Public Presentation about Eunuchs

[JesusA (imported)]

I’m scheduled to make a presentation to a group of anthropologists at 4:00 pm, Pacific Standard Time, Thursday afternoon, May 5th. It will be open to the public and available on Zoom for anyone who wants to see me in action. I will post the Zoom address once I learn it, but in the meantime, what points do you want me to make in front of this audience? What do they need to know about eunuchs? I have a rough draft written, but I can certainly make changes right up until the time I start talking.

[swllzgs1 (imported)]

what do anthropologists want to know about modern eunuch? definitions? social life? personal life? thoughts to want to be an eunuch?

[thatotherguy22 (imported)]

I'd actually be really interested to see this zoom session, though due to time differences I probably wont be able to see it live. Would it be possible to record it and stick it on you tube as an unlisted video then link it to the forums?

[JesusA (imported)]

I'd actually be really interested to see this zoom session, though due to time differences I probably wont be able to see it live. Would it be possible to record it and stick it on you tube as an unlisted video then link it to the forums?

Since I'm not in charge of the weekly lecture series, I will have to leave any recording decision up to the organization. The series has been going for nearly 40 years and they have not recorded anything yet, so I'm doubtful that they'd record mine. I will ask, but....

[WheelyCurious]

It seems to me like part of the question about what we might like you to say is that you haven't really described what you are already planning to talk about / what the organization is interested in... I'm no expert on anthropology, but I know that there is a huge range of topics ranging from archeological eras, to more recent history, or current day, from 'primitive tribes' to current culture, etc...

So are you hoping to focus on 'historical eunuchs' or modern ones? Indian Hegira, or 'western world'? Medical (involuntary) or those that choose to be castrated voluntarily? It seems to me that one could do a lengthy talk on any one of the choices, and suggestions about one choice wouldn't be relevant to most of the others....

It might help if you gave a bit more description, or possibly even an outline or rough draft of what you are planning?

I know that I've marked my calendar and hope to see your presentation whatever area you are doing it on.

WheelyCurious

[JesusA (imported)]

I don't want to bias any suggestions. I'd really like to know what the readers here would most like to hear about. My current plan is for two major sections to the "academic hour" (50 minutes). I plan to describe the current situation as seen here on the Archive and to give a historical description of eunuchs that violates the stereotypes as much as possible. The main goal is to open minds.

[WheelyCurious]

Thanks for the hint about topic areas,

For the historical section, I'd definitely want to break the 'soprano harem guard' stereotype, with the diverse geographic range of eunuchs and the different roles they played

In the EA I'd say that talking about the wide range of reasons members have for wanting to get 'fully qualified' is important, and the improving, but still problematic access to medical care that makes so many look for DIY or non-medical help in getting to goals. Probably this would also involve pointing out the perceived benefits of castration.

Possibly also the issues with cultural acceptance that makes it so much of an issue to be 'out' as a eunuch and how it seems to be a chicken / egg problem that there aren't enough wanting to be out due to lack of acceptance so there isn't any social pressure for acceptance of being out....

I've probably been way obvious on the above, and suggested things you are already planning on, but still....

I think the opening minds is a great objective, given the target audience it might even get more people doing research... Seems like from the papers I've seen there are currently only a few authors doing most of the writing about eunuchs, presumably if there were more paper-writers, there would be more stuff published... (Certainly not complaining about the current writers, just wishing there were more...)

WheelyCurious

[JesusA (imported)]

The presentation will be at 4:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time) on Thursday, May 5th. I plan to speak for an “academic hour” (50 minutes) to allow for audience questions at the end.

I have two goals for the presentation: 1) describing the contemporary voluntary eunuchs and 2) violating common stereotypes about historical eunuchs. They were not simply the fat, lazy guardians of someone else’s women, but active participants in society, some of whom made important contributions.

Here are the Zoom links: https://csuchico.zoom.us/j/83223152897? ... NXdWE0Zz09 (https://csuchico.zoom.us/j/83223152897? ... NXdWE0Zz09)

Meeting ID: 832 2315 2897

Passcode: 065174

Please post any comments or questions you have about the talk on this thread. I’ll try to answer any questions that come up.

[Valery_V (imported)]

I’

m scheduled to make a presentation to a group of anthropologists at 4:00 pm, Pacific Standard Time, Thursday afternoon, May 5th. It will be open to the public and available on Zoom for anyone who wants to see me in action. I will post the Zoom address once I learn it, but in the meantime, what points do you want me to make in front of this audience? What do they need to know about eunuchs? I have a rough draft written, but I can certainly make changes right up until the time I start talking.

I would very much like to receive a transcript of this speech.

[JesusA (imported)]

I would very much like to receive a transcript of this speech.

I will be using Powerpoint for the presentation, so it will be me talking about slides and photographs. I doubt that the university will be making a transcript of the talk. They have not made transcripts of previous talks in the series.