Postgraduate Prospectus

Dr Neal Curtis
Lecturer, Department of Cultural Studies and Director, Centre for Critical Theory

“My personal research interests lie in continental and political philosophy, and I have become increasingly focused on the philosophy of war and issues of sovereignty, revolution, violence and restraint.

Initially, Critical Theory at The University of Nottingham did not have a dedicated department but staff came from a wide range of backgrounds, such as Law or Politics, to share their knowledge in this area. As a result, when the Centre for Critical Theory was formed, it retained its interdisciplinary nature, which certainly enhances everything that takes place within the Department.

As the Centre for Critical Theory is part of the Department of Cultural Studies it offers students an eclectic choice of Critical Theory MAs, Cultural Studies MAs and Media Studies options (we now have an expert in media sociology on the academic staff).

Postgraduate study enables students to develop their knowledge, critical thinking and skills as a writer to a higher level – these are excellent transferable skills to have as well as offering a route into an academic career.

Students in the Department are well supported through a system of personal tutors and a lecture series which sets out the thinking of critical theorists. We also provide a lot of tutorial time, reading groups and dissertation workshops to help students make the transition into postgraduate study.

The courses offered in Critical Theory and Cultural Studies are flexible in nature, giving students the opportunity to create an MA that suits their needs entirely; they are able to pick their own route through a series of optional modules and, to the best of my knowledge, this broad scope is not a feature of courses offered in other Critical Theory departments.”

Dr Paul Grainge
Associate Professor in Film and Television Studies

I have had a long-standing interest in Film and Television Studies and completed my PhD at Nottingham before joining the department in 2001. My current research focuses on the workings of the entertainment industry, specifically contemporary Hollywood. I recently published a book, entitled Brand Hollywood: Selling Entertainment in a Global Media Age, which explores the practice of branding in the motion picture business, from the growth in product placement and merchandising to the rise of the movie franchise. The identity of Hollywood certainly feeds into what we do in the department but expertise amongst staff is wide ranging, with interests in Asian cinema, television, new media, industry practice and audiences; we are even developing some production-based modules. Rather than focus simply on textual analysis, our general approach within the Department is to understand the cultures of production and consumption that shape the form and experience of film, television, and other screen media. Nottingham has a very large postgraduate community, which means that our students benefit from a great deal of peer support thanks to this depth of numbers. We also run regular Work-In-Progress seminars and our courses are supported by the University’s Graduate School. The department offers a personal tutor system and two supervisors for each PhD student, as well as financial studentships. As such, I think the Department is an exciting and friendly place for postgraduates to develop their skills and knowledge.

Dr Colin Wright
Lecturer, Department of Culture, Film and Media, and Co-Director of The Centre for Critical Theory

My personal research interests lie in continental philosophy generally and French critical theory particularly. I have specific interests in the overlaps between poststructuralism and postcolonialism, and increasingly in the critical as well as clinical potential of Lacanian psychoanalysis. My last book was on Alain Badiou, but I am now embarking on a Lacanian critique of the discourse of 'wellbeing' and of the related field of 'Happiness Studies'. The University of Nottingham has almost thirty years of expertise in the areas of Critical Theory and Cultural Studies. This has always been extremely interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on scholars working in a range of areas including politics, law, sociology, philosophy, theology, geography and art history. In 2008, this was all brought together within the newly established Centre for Critical Theory, which then became a School Centre in 2011. I am now director of this Centre along with my colleague, Dr Tracey Potts. It has become the focal point for a vibrant postgraduate community that brings MA and PhD students together in a stimulating but supportive environment. The Centre delivers five MA programmes that combine, sometimes with other Schools, elements of critical theory and cultural studies in various innovative ways. Despite this diversity, each MA introduces students to the European tradition of critique whilst enabling them to apply it to the contemporary political, social and cultural context. Thanks to the importance of cultural studies in the way we teach critical theory, we are very interested in this applied approach. At any one time, there are also up to 20 PhD students working on doctoral projects in the general areas of critical theory and cultural studies. This student community contributes a lot to the activities of the Centre, which include various reading groups (currently on Marx, Lacan, Foucault and Badiou), an annual student-led conference called ‘Vital Theory’, a series of visiting speakers, an annual lecture, and various other workshops, colloquia and conferences. I think the combination of a culture of theoretical rigour and a genuinely welcoming intellectual community makes the Centre for Critical Theory one of the best places nationally to study in this area.

Mark Gallagher
Lecturer in Film Studies

I began my research career with an interest in the portrayal of masculinity in popular American and global cinema, looking at representations of power and the social, economic and political contexts for those representations. I spent many years as a lecturer in America but came to Nottingham because of the opportunity it gave me to work in a large film and television department. I found that the staff research interests were compatible to my own and I wanted to pursue my research in that environment. I am currently researching the global media industry and creative authorship, looking specifically at the work of Steven Soderbergh, as well as strategies of distribution in the context of experimental, mainstream and independent cinema. The Department excels at training people to do primary research into film and television industries. Our students understand that film and television don’t just fall from the sky and that they are imbedded in economic relationships. By understanding the economics of the industry, they gain an appreciation of how this relates to the creation of an art form.

Eva Giraud
PhD in Critical Theory

“I studied English Literature as an undergraduate but became increasingly interested in the theoretical side of the subject. I found that knowledge of social and political theories enhanced my understanding of a text and set it within a broader context.

To my knowledge, The University of Nottingham was the first university in the UK to offer an MA in Critical Theory. I researched the course and found that it is interdisciplinary in its focus and offers you the opportunity to apply your work to areas that you feel confident with – for example, applying critical theories to cultural phenomena.

The MA in Critical Theory has certainly broadened my knowledge, as well as enabling me to study concepts very thoroughly and in great depth. I have enjoyed meeting people who are as passionate about the subject as I am, and we have also supported each other with our PhD applications.

The transition into postgraduate study is well supported in the Department. There is a series of mandatory lectures on the Tradition of Critique, which are not marked but have helped to contextualise the subject. That’s one of the important things – lecturers do not assume knowledge of a specific theory.

In fact, I have found the lecturers very supportive throughout the course. They always give us feedback on our essays if we ask for it. This feedback can be very critical but is also constructive, which means that you have a real sense of how to move forward.

I am now hoping to continue my research at PhD level. The Department has given me lots of support with my PhD proposal, giving me comprehensive feedback and book recommendations, for example; they’ve also helped me to apply for funding through the AHRC.

I would advise other postgraduates to take advantage of the optional courses run by the Graduate School; it’s also important to do as much reading as possible between essays as this will help you to put your literature review together. Be selective though and work out your dissertation ideas early on.”

Genella Evans
MA in Film Studies

“Taking an MA is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I am a teacher, so I work during the day and attend evening lectures in the Institute of Film Studies – luckily, I have an understanding employer because life can be pretty hectic.

I have really enjoyed the whole course. My dissertation is around representations of Medieval Europe in contemporary film – by focusing on this subject, I have been able to combine the knowledge I gained during my first degree in History with my current studies. Thanks to the encouragement I have received from my tutors, I have accepted a place on a PhD; this is something I wouldn’t have considered without advice from the academic staff.

I love the sense of community within the department.
This course is supported by good facilities – the library is well resourced and the online portal means that I can access information at work or at home. We’re given training on using the libraries, Word, Powerpoint, etc. which is all really useful.

I would advise prospective students who are also working that they need to be organised and committed in order to get the most out of their course. It does help to have an understanding employer at times when coursework is due in and the Institute here understands my work commitments, so the tutors will always arrange to see me later in the day.”

Mark Gallagher
Lecturer in Film Studies

“I began my research career with an interest in the portrayal of masculinity in popular American and global cinema, looking at representations of power and the social, economic and political contexts for those representations.

I spent many years as a lecturer in America but came to Nottingham because of the opportunity it gave me to work in a large film and television department. I found that the staff research interests were compatible to my own and I wanted to pursue my research in that environment.

I am currently researching the global media industry and creative authorship, looking specifically at the work of Steven Soderbergh, as well as strategies of distribution in the context of experimental, mainstream and independent cinema.

The Institute of Film and Television Studies excels at training people to do primary research into film and television industries. Our students understand that film and television don’t just fall from the sky and that they are imbedded in economic relationships. By understanding the economics of the industry, they gain an appreciation of how this relates to the creation of an art form.

We run a compulsory module – Researching Film and Television – which is aimed at helping students make the transition into postgraduate study and developing the prerequisite skills for a successful research project. Our students often choose to continue their studies within the Institute and they are familiar with the support structure that is in place for them.”

Matthew Thomson
PhD, Film and Television Studies

“My PhD is a study into the relationship between computer games and American military policy. On the Department of Defence website, there is a list of games that have been developed in collaboration with the gaming industry as potential training and recruitment tools for the military – these form the focus of my research.

I am now in the second year of my PhD and have found this to be a good year in terms of my professional development. I have had the opportunity to teach American history, to help organise a conference and chair a roundtable discussion in Nottingham, and have presented papers in Belfast, Boston and Nottingham. I have also applied for a research scholarship to take me to Australia, and have taken advantage of opportunities within the Graduate School to develop my transferable skills and receive free training.

My PhD has evolved over the past year and has a strong interdisciplinary element; as a result, I have two supervisors – one from the Institute of Film Studies and one from the School of Politics. In fact, it was one of my supervisors who first suggested that I do a PhD when I was an MA student in Cardiff. It was her expertise that drew me to Nottingham and I would certainly advise prospective students to develop a good relationship with their supervisor, as this can make all the difference to your research.”