Tracy J. Luedke
Anthropology, Global Studies
Professor
Office:
Room BBH 138
Phone:
(773) 442-5621
Email:
t-luedke@neiu.edu
Office Hours:
Spring 2025 Monday: 2:30-5:00 p.m. (On campus in Room BBH 138 or via Zoom) Tuesday: 1:00-3:30 p.m. (Via Zoom) Zoom link: https://neiu-edu.zoom.us/j/7552420277
Expertise
Cultural Anthropology, African Studies, Global Studies
ANTH 212 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANTH/AFAM 224 - Contemporary African Culture
ANTH 290 - Graduating Anthropology
ANTH 307 - Anthropology of Gender, Sexuality, and the Body
ANTH 317 - Medical Anthropology
ANTH/AFAM 320 - Religion in Africa
ANTH 375 - Anthropology of Globalization
ANTH 377 - Anthropology of Television
ZHON 360 - Honors Seminar in Research and Creative Processes
GS 201 - Introduction to Global Studies I
AFAM 303 - Global Collaborations-Ghana
Research Interests
Religion, healing, southern Africa, globalization, immigration, transportation My research concerns the Christianized healing practices of the prophets of central Mozambique, a network of people possessed by biblical spirits who work to heal individual bodies afflicted with illness as well as social bodies recovering from the effects of warfare and dislocation. I recently collaborated on an edited volume about healing in southeastern Africa. The book addresses the important relationship between African healing practices and borders of various sorts, which healers both transgress and reify in the course of their work. I am also interested in material culture, especially the ways objects, buildings, and other materialities figure in healing practices.
Education
Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology, Indiana University, 2005 M.A., Cultural Anthropology, Indiana University, 1999
Selected Publications
Religion, healing, southern Africa, globalization, immigration, transportation My research concerns the Christianized healing practices of the prophets of central Mozambique, a network of people possessed by biblical spirits who work to heal individual bodies afflicted with illness as well as social bodies recovering from the effects of warfare and dislocation. I recently collaborated on an edited volume about healing in southeastern Africa. The book addresses the important relationship between African healing practices and borders of various sorts, which healers both transgress and reify in the course of their work. I am also interested in material culture, especially the ways objects, buildings, and other materialities figure in healing practices.