Tim Snelson

Tim Snelson is an Associate Professor in Media History at the School of Media, Languages and Communication Studies, University of East Anglia (UEA). He is an active academic with a strong interdisciplinary profile, contributing to research, teaching, and public engagement in media studies, film history, mental health, and cultural heritage. He is a Group Lead for Media Equality and a member of several research groups including Heritage and History, East Anglian Film Archive, Film, Television and Media, and Gender and Its Intersections.

Education:

• PhD in Film Studies, University of East Anglia (2009)
• MA in Film Studies (AHRC funded), University of East Anglia (2005)

His research explores the intersections between media and social histories, focusing on film genres (especially horror and true crime), audiences and cinemagoing, gender and popular media, youth subcultures, material culture, screen heritage, and the relationship between media and mental health. He is particularly known for his work on the 'Long-1960s' and the cultural history of psychiatry in cinema.

Tim Snelson's recent publications and projects reflect a strong trend toward interdisciplinary collaboration, especially in the medical humanities and public history. His work increasingly engages with material culture, archival film, and public mental health, often in partnership with institutions like the Science Museum Group. He has led and co-investigated multiple Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and UKRI-funded projects that explore the psychological and emotional impacts of archival media, digital engagement, and the preservation of film heritage.

Scientific Awards:

• AHRC Best Research Film of the Year (2016)

Tim Snelson supervises PhD students and has contributed to editorial boards, including the Science Museum Group Journal. He is actively involved in research grants, particularly those funded by the AHRC and British Film Institute, focusing on video preservation, mental health, and public engagement. His advisory role extends to professional organizations such as Film Archives UK, where he serves as Trustee/Treasurer.

He is a key member of the international research network The History of Movie-going, Exhibition and Reception (HoMER) and collaborates on projects that use film to interrogate power dynamics in psychiatry and medicine. His lab-like initiatives include the 'Demons of the Mind' project, which uses film to explore mental health collections, and public-facing events at the Norwich Science Festival and Museum of Cambridge.