Robert M Oppenheim
Ph.D., University of Chicago
Professor

Contact
- E-mail: rmo@austin.utexas.edu
- Phone: 512-471-7279
- Office: WCH 5.134
- Office Hours: Fall 2020 TTh 11-12/W 3-5
- Campus Mail Code: G9300
Interests
Korean anthropology and history; science/tech/society; heritage; objects/materiality; history of anthropology
Biography
Courses taught:
Undergraduate: Introduction to Korean Culture and History; Two Koreas and the US; Ritual and Religion in Korea; Science, Technology, and Society in Contemporary Asia; Capitalism, Consumption, and Civil Society in Korea; Korean Anthropologies; Self and Culture in North Korea; Big Asian Histories; Transnational Korea
Graduate: Space-/Place-Making in East Asia; Anthropology of East Asia; Colonialism and Korea; Proseminar in Asian Studies; Frames of Korean Studies
Courses
ANS 361 • The Two Koreas & The Us-Wb
32710 • Spring 2021
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM
Internet; Synchronous
GC
ANS 302D • Intro To Korean Cul/Hist-Wb
31635 • Fall 2020
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM
Internet; Synchronous
GC
ANS 379 • Transnational Korea
31755 • Fall 2020
Meets TTH 5:00PM-6:30PM RLP 1.104
Hybrid/Blended
GCWr
ANS 361 • Captl/Consum/Civ Soc Korea
32240 • Spring 2020
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM WAG 112
GC
ANS 340 • Ritual & Religion In Korea
31635 • Fall 2019
Meets TTH 5:00PM-6:30PM GAR 0.128
GC
(also listed as R S 352)
ANS 361N • Self/Culture In North Korea
31700 • Fall 2019
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM GAR 0.128
GC
(also listed as ANT 322E)
ANS 390 • Anthropology Of East Asia
32270 • Spring 2019
Meets T 5:00PM-8:00PM RLP 0.124
(also listed as ANT 391)
ANS 302D • Intro To Korean Cul And Hist
32295 • Fall 2018
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM BUR 116
GC
ANS 361 • Captl/Consum/Civ Soc Korea
32345 • Fall 2018
Meets TTH 5:00PM-6:30PM RLP 0.106
GC
ANS 361 • Big Asian Histories
31825 • Fall 2017
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM PAR 210
GC
(also listed as ANT 324L, HIS 364G)
ANS 395 • Proseminar In Asian Studies
31955 • Fall 2017
Meets T 5:00PM-8:00PM WCH 4.118
ANS 361 • The Two Koreas And The Us
31690 • Spring 2017
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM MEZ 2.118
CDGC
(also listed as AAS 325, ANT 324L, GOV 360N, HIS 364G)
ANS 390 • Material Texts/Histories
31795 • Spring 2017
Meets T 5:00PM-8:00PM MEZ 1.104
ANS 302D • Intro To Korean Cul And Hist
31620 • Fall 2016
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM BUR 212
GC
ANS 379 • Transnational Korea
31725 • Fall 2016
Meets TTH 5:00PM-6:30PM CLA 0.118
GCWr
(also listed as AAS 330, ANT 324L)
ANS 361 • Big Asian Histories
30795 • Spring 2016
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM CLA 0.120
GC
(also listed as ANT 324L, HIS 364G)
ANS 391 • Frames Of Korean Studies
30937 • Spring 2016
Meets TTH 5:00PM-6:30PM CLA 0.118
(also listed as HIS 382N)
ANS 302D • Intro To Korean Cul And Hist
30830 • Fall 2015
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM WAG 201
GC
ANS 340 • Ritual & Religion In Korea
30865 • Fall 2015
Meets TTH 5:00PM-6:30PM CLA 0.118
GC
(also listed as ANT 324L, R S 352)
ANS 361 • Self & Culture In North Korea
31040 • Spring 2015
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM CLA 0.104
GC
ANS 390 • Anthropology Of East Asia
32025 • Fall 2014
Meets W 5:00PM-8:00PM PAR 210
ANS 379 • Sci Tech Soc Contemp Asia
32240 • Spring 2014
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM WCH 4.118
GCWr
ANS 379 • Transnational Korea
31925 • Fall 2013
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM PAR 101
GCWr
(also listed as AAS 330, ANT 324L)
ANS 361 • Captl/Consum/Civ Soc Korea
31710 • Spring 2013
Meets TTH 5:00PM-6:30PM CLA 0.104
GC
(also listed as ANT 324L)
ANS 301M • Intro To Korean Cul & Hist
31535 • Fall 2012
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM PAR 301
GC
ANS 340 • Ritual And Religion In Korea
31700 • Spring 2012
Meets TTH 5:00PM-6:30PM MEZ 2.124
(also listed as ANT 324L, R S 352)
ANS 390 • Proseminar In Asian Studies
31630 • Fall 2011
Meets TTH 5:30PM-7:00PM PAR 210
ANS 378 • Senior Seminar In Asian Stds
31945 • Spring 2011
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM WCH 4.118
GCIIWr
C2
ANS 301M • Intro To Korean Cul & Hist
30625 • Fall 2010
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM WAG 201
GC
ANS 390 • Colonialism And Korea
30865 • Fall 2010
Meets TTH 5:00PM-6:30PM CAL 21
ANS 361 • The Two Koreas And The Us
30975 • Spring 2010
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM GAR 0.120
(also listed as AAS 325, ANT 324L)
ANS 390 • Anthropology Of East Asia
31095 • Spring 2010
Meets T 3:30PM-6:30PM CAL 419
(also listed as ANT 391)
ANS 301M • Intro To Korean Cul & Hist
31025 • Fall 2009
Meets TTH 12:30PM-2:00PM CBA 4.326
GC
ANS 361 • Capt/Consum/Civ Soc Korea-W
31125 • Fall 2009
Meets T 3:30PM-6:30PM PAR 203
GC
C2
ANS 301M • Intro To Korean Cul & Hist
31200 • Fall 2008
Meets MWF 9:00AM-10:00AM WAG 201
UGS 302 • Objects In Social Life-W
66390 • Fall 2008
Meets MW 5:00PM-6:30PM PAR 101
C1
ANS 340 • Ritual & Religion In Korea-W
31100 • Spring 2008
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM WEL 3.422
C2
(also listed as ANT 324L, R S 352)
ANS 361 • The Two Koreas And The Us-W
31180 • Spring 2008
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM GEA 114
C2
(also listed as AAS 325, ANT 324L, GOV 360N)
ANS 301M • Intro To Korean Cul & Hist
31520 • Fall 2007
Meets MWF 10:00AM-11:00AM WAG 201
ANS 390 • Space-/Place-Making In E Asia
31740 • Fall 2007
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM PAR 101
ANS 361 • Korean Anthropologies-W
30530 • Spring 2007
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM RAS 312
C2
(also listed as ANT 324L)
ANS 361 • Capt/Consum/Civ Soc Korea-W
30555 • Spring 2007
Meets T 5:00PM-8:00PM GEA 114
C2
(also listed as ANT 324L)
ANS 301M • Intro To Korean Cul & Hist
31085 • Fall 2006
Meets MWF 10:00AM-11:00AM WAG 201
ANS 361 • Sci/Tech/Soc In Contemp Asia-W
31170 • Fall 2006
Meets W 3:00PM-6:00PM PAR 210
C2
(also listed as ANT 324L)
ANS 361 • Two Koreas And The Us-W
29680 • Spring 2006
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM GAR 5
C2
(also listed as AAS 325, ANT 324L, GOV 360N)
ANS 340 • Ritual & Religion In Korea-W
28245 • Spring 2005
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SZB 284
C2
(also listed as ANT 324L, R S 352)
ANS 361 • Two Koreas And The Us-W
28315 • Spring 2005
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM WAG 420
C2
(also listed as AAS 325, ANT 324L, GOV 360N)
ANS 301M • Intro To Korean Cul & Hist
28880 • Fall 2004
Meets MWF 10:00AM-11:00AM WAG 201
ANS 361 • Captlsm/Consum/Civ Soc Korea-W
28945 • Fall 2004
Meets M 5:00PM-8:00PM GEA 114
C2
(also listed as ANT 324L)
ANS 340 • Ritual And Religion In Korea-W
27205 • Spring 2004
Meets TTH 3:30PM-5:00PM UTC 3.120
C2
(also listed as R S 352)
ANS 390 • Space-/Place-Making In E Asia
27410 • Spring 2004
Meets W 5:00PM-8:00PM GAR 111
ANS 301M • Intro To Korean Cul & Hist
27475 • Fall 2003
Meets MWF 2:00PM-3:00PM WAG 201
ANS 361 • Two Koreas And The Us-W
27560 • Fall 2003
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM RAS 313A
C2
(also listed as ANT 324L, GOV 360N)
Publications
Oppenheim, R.M. (2016) An Asian Frontier: American Anthropology and Korea, 1882-1945. Critical Studies in the History of Anthropology Series. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2015) "Asia, Sociocultural Overviews: Korea." In International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edition, vol. 2, James D. Wright editor-in-chief, pp. 71-75. Oxford: Elsevier.
Hindman, H., and R.M. Oppenheim (2014) "Lines of Labor and Desire: 'Korean Quality' in Contemporary Kathmandu." Anthropological Quarterly 87(2):465-96.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2014) "Current Trends in the Anthropology and Cultural Studies of Korea in North America." In Intellectual and Institutional Trends of Korean Studies in North America 2013, Center for International Affairs ed., pp. 97-112. Seongnam: Academy of Korean Studies.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2013) "Thinking Through Place and Late Actor-Network-Theory Spatialities." In Objects and Materials: A Routledge Companion, Penny Harvey, Eleanor Conlin Casella, Gillian Evans, Hannah Knox, Christine McLean, Elisabeth B. Silva, Nicholas Thoburn, and Kath Woodward eds., pp. 391-98. London: Routledge.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2013) "Writing Sokkuram: An Archaeology of Inscription around 1911." positions: asia critique 21(3), 547-577.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2011) "Fictional Displacements: Stewart Culin's Heaven and Earth." Anthropology and Humanism, 36(2), 164-177.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2011) "Introduction to the JAS Mini-Forum 'Regarding North Korea.'" Journal of Asian Studies, 70(2), 333-335.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2011) "Crafting the Consumability of Place: Tapsa and Paenang Yohaeng as Travel Goods." In L. Kendall (ed.), Consuming Korean Tradition in Early and Late Modernity: Commodification, Tourism, and Performance (pp. 105-126). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2010) "Revisiting Hrdlicka and Boas: Asymmetries of Race and Anti-Imperialism in Interwar Anthropology." American Anthropologist, 112(1), 92-103.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2008) Kyongju Things: Assembling Place. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2008) "On the Locations of Korean War and Cold War Anthropology." Histories of Anthropology Annual, 4, 220-259.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2008) "Kyongju Namsan: Heterotopia, Place-Agency, and Historiographic Leverage." In T.R. Tangherlini & S. Yea (Eds.), Sitings: Critical Approaches to Korean Geography (pp.141-156). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2007) "Actor-network Theory and Anthropology after Science, Technology, and Society." Anthropological Theory, 7(4), 471-493.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2005) "Consistencies and Contradictions: Anthropological Anti-Imperialism and Frederick Starr's Letter to Baron Ishii." Histories of Anthropology Annual, 1, 1-26.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2005) "'The West' and the Anthropology of Other People's Colonialism: Frederick Starr in Korea, 1911-1930." Journal of Asian Studies, 64(3), 677-703.
Oppenheim, R.M. (2005) "Legitimating Rhetorics and Factual Economies in a South Korean Development Dispute." In L.T. White (Ed.), Legitimacy: Ambiguities of Political Success and Failure in East and Southeast Asia (pp.215-252). Singapore: World Scientific.