Anonymous
Women Speak: An Introduction to a Gendered Linguistic Anthropology
Colgate University, Spring 2010

“I took the class [Material Culture] because I was interested in taking a course with a visiting professor. What I learned was a new way to view ethnographies, not only for their overall themes but for the details that inform them and their diverse writing styles. Professor Bakewell is a terrific professor. She situates the course load with a nice balance of readings and multimedia, tying the books with films and making it possible for us to Skype with authors. She cares about our opinions and encourages us to lead class discussions. I would definitely take another class with her if I could.”

—Anonymous
Material Culture, Gender Matters Course
Colgate University, Spring 2010