In my classes, we learn together how to critically analyze important documents and creatively produce films that evoke different political experiences
As Professor of International Relations at LSE, I teach Visual International Politics (VIP) and the Global Politics of China.
Although they focus on very different subjects empirically, both classes explore international relations in terms of a thinking/feeling dynamic that examines the power of official documents and the influence of popular culture.
The two classes uniquely use filmmaking techniques to appreciate IR as an everyday phenomenon: a 10-minute documentary in VIP, and a 2-minute propaganda video in the Global Politics of China.
In this way, students can engage in political ethnography to explore international politics as a personal experience: Miles Away, a film about the Hong Kong protests in 2019, was made by students from Hong Kong and mainland China.
I welcome PhD applications from students interested in visual IR and/or the global politics of China.