April 8, 1998 Contact Ross West (541) 346-2060 Source: Kenneth George (541) 346-5116 EUGENE--University of Oregon anthropologist Kenneth M. George has received the 1998 Harry J. Benda Prize in Southeast Asian Studies for his book, "Showing Signs of Violence: The Cultural Politics of a Twentieth-Century Headhunting Ritual." The Association for Asian Studies (AAS) bestows the award annually for the year's outstanding book on Southeast Asia in any discipline. "Being awarded the Benda Prize is a remarkable achievement given the volume of writing that is published each year on Southeast Asian subjects," says Steadman Upham, a UO professor of anthropology and vice provost for research. "Showing Signs of Violence," published in 1996 by the University of California Press, deals with the ceremonies of "pangngae," a mock headhunt that is practiced in a remote area of Indonesia. These rituals give the practitioners an important tool for mourning, cultural memory and sex role definition, George, an associate professor of anthropology, argues in his book. A key element of the book is its emphasis on understanding and interpreting ritual song texts. "This is a great honor for Ken George," says Steve Durrant, director of the UO's Center for Asian and Pacific Studies. "We have an outstanding research faculty in Asian studies; this prestigious award bears testimony to that quality." Membership in the AAS is open to all persons interested in Asia and the study of Asia. The society is the largest in the world concerned with Asian studies and counts among its 8,000 members scholars, diplomats and other government officials, business people, journalists and interested lay persons. -30- #G-7339/Local,OrSci,Special