Curriculum Vitae

Education

2019 (expected): Ph.D., English (Film and Media Studies), Wayne State University (ABD; expected 2019).

Dissertation: “Paranoid Futures: Heaviness and Sonic Motion in Black Media” Committee: Chera Kee (chair), Steven Shaviro, Lisa Ze Winters, and Elizabeth Reich (outside member)

2012-2016: B.A. & M.A., English, Wayne State University (2012).

Publications

2019 (forthcoming): “Heaviness and Sonic Motion in Afrofuturist Music Videos.” Justice in Time: Critical Afrofuturism and the Struggle for Black Freedom. eds. Ryan Kernan and Elizabeth Reich (University of Minnesota Press).

2017: Ball, Kevin. “Fan labor, speculative fiction, and video game lore in the Bloodborne community,” Journal of Transformative Works and Culture, 25: https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2017.01156.

2016: —. “Beyoncé’s ‘Formation,’” Film Criticism, 40 (3): http://dx.doi.org/10.3998/fc.13761232.0040.309.

2015: —. “Untitled: Black Sound and Music Video as an Object of Study,” Film Criticism, 40 (3): http://dx.doi.org/10.3998/fc.13761232.0040.103.

Conferences and Talks

2018: Respondent, “Ancient to the Future: Cyborg Aesthetics.” Cranbrook Art Museum Symposium: “A Portrait of the Post-human.” Birmingham, Michigan.

2018: Panelist, “Heaviness and Sonic Motion in the Afrofuturist Imaginary.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies Annual Meeting. Toronto, ON.

2018: Guest Lecturer, “Levitation and Heaviness” (invited). Connecticut College. New London, CT.

2018: Panelist, “A Roundtable Discussion of Get Out.” Kino: Popular Culture in/as Speculative Resistance Conference. Detroit, MI.

2017: Presenter, “Fandom, Speculative Fiction, and Bloodborne.” Video Game Scholarly Interest Group. Detroit, MI.

2017: Panelist, “Bloodborne and Lore-Hunting.” Kino: Audiences, Fandom, and Reception. Detroit, MI.

2016: Guest Lecturer, “White Supremacy and 13^th” (invited). Teach-in Series: “Know Justice, Know Peace.” WSU Student Center: Detroit, MI.

2016: Panelist, “On Bill Gunn’s Ganja and Hess.” Kino: Queer Stuff Conference. Detroit, MI.

2015: Panelist, “Desegregating Vampirism in Bill Gunn’s Ganja and Hess.” American Studies Association Annual Meeting. Toronto, ON.

2014: Host, Screening of Boss (1974). Kino Club 313 Screening Series. Detroit, MI.

Service

2018: Member, Pop Culture Working Group (Student Group). WSU Humanities Center: Detroit, MI.

2017: Contributor, “A Workshop on the Prospectus Exam.” WSU English Dept.: Detroit, MI.

2016: Editorial Board Member at Film Criticism.

2016: Officer, Video Game Scholarly Interest Group. WSU English Dept.: Detroit, MI.

2012: Affiliate, Kino Club 313 (Film and Media Student Group). WSU English Dept.: Detroit, MI.

Scholarships and Awards

2018: Summer Dissertation Fellowship (WSU Graduate School: $5,000)

2017: Doctoral Dissertation Award (WSU Humanities Center: $500)

2016: Dennis Turner Memorial Film and Media Scholarship (WSU English dept.: $2,500 total)

2012: Graduate Teaching Assistantship (WSU Graduate School: stipends and tuition)