Tesla Cariani

Tesla Cariani is a Lecturer in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department at Boston University. Their research examines how gender, sexuality, and race are shaped by visual culture, with a focus on queer and trans media. Previously, they held roles as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Rice University (2022–2024) and Visiting Assistant Professor at Emory University (2021–2022).

Education:

• PhD in English, Emory University (2021)
• Certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Emory University

Research interests include Queer and Trans Theory, LGBTQIA2S+ Media, Visual Culture Studies, Affect Theory, Postcolonial Studies, and Critical Disability Studies. Their current book project critiques the cultural desire for queer/trans visibility and explores alternative frameworks for queer life.

Awards:

• 2023 Eisner Award for Best Academic/Scholarly Work (The LGBTQ Comics Studies Reader)

Publications span journals like Parallax and PMLA, emphasizing intersections of media, embodiment, and cultural politics.