Jack Hamilton

Jack Hamilton is an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia, holding joint appointments in Media Studies and American Studies. His research focuses on sound, media, and popular culture, with secondary interests in film, sports, television, and journalism. He has been a pop critic for Slate magazine since 2013 and was the inaugural postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Colorado-Boulder's Laboratory for Race and Popular Culture.

• Ph.D. in American Studies from Harvard University
• Graduate Faculty member at UVA
• On leave (Spring 2025)

Dr. Hamilton's scholarly work explores intersections between rock and roll history, racial thought, and cultural transformation. His book Just Around Midnight: Rock and Roll and the Racial Imagination (Harvard UP, 2016) won multiple awards and redefined understanding of 1960s transatlantic music culture. Current research investigates music-technology relationships since the 1960s. The 15 most recent articles analyze diverse topics from music documentaries to superhero media, emphasizing cultural impact and critical reception.

Scientific recognitions include:

• Woody Guthrie Award Honorable Mention (2016)
• CHOICE Outstanding Academic Book Award (2016)
• Splice Magazine's Best Non-Fiction Book (2016)
• PopMatters' Conversation-Shifting Book (2017)

Active in both academic and journalistic spheres, Dr. Hamilton contributes to major publications like The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and NPR, while maintaining rigorous scholarly standards. His work bridges popular criticism with interdisciplinary research, creating unique insights into cultural history.