Written by a political scientist and an anthropologist over the course of 15 years, Becoming Utopia explores the story of the village using a broad historical lens. It also examines the process of turning the dramatic history of Bishop Hill into a heritage tourism economy in the 19th and 20th centuries. Finally, the authors discuss how rural Midwestern communities negotiate social sustainability with green energy economics in the 21st century.
Dr. Adam Kaul is an anthropologist who focuses primarily on the economic and cultural impacts of the tourism industry in local places around the world. He has carried out extensive ethnographic fieldwork in Ireland, the American Midwest, and Sweden. He has published numerous books and articles on the intercultural interactions that occur in tourist destinations. Dr. Kaul is the Chair of Sociology and Anthropology at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL.
Dr. Margaret Farrar is a professor of political science at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. She is a Cleveland-based writer, photographer, and educator. Dr. Farrar has published numerous articles on contemporary and democratic theory and gender politics.
The Steeple Building Museum is located at 103 N. Bishop Hill Street, Bishop Hill, IL. Please call 309 927-3899 or email bhha@mymctc.net if you have questions about this program. This presentation is hosted
by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association.
The Steeple Building Museum is located at 103 N. Bishop Hill Street, Bishop Hill, IL.
