Philippe Ragel

Philippe Ragel is a Professor of Film History and Aesthetics at the University of Toulouse II – Jean Jaurès, where he serves as the director of both the Bachelor's degree in "Cinema and Audiovisual" and the Master's degree in "Cinema Aesthetics" within the Department of Modern Literature, Cinema and Occitan. He is affiliated with the Heritage, Literature, History (PLH) research unit, contributing to its mission of exploring cultural and historical dimensions of artistic expression.

Ragel's research focuses on the intersection of cinematic aesthetics, cultural history, and literature, with special emphasis on Iranian cinema and the works of Abbas Kiarostami. His scholarly output demonstrates a consistent exploration of visual elements in film—particularly color, darkness, and landscape—and their relationship to narrative structure. His work often examines how cinematic techniques convey meaning, with special attention to French cinematic traditions and Iranian film aesthetics. Ragel has authored numerous publications on Godard and Rossellini, and has coordinated significant collective works including "OUVRIR/fermer" (2007), "Abbas Kiarostami, le cinéma à l'épreuve du réel" (2008), and "Filmer les frontières" (2015).

His most recent publications reveal a deepening exploration of cinematic temporality and visual perception, particularly in relation to Abbas Kiarostami's work. Ragel has organized and participated in numerous international conferences, including "Stase d'écrit, stase d'écran" (2018) on cinematic suspension. His academic activities extend to public engagement through film festivals and cultural events, where he has delivered lectures on contemporary Iranian cinema and cinematic aesthetics.

Ragel maintains an active role in academic leadership as program director for cinema studies degrees and through his affiliation with the PLH research unit. His scholarly contributions continue to shape discourse around cinematic aesthetics, particularly regarding the relationship between visual elements and narrative structure in both European and Iranian cinema traditions.