[ecrea] AHRC studentship in Cinema History at De Montfort University's CATH Research Centre

PhD Studentship in British Silent Cinema and the Transition to Sound: 
1927-1933



Applications are invited for an AHRC-funded PhD studentship based at De 
Montfort University’s Cinema and Television History (CATH) Research 
Centre, Leicester. This full-time, three-year PhD will be fully-funded 
(fees and maintenance) as part of a major project to research the 
transition between silent and sound cinema in Britain. The overall 
project will consider the impact of the arrival of sound cinema looking 
at new technologies, business models, production practices, solutions in 
cinema architecture and design, and the impact on musicians, audiences 
and cinema going, as well as the films produced during this transitional 
period.

Research and supervision

The successful applicant will work as part of a project team based at De 
Montfort University, Leicester, in partnership with the University of 
Stirling (UoS). The PhD will be supervised by Laraine Porter (Project 
Leader) and Steve Chibnall (Professor of British Cinema), and the 
successful applicant will have a dedicated work station within the CATH 
Centre’s accommodation. The Centre is part of the Midlands 3 Cities 
Doctoral Training Partnership, and is one of the leaders in its field 
with three major funded projects and over 30 staff, research students 
and associate research fellows. One of its external partners is The 
Cinema Museum in London, which will be a vital research resource for the 
project.

Other project team members include Senior Researcher, Geoff Brown 
(London), Dr Sarah Neely (UoS), Professor John Izod (UoS) and a UoS PhD 
student ship also to be appointed. The DMU studentship will be based in 
the Cinema and Television History Research Centre housed within the 
Leicester Media School.

This PhD studentship will complement the project by considering  the 
impact of the arrival of sound cinema on localised British cinema 
exhibition, distribution and reception and how new technical demands 
forced the industry, outside of London, to adapt. Taking account of 
regional variations in cinema culture and practice, market forces and 
audience tastes, the student will conduct empirical research on case 
studies including different cinema chains and associated operations; the 
impact on subsidiary businesses such as local equipment manufacturers 
and cinema service industries and the overall effect on local cinema 
economies, culture and programming. It is expected that the student will 
open up new avenues of research using resources such as local business 
and municipal records alongside national cinema business, trades union 
and associated trades archives. The research will focus on cities and 
market towns in the Midlands including Leicester, Nottingham, 
Birmingham, Derby etc.

Indicative areas of research could include:

·        The influence of local political, cultural, economic and 
geographical factors on the speed and nature of the transition to sound 
cinema and the overall timescales across urban, market town and rural areas

·        Local organisations and businesses that thrived or became 
victims of the new sound technologies and the extent to which national 
and international factors such as the 1927 Cinematograph Act or the 
economic depression compounded their fortunes

·        What local solutions were deployed, including any localised 
inventors, manufacturers, architects and suppliers and the kinds of 
local business models adopted.

·        The response of regional audiences to the arrival of sound 
looking at issues such as regional identity, cultural difference and any 
localised resistance.

Entry Requirements

·        First class or upper second class undergraduate degree or an 
equivalent overseas qualification in a relevant subject.

·        It is expected that applicants will also hold a Masters degree 
in a relevant subject, or show evidence of achieving this by October 2014

·        EU applicants will be required to show proof of English 
language ability to the level of IELTS 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each 
component (or equivalent).  An undergraduate or master’s degree taught 
in a majority English-speaking country and awarded in the last five 
years would satisfy this requirement.

·        Available only to applicants who are UK nationals or other EU 
nationals who are permanently resident in the UK.

·        Available for full-time registration only

·        Applicants must be able to start in October 2014

You will have a background in film studies, cultural studies, or 
historical studies, preferably with an interest in the business and 
economics of cinema. Applicants will need to demonstrate an aptitude for 
scholarly research.

This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a major British cinema 
history project and we welcome applications from interested parties.

How to apply

The following documents are required to complete your application:

-        A completed Application Form for Admission to a Research Degree 
Programme

-        A completed Annexe to Application Form for Admission to a 
Research Degree Programme

-        Two academic references

-        Copies of your highest degree certificate and transcripts

-        For EU applicants, proof of your English language 
qualifications (described above)

-        A copy of your CV

-        A 2 page personal statement that

a)      Demonstrates your excellent academic performance in a field 
related to the proposed research, with explicit reference being made to 
your undergraduate and postgraduate research.

b)      Explains why you want to undertake this research and what 
approaches you might take

c)      Demonstrates your experience of working with primary and 
secondary historical sources including archival research.

d)      Demonstrates your ability to organise and work independently

Please contact Morgan Erdlenbruch at (morgan.stankey /at/ dmu.ac.uk) to receive 
copies of the application, annexe, and reference forms.  Completed 
applications should also be submitted by email to this address.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Laraine Porter at:  
(lporter /at/ dmu.ac.uk)

Closing date for applications 5pm Friday 18 July 2014. Interviews will 
be held at De Montfort University in mid-August.





Steve Chibnall

Professor of British Cinema

Director of the Cinema and Television History (CATH) Research Centre

De Montfort University

Leicester, LE1 9BH



Tel: 0116 2577320 (office)

0116 2552358 (Home)

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