http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/29058 2026-04-13T03:48:57Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32036 Title: Windows of fantasy: The significance of science fiction and fantasy film and television posters Authors: Morse, Rhianna Maria Abstract: The research set out in this thesis explored science-fiction and fantasy posters, specifically those related to films and television shows, from the perspective of their owners, examining their potential as sources of cultural significance and meaning. The research explored these in terms of the components (e.g., content) of the poster, the room they are displayed in, their placement, the media texts (films or television shows) they reference, morals, behaviour, identity, sense of self, well-being (through emotional responses), self-expression, other opinions and levels of investment. Given that science fiction and fantasy are otherworldly and imaginative genres, exploring their posters offers a unique lens, akin to exploring the fantastical worlds they depict. Data were collected through an online survey and semi-structured interviews with adult science-fiction and fantasy film and television show poster owners. The significance and meaning of these posters were framed by two conceptual models: ‘The Three Significances’, aesthetics, functionality, and significance (both spatial and personal), and ‘The Big Three’, content, design, and colour. Among these, content held the greatest significance for owners. Posters served as tools for self-expression, reflecting their owners' identities, affinities, and convictions, while also reinforcing their connection to films and TV shows they reference. Rather than shaping moral beliefs, posters were more likely to reinforce their sense of self and fan identity and evoke emotional responses. The space in which posters are displayed shapes their meaning and significance, just as posters influence the atmosphere and function of that space. Official posters tend to be accurate depictions of the media text, while fan art posters offer creative reinterpretations of already reimagined worlds. Additionally, the type of poster, physical or digital, plays a crucial role in shaping ‘The Three Significances’, influencing its availability (both in terms of content and accessibility) and its presentation/display (how it is showcased and experienced). Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/31488 Title: Filming exile: An analysis of the making of colours of exile Authors: Keshavarz Sarkar, Vahid Abstract: The last few decades have seen an astonishing increase in the number of people displaced from their homelands due to wars, economic crises, political persecution, and or dictator-ran states. People of all ages, economic status and occupations, have been forced out of their countries and into new and paradoxical contexts where they are no longer in life-threatening situations, but at the same time they meet new and difficult challenges. Some of them have dealt with these challenges through their art. As a filmmaker in exile myself, I feel compelled to use my craft to raise awareness about this subject and its personal and social struggles. I am not the first nor the only one in my position, as I have learned through my years in exile. Such was the genesis of Colours of Exile, a personal yet choral documentary film dealing with the experiences and thoughts of a wide array of Iranian artists in exile. This thesis examines the making of Colours of Exile, while at the same time discussing the deep implications of the important concepts and social processes the film addresses. I explore the relationship between exile and the construction of identity, and also differentiate the several kinds of population movements, in order to delineate the specificities of exiles as opposed to migrants, refugees, and so on. Moreover, I am interested in describing the effects and impact exile has on the creative work of filmmakers, both from a ‘third person’ perspective and examining how some of them have dealt with it in their lives and in their work. Finally, an important distinction will be made between what I call ‘external’ and ‘internal’ exile, as the two situations can be compared in many aspects, while carrying distinct connotations. The conclusions will state the complex and paradoxical nature of exile, and summarise the ways in which exiles have adapted to the new situations while attempting to deal with the pain and tribulations it caused them. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/31343 Title: A criminally violent turn - changing patterns of female transgression and deviance in contemporary Chinese-language cinemas Authors: Zhu, Haihan Abstract: This thesis delves into the evolving patterns and representation of female transgression and deviance in contemporary Chinese-language cinema, specifically productions from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong. By analysing case studies from big heroine dramas, horror and new magic films, and crime narratives, it explores how depictions of imperial women, female ghosts and spirits, and criminal characters challenge traditional norms, offering evolving insights into gender dynamics and societal shifts. The study principally draws on the concept of ‘post-feminist masquerade’, which has its origins in feminist film studies. This concept suggests that although powerful, independent female protagonists appear to oppose patriarchal structures, they paradoxically reinforce traditional gender roles through their agency and autonomy. Moreover, it regards femininity as a reactionary construct, complicating the portrayal of women’s empowerment in Chinese cinema. The concept of ‘post-feminist masquerade’ subtly manifests in emerging film genres, delving deeper into the intricate connections among female portrayals, gender norms, and social transformation within Chinese-language movies. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/29877 Title: The Soil and The Sea Authors: Rugo, D; Khoury, E Abstract: In Lebanon there are more than 100 untouched mass graves dating back from the Civil War, and thousands of families awaiting a missing relative or at least a bone to bury The Soil and the Sea unveils the violence lying beneath a garden, a school, a cafe, a hotel, and other unremarkable landscapes. As the camera interrogates these everyday spaces, voices fill them with erased stories. More than 30 years after the end of the war, families in Lebanon have been unable to find answers about the fate of their loved ones. However, the creation of a National Commission for the Disappeared in 2020 has injected new hope that these sites will be investigated and that remains will one day be returned to families awaiting a bone to bury. This documentary stands as the first record of these sites, threatened by neglect, real estate developments, and oblivion. Description: A Film by Daniele Rugo. Produced by Carmen Hassoun Abou Jaoude and Daniele Rugo. With an original text written and voiced by Elias Khoury. Production company: Iterations Film. The official website is at: https://www.soilandseafilm.com/ . The documentary has won awards listed by IMDb at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27433779/awards/?ref_=tt_awd .; The documentary was originally released in Lebanon on 3 May 2023 and has won two awards (recorded on IMDb at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27433779/awards/?ref_=tt_awd). UK premiere details, free trailer & interview with Daniele Rugo: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Centres/Global-Lives/News-and-events/News/The-Soil-and-The-Sea-%E2%80%93-a-premiere-of-the-new-documentary-directed-by-Daniele-Rugo . Jade Turner's interview with Daniele Rugo is available at: https://www.curzon.com/journal/the-soil-and-the-sea-interview/ . 2024-02-19T00:00:00Z