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Staffan Appelgren

Senior Lecturer

School of Global Studies
Telephone
+46 31-786 43 33
Mail
staffan.appelgren@gu.se

About Staffan Appelgren

I am currently senior lecturer in Social Anthropology. After BA-degree in Social Anthropology and Japanese Studies, I was research student at University of Tokyo between 1996-1997 and completed my doctoral degree in Social Anthropology at University of Gothenburg in 2007. Between 2008-2011, I was Director of Studies at the cross-diciplinary unit Museion at the Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg, and 2011-2012 I held a Post Doc position at the Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg. Since 2013, I am Director of Studies for Social Anthropology.

Areas of interest My research interest includes material culture, culture theory, heritage, consumption, tourism, gender, identity politics, globalization, urbanity, and Japanese society. My research typically investigates the dynamic relationships between movement and stability; process and form; plasticity and solidity. Earlier research includes cultural globalization focusing on themed environments in Japanese cities, preservation strategies in Tokyo’s urban landscape and depopulation issues on the Japanese countryside.

Current research My current research investigates the circulation of material culture through the second-hand markets as alternative forms of heritage making. I co-lead the project Re:heritage – Circulation and marketization of things with history (Swedish Research Council, 2014-2017). Fieldwork for this project is carried out through 2015 and 2016.

Part of the leadership group of Critical Heritage Studies, an international cross-disciplinary research network at Gothenburg University.

Teaching and tutoring

Experience of developing, coordinating and teaching courses and programs at both under graduate level and advanced level in Swedish and English, on Social-Anthropology, Global Studies, Asia Studies, Heritage Studies, Tourism Studies, Gender Studies and Urban Studies. Experience of supervising theses at both undergraduate and advanced level in Swedish and English.

Experience of working as a Director of Studies, responsible for pedagogic quality and development, for undergraduate as well as advanced level in Swedish and English. Currently the Director of Study for Social-Anthropology.