Visual Culture Working Group - Head elections 2026

Kun Fang (Frank)

Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University, China

My name is Kun Fang (Frank), and I am currently a Ph.D. student supported by a full scholarship. I hold a B.A. in Journalism from Anhui University of Arts and an M.A. in Communication with distinction from Hong Kong Baptist University. My research focuses on political communication, audience effects, and visual communication, with particular attention to how visual forms shape cultural memory, public discourse, and power relations.

I am standing for the Vice-chair position in the Visual Culture Working Group because I hope to contribute to an inclusive, internationally engaged, and intellectually open community of scholarship. My recent research has examined war photography, cinematic representation, online violence, platform identity, and the politics of visibility. Through participation in IAMCR and ICA conferences, as well as publications in journal articles, book chapters, and oral history volumes, I have developed a strong commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and cross-regional dialogue in visual culture.

Alongside my academic work, I have also been actively involved in documentary and media production as an assistant director, planner, and director. Several of these projects received recognition in major national competitions in China. This experience has given me practical insight into how visual narratives are produced, circulated, and interpreted across different cultural and public contexts. It has also strengthened my ability to collaborate effectively, manage responsibilities across different stages of a project, and connect critical research with media practice.

My experience as a research assistant has further prepared me for a service role within an international academic community. I have supported faculty-led research through literature review, data organization, research coordination, and academic writing preparation. These responsibilities have helped me develop the organizational skills, reliability, and attention to detail needed for supporting conference programming, maintaining communication with members, and contributing to the broader work of the Working Group.

If elected as Vice-chair, I would work to encourage participation from early-career researchers, promote dialogue across regions and methodological traditions, and support exchanges that connect theory with practice. I would be honored to contribute to the continued development of the Working Group through active, responsible, and collaborative service.

Sheila Joy Mulinya

Daystar University, Kenya

I am a Kenyan filmmaker and television producer with over 20 years of experience creating, scriptwriting, directing and producing media that critically engages with visual culture, representation and social narratives currently a lecturer at Daystar University. My career encompasses both practical production and academic mentorship, including teaching, supervising as well as guiding emerging scholars in visual media research and production. This dual expertise positions me to lead the Visual Culture Working Group in nurturing inclusive, innovative and globally relevant scholarship while strengthening networks and professional development opportunities for members across diverse contexts.

Throughout my career, I have led numerous film and television projects that interrogate social, cultural and political issues through the lens of visual culture. Complementing this practice, I have conducted research, presented papers and facilitated workshops that explore media representation, audience engagement and participatory production. These experiences have equipped me with the organizational, analytical and leadership skills necessary to support a Working Group that thrives on collaboration, critical inquiry, and scholarly excellence.

If elected as Vice-Chair, I will focus on four key priorities:

1. Inclusive and high-quality programming: I will ensure conference sessions, workshops and seminars reflect a breadth of global perspectives, particularly augmenting voices from African and underrepresented visual culture contexts. This approach will create a platform for innovative scholarship and diverse methodological approaches.
2. Active member engagement: I will maintain transparent and consistent communication with all members, encouraging dialogue, knowledge-sharing as well as collaboration. I will help to raise mentorship opportunities and support members in developing joint research and creative projects, ensuring participation is accessible and meaningful.
3. Professional development and visibility: I will organize activities that will enhance members’ research and production profiles, encourage interdisciplinary partnerships and increase the global visibility of the Working Group. By connecting scholars and practitioners across regions, we can cultivate networks that strengthen both academic and professional trajectories.
4. Strategic leadership and governance: I will contribute to association-wide decision-making and oversee all phases of conference programming with accountability and clarity, from reviewing abstracts to organizing on-site sessions. I will ensure that the Working Group operates efficiently and in alignment with IAMCR’s mission of promoting international scholarly exchange.

I am committed to building a VIC Working Group that is dynamic, inclusive and responsive to the ever-evolving backdrop of visual culture scholarship. By leveraging my practical experience in media production and my academic engagement in visual culture research, I aim to create meaningful opportunities for members to contribute, collaborate and grow professionally. My vision is a Working Group that promotes critical inquiry, nurtures emerging talent and also strengthens global networks for scholars and practitioners alike.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. I am eager to serve the Working Group and contribute to advancing its mission of promoting innovative research, critical dialogue and global scholarly exchange in visual culture.

Sincerely,

Sheila Joy Mulinya-PhD Candidate

Meera Shirodkar

Bennett University, India

My academic and professional trajectory has been shaped by sustained engagement with cinema, visual culture, memory studies, and digital media, with a particular focus on the Global South. I hold a Master’s degree in Mass Communication with a specialisation in Audio-Visual Production from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication (Pune, India) where my early training in filmmaking and media practice cultivated my interest in visual storytelling, narrative construction, and the socio-cultural power of screen media. This practice-oriented foundation has significantly informed my research trajectory. I subsequently completed my PhD in Film from the University of Southampton, UK, where my work examined representations of Partition memory in contemporary Indian cinema.

As a researcher, I am interested in how visual narratives across film, digital platforms, and emerging media mediate relationships among the creator, the work, and the spectator, and shape cultural meanings, identities, and power structures. My broader research interests span feminist film theory, visual representations of trauma and memory, and evolving screen cultures, including OTT platforms and digital storytelling practices. I am particularly interested in how visual memory, archival practices, and cinematic historiography contribute to the construction of cultural identity, especially in contexts that negotiate or resist dominant global media flows. My work also engages with emerging visual and digital ecosystems, including intersections of digital humanities, AI-enabled archives, and new media storytelling, positioning visual culture within rapidly transforming technological environments.

My publication record includes journal articles in Scopus-indexed journals, an edited volume with Bloomsbury (Gender, Identity and Intersectionality in Global Screen Media), and several forthcoming chapters with international publishers, including Routledge and Edinburgh University Press. Across these contributions, I seek to advance comparative visual culture studies by foregrounding South Asian perspectives while engaging with broader transnational and interdisciplinary debates.

In addition to my research, I bring substantial experience in academic leadership and community building. I have served as Co-Convener of the Times School of Media–International Communication Association (TSOM-ICA) India Chapter International Conference 2026; Senior Coordinator of a national seminar in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and Co-Coordinator of a specialised short-term course developed with IN-SPACe (Department of Space, Government of India). I have also organised and moderated international academic events, including a symposium on Films, Gender and Sexuality in collaboration with the University of Southampton. These roles have strengthened my ability to curate interdisciplinary dialogues, manage conference programming, and facilitate sustained scholarly exchange across diverse institutional and geographical contexts.

If elected, I would contribute to the Visual Culture Working Group in three key ways. First, I aim to strengthen Global South and comparative perspectives by encouraging scholarship that foregrounds diverse visual traditions and marginalised narratives. Second, I would expand engagement with emerging visual media, including AI, immersive technologies (AR/VR), and digital storytelling, situating them within critical visual culture frameworks. Third, I would support inclusive academic programming through curated panels, collaborative initiatives, and mentoring opportunities for early-career researchers.

I believe the Visual Culture Working Group offers a vital space to rethink the role of images, narratives, and spectatorship in contemporary societies. I would be honoured to contribute as a researcher, organiser, and facilitator to support IAMCR’s intellectual and collaborative goals, and to the continued growth of the Working Group.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yaohan (Quentin) Wang

Communication University of China

Dear VIC Working Group Members,

My name is Yaohan (Quentin) Wang, and I am a PhD candidate at the Communication University of China and a graduate of the University of Sydney. I am honoured to stand for the position of Vice-Chair of the Visual Culture (VIC) Working Group. My candidacy is built on a foundation of steadfast reliability, a proven track record in organisational governance, and a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive and sustainable scholarly community within IAMCR.

Leadership, Governance, and Operational Reliability
I believe that effective leadership in a Working Group requires a balance of vision and meticulous operational support. My experience as a representative at the 15th Australia-China Emerging Leaders’ Summit (ACELS) equipped me with the skills to facilitate high-level cultural dialogues and manage complex stakeholder expectations. At the Communication University of China, I have been deeply involved in the practical governance of academic life, from organising international symposiums to managing the logistical continuity of annual school-wide conferences. I understand that the success of the VIC group relies on the steady execution of abstract reviews, session programming, and member communication. I am fully committed to ensuring these processes are transparent, efficient, and consistent, providing reliable support to the Chair and the wider leadership team.

Research with a Focus on Community Relevance
My research examines the intersection of digital identity and visual representation. I have explored how visual aesthetics in digital platforms, such as character designs and cultural settings in Genshin Impact, shape self-recognition and cultural identity. By simplifying the theoretical complexities of digital subjectivity into actionable scholarly inquiries, I hope to lead discussions that are accessible and relevant to our diverse global membership. I am particularly interested in how our working group can collectively address the visual power dynamics inherent in AI-driven media, ensuring that various cultural perspectives from both the Global North and South are represented.

A Vision for Coordination and Continuity
My primary goal is to contribute to the long-term vitality of the VIC community. I bring a "techno-operational" toolkit—including proficiency in Python for data management and professional multimedia software for community outreach—to enhance our group’s digital presence and networking capabilities. I approach this role with a proactive and optimistic spirit, dedicated to building on the work of my predecessors while introducing sustainable methods for member engagement and collaboration. I am eager to work behind the scenes to ensure that every member of the Visual Culture Working Group feels supported and connected. I would be privileged to earn your support and dedicate my energy to the continued growth of our vibrant community.
More than anything, I see this role as an opportunity to contribute to a community that I truly value. I would welcome the opportunity to serve, to learn from others, and to help build a vibrant and connected space for visual culture research.

Sincerely,

Yaohan Wang