Edwin Hill

Edwin Hill is an Associate Professor in the Department of French & Italian and Department of American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California’s Dornsife College. His research examines intersections of sound, postcolonialism, and black transnationalism, particularly in French colonial contexts. He holds a PhD in French and Francophone Studies from UCLA (2007), a M.A. in French Literature from the University of Iowa (1997), and a B.A. in Music Performance (Percussion).

His groundbreaking book Black Soundscapes White Stages (2013) redefines sound as a site of post/colonial contestation, linking black French modernist poets like Léon-Gontran Damas to black Atlantic musical forms. Recent work explores sonic dimensions of French republican identity and global hip-hop cultures. Hill has presented widely on topics such as imperial soundscapes, Mediterranean noir, and jazz’s role in postcolonial narratives.

His multimedia projects include the audio series “Dance Hubs” exploring global dance spaces. Professional service includes organizing panels on French urban cultures and editing scholarly forums. Though no formal awards are listed, his work consistently bridges literary criticism with sonic and cultural analysis.