Jamie O'Brien

Research Interests: 

Latin America, colonial Latin America, ancient Latin America, Latin America and foreign relations, body modification, ancient body modification, ancient religion, cosmology of the body, human rights.

Dissertation Advisor:

Professor Pablo Mijangos y Gonzalez

Jamie is a native Texan and second-year master's student, writing her thesis on the extirpation of idolatry. Her thesis will connect idolatry to forms of body modification, such as tattoos, piercings, etc. Her research will likely show that the Catholic Church’s extirpation of idolatry wasn't just about theology; it was about semiotic warfare. By controlling how a body looked, the Church controlled how that person was allowed to exist in the world. Outside of class, Jamie enjoys fostering cats and spending time with her family and friends.