Horror and Exploitation Cinema Beyond the National (RDF17/SS/WALKER)

It has been commonplace within film scholarship to examine different horror and exploitation films principally in relation to their “primary country of production”. While a number of scholars have sought to rectify this issue by examining specific films in relation to a range of “transnational” elements, more needs to be done if we are to fuilly understand the ways that different horror and exploitation films (or their makers) have a) historically challenged notions of “the national” and b) still continue to do so to this day.
It is the aim of this project to investigate horror and/or exploitation cinema in relation to more broader, cross-cultural and transnational factors, including the content of specific films themselves (i.e. the presence of various cultural inflections), and/or issues concerning contexts of production, distribution and exhibition. We are interested in receiving applications which address any historical context, from the beginnings of cinema to the present.

Possible topics include, but are by no means limited to, the following:
-Transnational cultural inflections within specific horror and/or exploitation films
-Industrial concerns such as production (including the phenomenon of the co-production), distribution and exhibition contexts.
-Horror/exploitation films beyond the West, e.g. from Asia, Africa.
-The marketing of “national” horror/exploitation films in other countries, e.g. the transnational distribution trajectories of “British” horror films in Europe, etc.
-Transnational horror/exploitation film cycles
-Transnational horror/exploitation remakes and sequels
-How new technologies have facilitated transnational processes (VHS, DVD, VoD, camcorders)

Based in the Department of Social Sciences, this PhD studentship builds upon the extensive research into horror and exploitation cinema already undertaken at Northumbria University. The department also houses the Popular Film and Television Collection, which includes film-related items ranging from trade magazines and production notes to promotional materials. The successful candidate will have full access to this material.

Eligibility and How to Apply
Please note eligibility requirement:
• Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required (evidence required by 1 August 2017).

For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/

Please ensure you quote the advert reference above on your application form.
Deadline for applications: 20 January 2017
Start Date: 2 October 2017

Northumbria University is an equal opportunities provider and in welcoming applications for studentships from all sectors of the community we strongly encourage applications from women and under-represented groups.