Role
Dr Connell is Subject Leader of the Social Theory subject team, who deliver the Joint Honours Humanities programme in Communication and Society, as well as aspects of the BA Media and MA in Media and Globalisation. He also teaches philosophy and supervises PhD students.
Career overview
Dr Connell has been an academic at Nottingham Trent University for over 20 years following brief spells in science, the games industry and water safety education.
Research areas
Dr Connell research focuses on a variety of topics in the broad field of media and communications, including the work of T. W. Adorno; critical theory; psychoanalysis; intergenerational relations; DJ and Music cultures; writing support and pedagogy.
Opportunities to carry out postgraduate research towards an MPhil/PhD may exist and further information may be obtained from the NTU Graduate School.
External activity
Dr Connell works professionally as 'DJ Dr Matt', a role which crosses over into some of his work as an academic.
Sponsors and collaborators
Dr Connell has worked with Charity Shop DJ Productions Ltd on a variety of music and intergenerational projects.
Publications
Working with power: A dialogue about writing support using insights from psychotherapy. Connell M and Clughen L in T. Lillis K. Harrington M. Lea A and Mitchell S (eds), Academic Literacies, Research, Theory and Design, 2013, Colorado State University
Talking about old records: Generational musical identity among older people. Connell M, Popular Music, Cambridge University Press, 2012, 31/2, 261-278
Using dialogic lecture analysis to clarify disciplinary requirements for writing. Connell M and Clughen L in Clughen L and Hardy C (eds.) Writing in the Disciplines: Building Supportive Cultures for Student Writing in UK Higher Education, 2012, Bingley, Emerald Group Publishing
Writing and resistance: reflections on the practice of embedding writing in the curriculum. Connell M and Clughen L, Arts and Humanities in Higher Education 2012, 11, (4)
Press expertise
Dr Connell has made several appearances on local radio, providing a sociological or psychological angle on a variety of subjects. He can particularly offer comment on stories which relate to celebrity; DJ and music cultures; politics; the psychology and sociology of communications and media; family; and intergenerational issues.