Filmic Visions and Pushing Boundaries

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 arthouse cinema, which has consistently undermined preconceived cinematic orthodoxies.

The 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.

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 find ways to incorporate filmic texts into academic writing (or vice versa). Routes that are open to students include the essay film, video diaries/essays, and video installations.

Applications

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.

Find more information about applications for 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.

Enquiries

Enquiries about this self-funded PhD opportunity should be directed to:

• Dr. Marco Bohr at marco.bohr@ntu.ac.uk
• Dr. Cüneyt Çakırlar at cuneyt.cakirlar@ntu.ac.uk.