Social (In)Justice and Popular Culture

Using mediums like comics and popular science fiction on-screen is an alternative way to engage people in talking and thinking about the issues that impact them at home, on the street, and in their communities.

This way of thinking came to me from Jack Halberstam’s book The Queer Art of Failure and what he calls “the silly archive”: using seemingly ‘nonsense’ texts like kids’ animation films as serious waste which is something I’ve done with texts like Pokémon, Bridgerton, Marvel films and more.

Upcoming events:

22nd October 2026, 9-5pm, US Eastern Time

Appearing at: Fan Studies Network of North America Conference [Tickets]

Boundaries

 

Paper: ‘”What Can Men Do Against Such Reckless Hate?”: LOTR, The Anti-Tate, and Middle Earth’s Silly Politics’

 

11th November 2026, 9-5pm GMT

Appearing at: National Maritime Conference, UK [Tickets]

Maritime Histories from the Margins: People, Places, and Practices, 1500–Present

 

Paper: ‘Black History, White Authors: UK Maritime Literature’s Whiteness Problem’

 

Info via the links above.

Lets TalkHire Me

If you want me to talk about popular culture and social justice in your community or institution, do get in touch.