Department Affiliations
Narrative
Professor Beeman's scholarly interests and research include sociolinguistics and the semantics of interaction; cross-cultural comparison of theatrical and performance genres; opera; paralinguistic and nonlinguistic semiotics; action anthropology; philosophic anthropology; peasant and nomadic societies. His research in recent years has explored neuroscience and cognition in conjunction with music and theatrical performance.
He is an internationally known expert on the Middle East and the Islamic World, particularly Iran, the Gulf Region and Central Asia. He has also conducted research in Japan, India, Nepal, China and Europe. From 1996-1999 he sang professionally in Europe as an operatic bass. He continues his musical career.
Specialties
- peasant and nomadic societies
- philosophic anthropology
- action anthropology
- paralinguistic and nonlinguistic semiotics
- sociolinguistics and the semantics of interaction
- cross-cultural comparison of theatrical and performance genres
- opera
- Middle East
- Islamic world
- Iran
- South Asia
- Japan
Educational Background
- Ph.D.: Anthropology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1976.
Publications
- The “Great Satan” vs. the “Mad Mullahs”: How the United States and Iran Demonize Each Other. Beeman, William O, University of Chicago Press, Author, 2008. Link Image
- “The U.S.-Shi’ite Relationship in a New Iraq: Better than the British?”: Beeman, William O, Strategic Insights, 3/5 1-8, 2004. Download
- “Elections and Governmental Structures in Iran: Reform Lurks under the Flaws.”: Beeman, William O, Brown Journal of World Affairs, XI: 1 [Summer/Fall] 55-68. Download
- Language, Status and Power in Iran. Beeman, William O, Indiana University Press, Author, 1986. Link Image
- The Performance Hypothesis: Practicing Emotions in Protected Frames.: Beeman, William O, Helena Wulff, editor, Berg Publishers, The Emotions, 273-298, 2007. Link Download
- Classical Persian Music, Islam and Ta'ziyeh: Beeman, William O, Soussie Restegar and Anna Vanzan, eds., AIEP Editore, Muraqqa'e Sharqi: Studies in Honor of Peter Chelkowski, 43-56, 2007. Link
- Los tropos de la musica=The tropes of music: Beeman, William O, Revista de antropología social., 15 265-71, 2006. Download
- Making Grown Men Weep: Beeman, William O, Angela Hobart and Bruce Kapferer, eds., Berghahn Books, Aesthetics in performance : formations of symbolic construction and experience, 23-42, 2005. Link Download
- Silence in Music: Beeman, William O, Maria-Luisa Achino-Loeb, ed., Berghahn Books, Silence: The Currency of Power, 23-34, 2005. Link Download
- The Elusive Butterfly : Beeman, William O, Iconicity in Language (peer-reviewed online journal), September , 2001. Link Download
Research Activities
- Culture and Performance in Central Asia: Field work, 2007 - 2009
Professional Activities
- Chair: Department of Anthropology , January 2007
- President, Middle East Section, American Anthropological Association: 2005 - 2008
Courses Taught
- Biology, Evolution and Cultural Development of Language
- Middle East Anthropology
- Anthropological Linguistics
- Performance Theory
- Sociolinguistics and Discourse Analysis
- Japanese Culture and Scoety
Alternative Output Formats