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Dr Michael Schofield

Dr Michael Schofield

  • Position: Lecturer in Film, Photography and Media
  • Areas of expertise: photography; video and media art; cultural theory; experimental documentary and essay film; practice research; sound art; visual communication; photography theory; urbanism
  • Email: M.P.Schofield@leeds.ac.uk
  • Location: G.23b Clothworkers North
  • Website: Portfolio and research | Twitter | LinkedIn | ORCID | White Rose

Profile

I’m an artist and researcher from Leeds. My interdisciplinary work often explores themes of place, memory and disappearance, alongside the haunting qualities of various media, including photography and electronic sound. Since 2013 I have directed several documentary films, staged exhibitions and installations, and written extensively on media spectrality.

In 2018 I was awarded a doctorate for my practice-led research entitled ‘Aura and Trace: The Hauntology of the Rephotographic Image’. My supervisors were Simon Popple and Dr. Jim Brogden, and the thesis was examined by Dr Kate Nash and Dr Sarah Atkinson (King’s College London). Since moving to a research contract in 2022, I am interested in supervising PhD students, particularly those engaged in practice research and photography.

I am currently involved in several self-directed research projects, including an extensive study on virtual photography. As well as my various lens-based activities I am also a critically acclaimed musician investigating the hauntology of obsolete recording media. I publish and exhibit work under several different aliases including Michael C Coldwell and Conflux Coldwell.

Responsibilities

  • Programme Leader for BA Film, Photography and Media

Research interests

I am particularly interested in the changing ontology of media - the creative possibilities this present artists and users of everyday technology. The recycling and (re)appropriation of obsolete communication technologies, including rephotography, sampling and ‘hauntology’, is also of great interest to me as both a creative practitioner and media theorist.

I have a broad range of other related research interests including, but not limited to:

  • experimental documentary and essay film
  • digital archives and creative practice
  • media archaeology
  • virtual media environments
  • immersive media and installation
  • underground cinema and video art
  • landscape and urban photography
  • electronic music and sound art
  • creative practice as research methodology
  • memory studies (postmemory)
<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • PhD Communications Studies (Photography)
  • MA Cinema and Photography
  • BA (Hons) Visual Communication
  • BTEC Foundation Art and Design

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Student education

I lead on the BA in Film, Photography and Media, teaching on several undergraduate and postgraduate modules related to lens-based practices and media theory, supervising dissertations and creative projects. I’m particularly interested in helping students interrogate and develop theory through creative practice.