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  • Find a PhD Supervisor

Find a PhD Supervisor

Dr Derek Johnston

School of Arts, English and Languages
Lanyon

Dr Derek Johnston

School of Arts, English and Languages

My research focuses on the history of genres within their industrial, social and cultural contexts, particularly concentrating on fantastic genres such as science fiction and horror on television. I am also interested in the broad field of investigating popular culture and its expressions, and how these relate to cultural change. Key interests are identity, nostalgia, history, and the usefulness of genres which put some distance between the everyday and the narrative, such as science fiction, horror, and historical dramas.

Contact info

  • View Academic Profile
  • derek.johnston@qub.ac.uk
  • +44 (0) 28 9097 3814

Research Interests

Open to PhD applications in:

  • Gothic / horror, science fiction, fantasy in and across media and literature.
  • Representations of history in media and literature.
  • History of media, particularly in the UK.

Make a PhD enquiry


Public outreach & key achievements

Miskatonic Institute, Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror on Film and Television, 14 December 2017, Horse Hospital, London, UK, invited speaker.

‘Writing and Rewriting Broadcast Traditions’, blog entry for the QUB Centre for Public History blog 

“Why the Ghost Story at Christmas”, in Paul Corupe and Kier-La Janisse, eds., Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror on Film and Television, Toronto: Spectacular Optical, 2017

A Lincoln Ghost Story Evening, 27 November 2017, Lincoln, UK, invited speaker - 

Telling Stories of Hope and Fear at Year’s End, Being Human Festival 2016 event, Queen’s University Belfast, 23 November 2016 – with Dr Darran McCann

‘Being Human event on Seasonal Ghost Stories’, with Darren McCann, Vanessa Hynes, Belfast 89FM, 11 November 2016

‘Seasonal Horror discussion’, Amber Hammill, Belfast 89FM, 15 December 2015

The Christmas Ghost Story: Tradition, Time and Television, 3 December 2015, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK, invited speaker

‘Why Ghosts Haunt England at Christmas but Steer Clear of America’, The Conversation, 15 December 2014 - https://theconversation.com/why-ghosts-haunt-england-at-christmas-but-steer-clear-of-america-34629

Introduction to screening of Logan’s Run, 10 November 2014, Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast, UK

Introduction to screening of Westworld, 27 October 2014, Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast, UK

The History of the Blockbuster, public panel debate at the World Science Fiction Convention 2014, London, UK - https://pure.qub.ac.uk/portal/en/activities/the-history-of-the-blockbuster(4c71e936-d97c-470f-b5a9-84a947d37ad0).html 

Introduction to screening of The Innocents, 16 December 2013, Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast, UK

Introduction to screening of Pan’s Labyrinth, 11 November 2010, Cinema City, Norwich, UK

Discussion of Sad Pralad (Tropical Malady), 3 May 2010, The Forum, Norwich, UK

Introduction to screening of Notorious, 28 March 2009, Cinema City, Norwich, UK

Introduction to screening of Them!, 18 November 2007, Sainsbury Centre, Norwich, UK


Research students

PhD area BBC Northern Ireland Drama and Features Programming 1924-1956: Development, Identity, and Cultural History
Name Portia Ellis-Woods
Years of study 2014-2018 
Country Northern Ireland 
   

 


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  • School of Arts, English and Languages

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