Dr Caroline Osella
BA PHD(LONDON)
Overview
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
(Reader in Anthropology with reference to South Asia)
Centre of South Asian Studies
(Member, Centre of South Asian Studies)
Kerala, South Asia, South Asian diaspora: ethnophysiology, concepts of person, gender, ethnicity, psychology and anthropology.Contact Details
- Name:
- Dr Caroline Osella
- Email address:
- co6@soas.ac.uk
- Telephone:
- 020 7898 4427
- Address:
- School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG - Building:
- Russell Square: College Buildings
- Office No:
- 553
Teaching
Students supervised
Courses Taught
- Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives B
- Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives B (Masters)
- Culture and Society of South Asia
- Ethnography of a Selected Region - South Asia
- Introduction to Social Anthropology
- Issues in the Anthropology of Gender
- The Anthropology of Gender
- Theory in Anthropology
Research
I am a South Asian specialist working in South India but maintaining a close interest in the region as a whole. I undertake research work in Kerala and with Malayali migrants in the Gulf states. At SOAS, I teach courses on South Asian ethnography; on Gender, Sex and Sexuality; on ethnography of south Asian Islam; and Introduction to Social Anthropology.My broadest research interest is in the ways in which projects of identity crafting are brought back to the body, while socially constructed bodies are differentiated to reflect class, ethnic and gender differences and to forge social hierarchies. My recent research, funded by a three year ESRC Research Grant, was a study of consumption practices and identity shifts among Muslims in Kerala, South India (see ESRC ‘Regard’ database for more details). This work builds upon my earlier work in Kerala (since 1989) which has explored social mobility and identity change within the context of social reform movements, consumption as a social mobility strategy, and consumption as a gendering practice. With my co-researcher, Filippo Osella (University of Sussex, UK) my publications range across themes of social mobility, masculinity, consumption, migration, popular religion and ritual change.
Expertise
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Available for
Regional Expertise
- South Asia
Country Expertise
- India
Languages
Publications
Authored Books
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F. (2006) Men and Masculinities in South India. New York; London: Anthem Press.
Chopra, R. and Osella, Caroline and Osella, F. (2004) South Asian masculinities: context of change, sites of continuity. New Delhi: Women Unlimited an associate of Kali for Women.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F. (2000) Social Mobility in Kerala: Modernity and Identity in Conflict. London; Sterling, Virginia: Pluto.
Chapters in Books
Osella, Caroline (2009) 'Vital exchanges: land and persons in Kerala.' In: Berti, Daniela and Tarabout, Gilles, (eds.), Territory, Soil and Society in South Asia. New Delhi: Manohar.
Osella , Caroline and Osella, F. (2008) 'Nuancing the migrant experience: perspectives from Kerala, South India.' In: Koshy, S. and Radhakrishnan, R., (eds.), Transnational South Asians: the making of a neo-diaspora. India: Oxford University Press, pp. 146-178.
Osella, F. and Osella , Caroline (2007) ''I am Gulf': the production of cosmopolitanism in Kozhikode, Kerala, India.' In: Simpson, Edward and Kresse, Kai, (eds.), Struggling with history: Islam and cosmopolitanism in the Western Indian Ocean. London: Hurst.
Osella, Caroline and FOsella, (2005) 'The micro-politics of caste, or the political in the personal.' In: F.Viti, and F.Piasere, and L.Piasere,, (eds.), Dipendenza e gerarchia. University of Siena Press (Siena).
Osella, Caroline and Osella, Filippo (2004) 'Malayali young men and their movie heroes.' In: Chopra, Radhika and Osella, Caroline and Osella, Filippo, (eds.), South Asian masculinities: context of change, sites of continuity. New Delhi: Women Unlimited, an associate of Kali for Women.
Osella , Caroline and Osella, F. (2004) 'Young Malayali Men and their Movie Heroes.' In: Chopra, R. and Osella, C. and Osella, F., (eds.), South Asian Masculinities. Context of Change, Sites of Continuity. Women Unlimited, pp. 224-261.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F (2002) 'Once upon a time in the West? Narrating modernity in Kerala, South India.' In: Parry, Jacqui and Arnold, David, (eds.), Life Stories in South Asia. Oxford University Press.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F. (2002) 'Introduction.' In: Osella, F. and Chopra, R. and Osella, C., (eds.), Masculinities in South Asia. Delhi: Kali for Women .
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F (2002) 'Points de vue malayalis sur l’inné et l’acquis’ (Eng. original ‘Some Malayali perspectives on the Nature: Nurture question’).' In: Bouiller, V and Tarabout, G, (eds.), Le Corps en Inde. (Paris), CNRS.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F (2001) 'Contextualising sexuality: young men in Kerala, south India.' In: Manderson, L and Rice, PL, (eds.), Coming of age in South and Southeast Asia: youth, courtship and sexuality. Curzon Press ( London).
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F. (2000) 'The return of king Mahabali: the politics of morality in south India.' In: Fuller, C. J. and Benei, V., (eds.), The everyday state and society in India. Delhi: Social Science Press , pp. 137-162.
Articles
Osella , Filippo and Osella , Caroline (2009) 'Muslim entrepreneurs in public life between India and the Gulf: making good and doing good.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 15 (s1). pp. 202-221.
Osella, Caroline (2008) 'Introduction.' South Asia Journal of South Asian Studies, 31 (1). pp. 1-9.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F. (2008) 'Food, Memory, Community: Kerala as both 'Indian Ocean' Zone and as Agricultural Homeland.' South Asia Journal of South Asian Studies, 31 (1). pp. 170-198.
Osella, F. and Osella , Caroline (2008) 'Islamism and Social Reform in Kerala, South India.' Modern Asian Studies, 42 (2-3). pp. 317-346.
Osella , Caroline (2008) 'Introduction: Islamic reformism in South Asia.' Modern Asian Studies, 42 (2/3). pp. 247-257.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F. (2007) 'Muslim Style in South India.' Fashion Theory The Journal of Dress Body & Culture, 11 (2-3). pp. 233-252.
Osella , Caroline (2007) 'Muslim Entrepreneurs between India and the Gulf.' ISIM Review, 19 . pp. 8-9.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F. (2006) ''Traditionalism' versus 'Innovation'. The Politics of Ritual Change in South India.' Purusartha, 25 . pp. 271-301.
Osella , Caroline and Osella, F. (2006) 'Once upon a time in the West? Stories of migration and modernity from Kerala, South India.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 12 (3). pp. 569-589.
Osella, Caroline and FOsella, (2004) 'Negotiating ritual change in South India.' Purusartha, Rites hindous: transferts et transformations (Journal of CNRS South Asia Research) .
Osella , Caroline and Osella, F. (2004) 'Scambi vitali: Houses, land, people and deities in Kerala, South India.' Etnosistemi. Special issue on 'Space and Territory in India' .
Osella, Filippo and Osella, Caroline (2003) ''Ayyappan Saranam': masculinity and the Sabarimala pilgrimage in Kerala.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 9 (4). pp. 237-244.
Osella, F. and Osella, Caroline (2003) 'Migration and the commoditisation of ritual: Sacrifice,spectacle and contestations in Kerala, India.' Contribution to Indian Sociology, 37 (1-2). pp. 109-139.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F (2000) 'Migration, Money and Masculinity in Kerala.' The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, vol. 6 (no. 1) . pp. 115-131.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F (2000) 'Movements of power through social, spiritual and bodily boundaries: aspects of controlled and uncontrolled spirit possession in rural Kerala.' Purusartha 21, La possession en Asie du sud: parole, corps, territoire . pp. 183-210.
Osella, Caroline (1999) 'Seepage of Divinised Power through social, spiritual and bodily boundaries.' Purusartha - La possession en Asie du sud:parole corps territoire, 21 . pp. 183-210.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F (1998) 'On flirting and friendship: micro-politics in a hierarchical society.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 4,2 . pp. 189-206.
Osella, Caroline and Osella, F. (1996) 'Articulation of Physical and social bodies in Kerala.' Contributions to Indian Sociology, 30 (1). pp. 37-68.
