Erkki Huhtamo

Erkki Huhtamo is a Professor jointly appointed in the Departments of Design Media Arts and Film, Television, and Digital Media at UCLA's School of the Arts and Architecture. He holds a PhD in Cultural History from the University of Turku, Finland. A pioneer in media archaeology, his work excavates neglected media-cultural phenomena to challenge canonical narratives. His research focuses on media topoi, peep media, interactive media, and pre-cinematic spectacles like panoramas and mechanical theaters. Notable publications include Illusions in Motion (2013) and Media Archaeology (2011, co-edited with Jussi Parikka). Current projects include a monograph on mechanical theaters and a theoretical work on media archaeology as topos study.

Prof. Huhtamo is an internationally recognized curator, having organized exhibitions such as Alien Intelligence (2000) and retrospectives of media artists like Paul DeMarinis. He frequently lectures globally, including recent talks in Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Santiago de Chile, and Boise. His performances blend media archaeology with new media, such as Mareorama Resurrected and From Dole to the Pole, which utilize 19th-century technologies like magic lanterns. His extensive collection of antique optical devices supports both research and pedagogy.

Recent research explores screenology, interactive museum displays, and the cultural history of devices like the Spirograph and kaleidoscope. Upcoming works address the archaeology of interactive media and interdisciplinary methodologies in media studies.