The periods of the American Revolution and the Civil War remain topics of pride and contention, subjects of popular writing, and inspiration for costumed performance. In 18th-century garments at Colonial Williamsburg and in 19th-century uniforms on Civil War battlefields, modern Americans celebrate the nation's history, and at the same time take the opportunity to air their political and cultural opinions while exploring significant aspects of their identities. Their costumes, differing from their daily dress, help them fulfill personal desires while they join with others in collective public performance. Speaker Biography: Pravina Shukla is an associate professor of folklore and ethnomusicology at Indiana University. Shukla received her B.A. in anthropology from the University of California Berkeley, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in folklore and mythology with a minor in art history from UCLA. Her research interests are wide ranging, but she is best known for her studies of material culture, specifically dress and costume, folk art, museum studies and foodways in India, Brazil and the United States. She is the author of "The Grace of Four Moons: Dress, Adornment and the Art of the Body in Modern India." For transcript and more information, visit www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=7800

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