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Dr. Amber West is a Lecturer in the Writing Programs at UCLA, part of the Humanities Division within UCLA College. She holds a B.A. in Literature & Creative Writing from UC Santa Cruz, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from NYU, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Connecticut. Her research interests span poetry and poetics, puppet theater, race and gender studies, performance studies, intersectionality, and service learning. West's scholarly work appears in journals like Journal of Research on Women & Gender and Puppetry International , alongside contributions to edited volumes such as Episodes from a History of Undoing and The Routledge Companion to Puppetry & Material Performance . Her creative works include poetry collections published by Finishing Line Press and The Word Works. She co-founded Alphabet Arts, a bi-coastal artist collective, and created/directed the Puppets & Poets festival in NYC (2011-2015). With nearly two decades of experience, she has taught writing, trained educators, and fundraised for programs in underserved communities, including roles with AmeriCorps VISTA, Brooklyn Public Library, and Girls Write Now.

• Poetry and Poetics
• Puppet Theater
• Race and Gender Studies
• +3 more

Katherine Saltzman-Li is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), affiliated with the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultural Studies, the Program in Comparative Literature, and the Department of Theater and Dance. Her research focuses on Japanese performing arts, particularly Kabuki theater, Japanese literature, and folklore. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Her work examines Edo-period Kabuki playwriting through studies of rare treatises like Kezairoku , interactions among Edo artists, and adaptations of puppet theater into Kabuki. She co-edited Cultural Imprints: War and Memory in the Samurai Age (2022) and Realisms in East Asian Performance (2023), challenging Eurocentric theatrical realism frameworks. She co-curated exhibitions on Japanese theater prints at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and directs the Japanese Performing Arts Research Consortium (JPARC). Her teaching spans Japanese literature, folklore, and performance studies, including courses on traditional theater, comparative drama, and digital humanities applications in theater research.

• Japanese Performing Arts
• Kabuki Theater
• Japanese Literature
• +6 more

Nathan James Timpano is an Associate Professor of Art History and Chair of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Miami , where he has taught since 2010. His research specializes in 19th- to 20th-century European and American modern art , with particular focus on German and Austrian symbolism and expressionism . His scholarly work examines the intersection of modernist aesthetics , visual culture , and identity politics . Current projects include a book on (un)canny dolls in German modern art and a co-edited volume on Swedish women modernists . He has held curatorial roles at the Harvard Art Museums and serves as a faculty guest curator at UM’s Lowe Art Museum . 2007 : DAAD Fellowship 2007-2008 : US Fulbright Grant in Austria 2015 : Getty Research Institute 2019 : Mellon Foundation 2022 : Rifkind Center at LACMA 2024 : Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grant His publications analyze themes such as hysteria in Viennese modernism , the grotesque body in art , and expressionist visual metaphors , often engaging with artists like Oskar Kokoschka , Egon Schiele , and Lyonel Feininger . As a Stefan Engelhorn Curatorial Fellow at Harvard, he organized a photographic archive of Feininger’s work.

• Modern Art
• Art History
• European Art
• +5 more

Ingvild Olsen Olaussen is an Associate Professor of Drama and Theatre at the Department of Language, Art and Culture, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her research focuses on artistic, bodily, and multimodal approaches to storytelling, interaction, and knowledge creation in educational and cultural institutions. Doctoral thesis: Chiasmic stories (2018), exploring multimodal storytelling with toddlers. Areas of interest: early childhood education, sensory engagement, and narrative ethics. Dissemination: lectures on play care ethics, multimodal didactics, and cultural transitions in education. Her work integrates performative and artistic methods to address sustainability, cultural sensitivity, and bodily communication in kindergarten settings.

• Storytelling and Theatre
• Multimodal Interaction
• Early Childhood Education
• +3 more

Theodora Skipitares is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Art and Design Education at the School of Art, Pratt Institute. A visual artist and theater director with over 25 years of experience, she creates interdisciplinary works that blend puppetry, performance, visual arts, and social commentary. Her research interests span multiple domains: Puppetry as a medium for social and political commentary Exploration of historical themes through performance Greek tragedy and its contemporary relevance Site-specific installations addressing social issues Interdisciplinary collaborations combining visual arts, music, film, and theater Eugenics and medical history narrative exploration Professor Skipitares' artistic output reveals consistent engagement with social justice issues, historical narratives, and innovative theatrical forms. Her recent works focus on Greek themes and adaptations of classical texts, while maintaining her signature use of puppetry as a central theatrical element. She has developed a distinctive approach where puppet figures' "innocence and purity" make them "especially effective in illuminating social and political issues." Her artistic achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: Guggenheim Fellowship Fulbright Fellowship (including work in India 1999-2000) Rockefeller Fellowship UNIMA Citation for Excellence in Puppetry American Theater Wing Design Award New York Innovative Theater Awards for "Iphigenia" Named among the 10 best plays of the year by The New York Times (twice) Multiple grants from NEA, NYFA, and UNIMA Professor Skipitares has established herself as a significant figure in contemporary performance art through international collaborations and site-specific projects that address pressing social issues. Her work with diverse populations, including projects at Rikers Island prison and with homeless communities at Gibb Mansion, demonstrates her commitment to art as a tool for social change. She has collaborated with prominent composers including Virgil Moorefield, Bobby Previte, Scott Johnson, and Sxip Shirey, creating works that integrate live music, film, video, and documentary texts into her distinctive performance style.

• Puppetry
• Visual Arts
• Theater Direction
• +7 more

Juraj Hamar is an Associate Professor at the Department of Aesthetics, Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava. He also teaches at the Faculty of Film and Television of the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava since 2018. His academic career spans roles as a researcher, dramaturg, and coordinator of the Erasmus+ international exchange program. First-cycle education in Aesthetics and Literary Science at Comenius University (1991). Third-level education in Ethnography at the Slovak Academy of Sciences (1998). Habilitation (associate professor title) at Comenius University (2001). His research focuses on 20th-century continental aesthetics , film theory and ontology , ontology of image and movement , and the interpretation of cultural heritage . He has contributed extensively to studies of Slovak and Russian puppet theater, film history, and the philosophical intersections of art and aesthetics, particularly in postmodern and post-communist contexts. Key projects include the Film Cabinet (2012–present), dedicated to global film history, and VEGA grants like The Relationship Between Aesthetics and Art in the 21st Century (2007–2009). He actively participates in film festivals such as Cinematik IFF and has authored significant works on aesthetic theory and cultural identity. Hamal's pedagogical contributions include coordinating the Aesthetics study program and teaching courses like Introduction to Aesthetics and Aesthetics of JM Lotman's Film . He has supervised 4 doctoral theses and over 70 bachelor's and master's theses.

• Aesthetics
• Film Theory
• Cultural Heritage
• +4 more

David A. Brewer is an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University, specializing in 18th-century literary, theatrical, and visual culture, and the history of the book. His work intersects with Thing Theory, historicism, magic studies, and fantasy film. He holds a PhD from UC Berkeley (1999) and a BA from Bennington College (1991). His research explores authorial reputation, puppet theater, and the tactile aspects of print. Notable works include The Afterlife of Character, 1726-1825 and co-authored The Book in Britain: A Historical Introduction . He has edited volumes for Broadview Press, including editions of works by Sheridan and Aubin. Brewer has received the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship and the Ratner Distinguished Teaching Award. His current project, The Fate of Authors , examines literary reputation in the 18th century. He co-taught a book history seminar at the American Antiquarian Society and served as editor of Studies in Eighteenth-Century Culture (2020–2024). His collaborative projects include Interacting with Print (2018) and The Book in Britain (2019). His research trends emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to print culture, materiality, and historical context.

• History of the Book
• 18th-Century Literature
• Thing Theory
• +3 more

Prof. Velimir Velev is a Bulgarian theater director, actor, set designer, and educator. He serves as Head of the Department of Dramatic Theater at the National Academy of Dramatic Arts and Sciences in Sofia, leading the 'Movement Theater (PM)' bachelor's program. His academic roles include Professor of Stage Movement, Improvisation, and multiple theater disciplines. He has pioneered methodologies like the 'Meta Method' and 'Theory of the Interactive Spectacle of the Future,' and created the genre 'Non-Physical Theater.' Velev is founder/director of Via Interactive Theater, Unseen Theater (featuring blind actors), and the School of Sight collaboration initiative. His career spans institutions like the Osijek Academy of Arts (Croatia), Montenegrin Faculty of Dramatic Arts, and Germany's Darmstadt State Theatre. Awards include Croatia's 'Vrhunski Umjetnik' title and Germany's Youth Democracy Award for his inclusive theater projects. Velev has directed over 60 performances and collaborated with prominent directors including Yulia Ognyanova and Tedi Moskov. Research focuses on experimental theater forms, digital cultural heritage, and inclusive performance practices. Current projects include the 'School for Vision' and participation in EU cultural initiatives like ELIA Future Arts. He holds grants from Telus International and maintains international academic partnerships across Europe.

• Theater Pedagogy
• Physical Theater
• Movement Anthropology
• +5 more

Angela Rieck is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Department of Education, ICT and Learning at Østfold University College, Norway. She holds a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education (2017) and a Bachelor's degree in Drama and Theatre Communication (2014), both from Oslo and Akershus University College. Her academic interests focus on children’s play, aesthetic experiences, and learning processes, particularly for children aged 0-3 years. Rieck has extensive practical experience, including 21 years in kindergarten roles such as educational leader and drama educator. Her research emphasizes toddler science (småbarnsvitenskap), exploring how aesthetic and sensory experiences shape early learning. She co-leads the Regional Arrangements for Competence Development (REKOMP) project, promoting partnerships between kindergartens and higher education institutions. Rieck teaches courses like Children’s Development, Play and Learning and Bachelor Thesis in the Early Childhood Education program. Rieck’s publications span academic articles and book chapters on topics such as bodily interactions in early childhood, pedagogical documentation ethics, and aesthetic learning processes. She actively contributes to podcast discussions on aesthetics and play. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical pedagogical innovations, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to early childhood education.

• Children's Play
• Aesthetic Experience
• Aesthetic Learning Processes
• +3 more

Oriane Maubert is a PhD candidate at Montpellier 3 Paul-Valéry University and a full-time Lecturer at Sorbonne Nouvelle University Paris 3. She specializes in Theater Studies through her role at the Institute of Theater Studies and is affiliated with the RIRRA21 laboratory, focusing on Romanticism to 21st-century reality representation. PhD in Theater Studies (2013-present) Master 2 Research (2013) Licence in Theater Studies (2011) Her research bridges puppetry and contemporary dance , analyzing gestural reactivation through intermedial collaborations. Keywords: dance, puppet, gesture, corporeality, intermediality, contemporary stagecraft, object-body dynamics. Recent publications explore themes like: Choreographic puppet-body interactions Gender through historical lenses Interdisciplinary methodologies Spectator training frameworks She received scholarships from the International Puppet Institute and RIRRA21 for global conference participation. As an educator, she teaches: Dramaturgy and spectator analysis (Paris 3) Theater-video intersections (Paris 3) Interdisciplinary puppetry-dance studies (Paris 8) She co-edits the Manip journal and directs the Action Parallèle platform for doctoral researchers.

• Theater Studies
• Performing Arts
• Dance
• +5 more

Veronika Darida is a Habilitated Associate Professor at the Institute for The Theory of Art and Media Studies , Department of Aesthetics, Eötvös Loránd University. Her work bridges philosophy, aesthetics, and theater studies, focusing on contemporary critical theory, Giorgio Agamben's philosophy, and phenomenological approaches to representation. University: Eötvös Loránd University Department: Department of Aesthetics Email: darida.veronika@btk.elte.hu Research Interests: Her scholarship explores the aesthetics of fragmentation, the interplay between space and performance, and the ethical implications of witnessing in art and media. She analyzes modern reinterpretations of tragedy and the philosophical underpinnings of puppet theater, drawing on thinkers like Louis Marin and Giorgio Agamben. Article Trends: Recent publications address Giorgio Agamben's aesthetic theories, the phenomenology of theatrical space, and the representation of destruction. Her work spans from 2011 to 2025, with recurring themes in Hungarian philosophy and critical media studies. Contact: For professional inquiries, reach her at darida.veronika@btk.elte.hu or visit her office at 1088 Budapest, Múzeum körút 6–8, Room 45.

• Aesthetics
• Philosophy
• Media Studies
• +3 more

Roger Sedarat is a Professor of English at Queens College, CUNY, specializing in 19th-century American literature, literary translation, and Middle Eastern-American literature. He holds a joint role in the MFA Creative Writing program, emphasizing poetry and translation. His research bridges Persian and American literary traditions, particularly focusing on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s engagement with Persian poetry. Sedarat’s work spans academic studies (e.g., Emerson in Iran ) and creative works like Ghazal Games and Haji as Puppet , the latter adapted into a punk play with funding from Atlantic Philanthropies. Research interests include Sufi mysticism, cross-cultural poetics, and the intersection of performance art with literature. He has received prestigious awards such as the Willis Barnstone Prize and Tenth Gate Prize. Teaching focuses on making literary analysis accessible through pop culture and daily life examples, fostering critical thinking in both undergraduate and MFA students. Publications span academic journals like Walt Whitman Quarterly Review and creative works in Poetry , Michigan Quarterly Review , and Guernica . His translations of Persian poetry and collaborative work on Nader Naderpour highlight his commitment to bridging cultural divides through literature. Current projects include translating Hafez’s ghazals and exploring tennis-themed poetry in Foot Faults .

• Comparative Literature
• Literary Translation
• 19th Century American Poetry
• +4 more

Barry O’Keefe is an Adjunct Instructor in the Communication Arts department at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts. His artistic practice spans printmaking, painting, and public art, focusing on themes of cultural amnesia, neglected urban spaces, and contemporary landscape design. He has created large-scale public installations, including a mobile mural in a repurposed boxcar for a national music festival (2016) and functional sculptures for Richmond’s parks in collaboration with the Public Arts Commission (2017). A notable achievement includes a shadow puppet theater that won the InLight festival’s People’s Choice Award in 2019. His work has been exhibited internationally and is held in collections such as the Valentine Museum and the Library of Virginia. O’Keefe’s projects often emphasize community engagement and the transformation of underutilized spaces into dynamic public art environments.

• Public Art
• Contemporary Art Practices
• Cultural Amnesia
• +2 more

Meghanne Barker is a Lecturer at the Institute of Education (IOE) - Education, Practice & Society at University College London. She specializes in cultural and linguistic anthropology with a focus on creative practices in educational contexts across postsocialist regions. Her educational background includes: PhD in Cultural Anthropology with focus on Linguistic Anthropology from University of Michigan (2017) PGCertHE from London School of Economics and Political Science Meghanne Barker's research examines the pedagogical value of creative practices – including children's play and performance, puppet theatre, and filmmaking – to postsocialist institutions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Her work sits at the intersection of linguistic anthropology, childhood studies, and media studies, with particular attention to how animation practices create social relations and political order. She has conducted extensive fieldwork in Kazakhstan and the former Yugoslavia, exploring how creative practices function within educational frameworks in postsocialist contexts. Her book project Throw Your Voice: Suspended Animations in Kazakhstani Childhood examines acts of animation as ways of maintaining fragile social relations and political order. Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on animation, childhood, and postsocialist contexts, with a growing emphasis on media education and community building. Her work spans traditional academic journals as well as creative outputs, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that bridge anthropology, education, and media studies. Meghanne Barker leads the modules Radical Education and Children in Society for BA Education Studies. She is accepting doctoral students for co-supervision, particularly interested in projects related to language and childhood or education, ethnographic approaches to education, performance, childhood, or media-making in any context, with special interest in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. She serves as Personal Tutor at University College London and as Inclusion Lead (2023-2026). She is the Convener of ELAN (The EASA Network on Linguistic Anthropology) and maintains a Visiting Fellowship at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

• Anthropology
• Linguistic anthropology
• Media anthropology
• +7 more

Paul FRANÇOIS is an Associate Professor in the Department of Letters, Languages and Ancient Civilizations at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, Faculty of Letters, Philosophy and Music. He also serves as a CNRS Research Engineer at the Laboratory of Medieval and Modern Archaeology in the Mediterranean (LA3M). His academic career spans over three decades, having joined the university in 1989 after completing his doctorate in Latin studies under the supervision of Paul JAL in 1987. His research interests bridge classical scholarship with cutting-edge digital methodologies. Initially focused on Latin paleography, critical editions of historical texts, and Roman history (particularly the mid-Republican period), his work has increasingly incorporated digital reconstruction techniques. He has developed expertise in virtual reality applications for historical and archaeological research, with notable projects focusing on the Saint-Germain Fair theaters, Egyptian archaeological sites including Kôm Abou Billou and the Eastern Desert gold mining operations, and various architectural reconstructions. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward interdisciplinary work combining traditional humanities with digital technologies. His research spans from ancient Roman history to 18th-century theater architecture, all approached through the lens of digital reconstruction. He has developed specialized methodologies for 'retro-architecture' and virtual reconstruction of historical spaces, with particular attention to how these techniques can enhance both research and public dissemination of historical knowledge. As a member of the PLH-CRATA research team, he contributes to projects that integrate textual analysis with material culture studies. His work on the Eastern Desert of Egypt demonstrates how remote sensing and digital reconstruction can illuminate previously undocumented aspects of medieval gold mining operations. He has supervised numerous digital reconstruction projects and has been instrumental in developing tools like SPIRIDON for Mediterranean ceramicology. His work demonstrates a consistent commitment to creating digital infrastructure that serves both scholarly research and public engagement with historical and archaeological materials.

• Digital Reconstruction of Historical Sites
• Virtual Reality for Archaeology and History
• Latin Paleography
• +5 more