Corinn Columpar is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto's Cinema Studies Institute affiliated with Innis College. She holds a PhD and MA from Emory University and a BA from Yale University. Her research focuses on counter-cinematic traditions (feminist, Aboriginal, independent), film theory, embodiment, and collaborative practices. Publications include the monograph Unsettling Sights: The Fourth World on Film (2010) and co-edited volumes like Mothers of Invention (2022) and There She Goes (2009). Recent work examines motherhood in media (e.g., Better Things ), Indigenous cinema, and retrospective temporality in TV series. Administrative roles include Director of Cinema Studies Institute (2014–2019) and Graduate Coordinator (2010–2012; 2020–2022). Teaching specialties include feminist approaches to cinema, corporeality studies, and core Cinema Studies courses like CIN105Y. Her writing spans scholarly journals like Camera Obscura , edited collections on Australian cinema and Indigenous media, and pedagogical initiatives such as the 'Mothers of Invention' playlist. Research emphasizes intersections between film form, cultural politics, and collaborative creative practices.
Professor Darren Sproston is the Associate Dean (Education & Student Success) at the University of Chester's Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. He holds a Professorship in Music within the School for the Creative Industries. His roles include strategic leadership in education, financial planning, and cross-departmental collaboration. He has held previous academic leadership positions, including Director of the School of Arts and Media and Head of Performing Arts. Education: PhD in Music (University of Sheffield, 1991-1993), MMus (1990-1991), and BMus (1987-1990), all from the University of Sheffield. Certified as a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2016) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2005). Research interests focus on the Anglo-Catalan composer Roberto Gerhard, Stravinsky, serialism, analytical methodologies, and minimalism. He has composed numerous works performed internationally and published extensively on Gerhard’s symphonies and compositional techniques. His research also explores music and multimedia, film music, and twentieth-century performance practices. Awards include recognition for his contributions to higher education pedagogy. He has supervised six postgraduate research students and examined multiple PhD candidates. Professional activities include peer reviewing for journals like Music Analysis and Organised Sound , media interviews on Christmas music and compositional trends, and committee roles in academic governance. Teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate levels, covering composition, musicology, and analytical techniques. His work bridges classical and popular music studies, with a commitment to innovative educational strategies.
Jean-Paul Gabilliet is a Professor in North American Studies at the University of Bordeaux Montaigne, specializing in the cultural history of comic art, popular culture, and transnational media. He holds roles as a member of the 11th section of the CNU, the Scientific Council of the Institute of the Americas, and editorial boards for Comicalités and American Culture . His research focuses on the intersection of comics, graphic novels, and North American cultural identity, with notable work on R. Crumb, Astérix reception, and transnational comic circulation. Key research interests include: Cultural and commercial exchanges between Franco-Belgian and American comic traditions Historical evolution of comic art from early 20th-century 'funnies' to modern graphic novels Comic censorship and regulatory frameworks Fan culture and collector networks Recent work examines radio adaptations of comics (1940s New York), transnational comic distribution dynamics, and the legitimization of comics as an art form through festivals like Angoulême. His publications blend historical analysis with close textual study, often comparing Franco-American cultural practices. Current academic activities include organizing conferences on comic studies (e.g., 2025 Surf Studies symposium) and maintaining digital resources like the American Culture blog. He has advised no formally listed students but contributes to scholarly networks through editorial roles and conference participation.
Prof. Dr. Hans Rudolf Velten is a Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Siegen, specializing in German Medieval Literature and its contemporary reception. Appointed to his position in 2014, he serves as Subproject Manager for "B04 Popular Middle Ages: Narratives and inventories of fantasy in the media network" and participates in multiple working groups including "Theories of the Popular," "Gender and Intersectionality," "Global Dimension of Popularity," and "Case studies." His institutional affiliation is with the Department of German Studies at the University of Siegen, where he contributes to various Collaborative Research Groups including "Popularizing the Past" and "Attribution practices and logics in popularization processes." Velten received his broad education in philology and historical sciences, studying in Frankfurt am Main, Charleston, and Naples. After completing his doctorate on German autobiography in the 16th century (1995), he worked as a DAAD exchange lecturer for German language and literature at the University of Pisa, followed by research associate positions in DFG research networks in Osnabrück, Potsdam, and Berlin. His work with the Berlin Collaborative Research Center "Cultures of the Performative" significantly shaped his approach to pre-modern literature as a form of knowledge embedded in historical-anthropological frameworks. Professor Velten's research focuses on the intersection of medieval literature and contemporary popular culture, particularly examining how medieval narratives are updated in modern fantasy literature and media. His work explores vulgarities and transgressive elements in late medieval culture, the visual representation of medieval themes in fantasy aesthetics, and the conceptual differentiation between medievalism, mediävalismus, and neomediävalismus. He investigates laughter, comedy, and bodily expressions in medieval literature and theater, building on his influential 2017 book "Scurrilitas. Das Lachen, die Komik und der Körper in Literatur und Kultur des Spätmittelalters und der Frühen Neuzeit." His recent scholarship examines the "popular Middle Ages" phenomenon, analyzing how medieval narratives function in contemporary fantasy novels and performances, with particular attention to the role these representations play in present-day cultural discourse. Velten's extensive publication record reveals a consistent focus on medieval reception studies, with recent work emphasizing the visualization of medieval themes in fantasy literature and art. His scholarship spans conceptual analyses of medievalism, examinations of vulgarities in late medieval culture, studies of medieval laughter and comedy, and investigations into the representation of medieval themes in contemporary fantasy. A notable trend in his recent work is the systematic exploration of how medieval narratives are adapted and transformed in modern popular culture, particularly through fantasy literature and visual media. His research demonstrates interdisciplinary engagement with performance studies, cultural history, visual culture, and conceptual history. Among his notable recent publications are the 2024 book "The Popularity of Others – Vulgarity at the End of Pre-Modernity" (co-authored with Joseph Imorde and Michael Multhammer), "Fantasy Aesthetics. Visualizing Myth and Middle Ages, 1880–2020" (2024, co-authored with Joseph Imorde), and "The Middle Ages and Popular Culture: Reception – Appropriation – Attention" (2024, co-authored with Theresa Specht). His 2017 monograph "Scurrilitas" established him as a significant voice in medieval laughter studies. As an academic advisor and researcher, Velten has supervised numerous collaborative projects focusing on medieval reception in popular culture. His current work with the Collaborative Research Center examines how medieval narratives function within contemporary media networks, particularly through fantasy literature and performance. He has developed research frameworks for analyzing the "popular Middle Ages" phenomenon, investigating both the historical roots of medieval narratives and their contemporary transformations. His methodological approach combines textual analysis with cultural theory, performance studies, and conceptual history to provide comprehensive examinations of medieval reception patterns. Professor Velten is actively involved with several research groups that examine different dimensions of popularity and medieval reception. His work with the "Popularizing the Past" Collaborative Research Group explores how historical narratives become popularized, while his participation in the "Gender and Intersectionality" working group brings critical perspectives to medieval reception studies. These collaborative efforts have produced significant interdisciplinary research at the intersection of medieval studies, cultural studies, and media studies.
Amy E. Wright is a Professor of Hispanic Studies in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Saint Louis University (SLU), part of the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on print culture in Mexico, popular seriality in Latin America, and Latin American literary and cultural history from the 19th century to the present. She holds a Ph.D. from Brown University (2006), an M.A. (2002), and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1995). Her work bridges media studies, literary analysis, and historical inquiry, with notable publications including Serial Mexico: Storytelling Across Media (2023) and contributions to the Cambridge History of the Mexican Novel (forthcoming 2024). She has been featured in the STL Post Dispatch (2023) and the Associated Press (2020). Award-winning educator, Wright received the 2022 Donald G. Brennan Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring and the 2017 Helen I. Mandeville Award for Undergraduate Teaching. Her honors also include a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship (2022) and multiple Mellon Grants (2021, 2014, 2011). She is actively involved in professional organizations like the Modern Language Association and the American Comparative Literature Association. Her research emphasizes serial storytelling’s role in shaping national identity and cultural discourse, with a focus on Mexico’s 19th-century print culture and its legacy in contemporary media. No lab or team affiliations are explicitly listed, though her work involves collaborative endeavors through SLU’s academic networks.
Monica Dall'Asta is a Full Professor of Film and Media Studies at the Department of the Arts, University of Bologna. Her research spans film history, feminist media studies, and transnational media circulation, with a focus on early cinema, seriality, and women's contributions to the silent film industry. PhD in Film History and Philology (1994, University of Bologna) M.A. in Arts, Music and Performance Studies (1988, University of Bologna) Her work intersects history of film theories , feminist film historiography , and transmedial culture , emphasizing underrepresented voices in cinema. She co-edits the Women Film Pioneers Project and led the EU-funded DETECt project on European popular crime narratives (2018-21). Recent publications explore topics like found footage , avant-garde cinema , and historical preservation . Her research trends highlight the intersection of gender and media , transnational film studies , and archaeology of cinematic forms . 2010 Limina Award for Trame spezzate 1989 Prix de la Critique Historique du Cinéma for MA thesis on Italian silent cinema She maintains office hours at DAMSLab, Piazzetta Pasolini, and collaborates with institutions across Europe and Columbia University.
Julia McCord Chavez, Ph.D., J.D., is an accomplished academic serving as Interim Dean of both the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education and Counseling at Saint Martin’s University. She holds the rank of Professor in the Department of English. Her interdisciplinary career combines legal training with literary scholarship, reflecting her dedication to social justice and critical analysis. Chavez earned a B.A. in English from DePauw University, a J.D. from Indiana University School of Law, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Literary Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in 19th-century British literature. Her doctoral work explored the intersection of Victorian serialized fiction and critical reading practices, particularly for female audiences. Her research focuses on Victorian print culture, gender studies, and the pedagogical application of literature. She has contributed to landmark publications like the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature and co-edited special issues on law and gender in Victorian studies. Her upcoming work includes a Literary Companion to the Major Works of Charles Dickens . Chavez actively promotes interdisciplinary teaching, integrating historical and cultural contexts into courses on Romantic/Victorian literature, composition, and global themes. She has served as faculty advisor to the Benedictine Scholars program and Director of the Center for Scholarship and Teaching, emphasizing teaching innovation and scholarly engagement. Outside academia, she volunteers with Our Common Home Farms, a sustainable agriculture initiative. Her scholarship bridges literary analysis with social justice, offering fresh perspectives on Victorian literature’s relevance to contemporary discourse.
Jaqueline Berndt is a Professor in Japanese Language and Culture at Stockholm University , affiliated with the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Her career spans decades of teaching and research in Japan and Sweden. PhD in Aesthetics/Kunstwissenschaft, Humboldt University Berlin (1991) Current courses: Manga Studies (via Zoom), Queer Asia, Japanese Culture Research focuses on Manga/Comics Studies , Visual Culture , and Transcultural Media across Japan, East Asia, and global contexts. Key projects include: Manga’s East Asia: Traditions, Translation, Transculturation (2026 guest research at Kyushu University) Comics Region East Asia (2021 ongoing) Publications include The Cambridge Companion to Manga and Anime (2024), Exhibiting Manga, Representing Japan (2024), and Kusazōshi as Comic Books (2024). Her work bridges historical analysis (e.g., Edo-period kusazōshi) with modern manga/anime. Awards and Memberships : Bridgestone Foundation Guest Professor, Heidelberg University (2008) DAAD Guest Professor, Leipzig University (2005) Founding member, Japan Society for the Study of Cartoons and Comics Board member, Center for Global Asia (2018–) Students include PhD candidates across Japan and Sweden, focusing on topics like ANoNE , Individual Animation , and Shōjo Mediations . She currently supervises Ida Kirkegaard’s research on Anime Aesthetics .
Guillaume Adjutor Provost is a Professor of Sculpture in the Department of Visual Arts within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick. An interdisciplinary artist, researcher, and educator, Provost experiments with exhibition forms, collections, text, and curation. His artistic practice centers around reactivating forms and narratives often relegated to the periphery of dominant discourses, with particular focus on class consciousness, counterculture, and vernacular imagery. Provost's research interests explore the logic of visibility and concealment in exhibitions, questioning how cultural objects are simultaneously selected, ordered, prioritized, and revealed. His work investigates the relationship between material and imaginary archives, and how popular forms circulate or resist within art institutions. His projects frequently take the form of exhibitions where collaboration with other creators and thinkers plays a key role, creating immersive spaces that challenge viewers to reconsider historical narratives and contemporary social structures. Provost's recent artistic output demonstrates a consistent engagement with themes of economic systems, social class, and historical representation. His work spans multiple media including sculpture, installation, drawing, video, and publication, with exhibitions presented internationally across Canada, France, Spain, Austria, Lithuania, Germany, and Switzerland. His 2024 exhibition 'Soif d'illusion / Illusion of the Self' at the Keillor House Museum explored domestic space as a site for the projection of fabricated identities, while his 2022 'Table of Contents' series examined class consciousness through anthropomorphic rat imagery. Recipient of grants from Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec Recipient of grants from Canada Council for the Arts Recipient of Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Grant Finalist for Pierre Ayot Prize (2016, 2019) Finalist for Sobey Award (2021) Provost is represented by Galerie Hugues Charbonneau in Montreal and has presented more than twenty solo exhibitions and an equal number of group exhibitions internationally. His teaching practice at the Université de Moncton informs and is informed by his active artistic research, creating a dynamic relationship between his pedagogical and creative work.
Diyan Achjadi (they/she) is a Professor in the Audain Faculty of Art at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, where they currently serve as Interim Vice-President Academic. Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, Achjadi's formative years were spent moving between multiple educational, political, and cultural systems, which deeply informs their artistic practice. Their work examines historical prints and surface ornamentation, tracing narratives of cross-cultural imaginings, influences and contaminations. Through drawing, printmaking, and animation, Achjadi uses modes of fiction and storytelling to explore interrelated and conflicting histories of place and visual culture. Their research interests include drawing, narrative, paper, popular culture, print media, printed matter, and printmaking. Achjadi's artistic output reveals consistent themes across their body of work, particularly examining how surface ornamentation and illustrated printed matter function as archives documenting the circulation of ideas in visual form. Their projects often explore the ways that places can be simultaneously familiar and foreign, collapsing images from different cultural contexts to create new visual narratives. Awarded the VIVA Award from the Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation in 2021, Achjadi has exhibited widely at galleries and film festivals across Canada and internationally. Recent exhibitions include 'Stories for Futures, Real and Imagined' (2024), 'Godzilla: Echoes from the 1990s Asian American Arts Network' (2024), and 'Between Line and Thread: Connecting the Asian American Arts Centre Collection' (2023). VIVA Award from the Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation (2021) Achjadi has completed numerous significant public art projects including 'Hush' (2021), 'NonSerie (In Commute)' (2019), and 'Coming Soon!' (2020). They have been artist-in-residence at Malaspina Printmakers (Vancouver), Fanoon: Centre for Print Research (Doha), and the Frans Masereel Centrum (Belgium). Their educational background includes a BFA from the Cooper Union (New York) and an MFA from Concordia University (Montreal).
