Rafal Zaborowski

Dr. Rafal Zaborowski is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Culture at the Department of Digital Humanities, King's College London. He holds a PhD in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics (LSE) and previously taught there. His research focuses on media audiences, digital platforms, migration representation, and popular music cultures, with a particular emphasis on Japanese virtual performers and global digital practices. He is affiliated with the Centre for Digital Culture and the Global Digital Cultures Research Group.

• Education: PhD (LSE), MA (Tohoku University), BA (Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University)
• Key Research Themes: Media audiences, digital engagement, migration discourses, virtual performers, and music fandom

His work examines how media practices shape social identities, especially in the context of digital streaming and crisis framing. Notable outputs include his book Music Generations in the Digital Age (2023) and peer-reviewed articles on TikTok fandom and refugee crisis representation. He has received the Best Methods Paper Award (2024).

Recent articles explore trends like music revival on TikTok (2025), immigrant discourse in European media (2024), and vocaloid cultures (2024). His research often bridges cultural studies and digital humanities, emphasizing cross-regional comparisons.

• Awards: Best Methods Paper Award (2024)
• Professional Roles: Co-Vice Chair of Audience Section at IAMCR

He collaborates on interdisciplinary projects such as the Music Computing Lab and frequently presents at academic conferences. Current research interests include creativity on digital platforms and affective engagement in social media.