Discourse BHAM Tattoo Talk

Discourse BHAM is a new speaker program in the Science on Tap or Science Cafe, etc. vein in which academics give scholarly talks geared toward a lay audience in casual settings. Discourse BHAM operates out of Monday Night Brewing Co. in Birmingham, Alabama once a month and is organized by UA historians Lawrence Cappello and Janek Wasserman. I gave a talk about tattooing, evolution, and health, and, while I've probably given more intellectually coherent talks, it's the most fun I've had giving a talk and reminded me of being on stage when I was a musician. Every audience and setting is different, but I loved performing so much I thought I'd do it for the rest of my life and didn't so having that kind of experience again was very rewarding. I snagged an ad and photo from the @Discourse.BHAM Instagram account, so credits go to them

​The ad might seem a little cringe, since I'm far from famous, which is what is implied. However, my research has gone viral internationally, so I am known, but so is any anthropologists whose work has been published around the world. This is the type of hyperbole that is par for the course in promoting music, so it is fitting here. And, frankly, I find academics too reticent to market themselves and their work. If it because of concerns with hyperbolic headlines spreading misinformation, then I can sympathize and agree. However, if the concern is about being taken seriously, I think the real underlying fear is that there is not enough substance underlying the flash. So this ad made me chuckle more than anything, and apparently it worked. There was a great crowd in attendance, lots of folks came up and talked to me after, and we closed the place down shooting the breeze. Thanks to Lawrence and Janek and Monday Night Brewing Co.! 

Photo from Discourse BHAM (@discourse.bham)