Filmic Visions and Pushing Boundaries

Overview

This self-funded PhD project involves an investigation into filmic forms that push against, cross and/or transgress boundaries between fiction, ethnographic, essayistic or documentary cinema. We are particularly interested in PhD projects that view this transgression of cinematic genres as a metaphor for other forms of transgression in relation to questions around identity, cultural belonging, migration, gender and sexuality. Over the last two decades there has been a great influx of transnational art house cinema which has consistently undermined preconceived cinematic orthodoxies. This PhD project provides the opportunity to analyse emerging visual forms that are yet under researched or have received little scholarly attention. We are particularly interested in the role of transglobal communities that shape these forms of expression. Applicants should have a strong understanding of the histories and contexts of any given cinematic form that they are primarily concerned with though ultimately we believe that the project is best addressed through transdisciplinary methods. The successful applicant will be supervised by Dr. Marco Bohr, Associate Professor in Design and Digital Arts in the School of Art and Design, and Dr. Cüneyt Çakırlar, Associate Professor in Film and Visual Culture in the School of Arts and Humanities.

The PhD project can be completed either through the traditional pathway of a PhD by thesis, or the practice-based pathway of a PhD by thesis combined with a substantial body of practice. Additionally, we also welcome applications that seek to experiment with practice-based research and finding ways, through rigorous PhD research, how to incorporate filmic texts into academic writing (or vice versa). Routes that are open to students includes the essay film, video diaries/essays, and video installations. Applicants interested in this PhD project area are asked to narrow the line of enquiry in a well-defined PhD proposal of no more than 1,500 words (not including references). Under clear headings, the proposal needs to contain the following information: a relevant title for the project, an outline of the chosen research question or focus, a brief overview of existing academic work on or connected to the topic and details of the methodology. Further information and help on writing a research proposal can be found here: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/postgraduate/phd/how-to-apply/writing-a-research-proposal Further information about Research Degrees at NTU as well as the application process can be found here: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/research-degrees-at-ntu

The successful applicant will join one of the country’s leading art and design schools which has been influencing, inspiring, and innovating since 1843. Buoyed by recent successes such as the QS subject top 100 world ranking, the school has a vibrant, forward-looking and expanding research community where collaboration, experimentation and interdisciplinarity are embraced and actively encouraged. The successful applicant will be part of the Creative Practices, Methods and Analysis CPMA research cluster. More PhD opportunities are listed on the CPMA website: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/groups/creative-practices,-methods-and-analysis

Enquiries about this self-funded PhD opportunity can be directed to Dr. Marco Bohr at marco.bohr@ntu.ac.uk and Dr. Cüneyt Çakırlar at cuneyt.cakirlar@ntu.ac.uk.