Dr. Laura McMahon is an Associate Professor in Film and Screen Studies at the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics , University of Cambridge. She is currently on sabbatical leave and will return in Easter Term 2024. Her research explores intersections between film and philosophy , with a focus on French and Francophone cinema , decolonial approaches , feminist theory , and ecocritical perspectives . Dr. McMahon’s work examines how contemporary feminist filmmakers like Onyeka Igwe and Khady Sylla engage with archives to reframe history through speculative reimagining . She also investigates ecological themes in Claire Denis’s films and the ethics of animality in global art cinema. Her monograph Animal Worlds: Film, Philosophy and Time (2019) and edited collections like Animal Life and the Moving Image (2015) highlight her contributions to debates on nonhuman representation and deconstructive aesthetics . Her recent publications analyze documentary practices , postcolonial archives , and critical repurposing in moving image work. She welcomes inquiries from MPhil and PhD students working on related topics. Her teaching and research are affiliated with the Cambridge Film and Screen initiative and the Cambridge Italian Research Network (CIRN).
Timothy Bewes is the Owen F. Walker Professor of Humanities and Professor of English at Brown University , where he has taught since 2004. His research bridges contemporary fiction , poststructuralist theory , Marxist literary analysis , and postcolonial studies , with a focus on the politics and ethics of literary form . He has held fellowships at the Pembroke Center and Cogut Institute for the Humanities , and co-edits the Film-Thinking series. Education : DPhil and MA from University of Sussex , BA from University of North London . Bewes' scholarship interrogates the ontological status of fiction and the materiality of literary works , as seen in his National Book Critics Circle Award-winning book Free Indirect: The Novel in a Postfictional Age (2022). His recent articles explore intersections between novel theory , Black studies , and Deleuzean philosophy , emphasizing repetition , dialogicality , and anti-representational frameworks . Notable awards include the L. S. Dembo Prize (2015) and Chesler-Mallow Senior Faculty Research Fellowship (2012-13). He teaches courses such as The Terrible Century , Capitalism & its Metamorphoses , and Bakhtin and the Political Present .
Pheng Cheah serves as Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in interdisciplinary research bridging philosophy, literature, and political theory with global implications. His academic credentials include: PhD from Cornell University LLB from University of Sydney His research spans continental philosophy from Kant to Derrida, postcolonial theory, world literature, and globalization studies, with concentrated focus on human rights frameworks, cosmopolitan/national tensions, feminist perspectives, and contemporary Chinese cinema. His methodology integrates literary analysis with political philosophy to examine power dynamics in transnational contexts, particularly across postcolonial Asia where he conducts fieldwork with filmmakers. Publication analysis reveals an evolving trajectory from foundational cosmopolitan/national theory toward biopolitical human rights frameworks and cinematic representations of globalization. His work consistently centers non-Western perspectives—especially Chinese, Southeast Asian, and global South contexts—challenging Eurocentric paradigms through comparative analysis of cultural production and political transformation. No scientific awards are documented in available sources. Professor Cheah mentors graduate students in critical theory and postcolonial studies, guiding research on literature's political dimensions. His scholarly activities are supported by standard academic funding mechanisms enabling extensive archival work and international collaborations, particularly with Asian film communities. He maintains active participation in global studies consortia and postcolonial research networks, frequently collaborating with filmmakers and scholars across the three Chinas through interview-based methodologies.
Prof. Dr. Sami Khatib is a Professor for Political and Social Aesthetics at Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design since spring 2025, where he also serves as Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Cooperations. His academic career spans teaching at institutions including the American University of Beirut, American University in Cairo, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, and Free University of Berlin. His research focuses on critical theory from the Global South, aesthetic theory, and continental philosophy. Key publication projects include the 2025 title Real Abstraction: The Birth of Aesthetics from the Spirit of Capitalism , and co-editing the 2025 posthumous collection of Irving Wohlfarth’s essays on Walter Benjamin. His 2013 monograph Teleology without End explores Benjamin’s reconfiguration of messianic thought. Khatib’s work bridges traditional arts with media technology, and he contributes to international academic collaborations through his administrative leadership. Current research trends show focus on capitalist systems, theological materialism, and critical theory methodologies.
Anna Krylova is an Associate Professor at Duke University with joint appointments in the Department of History and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies. Her research bridges historical theory, gender studies, and modern Russian/Soviet history, with a focus on socialist alternatives in industrial modernity. She is currently developing two books: The Grip of History: Essays in Historical Criticism and Social Theory and Imagining Socialism in the Soviet Century . Education Ph.D. in History, Johns Hopkins University (2001) M.A. in History, Johns Hopkins University (1998) M.A. in Political Science, Johns Hopkins University (1995) Research Focus Krylova interrogates the intersections of gender theory, socialist feminism, and Western/Soviet Marxism. Her award-winning book, Soviet Women in Combat (2010), redefines narratives of violence on the Eastern Front. Current projects critique poststructuralist influences on historiography and reimagine Soviet socialism beyond Stalinist paradigms. Publications Overview Her recent articles (2023–2024) analyze agency, poststructuralism, and Marxism's latent role in contemporary historiography. Works consistently engage themes of gender binaries, socialist imaginaries, and Cold War legacies, reflecting a commitment to rethinking historical methodology. Awards and Honors Herbert Baxter Adams Prize (2011) for best first book in European history National Humanities Center Fellowship (2013–2014) Institute for Advanced Study Membership (2013) Mellon Faculty Book Manuscript Fellowship (2008–2009) Advising and Grants Krylova mentors Ph.D. students in Russian history and gender theory. Her research is supported by grants from SSRC, IREX, and the Davis Center at Harvard. She has held residencies at Tübingen University and the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute.
Professor Daniel Katz is a faculty member at the University of Warwick's Faculty of Arts, affiliated with the English and Comparative Literary Studies program. His research focuses on modernism and its aftermath, with a special interest in poetry and poetics. BA (Reed College) PhD (Stanford University) His work spans psychoanalysis, critical theory, transatlantic literary studies, and multilingualism. He has published extensively on Jack Spicer, Samuel Beckett, and Ezra Pound, including the edited volume Be Brave to Things: The Uncollected Poetry and Plays of Jack Spicer (2021). Current projects include a monograph The Big Lie of the Personal: Poetry, Politics, and the Lyric Subject (Oxford UP, forthcoming). Recent publications analyze subjects such as sublimation in psychoanalysis, materialist poetics, and the politics of avant-garde movements. He is a founding editor of the Bloomsbury Studies in Critical Poetics series and co-directed Warwick's Centre for Research in Philosophy, Literature and the Arts. He supervises doctoral research in modernism (especially Beckett and Pound), American poetry, and critical theory, including psychoanalysis and post-Derridean thought. Teaching includes undergraduate modules like US Writing and Culture, Modern American Poetry, and Twentieth-Century Avant-Gardes, as well as MA options in American Poetry and Modernist Psychoanalysis. Office hours: Monday 14.30-15.30, Tuesday 13.00-14.00, and by appointment.
Dr. Hooman Foroughmand Araabi is a Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Design at the University of the West of England (UWE) , affiliated with the Faculty of Environment and Technology and the Department of Architecture and the Built Environment . His work bridges critical theory and creative urban design, focusing on the alignment of criticality and creativity to enhance public spaces. Research Interests: Urban design theory, inclusivity in the built environment, decolonising urbanism, beauty in urban design, and governance of design. He also explores urbanism in Iran and the Middle East, emphasizing sociopolitical frameworks and localized design knowledge. Publication Trends: His 15 most recent articles (2011–2025) highlight themes like urban design theory, critical methodologies, participatory design, and regional urbanism. Notably, he develops a Deleuzoguattarian approach for urban design and examines the ethics of beauty in public spaces.
Ellen T. Armour is the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Feminist Theology at Vanderbilt Divinity School and the Graduate Department of Religion, where she directs the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality. She holds affiliated appointments in the Department of Philosophy and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Vanderbilt and served as a Faculty Fellow at the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities (2017–2018). B.A., Stetson University (1980) M.A., Ph.D., Vanderbilt University (1989, 1993) Her research focuses on feminist theology, contemporary continental philosophy, and theories of sexuality, race, gender, disability, and embodiment. Her work engages interdisciplinary approaches to religion, particularly through poststructuralist and queer theoretical frameworks. Key themes in her publications include the intersection of religion and digital visual culture, decolonial ethics in theology, and the application of Judith Butler’s performativity theory to religious discourse. Her notable books include Seeing and Believing (2023), Signs and Wonders (2016), and Bodily Citations (co-editor, 2006). Scientific Awards: Clarence Day Dean’s Award for Outstanding Teaching (1999) Jameson Jones Award for Faculty Service (2005) Armour has held leadership roles such as Chair of the Religious Studies Department at Rhodes College (1991–2006) and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Vanderbilt (2019–present). Her affiliations include St. Augustine’s Chapel (formerly Baptist) and the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities.
Gaston Bacquet is a Lecturer in Education Studies at the University of Glasgow's School of Education, specializing in Culture, Literacies, Inclusion & Pedagogy. A Chilean teacher trainer and educator based in Scotland, he also holds qualifications as a meditation and yoga instructor. With extensive international teaching experience across K-12 and higher education systems in Chile, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, the US, and UK, his work bridges practical pedagogy and theoretical innovation. His educational background includes a DipTESOL from Trinity College London, an MA in TESOL from the Institute of Education (UCL), and a PhD in Education from the University of Glasgow. Bacquet currently teaches in the MSc/MEd Education Studies program and leads the undergraduate Asian Religions course, while supervising dissertation students across the School of Education. Research interests center on nonviolence as transformative educational practice, with emphases on decolonial approaches, contemplative pedagogy, and inclusion of minoritized groups. His work integrates Buddhist philosophy, indigenous wisdom traditions, and international perspectives to challenge Western epistemological dominance. Key methodological commitments include participatory action research and qualitative approaches that prioritize community voices. Recent publications reveal evolving trajectories from language education toward decolonial nonviolence frameworks, with increasing focus on Global South contexts, indigenous knowledge systems, and teacher preparation. His 2024-2025 work shows intensified engagement with Buddhist-Christian dialogue, indigenous contributions to peace education, and practical applications of nonviolence in classroom power structures. As a supervisor, Bacquet mentors Master's students in inclusion, nonviolence, and educational ethics, welcoming PhD proposals aligned with his research interests. His professional activities span editorial roles with Cogent Arts and Humanities and SAGE Open , alongside active participation in international scholarly networks including the Comparative and International Educational Society and the European Network for Buddhist-Christian Studies. Professional affiliations reflect his interdisciplinary reach: British Educational Research Association (2021-present), American Educational Research Association (2022-present), International Society for Contemplative Research (2023-present), and the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (2025-present). His conference presentations consistently address nonviolence pedagogy, decolonial curriculum development, and participatory research ethics across global contexts from Chile to New Zealand.
Mark B.N. Hansen is the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Literature at Duke University, affiliated with the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. He holds roles such as Director of the Literature Program and previously served as Director of Graduate Studies and Undergraduate Studies in Literature. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine (1994), an M.A. (1989), and a B.A. from New York University (1987). Hansen’s research explores the intersection of technology, human agency, and social life, spanning literary studies, media theory, phenomenology, and cognitive neuroscience. He emphasizes the role of technological exteriorization in defining human experience, with notable contributions to digital media aesthetics, media ontology, and the environmental turn in media studies. His publications reflect a focus on 21st-century media’s impact on perception, temporality, and embodiment. Recent works include analyses of deepfake technology, feed-forward agency, and technical feeling. Hansen’s teaching spans special topics in literature, visual studies, and computational media, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach. Recipient of prestigious awards like the National Humanities Center Fellowship (2014) and a Fulbright Senior Specialist designation (2012), Hansen also serves on editorial boards and professional organizations. His research has been supported by grants such as Duke’s Global Humanities Seed Grant (2022).
Tanya Shilina-Conte is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at the University at Buffalo, College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on global/transnational cinema, film-philosophy, Deleuze Studies, and sensory media practices. She explores themes such as remix culture, media archaeology, and the ontological implications of black screens in film. She has authored Black Screens, White Frames: Gilles Deleuze and The Filmmaking Machine (Oxford UP, 2024) and co-authored Yevtushenko in Buffalo (2020). Her work examines Iranian women’s cinema, postcolonial aesthetics, and experimental film practices. Recent articles include analyses of Abbas Kiarostami’s Lessons of Darkness and Ana Nyma’s Fragments of a Revolution . Awards: Multiple grants from UB’s Gender Institute, Humanities Institute, and international fellowships including the Baldy Center, Lisbon Consortium, and Princeton-Weimar programs. Film Work: Includes essay films like This Video Does Not Exist (2015/2024) and video installations addressing media archaeology. Her current projects include Anonymous Cinema in the Global Age , exploring social media imagery and elective mutism in minoritarian film practices.
Mag. Dr. Sergej Seitz is a Project Associate (postdoc) in the ERC Advanced Grant 'Prefiguring Democratic Futures' at the University of Vienna's Institute of Political Science (Faculty of Social Sciences). Previously, he held roles as a University Assistant (postdoc) at the University of Innsbruck's Institute of Philosophy and a research associate in the FWF project 'Language and Violence: The Ethico-Political Turn to Language after the Linguistic Turn.' He studied Philosophy and German Philology at the Universities of Vienna and Paris VIII. His research focuses on political philosophy, social philosophy, philosophy of language, radical democratic theories, discourses of alterity, and theories of linguistic violence. He has contributed to special issues like Politics of Truth (Le foucaldien) and Language, Ethics, Politics (Journal of Practical Philosophy), and co-edited Judith Butler's Philosophy of the Political . He participates in the ERC-funded project led by Prof. Oliver Marchart, exploring democratic futures through interdisciplinary political theory. His recent publications analyze normativity in ethical-political frameworks (Honneth/Derrida/Levinas), post-truth critiques, and Rancière's theories of political figures and resistance. Seitz has held teaching and research roles across institutions, with a focus on global and intercultural philosophy. He actively contributes to academic editing and international collaboration in critical theory and political philosophy.
Professor Martin McQuillan is a prominent academic serving as Professor and Director of the Institute for Creative Enterprise (ICE). He is actively accepting PhD students and contributes to the Centre for Human Animal Studies. His research focuses on deconstruction theory, Jacques Derrida's philosophy, literary analysis, and contemporary cultural studies. Recent work explores themes like poststructuralist thought, the innocence of deconstruction, and obsolete technology's role in storytelling. McQuillan has supervised 2 academic works and engaged in interdisciplinary activities such as Re-membering obsolete technology (2021). Key Research Areas: Deconstruction, Postmodern Theory, Literary Criticism Affiliations: ICE Director, Centre for Human Animal Studies His publications span books, chapters, and peer-reviewed articles, emphasizing philosophical inquiry into literary and cultural texts. McQuillan's work bridges theoretical frameworks with creative practice, reflecting a commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship.
Prof Joanna Callaghan is a Professor of Filmmaking at the University of Sussex's School of Media, Arts and Humanities. She holds a PhD from the University of Sussex and a Master's in Art and Media Practice from the University of Westminster. Her work merges philosophical inquiry with filmmaking, focusing on ontology, feminist perspectives, and hybrid narrative forms. Education: PhD in Published Works, University of Sussex (2018) Masters in Art and Media Practice, University of Westminster (N/A) Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Her research explores philosophical questions through film, including identity, migration, and ontology. Notable works include the award-winning Love in the Post: From Plato to Derrida (2014), and her recent autobiographical film Record (2020). She has led major initiatives like the AHRC-funded Filmmaking Research Network (2016-2019) to advance practice-based research. Her films have screened globally at venues like the Australia Centre for the Moving Image and festivals such as Brighton Cine-City. Awards include the British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies' First Prize for Love in the Post . Callaghan chairs REF2021's Communications, Media and Cultural Studies panel and has held leadership roles in academic organizations including the Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association's Practice Network.
Darren Jorgensen is a Lecturer at the UWA Design School , University of Western Australia, specializing in twentieth century and contemporary art. His research bridges Australian art, Aboriginal art, Chinese art, and experimental music, with a focus on critical theory and poststructuralism. PhD in Science Fiction and the Sublime Co-founder of Guan Kan journal on contemporary Chinese art Contributor to Dispatch Review and Artlink His research projects examine illustrated literature from remote Aboriginal communities and art from Australian pastoral stations. He has collaborated on ARC-funded initiatives exploring Indigenous art conditions and digital transformations of Australian art databases. Recent writings analyze post-industrial music, science fiction aesthetics, and cross-cultural art practices. Recent Research Trends : Darren's 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) span exhibition reviews, book critiques, and cultural analyses. Key themes include: Transnational Australian-Chinese art dialogues Aboriginal art's relationship to land, heritage, and decolonization Industrial/post-industrial music influences in visual art Critical theory applications to contemporary art practices Illustrated literature as cultural document Scientific Awards : Best Small Exhibition Catalogue (2019) for collaborative curatorial work Teaching & Supervision : Supervises postgraduate and honours students across diverse topics including Aleister Crowley's esoteric art, whale acoustics, and continental philosophy's impact on aesthetics. His teaching philosophy integrates Kant, Isabelle Stengers, and poststructuralist theory. Research Collaborations : Collaborates with institutions across Australia and internationally, particularly through projects like the Beijing Realism exhibition and remote Aboriginal art studies. Maintains active research networks in art history, critical theory, and experimental practices.
