Tim Iles

Tim Iles is an Associate Professor in Pacific and Asian Studies at the University of Victoria. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto (dissertation on avant-garde novelist Abe Kōbō) and advanced degrees from the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on Japanese cinema, literature, and cultural studies, with specializations in narrative theory, humanism, and the intersection of technology/religion with identity. He is General Editor of the online journal Contemporary Japanese Studies and has authored/co-edited multiple scholarly works.

• Teaching Expertise: Japanese literature (modern/premodern), cinema, theatre, and language across undergraduate/graduate levels
• Key Courses: PAAS 101 (Narrative Analysis), PAAS 180/181 (Premodern/Modern Japanese Culture), PAAS 484 (Animated Cinema & Identity)

His research bridges film analysis with literary studies, emphasizing close reading and narrative mechanisms. Recent work examines 21st-century Japan through digital-age lenses and explores identity crises in post-war cinema.

Teaching philosophy emphasizes humanities' ethical role, prioritizing analytical rigor over theoretical imposition. Active mentorship is central to his pedagogical approach.