James McNamara

James McNamara is a Lecturer in Film and Media Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He holds affiliations with UCSB's Early Modern Center (Department of English) and previously served as a Guest Artist in the Department of Theater and Dance. His academic roles include teaching courses on screenwriting, adaptation, and film analysis, such as Adaptation and Advanced Screenwriting.

• Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from the University of Oxford
• Graduate Diploma in Screenwriting from Australian Film Television and Radio School
• LL.B. and B.A. in English from University of Western Australia

Research interests focus on adaptation studies (particularly Shakespearean screen adaptations), television narrative structures, medical humanities, and Gothic horror. His creative practice includes writing and producing acclaimed TV series like THE ARTFUL DODGER (Disney+/Hulu) and COOPER (Goalpost/Quizzical Pictures).

Recent scholarly contributions include keynote presentations on Shakespeare adaptations at UCSB’s Early Modern Center conference and invited lectures on media translation. Awards include the Ian Potter Foundation Fellowship for cultural criticism and BAFTA LA recognition as an 'international rising star.'

Teaching spans courses like Basic Screenwriting, Adapt Shakespeare, and Advanced Film Analysis, with terms from 2020 to 2024. He previously served as Junior Dean at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, and held a Visiting Fellowship at the University of Sydney’s Department of English.