معرفی
Helen Young is a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University, affiliated with the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation. She leads the Australian Research Council Future Fellowship project "The Politics of Medievalism: Persuasive Narratives" (2024-2028), focusing on intersections between medievalism, race, and extremism in popular culture.
- Current Role: Senior Research Fellow (Future Fellowship)
- Research Interests: Medievalism, Popular Culture (Fantasy, Video Games, Tolkien), Histories of Race/Racism, Extremist Cultures
Research Themes explore how medievalist narratives are weaponized in extremist ideologies, particularly through fantasy literature, film, and video games. Her work critically examines representations of race, sovereignty, and historical authenticity in media, alongside public responses to conspiracy theories and authoritarian politics.
Scientific Awards include the Deakin University Mid-Career Research Excellence Award (2023) and recognition as a World Fantasy Award Finalist (2016). She serves on editorial boards and professional committees addressing medievalism, extremism, and fantasy studies.
- Co-editor, Bloomsbury "New Directions in Medieval Studies"
- Executive Committee, Addressing Violent Extremism Network
Supervision & Teaching spans PhD/Masters levels in Literary Studies, Communications, and Creative Writing. Current doctoral projects address topics like child monstrosity, anticolonial medievalism, and environmentalism in fantasy systems.
