About Me & My Research
Hello, my name is Rhianna Morse, I am a PhD student at Brunel University in the Department of Arts and Humanities. My PhD research explores the significance of science-fiction and fantasy posters for individuals and groups as a source of cultural significance and meaning.
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Why choose to do a PhD on Science-Fiction and Fantasy Posters?
I am a sci-fi and fantasy fan and have been since I was 10 years old watching the new series of Doctor Who in 2005 with my family and I was hooked. At the time the walls of my room were white and blank, so I infused my love for sci-fi and fantasy with my love of art with sci-fi and fantasy posters.
My Past Research Projects
I have received my Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Westminster. I have also received my Master's Degree in Anthropology - Material and Visual at UCL (University College London). My past research projects include my Bachelor's and Master's Dissertations. As well as my PhD thesis that I am currently working on.
'Perceptions of multiple identities amongst female university sociology students'
Bachelor's Dissertation
This involved understanding how the sense of identity within this group changed through university and how studying sociology impacted on their sense of self and perception of their multiple identities.
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Abstract
This research set out to explore the perceptions of multiple identities amongst female university sociology students.
The aims of the research were to understand the sense of identity of this group, and how it changed through being at university, especially regarding how much studying sociology impacted on their sense of self and multiple-identities.
Second year sociology students were chosen as they had experienced their first year of taking sociology at university and their perspectives were elicited from conducting first a focus group then six in-depth interviews.
Results suggest that their sense of identity as fixed and unchanging had shifted to a social constructionist perspective in which multiple identities included gender and ethnicity, and this made it possible for them to think differently about any one aspect of identity and to be more aware of discrimination/ inequalities experienced along these dimensions. However, studying sociology did not change their perception of their disability identity.
'Creating spaces of fantasy: Analysing people's display of sci-fi and fantasy posters'
Master's Dissertation
Abstract
This research set out to understand the role of Sci-Fi and fantasy posters in the construction of ‘outworld’ escapist spaces as well as their impacts on the framing of and perception of identity, morality and the emotions of adult Sci-fi and fantasy fans.
Adult Sci-fi and fantasy fans, London Comic Con (2018) attendees, posters stall seller and a poster artist were chosen for semi-structured interview.
The main reasons for purchasing posters were design, material, iconography and size. Most of the posters were placed in the bedroom and they can indeed provide windows for ‘outworldness’ and escapism. Most participant posters had Sci-fi and fantasy characters on them and for some these did have an influence on their owner’s identity, morality and the emotions, and placement of the poster in predominantly private spaces served to amplify this. Some participants noted that it was important to have realism in terms of character portrayal.