James M. Burns

James M. Burns is a Professor of History and Director of the Humanities Hub at Clemson University's College of Arts and Humanities. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara (1998). His research focuses on African history, British Imperial history, and the social history of film. His work includes seminal publications such as Flickering Shadows: Cinema and Identity in Colonial Zimbabwe and Cinema and Society in the British Empire, 1895-1940. He has been recognized with awards like Choice magazine's Outstanding Academic Title for his 2002 book. His current research explores the circulation of Bollywood films among South Asian communities in former British colonies.

Professor Burns teaches courses on global history, African history, and film studies. He is actively involved in academic leadership, directing Clemson's Humanities Hub, which fosters interdisciplinary humanities research. His scholarship bridges historical analysis with media studies, emphasizing transnational and global perspectives. His publications span peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes, addressing topics like colonial cinema, diasporic film cultures, and the intersection of history and media.

• Education: Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara (1998)
• Awards: Choice Outstanding Academic Title (2002), Palgrave/Macmillan Global Cinemas series contributor
• Projects: Monograph on Bollywood's global diaspora; research on cinema in colonial cities