Dr Colette Balmain
Faculties, departments and locations
- Kingston School of Art
- Department of Journalism, Publishing and Media
- School of Creative and Cultural Industries
- Penrhyn Road
Senior lecturer in Media & Communication
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I have had over 20 years of teaching experience in Higher Education. Originally a film specialist, my current work is best thought of as interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary. I am interested in the intersections and cominglings of disciplines in the 21st century.
I am currently a senior lecturer in Media & Communication. I teach on core Media & Communication modules at Level 4, Level 5 and Level 7. I have taught at Kingston University for over ten years now.
I am the PG Admissions for the MA Media & Communication
Modules
- MD4002 - Media@Work (teaching team)
- MD5005 - Identity and Difference (Module leader)
- MD5008: Digital Storytelling (Module Leader)
- MD6011: Issues in Contemporary Media Environments (teaching team)
- MD6002 - Media Research Project (teaching team)
- MD7003 - Freedom, censorship and subversion (Module leader)
I am also a PhD supervisor across film and media. I am currently the first supervisor for three students and the second supervisor for one.
Qualifications
- PhD Film
- MA Literature, Art and Culture (First Class)
- PGCE (FE)
- BSc 2.2 (Hons) Literature and the History of Ideas/History
Domains
Courses taught
My work is interdisciplinary and in particular focuses on identity politics and the representation of race, gender, sexuality and disability in cinema. I am particularly interested in East Asian cinemas and cultures, with special interest in horror and gothic modes of discourse.
My first monograph was on Japanese horror cinema and was published in 2008. Since then, I have written numerous articles and given conference papers on a range of subjects. Last year, I was invited to deliver guest lectures in Taiwan and Indonesia on East Asian gothic cinemas. My second monograph is on East Asian gothic cinema and will be published in 2024.
In 2020, just before multiple lockdowns as a result of the pandemic, I launched the BTS Global Interdisciplinary Conference Project, which is now in its fourth year with subsequent conferences in Los Angeles (online), Seoul and Kuala Lumpur. I have given keynotes addresses at the last three conferences. I am editing a book on BTS which has been delayed as a result of the pandemic as well as writing a monograph on BTS and Emotional Masculinity. I have written for Sight and Sound, and currently write for View of the Arts and easternKicks. I am a member of the Association for Asian Studies and the International Gothic Association.
Specialisms
- East Asian Cinema and Cultures
- The gothic
- Korean Popular Culture including K-dramas and K-Pop
- Videogames
- Popular Music
Scholarly affiliations
- Association of Asian Studies
- International Gothic Association
- IASPM
I am often asked to give guest lectures and/or keynote addresses. Recently I was invited to Seoul and Taiwan in relation to my work on East Asian popular culture.
Publications
Repetition and difference in East Asian gothic cinema: the 'Bunshinsaba' film series
Balmain, Colette, 2020, Transnational Screens (11), 3pp 187-201, Published
East Asian Gothic: a definition
Balmain, Colette, 2018, Palgrave Communications (3), 31, Published
Crypto-cannibalism: Meat, murder and monstrosity in Tiwa Moeithasong's The Meat Grinder
Balmain, Colette, 2014, Horror Studies (5), 2pp 249-264, Published
Korean screen cultures: interrogating cinema, TV, music and online games
(2016). Bern, Switzerland: [Published]
Directory of World Cinema: South Korea
(2013). Bristol, U.K.: (Intellect) [Published]
Uneasy humanity: perpetual wrestling with evil
(2009). Freeland, U.K.: (Inter-disciplinary Press) [Published]
Introduction to Japanese horror film
Balmain, Colette (2008). Edinburgh, U.K.: [Published]
The <i>jiangshi</i>
Balmain, Colette (2026). In: Bacon, Simon, (eds.), Cham, Switzerland:pp 127-143 [Published]
Bangtan universe (BTS, 2017-Present): South Korean transmedia universe
Balmain, Colette (2021). In: Bacon, Simon, (eds.), Oxford, U.K.: Peter Lang Ltdpp 201-210 [Published]
Pan-Asian gothic
Balmain, Colette (2016). In: Byron, Glennis, (eds.), Manchester, U.K.: Manchester University Presspp 119-132 [Published]
Pop goes Korean Popular Culture: an investigation into the popularity of Hallyu culture in the UK
Balmain, Colette (2014). In: Marinescu, Valentina, (eds.), Maryland, U.S.:pp 81-88 [Published]
Southeast Asian Gothic cinema
Balmain, Colette (2014). In: Townshend, Dale, Byron, Glennis, (eds.), Abingdon, U.K.: Routledgepp 399-411 [Published]
Unnatural appetites and the case of the cannibal in Korean cinema
Balmain, Colette (2012). In: Norris, Nanette, (eds.), Lanham, U.S.:pp 167-182 [Published]
10 years of evil
Balmain, Colette (2009). In: Balmain, Colette, Norris, Nanette, (eds.), Freeland, U.K.: Inter-disciplinary Presspp ix-xi [Published]
And WHAT's on the menu today? Greed and gluttony in Sato's 'Naked blood'
Balmain, Colette (2009). In: Balmain, Colette, Norris, Nanette, (eds.), Freeland, U.K.: Inter-disciplinary Presspp 121-130 [Published]
Ghosts and not ghouls in contemporary East Asian gothic cinema
Balmain, Colette J.(2017). [Published]
Through the eyes of a child: hybridity and morbidity in Jo Sung-hee's 'A werewolf boy'
Balmain, Colette(2015). [Published]
Chills and thrills: South Korean horror cinema
Balmain, Colette (2017) [Published]