Conflict and culture
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
Dr Stephen Harper
- Job Title Senior Lecturer
- Email Address Stephen.Harper@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Film Media and Communication
- Faculty Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor
Dr Oliver Gruner
- Job Title Senior Lecturer
- Email Address Oliver.Gruner@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Art Design and Performance
- Faculty Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor
Mr Dan McCabe
- Job Title Senior Lecturer
- Email Address dan.mccabe@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Art Design and Performance
- Faculty Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
Mr Louis Netter
- Job Title Senior Lecturer
- Email Address Louis.Netter@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Art Design and Performance
- Faculty Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
Dr Tom Sykes
- Job Title Senior Lecturer
- Email Address Tom.Sykes@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Film Media and Communication
- Faculty Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor
Dr Sophia Wood
- Job Title Senior Lecturer
- Email Address Sophia.Wood@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Film Media and Communication
- Faculty Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
Discover our areas of expertise
Conflict and culture is one of our 3 areas of expertise in Film and Media – explore the others below.
Interested in a PhD in Film & Media?
Browse our postgraduate research degrees – including PhDs and MPhils – at our Film & Media postgraduate research degrees page.