Media anthropologist promotes nonviolence via activism

Many of us read Ode magazine for inspiration and encouragement for continuing to do the work that we do for positive and peaceful causes. In this light, I want to share with you the inspiring work of my colleague, Susan Allen, Ph.D., a media anthropologist who has worked in the area of nonviolence education for many years.

She has been the creative force behind the development of a Campaign for Nonviolence on the Kansas State University campus and has more recently been successful in developing a Nonviolence Education program at that same university.

Since the completion of her dissertation in media anthropology in 1980, Dr. Allen’s writings have promoted nonviolence through local activism with a global perspective. For example, in a book on Media Anthropology, she wrote a chapter titled: “Activist Media Anthropology: Antidote to Extremist Worldviews” in which she ties her work in media anthropology to her work as the director of a university women’s center and shows the importance and value of activism at all levels.

That chapter and other samples of her writing are available on Dr. Allen's website.