Elena Mucciarelli focuses on the cultural history of South India using a holistic approach that brings together textual, oral, and visual materials and different disciplinary approaches (philology, anthropology, media studies). Currently she is working on the narratives of power and the strategic usage of media in 12^th-14^th centuries Karnataka. She is also studying the ritual aspects in the performative tradition of modern Kerala. Her areas of expertise are: Old Indian ritual and poetic tradition (Vedic); Medieval inscriptions and courtly literature in Karnataka, Kerala theatrical tradition. Languages of expertise: Kannada, Malayalam, Sanskrit.