Dr Gavin Weston
- gweston at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
- Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences
- BG-501,
Biography
My doctoral research was on Guatemalan vigilantism, and while I still consider the anthropology of violence my primary field of research, since completing my PhD at Sussex in 2008 I have written and researched on topics spanning from the Antiques Roadshow, human group size relating to brain physiology, ghost walks, horror films and gambling advertising. My most recent book (with Natalie Djohari) explores the history of anthropology through controversies, aiming to introduce those new to anthropology to its history without glossing over the more problematic areas. Since 2021 I have been conducting research for the British Academy/Leverhulme funded project ‘Watching the Coast’ looking at non-state vigilance on the South coast of the UK.
I took what many would consider a teaching route into academia beginning as an Associate Tutor in 2004 during my DPhil at the University of Sussex, and as an Associate Lecturer from 2007-9. In 2009 I became a Teaching Fellow at Durham University, before moving to Goldsmiths... Teaching remains central to my academic practice today. This can be seen in my recent appointments as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy as Editor in Chief of the Royal Anthropological Institute's Teaching Anthropology journal and my recent appointment to the RAI’s Education Committee. As can be seen in relation to my research on gambling adverting and The Antiques Roadshow, I actively seek spaces in which teaching and research can be brought together, where students can gain hands-on experience doing meaningful research and where research skills-led training is an organic part of a project and where mutual support can be built into the fabric of a staff/student team.
moreJournal Articles
- Cornish, H., Weston, G., Djohari, N., Urdea, A., Liber, E. and Evans, L., 2024. For love and money: Navigating values at the antiques roadshow event. Journal of Popular Culture, 57 (2), 80-92.
- Weston, G., Liber, E., Urdea, A. and Cornish, H., 2022. Queue-munity engagement: Collaborative Event Ethnography at the Antiques Roadshow in Kent. Ethnography, 23 (1), 130-150.
- Djohari, N., Weston, G., Cassidy, R. and Kulas-Reid, I., 2021. The visibility of gambling sponsorship in football related products marketed directly to children. Soccer and Society, 22 (7), 769-777.
- Weston, G., Woodman, J., Cornish, H. and Djohari, N., 2019. Spectral cities: Death and living memories in the dark tourism of British ghost walks. Urbanities, 9 (2), 36-51.
- Djohari, N., Weston, G., Cassidy, R., Wemyss, M. and Thomas, S., 2019. Recall and awareness of gambling advertising and sponsorship in sport in the UK: A study of young people and adults. Harm Reduction Journal, 16 (1).
- Weston, G., Santos, D., Tantam, W. and Fenby-Hulse, K., 2018. The Fieldwork playlist editorial. Suomen Antropologi, 43 (2), 53-57.
- Weston, G., 2018. Song featuring lyricS ‘oh Senor…’ quite a lot: Mayan evangelical Singer. Suomen Antropologi, 43 (2), 67-70.
- Weston, G. and Djohari, N., 2018. Student/Staff ‘Collaborative Event Ethnography’ at the Antiques Roadshow. JEIPC, 4 (1).
- Weston, G., Lawson, J.F., Blell, M. and Hayton, J., 2015. Anthropologists in Films: "The Horror! The Horror!". American Anthropologist, 117 (2), 316-328.
- Weston, G., 2015. Secrecy and Insurgency: Socialities and Knowledge Practices in Guatemala. CRITIQUE OF ANTHROPOLOGY, 35 (3), 346-348.
- Weston, G., 2013. Superheroes and comic-book vigilantes versus real-life vigilantes: An anthropological answer to the Kick-Ass paradox. Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics, 4 (2), 223-234.
- Weston, G. and Djohari, N., 2012. The Ship of Theseus and the problem of "postwar" answers to contemporary Guatemalan problems. History and Anthropology, 23 (4), 405-424.
- Weston, G., De Ruiter, J. and Lyon, S., 2011. 'Dunbar's Number: The Limitations on Human Group Size Re-Examined'. American Anthropologist, 113 (4), 557-568.
- de Ruiter, J., Weston, G. and Lyon, S.M., 2011. Dunbar's number: Group size and brain physiology in humans reexamined. American Anthropologist, 113 (4), 557-568.
- Weston, G., 2011. (Un)Imagining the State: Guatemalan Lynchings and the Erosion of the State’s Monopoly of Violence. Etnofoor: anthropological journal, 23 (2).
Books
- Weston, G. and Djohari, N., 2020. Anthropological controversies: The ‘crimes’ and misdemeanours that shaped a discipline.
- Weston, G. and Djohari, N., 2020. Anthropological Controversies The Crimes and Misdemeanors That Shaped a Discipline. Routledge.
- Weston, G., 2019. Guatemalan vigilantism and the global (Re)Production of collective violence: A tale of two lynchings.
Chapters
- Weston, G., Leizaola, R. and Woodman, J., 2023. Cannibalizing ethnographic film: anthropology's complicated relationship with found footage horror. In: Booth, R. and Griffiths, V., eds. Filtered Reality: The Progenitors of Found Footage Horror. United Kingdom: House of Leaves Publishing, 111-132.
- Weston, G., 2018. Rights. The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Wiley.
- Weston, G. and Burrell, J., 2008. Lynchings and Post-War Complexities in Guatemala. In: Pratten, D. and Sen, A., eds. Global Vigilantes. London: Hurst & Company.
Grants
- Watching the Coast (Brotish Academy/Leverhulme, 01 Sep 2022). Awarded
External Responsibilities
- Durham University - Anthropology Department, External Examiner (2022-)
- Teaching Anthropology - Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Editor-in-Chief (2020-)
- Royal Anthropological Institute, Member of Education and Publication Committees (2020-)
Memberships
- Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow (2019-),