Dr Brian Black
BA in Philosophy, University of California at San Diego; MA in Buddhist Studies, SOAS; PhD in the Study of Religions, SOAS
Overview
Department of the Study of Religions
Research Associate
- Name:
- Dr Brian Black
- Email address:
- bb15@soas.ac.uk
- Telephone:
- 020 7898 4764
- Fax:
- 020 7898 4999
- Address:
- SOAS, University of London
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG - Building:
- Russell Square: College Buildings
- Office No:
- 338
- Website:
- http://www.soas.ac.uk/religions/events/conferences/mbhconf/
Biography
Brian Black received his MA in Buddhist Studies and his PhD in the Study of Religions from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He is the author of numerous publications including the book The Character of the Self in Ancient India: Priests, Kings, and Women in the Early Upaniṣads and co-editor of the book Gender and Narrative in the Mahābhārata.
Teaching
His primary area of research is South Asian religious narrative, particularly the Upaniṣads, Mahābhārata, and the Dīgha Nikāya. Rather than focus exclusively on religious doctrine, his research examines the cultural context of religious practices as represented in the narratives, paying particular attention to social and gender dynamics between the literary characters.
Publications
Authored Books
Black, Brian (2007) The Character of the Self in Ancient India: Priests, Kings, and Women in the Early Upanishads. New York: State University of New York Press.
Edited Books
Brodbeck, Simon and Black, Brian, eds. (2007) Gender and Narrative in the Mahabharata. London: Routledge. (Routledge Hindu studies series)
Book Chapters
Black, Brian (2011) 'Ambattha and Svetaketu: Literary Connections between the Upanishads and Early Buddhism.' In: Lindquist, Steven, (ed.), Religion and Identity in South Asia and Beyond: Essays in Honor of Patrick Olivelle. Anthem Press.
Black, Brian (2008) 'The Upanishads.' In: Billimoria, Purushottama, (ed.), The Routledge History of Indian Philosophy. Routledge.
Black, Brian (2007) 'Eavesdropping on the Epic: Female Listeners in the Mahabharata.' In: Brodbeck, Simon and Black, Brian, (eds.), Gender and Narrative in the Mahabharata. London: Routledge. (Routledge Hindu studies series)
