معرفی
Brenda Austin-Smith is a Professor in the Department of English, Theatre, Film & Media at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Arts. Her work bridges film theory, affect studies, and cultural memory, with a focus on melodrama, cinephilia, and performance. She has served as department Head and contributes to national academic governance through roles in CAUT and SSHRC committees.
- PhD in English Literature, University of Manitoba (1992)
- MA in English Literature, University of Victoria (1982)
- BA in English Literature, Acadia University (1980)
Her research explores how cinema evokes feelings tied to time, place, and filmic elements. She examines film and affect (audience studies, melodrama), cinephilia (film cults, media afterlives), and cinema memory (ethnographies of movie-going, spatial associations). Her articles analyze trends in actor-centric cinema, gendered narratives, and adaptation ethics, often intersecting with Canadian cinema studies.
- 2022 - CAUT Executive Committee Certificate
- 2011 - Roy Vogt Award, University of Manitoba
- 2010 - Faculty of Arts Outstanding Achievement Award
A committed educator, she designed courses on Pre-Code Hollywood, Teen Gross-Out Comedies, and Women Filmmakers. She co-founded the African Movie Festival in Manitoba and serves on the Winnipeg Film Group’s board.
