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- Issued: February 5, 2024
- Pitches due: March 4, 2024
- Decisions: March 22, 2024
- First drafts due: April 17, 2024
Anthropology News invites submissions for the fourth issue of 2024, which will explore the multifaceted concept of “treasure” through an anthropological lens. We seek to uncover the myriad ways in which treasures, both tangible and intangible, are perceived, created, sought after, and understood across different cultures and throughout time.
We encourage contributors to interpret treasure broadly—from the material riches unearthed by archaeologists, to the cherished cultural practices observed during fieldwork, to the all-too-rare species we stand to lose to climate change, industrial devastation, or resource extraction. How do communities support and revitalize treasured narratives and languages? What does it mean to render our genes and biology as forms of treasure that inform our understanding of human diversity and adaptation—or that become new frontiers of intellectual property and profit?
Possible angles include, but are not limited to:
- The role of artifacts and heirlooms: how they influence the construction of historical narratives and cultural identity.
- The pursuit of linguistic treasures: documenting languages and preserving linguistic heritage.
- The social life of treasures: how objects acquire value and meaning within and across societies, and how these values may conflict.
- Biological treasures: the significance of biodiversity and human genetic heritage in anthropology.
- Treasure hunting in the modern world: ethical dilemmas and the impact on heritage sites.
- Digital treasures: the preservation and significance of digital data as cultural artifacts or questions around privacy and personal information.
We welcome a variety of formats for submission: thought-provoking essays, fieldwork reflections, photo essays, graphic storytelling, and multimedia pieces such as podcasts or short films. Anthropology News, as the American Anthropological Association’s (AAA) award-winning member magazine, is committed to presenting compelling stories through an anthropological lens to a broad audience, whether anthropologists or anyone interested in anthropology. Vivid description, captivating tales, and adventurous forms of writing are at the heart of what we do. Think short-form magazine-style stories with scientific bite—low on jargon, high on storytelling. Read more about us here, and consider how you might tell anthropological stories for a general audience as you consider the direction of your pitch.
Please submit a 300-word pitch outlining your piece’s central theme, along with a 50-word bio through our submission form by March 4, 2024. For photo essays, include one or two sample images. For graphic storytelling submissions, provide examples of your work. For multimedia pieces, include a brief clip or audio sample.
First drafts will be due by April 17 and will be refined in collaboration with AN’s editorial team. Feature articles should be around 2,000 words. Photo essays should consist of six to eight high-resolution images with a 750-word introductory essay. Graphic storytelling pieces can extend up to six online pages. Multimedia works should target approximately 10 minutes in length. The July/August 2024 issue will be available exclusively on AN’s website.