The Erasmus School of History, Culture, and Communication (ESHCC) at Erasmus University Rotterdam is excited to offer a challenging and innovative PhD position in the Culture and Creative Industries.
Cultural and creative products are dependent on ‘mediators’ to reach intended audiences. These mediators are involved in co-creation (e.g. light engineers, editors), gatekeeping (e.g. television buyers), distribution (e.g. DJs, cinemas), and evaluation (e.g. cultural journalists, award juries). The emergence of new technologies, societal movements and artistic conventions have drastically changed the context in which mediators do their work. Calls for more inclusive programming, new types of sustainable LED stage lights, and AI-generated playlists have for example affected the (creative) decisions these mediators (are able to) make.
Despite their profound impact on creative production and consumption, how these mediators respond to innovation and change has received scant academic attention – especially in comparison to ‘creative workers’. By looking at the role of mediators, this project seeks to provide much needed insights into this understudied, yet influential aspect of creative production.
We invite candidates to submit proposals addressing one or more of the following questions:
How do cultural mediators navigate technological, societal, and aesthetic innovations?
How do cultural mediators incorporate these innovations into their practices?
How do changes in cultural mediation influence the engagement, experience, and consumption patterns of diverse audiences?
This PhD opportunity offers a unique chance to delve into the often-overlooked yet influential realm of cultural mediation, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of innovation and transformation within creative industries.
Job description The successful candidate will be based at the Department of Media and Communication of the ESHCC and will carry out the following tasks:
Research (0.85 fte) - Conducting PhD research.
- Publishing and presenting research results in the form of articles in international peer reviewed journals and papers at international conferences.
- Writing a dissertation within the appointment duration of four years.
- Taking part in seminars, workshops etc. that are organized by the Erasmus Research Institute for Media, Culture, History and Society (ERMeCHS) as well as the Department of Media and Communication.
Teaching (0.15 fte) Performing junior teaching tasks in the BA degree programmes in the field Media and Communication provided by ESHCC, primarily through tutorial group teaching in the International Bachelor of Communication and Media (IBCoM).
Service Contributing to small management tasks of the department.