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Biography

Dr. Catalin Brylla is Principal Lecturer in Film and TV and Deputy Director of the Centre for the Study of Conflict, Emotion and Social Justice at Bournemouth University. He is also Fellow of the Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image and Chair of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

He researches media audiences, representation, stigma, stereotypes, prejudice and the social impact of media. His work advocates for the scholar's and media maker’s understanding of how media representations impacts on society’s perception of stigmatised groups, such as disabled people, African cultures, sex workers and women in minority communities.

Catalin is an editorial board member for the Journal of Media Practice and Education and for Screen Bodies – An Interdisciplinary Journal of Experience, Perception and Display. He is fellow of the Higher Education Academy, holds a PhD in Media and Communication from Goldsmiths, University of London, and he is external examiner for media degrees at the University of Newcastle and the University of Glasgow...

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Research

Catalin undertakes research in the areas of media audiences, social cognition, cognitive film theory, stereotypes, embodied experience, representation, ethnography, disability, gender, post-colonialism and practice-led research. His research is practice-led and impact-driven, and it aims for reducing the stigma of marginalised communities.

He has worked on a variety of research projects, including an AHRC-funded project on disability and media advocacy in Tanzania, and a BA-funded project on media engagement for wellbeing in the visually impaired community. He has also received funding from the British Academy ECR Network to run interdisciplinary research development events.

His publications include the co-edited volumes "Documentary and Disability" (with Helen Hughes) and" Cognitive Theory and Documentary Film" (with Mette Kramer), as well as his monograph "Documentary and Stereotypes: Reducing Stigma through Factual Media".

As a practice-led researcher Catalin has made several feature documentaries that represent marginalised or stigmatised social groups, aiming to bypass 'othering' stereotypes. These include "Zanzibar Soccer Dreams", portraying women's football on the predominantly Muslim island of Zanzibar, "The Terry Fragments", depicting the everyday life of a blind painter, and "June's Patchwork" about a blind writer and historian.

Catalin has supervised PhD students on a range of topics, such as “Using Media to Map the Experiences of People with Dementia” and “An Ethnography of Political Activism against Gentrification in Hackney”...

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Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:

Reduced inequalities

"Reduce inequality within and among countries"

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Sustainable cities and communities

"Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable"

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Responsible consumption and production

"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"

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Peace, justice and strong institutions

"Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels"

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