Dr Gavin Weston
Staff details
Dr Gavin Weston's doctoral thesis 'Lynchings in Todos Santos Cuchumatan: A Genealogy of Post Conflict Violence' explored vigilantism in Guatemala and broader issues of post-war violence. He is particularly interested in the anthropology of violence, law, politics, gossip and anthropological theory more generally. He is currently working on a research proposal regarding the democratisation of security in the UK, looking at the the diverse spectrum of non-state security and policing spanning from vigilantism to paid private security patrols.
Teaching
Dr Gavin Weston convenes the MA in Development and Rights.
He teaches the following courses:
- Anthropology of Rights
- Anthropological Ideas
- Anthropology of Violence
- Violence and the Body Political
Research Interests
Research interests: Vigilantism, violence, Guatemala, Latin America, political anthropology, legal anthropology and comic book vigilantes/superheroes among many other things.
Publications
Book Section
Lynchings and Post-War Complexities in Guatemala
Weston, Gavin and Burrell, Jennifer. 2007. Lynchings and Post-War Complexities in Guatemala. In: David Pratten and Sen Atrevee, eds. Global Vigilantes. London: Hurst & Company, pp. 371-392. ISBN 978-1850658382
Article
Student/staff ‘Collaborative Event Ethnography’ at the Antiques Roadshow
Weston, Gavin and Djohari, Natalie. 2018. Student/staff ‘Collaborative Event Ethnography’ at the Antiques Roadshow. Journal Of Educational Innovation, Partnership and Change, 4(1), pp. 1-7.
Anthropologists in Films: “The Horror! The Horror!”
Weston, Gavin; Lawson, Jamie F; Blell, Mwenza and Hayton, John. 2015. Anthropologists in Films: “The Horror! The Horror!”. American Anthropologist, 117(2), pp. 316-328.
Superheroes and Comic Book Vigilantes Versus Real Life Vigilantes: An Anthropological Answer to the Kick-Ass Paradox
Weston, Gavin. 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), pp. 223-234. ISSN 2150-4857
On the Pedagogical Strengths of Teaching Controversy
Weston, Gavin. 2012. On the Pedagogical Strengths of Teaching Controversy. Teaching Anthropology, 2(1), ISSN 1537-1751
The Ship of Theseus and the Problem of 'Post-War' Answers to Contemporary Guatemalan Problems
Weston, Gavin and Djohari, Natalie. 2012. The Ship of Theseus and the Problem of 'Post-War' Answers to Contemporary Guatemalan Problems. History and Anthropology, 23(4), pp. 405-424. ISSN 0275-7206
Dunbar's Number: Group Size and Brain Physiology in Humans Reexamined
Weston, Gavin; Ruiter, Jan Peter and Lyon, Stephen M. 2011. Dunbar's Number: Group Size and Brain Physiology in Humans Reexamined. American Anthropologist, 113(4), pp. 557-568. ISSN 0002-7294
(Un)Imagining the State: Guatemalan Lynching and the Erosion of the State's Monopoly of Violence
Weston, Gavin. 2011. (Un)Imagining the State: Guatemalan Lynching and the Erosion of the State's Monopoly of Violence. Etnofoor, 23(2), pp. 79-98.
