Erick DuPree, PhD

Cultural Anthropologist, Author, Educator
Pronouns: he/him

Education

Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology – Queen’s University

  • Dissertation: Religious pluralism and 11th-century Japanese court literature, with a modern translation and analysis of The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu

  • Publication: Becoming Murasaki: Exploring Religious Subtext in the Court Diary of Murasaki Shikibu (2018)

Academic Appointments

  • Lecturer, Mythopoetics – University of Pennsylvania

  • Lecturer, Dolls as Ritual Objects – University of Pennsylvania

  • Adjunct Instructor, Material Culture – University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

  • Adjunct Instructor, Material Culture – Philadelphia Academy of Art, Philadelphia, PA

  • Adjunct Instructor, Athropology – Dean College, Franklin, MA

  • Literary Reviews Editor, Cleaver Magazine

Research Interests

  • Gender, masculinity, and cultural identity

  • Material culture, dolls, and toys

  • Japanese literature and women’s ritual writing

  • Mindfulness and Buddhist-informed practice

  • Mythopoetics and narrative construction

Books (Author/Translator)

  • Dolls Beyond Play: The Cultural Significance of Dolls (forthcoming Sept 2025)

  • Awaken to Mindfulness: Cultivating Daily Practice & Wellbeing (2023)

  • The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu: A Modern Translation (2022)

  • Becoming Murasaki: Exploring Religious Subtext in the Court Diary of Murasaki Shikibu (2018)

  • Uncovering Genji: A Reader’s Guide to Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji (2018)

Edited Anthologies & Contributions

  • Men and the Goddess: An Anthology Revisited (Editor, 2023)

  • Finding the Masculine in Goddess’ Spiral (Editor, 2016)

  • BOLD: An Anthology of Masculinity-Themed Creative Writing (Contributor, 2023)

  • Masculinity: An Anthology of Modern Voices (Contributor, 2024)

  • Bringing Race to the Table: Exploring Racism in the Pagan Community (Contributor, 2015)

Essays, Reviews, & Journalism

  • Columnist for The Wild Hunt: topics include queerness, popular culture, and contemporary Paganism

  • Former columnist, Alone in Her Presence on Patheos Pagan Channel (2013–2015)

  • Contributor to Tricycle, HuffPost, New York Magazine, Cleaver Magazine, Bitch, and others

  • Literary reviewer for Cleaver Magazine

  • Author of numerous critical and personal essays on masculinity, trauma, and culture

Media Appearances & Interviews

  • Podcast Guest, A Jaded Gay, Ep. 89 (2024): “Beyond the Brawn: Redefining Queer Masculinity”

  • Keynote, “Queer Identity In Jem & The Holograms” JemCon 2018

  • Featured Guest, Ahimsa: Yoga, Wellness, Black Lives (2020): 5-part audio memoir series

  • Consultant, The Toys That Made Us (Netflix, Season 3, 2019)

  • Featured Guest, Inspired Creativity (YouTube, 2023)

  • Podcast Interview, Down at the Crossroads (2014): “Of Goddess”

  • Lecturer, “Mythopoetics and Modern Masculinity,” University of Pennsylvania

  • Lecturer, “Dolls As Cultural Objects: Icons In Identity,” University of Pennsylvania

  • Panelist, “Queer Spirituality and Healing,” American Academy of Religion

Awards & Recognition

  • Dolls Beyond Play officially endorsed by:

    • United Federation of Doll Clubs

    • Victoria and Albert Museum

    • Celebrated doll artists and collectors

  • Widely recognized for contributions to cultural anthropology and spiritual writing

Professional Summary

Erick DuPree is a cultural anthropologist and award-winning author whose work bridges material culture, gender studies, literary analysis, and contemplative practice. With a background in both academic scholarship and public-facing media, DuPree is known for making complex cultural theory accessible and personally resonant. His writing and research emphasize the intersections of ritual, identity, and the artifacts we carry through time—especially dolls, diaries, and mythic figures.