Becca Harrison

(My ESB book also covers production/reception histories, and I’ve got a pretty detailed piece out soon in Media & Environment on production of the OT and prequels, which I’d be happy to share in advance. But the other suggestions are maybe closer to what you need!)

Toby Neilson’s ‘Different Death Stars’ piece (2019) is nice in that it contrasts political contexts of OT and sequels in analysing aesthetics. Obv there’s quite a lot written about fandom, and the Transmedia Storytelling collection is really useful.

In terms of context and a fairly early academic response, Clyde Taylor’s ‘The Jedi Doctrine’ (Screen 1988) is good. It could be paired with Adilifu Nama’s Black Space, or work on gender (eg Tasker or Scott). Turnock’s ‘The True Stars?’ article is good on effects context

Depends what kinds of knowledge you want them consider/develop - representation? production history? critical reception? fandom? I’d recommend different material for each

Families of Palestine Hunger Strikers Beg for Meeting With David Lammy as Their Conditions Deteriorate Ministers have so far refused demands to negotiate with the hunger strikers, as the risk of them dying in prison increases

🔴Families of Palestine Hunger Strikers Beg for Meeting With David Lammy as Their Conditions Deteriorate

Ministers have so far refused demands to negotiate with the hunger strikers, as the risk of them dying in prison increases

bylinetimes.com/2025/12/18/f...

Star Warsologies 72: Feminism in Star Wars This episode of Star Warsologies covers feminism and gender representation in Star Wars with author and historian Becca Harrison. Becca Harrison tallied up all the screen time for female characters…

New episode out today! We chat with @beccaeharrison.bsky.social about feminism, gender identity and representation in SW, from on-screen, to behind-the-scenes to fandom. Did you know that R2-D2 is on screen more than Leia is in ANH?
skywalkingthroughneverland.com/star-warsolo... #starwars #feminism

It’s like watching a millennial parent trying to join in a TikTok craze their kid is into, only to make things worse it lasts longer

Tbf I did keep pointing it out to him via socials, and he did have to run an ‘independent’ (…) inquiry. One thing he was very good at was hiring people into adjacent senior roles to be the face of bad decisions that he then wasn’t accountable for — grim, but he was more canny than many of the others

Ah, Call-Me Anton. The half-arsed, misspelled apology I got from him years after he stood by and watched those of us who experienced gbv get bullied out of the institution for speaking out will live long in my memory.

Carried out over two years, the research is based on field trips, public surveys, and interviews (a location manager, National Trust ranger, and ecologist). Very grateful to everyone who gave their time! What’s really clear is that the industry needs to improve community relations as a bare minimum

Star Wars Locations: Improving community and nature outcomes The case study includes a survey of people living, working, or pursuing leisure activities near Star Wars location shoots, and interviews with both ecologists

The fourth (and final!) Environmental Impact of Filmmaking just dropped for anyone interested in how to minimise disruption to local communities and nature during film & tv location shoots. There are 6 recommendations for crews, policymakers, landowners and funders

eifproject.com/star-wars-lo...

Laughed aloud at AI replacing proofreaders

Over the past few weeks I’ve been covering some of the Lift The Ban campaign’s actions - it feels important to document what’s happening on the ground, with news reporting at many outlets pretty limited in this area. Here’s my second report for Reel News: reelnews.co.uk/2025/07/30/a...

In a similar vein - I turned down a review a few months ago. Last week they asked me again because they can't find anyone to do it. As a now 'freelance' academic I'd say yes, for a fee. Guessing they suddenly found someone else though, because since I've mention pay... crickets.

Hello - could you drop me an email (same handle as here, gmail)? Was going to send you something in DMs but third-party verification has gotten in the way

Also some great docs, including Living Proof (which repurposes archival footage) and The Ants and the Grasshopper

A lot of early/young cinema works well and probably needs a separate list - as do coal movies. I’ve taught Clueless in this context, and Planes, Trains & Automobiles. Also Licorice Pizza, Roma, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Threads, Atlantics, Do the Right Thing, Snowpiercer, Tank Girl…

How Harvest (2024) reminds us of we've lost - and what we could still have in common How does the film Harvest tell stories about our relationships to land, nature, nation, and one another? Academic and critic Rebecca Harrison traces histories of enclosures in England, Scotland, and b...

Not sure if anyone's seen Harvest? It seems to have slipped through the cracks a bit. In any case, I've shared an in-person intro to the film as a blog post. It's about land enclosures, identity, nature, and what, despite everything that divides us, we could and should still have in common

On a sadly related note, sharing this: reelnews.co.uk/2025/07/20/a...

Police historically have been selective about which laws they uphold. So the OP’s ‘police are just a bit dim’ line is beyond frustrating. I’ve watched cops assault protestors and bystanders and enable the fash at related demos. It’s the second Leeds arrest. Hardly a bumbling accident.

A photograph of a two-forked waterfall tumbling over mossy rocks into a shallow, pebbled pool

A close-up photograph of a tan-coloured hare sitting in a hunched position in the grass beside a dry-stone wall

A close-up photograph of a red admiral butterfly almost concealed among the exposed roots of a plant, with just the interior edges of its bright red wings visible.

A jewel-red ladybird hovering on the edge of a pebble above the waterline of a shallow pool.

Went for a spontaneous (much-needed) walk yesterday and gathered more footage for my wild lives film. Including a magical encounter with a hare, a red admiral fluttering in the wind, a (not pictured) slow worm, and a ladybird who changed their mind about the water

Cinespotlights: Harvest (18) + intro | National Science and Media Museum Dr Rebecca Harrison explores the environmental implications of this spellbinding and thrillingly distinctive period piece.

If you're longing for aircon and a film about the end of summer, join me at the @mediamuseum.bsky.social on July 24 for an intro to HARVEST. I'll be discussing the movie's land and identity politics, and the enclosures caused by film location shoots

www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/cines...

‘We…condemn the UK Government’s plans to proscribe Palestine Action…& consider this constitutes a significant threat to freedom of expression & civil liberties…’

Over 750 academics launch open letter condemning moves to ban @palaction.bsky.social

Read & sign:
ucw4palestine.org/2025/06/27/d...

I can only imagine how awful it would be if academics were forced out of their jobs for trying to defend creative/intellectual curricula from the vacuous demands of managers with no subject expertise (who in this imagined scenario probably also push for gen-AI use in curriculum design)

… why do you think we *need* research ranking? There was a time before REF. Why not implement a means-tested system (rich institutions get less?) and then ensure the funds actually get spent on research. With more input and oversight from researchers. No research assessment required!

During my time on UCU’s higher ed committee I repeatedly suggested we take action (short of a strike) to dismantle REF. I’ve repeatedly argued people should not participate on REF committees, panels, etc. But so often people - usually profs - shut any potential action down as if it can’t be done

There's lots more to say about @davidharvie.bsky.social and my findings. Please read the report to support union action & honour those who shared experiences.

I'll finish with an eyeopening stat: the hidden, 'backdoor' redundancies affecting *11,500* people. 11,500 HIDDEN job cuts. This must end.

There are so many testimonies from people with protected characteristics (which don't include class) who have been targeted. From people with migrant status, or who are TU active.

It's a hostile environment. REDUNDANCIES ARE AN EDI ISSUE (side note: Athena Swan charter marks. Remember those?!).

Managers are reportedly targeting particular people (unsurprising if you've spent more than 5mins in a university, but still galling).

36% cited the targeting of people openly critical of management, while 23% noticed the targeting of people with protected characteristics for redundancy.

The report comes with an extensive content warning. Bullying is rife, as is ill health caused by redundancy processes (reported by 90% respondents).

Across 97 HEIs, 54% of respondents say senior management are bullying staff into applying for voluntary severance and/or voluntary redundancy.