Vladimir Rizov

Dr Vladimir Rizov is an Assistant Professor in Criminology (Sociology and Criminology) at the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, University of Sussex, where he joined in 2023. His academic work spans criminology, sociology, urban studies, and visual culture, with a critical theoretical approach grounded in Marxism and ideology.

His educational background includes a PhD in Sociology from the University of York (2014–2018), an MA in Social Research, and a BA in Sociology with Social Psychology, all from York. He has previously held academic positions at the University of Suffolk, University of Southampton, Coventry University, and the University of Winchester.

His research critically examines the intersections of urban space, ideology, crime control, and visual representation. He explores how cultural forms—particularly film and video games—reflect and reproduce systems of repression. His first monograph, Urban Crime Control in Cinema, analyzes the 'fallen guardian' trope in films like RoboCop and Blade Runner 2049 to critique policing ideologies. He is currently writing A Criminology of Video Games and leading a British Academy-funded project on Philip K. Dick’s fiction as allegory for counterinsurgency.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on documentary photography (e.g., Thomas Annan, Eugène Atget), urban modernity, and the philosophical dimensions of city life. The articles demonstrate a consistent engagement with visual sociology, historical analysis, and critical theory, often bridging literary, cinematic, and sociological perspectives.

Scientific recognition includes a British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and actively contributes to scholarly communities through memberships in the British Sociological Association (BSA), International Visual Sociology Association (IVSA), BAFTSS, and DiGRA. Since November 2024, he co-convenes the BSA’s Visual Sociology Study Group.

He supervises research in his areas of expertise and welcomes student inquiries. His teaching includes modules on victimisation, social justice, criminological theory, and urban uprisings. He is developing new courses in visual criminology and urban sociology, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach. He has also completed professional training in filmmaking and UK copyright law, enhancing his methodological toolkit.

His research team involvement includes collaborative projects on visual culture and urban space, though no formal lab is mentioned. Future work will expand into video games and Marxist criminology, supported by ongoing grants and institutional affiliations.