Thomas Riccio Books

The jali--a member of a hereditary group of Mandinka professional performers--is a charismatic but contradictory figure. He is at once the repository of his people's history, the voice of contemporary political authority, the inspiration for African American dreams of an African homeland, and the chief entertainment for the burgeoning transnational tourist industry. Numerous journalists, scholars, politicians, and culture aficionados have tried to pin him down. This book shows how the jali's talents at performance make him a genius at representation--the ideal figure to tell us about.

David Hanson's robots are explored as a reflection of contemporary culture, highlighting their role in the evolution of humanoid social robots. The book delves into how these robots embody societal values and norms, serving as a lens through which to understand our relationship with technology and the future of human-robot interaction.