Photojournalist surrounded by riot police, Paris, France

Conflict and Culture Research

Explore our work in conflict and culture, one of 3 areas of expertise within our Film and Media research


Our research is concerned with the critical analysis and artistic treatment of social and political crisis, and military conflict.

In an era of public concern about ‘fake news’ and propaganda – particularly in the digital space – our textual research and artistic interventions balance official communications and narratives about geopolitics, war and social struggle.

As the number and reach of global conflicts continues to grow, we analyse the accuracy and quality of media and public relations information about war and social conflict, and explores the changing nature of their cultural representation.

Our research covers the following topics

  • Propaganda
  • International relations
  • Post-conflict societies
  • Area studies
  • Architecture
  • Visual cultures
  • Illustration
  • Militarism
  • Islamophobia
  • Critical journalism studies
  • Graphic design
  • Cultural memory
  • Media studies
  • Genocide
  • Holocaust studies
  • Discourse analysis
  • Critical theory

Methods

Our research methods include sociological investigation, critical textual and discourse analysis, illustration and graphic design, and interdisciplinary approaches to practice research, for example hybrid academic-practice journal articles.

Projects and publications

While the majority of our research circulates within the academic community, we have attracted national media coverage, from major publications such as The Guardian, for Gruner and Netter's Corbyn Comic Book.

Our members

Stephen Harper Portrait

Dr Stephen Harper

Associate Professor in Critical Media Studies

Stephen.Harper@port.ac.uk

School of Film, Media, and Creative Technologies

Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

PhD Supervisor

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Oliver David Gruner Portrait

Dr Oliver Gruner

Senior Lecturer

Oliver.Gruner@port.ac.uk

School of Architecture, Art and Design

Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

PhD Supervisor

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Thomas Gerald Charlesworth Sykes Portrait

Dr Tom Sykes

Associate Professor in Creative Writing and Global Journalism

Tom.Sykes@port.ac.uk

School of Film, Media, and Creative Technologies

Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

PhD Supervisor

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Dr Sophia Wood

Senior Lecturer

Sophia.Wood@port.ac.uk

School of Film, Media, and Creative Technologies

Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

PhD Supervisor

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Discover our areas of expertise

Conflict and culture is one of our 3 areas of expertise in Film and Media – explore the others below.

Film studies and screen practice research

We're exploring the relationship between film, screen studies and communities. Explore our film studies and screen practice research.

people in a theatre, watching a film
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Media and popular culture

We're exploring new cultures of production and consumption to understand how media audiences are becoming content creators. Explore our media and popular culture research.

Comic con event drone photography
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Interested in a PhD in Film & Media?

Browse our postgraduate research degrees – including PhDs and MPhils – at our Film & Media postgraduate research degrees page.