Max Johnson Dugan

Max Johnson Dugan is a Visiting Instructor Professor of Religious Studies at Kenyon College and a doctoral candidate in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. At Kenyon College, he teaches courses on Islam and material religion, including "Islam's Diverse Paths," "Islam in North America," "Encountering Religion in its Global Context," and "Religious Bodies, Objects, and Affects." 

Max's research focuses on Islamic material and visual culture, embodiment, and emotions. His dissertation examines Halal consumption in Philadelphia using a combination of ethnographic and digital humanistic methods in order to understand how Islamic traditions, racialization, and the contingencies of urban life give halal consumer goods their purchase. The project speaks to issues of class, ethnicity, and communal authority, while offering insight into non-elite, lived Islam in the United States.

In addition to his dissertation, Max has ongoing research projects on popular Islamic art in the US, the affective dynamics of basketball in Muslim communities, and postcolonial affects. Digital humanistic praxis is a core component of his scholarship and teaching. Learn more about the DH projects which he has led or been involved with: http://maxjohnsondugan.com/digital-projects/