Soup's On with Dean Viraj: Guest Dr. Rupa Pillai

What:

Soup’s On with Dean Viraj: Carnival and Chutney Soca with Dr. Rupa Pillai

Soup's on with Dean Viraj is a casual program hosted by Harnwell House Dean Viraj in her apartment. At each event, a special guest (featuring both Harnwell residents and guest presenters) will share a dish important to them and facilitate a free-flowing discussion in a family-style setting. All residents are welcome, and plan to stay to chat while we eat! 

Location: Harnwell 801

Menu: Jerk Chicken, Curry Goat, Plantains (vegan), Rice and Beans, Veggie Patties (vegan)

Guest: This week we will Senior Lecturer in Asian American Studies, Dr. Rupa Pillai. She received a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Oregon. Her dissertation, Caribbean Hinduism on the Move explores how the Indo-Caribbean American community adapts and mobilizes Hinduism in this second migration, first from the Indian subcontinent and second from the Caribbean, to carve a space for themselves within the social landscape of New York City. 

Topic: What does it mean to be part of a diasporic identity? How do cultures merge and adapt? How do we navigate the ethics of ethnographic fieldwork with minoritized communities? Is curry a soup? We’ll dive deep into all of these questions (and more) during this casual dinner program. Come with questions- Dr. Pillai is excited to chat about her own research, navigating complex diasporic identities (What do Afro-Asian relations look like, and how do we understand them, for example?), the hottest new chutney soca songs and fashion from this year at Carnival, and more! We’ll be eating food that’s unique to Jamaica, but also represents mergers of cultures- how do we think about identity and authenticity? Come through to fill your stomach and soul at Soup’s On!

Please RSVP  to Dean Viraj at pviraj@upenn.edu(link sends e-mail). Spots are Limited. Bring your own bowl/spoon please! 

Note: Dean Viraj has a cat! He'll be in another room during the program, but please plan accordingly.

When:

Tuesday February 25th, 2020 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM