He explained that “HTS is certainly a big element, but the play also focuses on broader areas, i.e., the (ugly) US occupation of Afghanistan (and, to a lesser degree, of Puerto Rico ), the stereotyping (and necessity) of ‘enemies,’ the drug-war connection in US warfare (and espionage), the ‘occupation’ of women exacerbated by Sharia Law, etc.” The main point is that, in Mitchell’s words, “the piece is adamantly against occupation of any kind.” To clarify the aims of Rick Mitchell’s project I asked him to what extent HTS was intended as a focal element, if it was. occupation strategies that are intended to reduce conflict, but only fuel it through ignorance.” As for HTS another review tells us that it is, “touted as a way to win hearts and minds…a devious attempt to root out insurgents through entrapment.” HTS is also referred to in one of the reviews as, “an underhanded American ploy to colonize and ferret out insurgents.” We are told that “the play is critical of U.S. Army’s Human Terrain System, and the work of militarized anthropology are targets of criticism. colonization into an enjoyable, comedic romp,” one that uses “almost every form of dramatic spectacle with Turkish shadow puppets, catchy musical numbers and light Brechian flourishes.” In this play, the U.S. One review from Eye Spy LA tells us that “Mitchell weaves a complex story about U.S. Rick Mitchell, is a professor and creative writing advisor in the Department of English at California State University, Northridge who, with the support of his university’s Faculty Research Fellows Program and the Puffin Foundation, has created and launched a play that is getting a number of positive reviews: Shadow Anthropology–A Post 9/11 Comedy. This has been mentioned in previous articles that we have published, as an upcoming production.
“With social science to lead us, through dark Afghanistan, we’ll blaze a path toward victory, and eventually into Iran!”– words from the song, Shadow Anthropology, see below.ĭr. “We’ll identify those we can trust to embrace the occupation.
We’ll win hearts and minds behind enemy lines by mapping the human terrain.” “Anthropology will help to explain the people we wish to contain. They’ll learn love for American freedom through stories they’ll come to adore.” Sensitivity to backward culture will help us to control the horror. “With notebooks and pens we will end suicide bombings and gore. “The challenge for anthropologists is to discover without killing.”