I am a PhD Candidate in Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
I study how social, political, and economic disruptions shape creative work. My current research projects explore the contemporary Hollywood landscape, with a focus on intimate labor and creative processes.
Research interests: gender, culture, intimacy, creativity, cultural production, occupational expertise
photo by Liv Jonsé
Research Projects
The Craft of Intimacy
How do productions craft performances of intimacy? How has this process evolved over the years? In this project, I primarily interview intimacy professionals (intimacy coordinators, directors, and choreographers), actors/performers in intimate scenes, and filmmakers who write and direct intimate stories. I aim to understand how these professionals individually and collaboratively work to create portrayals of intimacy for television, film, and theater.
current stage: recruiting participants
Hollywood in Flux
How do market, political, and technological disruptions shape creative work? In this project, I am interested in understanding how professionals working in the television and film industry adapt to contemporary societal changes in their creative processes and collaborative projects.