Bruce Elliot Tapper (born in the United States) is a social anthropologist, journalist, writer, and editor. He has published numerous articles on Telugu society and culture in Andhra Pradesh, and shadow puppets as a form of entertainment. He lived in a small village called Aripaka, close to Visakhapatnam, from 1970-72 to research the social structure and religious customs of the farmers and various other occupational communities in the village.