Biography
Yadong Li (Marvin) is a PhD student in socio-cultural anthropology. His current research interests lie at the intersection of the anthropology of the supernatural, hope studies, and post-structural philosophy (especially Derrida's hauntology). These interests have led him to explore how the contemporary fascination with the uncanny can be interpreted under the lens of hope, especially in the context of post-socialist China. He has conducted ethnographic research among Chinese UFO enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists. He has also written about urban legends, moral panic, and nostalgia in China. He is in the 2023-2025 cohort of the Tulane Mellon Graduate Program in Community-Engaged Scholarship. Before attending Tulane, he earned an MRes from SOAS University of London and an MSc from the University of Edinburgh, both in anthropology. Prior to this, he received training in applied sociology and social work at Northwest A&F University.