Research

M.A. in Social Science, University of Chicago
B.A. in Sociology, Minor in Media Arts and Design, University of Chicago

With background in media studies and sociology, I’m interested in the relationship between popular culture and the generation of social knowledge. In the age of the internet, the two are more entangled than ever before — with designs informed by behavioral psychology, digital platforms engage in practices of continuous user experimentation and data collection. Motivated by these developments, I aim to examine themes of surveillance, simulation, and social experimentation in popular culture, particularly in reality media and online content.

In earlier research, I focused on digital masculinity and misogyny, examining the role of self-help content in male supremacist communities online. Through interviews with viewers of such content, I argued that self-help material not only drew viewers to misogynistic ideas, but also embedded values of hyper-individualism and self-mastery consistent with troubling narratives of masculinity under neoliberalism.

Research interests include:
• new media
• television
• surveillance
• critical data studies
• science and technology studies
• queer theory
• masculinity
• neoliberalism

Writing

“The Fuckboy as Entrepreneur: FBoy Island’s Neoliberal Intimacy.” Reality TV in the Social Media Economy, cluster in ASAP/J, August 27, 2024.