Michael Mackenzie

Michael Mackenzie is an Assistant Professor at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University's Academy of Film and Creative Technology, where he bridges academic research and multi-disciplinary artistic practice. His work explores the intersection of virtual and real human experiences through creative mediums.

His research interests focus on digital art, virtual reality, and narrative theory, examining how artistic creativity represents contemporary digital existence. Key themes include social media commodification, online polarization, and the materiality of digital traces, often manifested through hybrid analog-digital artworks, murals, and film projects.

Recent publications reveal a consistent trajectory analyzing virtual-real oscillations across multiple formats: from Chinese online comment visualization (2025) to rural village murals (2024) and virtual reality storytelling (2025). His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between visual arts, digital humanities, and sociological analysis of online communities.

Award highlights include screenplay acceptances by:

• MIFF 37%South Market script initiative
• L.A Gateway development program
• Academy Nicholl Fellowship

As a supervisor, he guides Master's students on culturally significant topics including doctors' professional image in medical documentaries and traditional Chinese cultural transmission through online memes. He co-founded the Panda-monium creative collective with colleagues Zihong Yue and Colin Chuan, producing multidisciplinary research projects engaging university communities and external collaborators through both creative practice and scholarly articles.

His current Virtual-Reality: Representing virtual experience through creative works project (2025-2028) continues this exploration through internal university funding.