USC Dornsife News

In his summer course, an anthropology professor who was embedded with the notorious MS-13 gang for 16 years shatters stereotypes behind urban gangs. [7¾ min read]

History has taught us that in times of crisis, our desire for easy solutions makes us vulnerable to charlatans — but beware, their seductive quick fixes will not lead us to a lasting and genuine revival. [10 min read time]

Thanks to a prestigious Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, Isis Galeno ’21 explores the history of Mexican American ska music in Los Angeles. [3¾ min read]

Emmy Esquerre links “queer phobia” in today’s Black communities to the political and religious systems put in place by European colonizers and missionaries in Africa and South America. [3¾ min read]

USC Dornsife’s Thomas Ward of anthropology covers Vodou, witchcraft and shamanism, while focusing on “white magic” used for holistic healing. [5¼ min read]

Memory lies at the heart of many academic disciplines. [6½ min read]

From the species that brought you the moon landing and the hot dog eating contest, artificial intelligence is here to change the world. [9 ¾ min read]

The increasing acumen of artificial intelligence and new understandings of plant and animal behavior are challenging how we define humanity, says USC Dornsife anthropologist Tok Thompson.

It may be tempting to equate Day of the Dead with Halloween, but the two holidays celebrate very different customs. [5 min read]