Brinkley Messick

Brinkley Messick is Professor of Anthropology and Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University. Writing and reading, considered as cultural and historical phenomena, have figured centrally in his research on Islamic societies in both Arabia (Yemen) and North Africa (Morocco). In books that include The Calligraphic State (1992) and Shari’a Scripts (2018 ) he considers the production and circulation, inscription and subsequent interpretation of Arabic texts such as regional histories, law books, and court records.

He regularly attended Michael’s memorable scholarly gatherings on Islamic topics in the Ettinghausen Library at New York University, which were followed, of course, by amazing meals. 

Festpod conversation explored the possibilities of being both anthropologists and specialists on Muslim societies, and particularly “historical anthropology,” Michael’s famous mentor, E.P. (Evans-Pritchard), and Michael’s work on “narratives as a type of historical inquiry.” They also talked about the research on the Hadramis in Singapore.