
PhD (UNSW), MA Research (UTS), B Media & Communication (UTS), ASCM (NSW Conservatorium of Music)
Dr Jodi Brooks is a film studies scholar whose research embraces film and media theory, with a particular focus and interest in evolving forms of screen culture, film feminisms, screen performance, independent cinema, and aging in, on and with cinema. Jodi has been teaching film studies and film theory for more than two decades and took up a position in Film Studies at UNSW in 1997 in what was then the School of Theatre and Film. Prior to taking up this position she had held positions at the University of Melbourne (1994-1997) and at the University of Technology (1991-1994). Jodi has also taught courses at UC Davis (in Critical Theory and in Gender Studies) and been an associate research fellow at the Center for Twentieth Century Studies University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Jodi's research has been published in numerous refereed journals and edited collections as well as catalogue essays. She has co-edited a number of special issues of journals including a special issue of Screening the Past on Untimely cinema (co-edited with Therese Davis) and one of the first Australian journal issues on queer media (Media International Australia, co-edited with Michael Hurley and Leigh Raymond). Since joining UNSW Jodi has supervised more than 30 Honours theses, 12 PhDs as primary supervisor, as well as serving as co or joint supervisor for many other PhDs.
Alongside her research and teaching Jodi has served on advisory committees and panels for various organisations including the National Library of Australia's Film and Video Collection, was one of the founding members of Queer Screen, and has been a member of Film Advisory Panel of the Sydney Film Festival since 2017. Jodi was one of the co-founders of the Screen Studies Association of Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand (SSAAANZ) and served as Vice President of SSAAANZ for 3+ years. Jodi has also been involved in curating film programs, worked in community media organisations, and has convened and co-convened a number of film and screen conferences and symposia including Cinefeminisms and the Academy (co-convened with Dr Jessica Ford, University of Newcastle), Time, Memory and the Moving Image (co-convened with Prof Paula Hamilton, University of Technology), and Cinema and the Senses (co-convened with Laleen Jayamanne and George Kouvaros), securing funding for each of these events.
Jodi is a member of the Arts and Health research group (UNSW) and is the Postgraduate Research Convenor in the School of the Arts & Media and an Academic Disability Advisor in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture.
recently published:
Jodi Brooks (2019) Olive Kitteridge (Lisa Cholodenko, 2014), quality television and difficult women: female discontent in the age of binge-viewing, Feminist Media Studies, 19:7, 944-961
2021-2022: ADA Research Fellow (UNSW) $18000
2019: School Research Grant (SRG), $2028, "Cinefemininsms and the Academy." J Brooks (UNSW). J Ford (U Newcastle), J Murphet (UNSW)
1998: Australian Film Commission (AFC), Industry and Cultural Development Grant ($10,000): International symposium, "Cinema and the Senses." Convened by J Brooks, (UNSW) L. Jayamanne (USyd) and G. Kouvaros (UNSW). UNSW, September 1998.
1998: FASS UNSW Humanities Research Program Conference Support ($6000): International symposium "Cinema and the Senses", UNSW, September 1998. J Brooks & G Kouvaros
Jodi's research and teaching have been recognised through the following awards:
I am currently leading a project to develop resources for dementia friendly screenings for cinemas and other screening contexts. Project collaborators include Dr Fincina Hopgood, University of New England, and Karina Libbey, Manager Public Engagement, National Film and Sound Archive. Our first Dementia Friendly Screening took place in Canberra in October 2022 (the ACT's first dementia friendly screening) and received funding support from the ACT Government. Research for this project has been supported by an ADA Research Fellowship.
I am also currently researching the ways that the shift to online screenings in film and screen studies courses shapes curriculum, film engagement, and student experience.
Engagement
Film Advisory Panel member, Sydney International Film Festival, 2016 - present
Vice-President (Australia), Screen Studies Association of Australian and New Zealand (SSAAANZ) 2015-2018
Member of National Film and Video Lending Collection Advisory Committee, National Library of Australia, 2002-2003
Professional memberships
Screen Studies Association of Australian and New Zealand (SSAAANZ)
My Research Supervision
Current PhD supervisions (primary supervisor)
Current PhD supervisions (joint supervision
Higher Degree Research completions (Primary supervisor)
HDR completions (co supervisor)
My Teaching
I regularly convene and teach the following courses in the Film Studies major:
I have also taught and/or convened the following courses in our program: