Academic Philosophy
My academic journey is rooted in the belief that storytelling is a lens through which we can explore identity, memory, and culture. As a practice-led researcher, I have developed a unique approach that bridges creative expression with critical inquiry, using fragmented narratives and visual culture to examine the complexities of human experience.
At the heart of my academic philosophy is the concept of “photo-sketching,” a technique I developed that merges text and photography to create narratives that are fragmented yet cohesive. This practice reflects my commitment to challenging traditional academic structures by integrating creative methodologies that are as analytical as they are expressive.
“Fragmented storytelling mirrors the way memory itself works—capturing the fleeting, the unresolved, and the deeply personal.”
My research is informed by my PhD in English Literature and Creative Writing, titled Cape Town/International: The Preparation of a Memoir. This work explored experimental memoirs and the interplay between fragmented narrative and critical reflection. As described in the abstract, “the thesis interrogates the intersection of personal and collective histories, focusing on the global and the local through fragmented storytelling and visual culture.” Drawing on the works of Roland Barthes and Walter Benjamin, I approach storytelling as a fluid and evolving form. Barthes’s concept of the “nebulae,” Benjamin’s explorations of memory and cultural critique, and their shared interest in photography have deeply influenced my methodology. You can read the full abstract and request access to the thesis through York St John University’s Research Repository.
A multidisciplinary foundation underpins this approach. With an MA in Sociology and Global Change and a BA (Hons) in Media and Communication, my academic background spans literature, media studies, and sociology. This interdisciplinary lens allows me to interrogate narrative, history, and culture in ways that are both creative and critically rigorous. By embracing the unresolved and the incomplete, my work seeks to inspire reflection, dialogue, and new ways of thinking across disciplines.
Undergraduate Foundations
I began my academic journey with a BA (Hons) in Media and Communication, where I explored the intersections of media, culture, and narrative. My dissertation, Accelerating into the Voids of Tomorrow: The Technological Singularity and the Allusion to Utopia/Dystopia, examined how hyper-technological omnipotence shapes cultural narratives, introducing me to the critical frameworks that still inform my work today.
“My BA laid the groundwork for engaging with visual culture, semiotics, and the symbolic systems that shape our world.”
This period also included key assignments that ignited my interest in fragmented storytelling and visual analysis:
- Children of Men: Political Analogy – Analyzing the film’s allegorical critique of contemporary political issues.
- Impact of 9/11 on Media Representation – Investigating how visual culture reconstructed narratives around the event.
These formative experiences cultivated my understanding of how media and narrative shape personal and collective identity.
Graduate Exploration
Building on my undergraduate studies, I pursued an MA in Sociology and Global Change. This program deepened my focus on visual culture and its role in shaping societal narratives. My dissertation, Visual Representation in the Gulf War and Iraq War: Towards an Image-Oriented Understanding of Global Conflict, explored the power of imagery in framing conflict narratives, drawing on thinkers like Roland Barthes, Susan Sontag, and Jean Baudrillard.
“My MA bridged theory and practice, equipping me with tools to critically engage with cultural phenomena and the stories we tell through images.”
Modules such as Globalisation Theory, New Media and Democracy, and Research Methods and Ethics further refined my critical and analytical skills, while my dissertation introduced me to the themes of visual culture and identity that would become central to my future work.
Key Academic Contributions
Fragmentation as Methodology
A defining feature of my work is the use of fragmentation as both a narrative style and an academic method. Inspired by Roland Barthes’s concept of the “nebulae” and Walter Benjamin’s reflections on memory, I approach storytelling as an evolving, incomplete structure. This methodology allows me to explore identity, memory, and belonging in their multiplicity, challenging traditional linear narratives.
“Fragmentation allows for deeper engagement with themes that resist simplification—identity, memory, and the intersections of the personal and the collective.”
Photo-Sketching: A Creative and Analytical Tool
One of my most significant contributions is “photo-sketching,” a hybrid methodology that combines text and photography to craft narratives that are as visual as they are textual. This practice explores the fragmented nature of memory and identity, using images to anchor textual reflections. It bridges the creative and the critical, offering a dynamic way to examine visual culture and narrative.
Interdisciplinary Engagement
My academic work reflects an interdisciplinary ethos, drawing on literature, media studies, and sociology to engage with a wide range of theoretical frameworks. This approach has enabled me to contribute to discussions on:
- Postcolonial identity and migration.
- The intersection of visual culture and storytelling.
- The relationship between memory, place, and identity.
These contributions highlight the transformative potential of combining creative methodologies with critical scholarship.
Research Highlights
Memory and Identity
My research delves into the relationship between memory and identity, exploring how personal and collective histories intersect. Drawing on my own experiences of migration, I use fragmented storytelling to mirror the non-linear nature of memory and provide a framework for understanding identity in a global context.
Visual Culture and Narrative
Through my practice of “photo-sketching,” I examine how photography and text interact to create meaning. This approach, informed by the works of Roland Barthes and Walter Benjamin, blurs the boundaries between image and narrative, offering new ways to understand storytelling’s visual dimensions.
Fragmentary Writing as Method
Fragmentary writing is central to my work, both as a creative practice and a methodological tool. By embracing ambiguity, I challenge traditional academic structures, allowing for deeper engagement with complex themes like migration, postcolonial identity, and memory.
Collaborative Learning and Research
Reading Barthes: Collaborative Inquiry
In 2021, I joined a global reading group dedicated to Roland Barthes’s The Preparation of the Novel. Weekly discussions unpacked Barthes’s meditations on writing, preparation, and solitude. A highlight was a session with Kate Briggs, the book’s translator, whose insights illuminated the complexities of rendering Barthes’s ideas into English. This experience deepened my understanding of his theories and reinforced the value of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Oral Histories and Place
In 2022, I participated in Days of the New Town, a research project examining the social impact of Warrington’s New Town expansion. My role involved conducting oral history interviews, capturing residents’ reflections on how the area’s design shaped their sense of community. This work highlighted the interplay between urban planning, memory, and identity.
Talks and Presentations
I have presented my research at various conferences and workshops, engaging audiences with themes of storytelling, memory, and visual culture. My creative and academic outputs demonstrate a commitment to blending critical inquiry with creative expression.
You can view a list of selected talks and presentations here.
Let’s Connect
Whether you’re interested in interdisciplinary research, creative collaboration, or academic partnerships, I’d love to hear from you. Explore my other pages to learn more about my work or visit my Contact page to get in touch directly.