Justin Owen Rawlins

Justin Owen Rawlins is an Associate Professor in Media Studies and Film Studies at The University of Tulsa's Kendall College of Arts & Sciences. His research explores the ideological work of screen texts through reception studies, media history, and Arctic media analysis.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Media Studies, Indiana University Bloomington
• M.A. in Media Studies, Indiana University

Rawlins investigates how media shapes identity through Method acting discourse, Alaskan reality TV, and celebrity paratexts. His work reveals tensions between neoliberal self-sufficiency and media production networks.

Recent publications include the monograph Imagining the Method (2024), which maps Method acting's cultural politics, and articles on Joaquin Phoenix's Joker (2019), Tom Cruise's stunt performances (2021), and Arctic media representation (2022). His scholarship appears in Celebrity Studies, FLOW, and The Terror's critical companion materials.

At TU, Rawlins serves as Faculty Advisor and Executive Producer for the TUTV Media Lab, mentoring students in television production, podcasting, and cross-platform media. He has expanded the lab into a collaborative space with 500% membership growth since 2016.