Dr Lucy Bennett
BA (Cardiff), MA (Cardiff), PhD (Cardiff)
Lecturer in Media Audiences (Teaching and Research)
- bennettl@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2251 0789
- Two Central Square, Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1FS
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am a lecturer in the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Culture, Cardiff University, with research interests and expertise in Popular Music and Fandom and Fan Cultures. I am also the course director for the BA Degree in Media, Journalism & Culture.
I teach and designed the undergraduate degree modules which run at JOMEC, Cardiff University:
Popular Music, Media & Culture
Media Fandom
I also am involved in music journalism, conducting interviews with bands and musicians, for online music publication God is in the TV.
I have undertaken consultation work for YouTube in California, advising and producing research on fans and digital fandom. I have appeared on BBC Radio 4 talking about my research on popular music fandom and have recently given input to The Recording Academy/The Grammies on popular music, social media and authenticity. I was recently interviewed for an article in Dazed Media/Dazed & Confused on live music fan behaviour and another article on concert fan camping culture. I also recently spoke to The Economist for a piece on music stan fandom culture. I am currently working with Welsh cultural and music platform AM on research on thier audiences, as well as with PYST, a leading music label promoter and music distributor in Wales. In addition I am undertaking research on musicians and digital transformation in the creative economy, and undertaking an analysis of music and fan culture on TikTok.
I recently curated an educational video playlist on Popular Music, Media and Culture for Learning on Screen, which you can access here: https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/bob-curated-playlists/popular-music-media-and-culture/
I am on the editorial board for the journals New Media & Society, The Journal of Fandom Studies, and Transformative Works and Cultures, On a more local level, I am passionate about the music scene in Cardiff/Wales and am on the jury for the Welsh Music Prize, and on the judging panel for the Cardiff Music Awards.
I co-founded and co-chair (with Dr Tom Phillips) the Fan Studies Network (https://fanstudies.org/). Involving hundreds of members worldwide, since its launch in 2012 the network has fruitfully forged new connections and collaborations between academics in the field.
I have published two books: Crowdfunding the Future: Media Industries, Ethics and Digital Society (edited with Bertha Chin and Bethan Jones, Peter Lang, 2015) and Seeing Fans: Representations of Fandom in Media and Popular Culture (edited with Paul Booth, Bloomsbury, 2016). My work on popular music, digital culture and media appears in journals such as New Media & Society, Transformative Works and Cultures, Celebrity Studies, The Journal of Fandom Studies, Social Semiotics, Discourse, Context & Media, Cinema Journal, Participations and Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies.
In 2013 I was highlighted as one of five ‘new voices’ in media and cultural studies by Cinema Journal, journal of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies.
I have worked on a variety of media research project, including a GW4 funded project examining cameras in courtrooms, and was a research assistant on the media strand for the ESRC research project Digital Citizenship and Surveillance Society: UK State-Media-Citizen Relations after the Snowden Leaks. Prior to this, I was also a research associate on a UNHCR funded project examining media representations of refugees in the British press, and undertook research on the represetation of media studies. I worked as a researcher on a number of different projects in the school, including four BBC Trust reviews, including the prominent 2012 BBC Trust impartiality review focusing on breadth of opinion, of which I contributed to the final published report. Prior to my current role in JOMEC, during 2014 I led and designed the module ‘Understanding Culture’ on the MSc at the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies, University of Bristol.
In 2020 I became a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Publications
2022
- Garcia-Blanco, I. and Bennett, L. 2022. "Stop giving us the negatives of the other side's aims": The EU referendum through letters to the editor. Journalism Studies 23, pp. 207-223. (10.1080/1461670X.2021.2017792)
2021
- Garcia-Blanco, I. and Bennett, L. 2021. Between a 'media circus' and 'seeing justice being done': metajournalistic discourse and the transparency of justice in the debate on filming trials in British newspapers. Journalism 22(1), pp. 176-195. (10.1177/1464884918760025)
- Berry, M., Wahl-Jorgensen, K., Garcia-Blanco, I., Bennett, L. and Cable, J. 2021. British public service broadcasting, the EU and Brexit. Journalism Studies 22(15), pp. 2082-2102. (10.1080/1461670X.2021.1981154)
2020
- Wahl-Jorgensen, K. et al. eds. 2020. Journalism, citizenship and surveillance society. Routledge.
2019
- Bennett, L. 2019. 'Someone is someone's father!': An autoethnography of a non-Star Wars viewer. In: Proctor, W. and McCollough, R. eds. Disney's Star Wars: Forces of Production, Promotion, and Reception. University of Iowa Press, pp. 278-288.
2018
- Bennett, L., Berry, M. and Allan, S. 2018. Introduction. Journalism Studies 19(13), pp. 1849-1853. (10.1080/1461670X.2018.1502922)
- Bennett, L. 2018. Remembering R.E.M.: social media, memories and endings within music fandom. In: Williams, R. ed. Everybody Hurts: Transitions, Endings, and Resurrections in Fan Cultures. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, pp. 19-30.
- Bennett, L. 2018. Surveying fandom: the ethics, design and use of surveys in fan studies. In: Scott, M. A. and Click, S. eds. The Routledge Companion to Media Fandom. Routledge Media and Cultural Studies Companions Routledge, pp. 36-44.
- Bennett, L. 2018. Representations of fans and fandom in the British newspaper media. In: Booth, P. ed. Companion to Media Fandom and Fan Studies. Wiley Blackwell, pp. 107-122.
2017
- Wahl-Jorgensen, K., Berry, M., Garcia-Blanco, I., Bennett, L. and Cable, J. 2017. Rethinking balance and impartiality in journalism? How the BBC attempted and failed to change the paradigm. Journalism 18(7), pp. 781-800. (10.1177/1464884916648094)
- Wahl-Jorgensen, K., Bennett, L. K. and Cable, J. 2017. Surveillance normalization and critique: News coverage and journalists’ discourses around the Snowden revelations. Digital Journalism 5(3), pp. 386-403. (10.1080/21670811.2016.1250607)
- Wahl-Jorgensen, K., Hintz, A., Dencik, L. and Bennett, L. 2017. Journalism, citizenship and surveillance - introduction. Digital Journalism 5(3), pp. 256-261. (10.1080/21670811.2016.1266134)
- Bennett, L. and Kidd, J. 2017. Myths about media studies: the construction of media studies education in the British press. Continuum 31(2), pp. 163-176. (10.1080/10304312.2016.1265096)
- Wahl-Jorgensen, K., Bennett, L. and Taylor, G. 2017. The normalization of surveillance and the invisibility of digital citizenship: media debates after the Snowden revelations. International Journal of Communication 11, pp. 740-762.
2016
- Bennett, L. 2016. Fandom, liveness and technology at Tori Amos music concerts: examining the movement of meaning within social media use. In: Experiencing Liveness in Contemporary Performance: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. New York: Routledge, pp. 48-59., (10.4324/9781315659701-10)
- Bennett, L. and Booth, P. eds. 2016. Seeing fans: representations of fandom in media and popular culture. Bloomsbury.
- Bennett, L., Chin, B. and Jones, B. 2016. Between privacy, ethics, fandom and social media: new trajectories that challenge media producer/fan relations. In: Davisson, A. and Booth, P. eds. Controversies in Digital Ethics. Llandysul: Bloomsbury, pp. 107-122.
- Bennett, L. 2016. Singer-songwriters and fandom in the digital age. In: Williams, K. and Williams, J. A. eds. The Cambridge Companion to the Singer-Songwriter. Cambridge Companions to Music Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 329-340.
2015
- Bennett, L. 2015. A shift of responsibility?: Public inclusion and the implications of crowdfunding academic research. [Online]. Media Commons. Available at: http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/question/what-are-potential-implications-crowdfunding-academic-research-and-teaching/response/shift-
- Bennett, L., Chin, B. and Jones, B. eds. 2015. Crowdfunding the future: media industries, ethics, and digital society. Digital Formations Vol. 98. Oxford: Peter Lang.
- Booth, P. J. and Bennett, L. 2015. Exploring fandom and the performance paradigm: An interview with Kurt Lancaster, author of 'Interacting with "Babylon 5"'. Transformative Works and Cultures 18, article number: 638. (10.3983/twc.2015.0638)
2014
- Bennett, L. and Chin, B. 2014. Exploring fandom, social media, and producer/fan interactions: An interview with Sleepy Hollow's Orlando Jones. Transformative Works and Cultures 17(2014) (10.3983/twc.2014.0601)
- Bennett, L. 2014. Popular music fandom: Identities, roles, and practices, edited by Mark Duffett [Book Review]. Transformative Works and Cultures 17 (10.3983/twc.2014.0604.)
- Bennett, L. 2014. Fan/celebrity interactions and social media: connectivity and engagement in Lady Gaga fandom. In: Duits, L., Zwann, K. and Reijnders, S. eds. The Ashgate Research Companion to Fan Cultures. Ashgate, pp. 109-120.
- Bennett, L. 2014. Tracing textual poachers: reflections on the development of fan studies and digital fandom. The Journal of Fandom Studies 2(1), pp. 5-20. (10.1386/jfs.2.1.5_1)
- Kelsey, D. and Bennett, L. 2014. Discipline and resistance on social media: Discourse, power and context in the Paul Chambers 'Twitter Joke Trial'. Discourse, Context & Media 3, pp. 37-45. (10.1016/j.dcm.2013.12.001)
- Bennett, L., Chin, B. and Jones, B. Bennett, L., Chin, B. and Jones, B. eds. 2014. Crowdfunding: A 'New Media & Society' special issue. Vol 17, no 2.. SAGE Publications. (10.1177/1461444814558906)
- Bennett, L. 2014. Texting and tweeting at live music concerts: flow, fandom and connecting with other audiences through mobile phone technology. In: Burland, K. and Pitts, S. eds. Coughing and Clapping: Investigating Audience Experience. SEMPRE Studies in The Psychology of Music Ashgate, pp. 89-100.
- Jamison-Powell, S., Bennett, L., Mahoney, J. and Lawson, S. 2014. Understanding in-situ social media use at music festivals. Presented at: 17th ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work & Social Computing, Baltimore, MD, 15–19 February 2014Proceedings of the Companion Publication of the 17th ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work & Social Computing. New York, NY,: ACM pp. 177-180., (10.1145/2556420.2556503)
- Doughty, M., Lawson, S., Linehan, C., Rowland, D. and Bennett, L. 2014. Disinhibited abuse of othered communities by second-screening audiences. Presented at: 2014 ACM International Conference on Interactive Experiences for TV and Online Video, Newcastle Upon Tyne, 25-27 June 2014Proceedings of the 2014 ACM International Conference on Interactive Experiences for TV and Online Video. New York, NY: ACM pp. 55-62., (10.1145/2602299.2602311)
2013
- Bennett, L. 2013. Fan power [radio interview]. [BBC Radio 4]. 11 November 2013.
- Bennett, L. 2013. New adventures in Hi-Fi: Studying popular music fandom in the digital age. [Online]. In Media Res. Available at: http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/imr/2013/08/30/new-adventures-hi-fi-studying-popular-music-fandom-digital-age
- Bennett, L. 2013. Examining social media and celebrity activism: Lady Gaga, fandom and don't ask, don't tell. [Online]. Reframing Activism. Available at: http://reframe.sussex.ac.uk/activistmedia/2013/05/examining-celebrity-activism-and-social-media-lady-gaga-fandom-and-dont-ask-dont-tell/
- Bennett, L. 2013. Disrupting engagement?: Live music, mobile technology and fandom. [Online]. Live Music Exchange. Available at: http://livemusicexchange.org/blog/disrupting-engagement-live-music-mobile-technology-and-fandom-lucy-bennett/
- Bennett, L. 2013. Discourses of order and rationality: drooling R.E.M. fans as 'matter out of place'. Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies 27(2), pp. 214-227. (10.1080/10304312.2013.766313)
- Bennett, L. 2013. Researching online fandom. Cinema Journal 52(4), pp. 129-134. (10.1353/cj.2013.0033)
- Bennett, L. 2013. 'If we stick together we can do anything': Lady Gaga fandom, philanthropy and activism through social media. Celebrity Studies 5(1-2), pp. 138-152. (10.1080/19392397.2013.813778)
- Jones, B. and Bennett, L. 2013. Blurring boundaries, crossing divides: An interview with Will Brooker. Participations: The International Journal of Audience and Reception Studies 10(1), pp. 335-350.
- Bennett, L. and Phillips, T. 2013. An introduction: The Fan Studies Network – new connections, new research. Participations: The International Journal of Audience and Reception Studies 10(1), pp. 52-55.
2012
- Bennett, L. 2012. Music fandom online: R.E.M. fans in pursuit of the ultimate first listen. New Media & Society 14(5), pp. 748-763. (10.1177/1461444811422895)
- Bennett, L. 2012. Music audiences: An introduction. Participations: The International Journal of Audience and Reception Studies 9(2), pp. 200-205.
- Bennett, L. 2012. Fan activism for social mobilization: A critical review of the literature. Transformative Works and Cultures 10 (10.3983/twc.2012.0346)
- Bennett, L. 2012. Patterns of listening through social media: online fan engagement with the live music experience. Social Semiotics 22(5), pp. 545-557. (10.1080/10350330.2012.731897)
- Bennett, L. 2012. Transformations through Twitter: The England riots, television viewership and negotiations of power through media convergence. Participations: The International Journal of Audience and Reception Studies 9(2), pp. 511-525.
- Bennett, L. 2012. Lost in time: Lost fan engagement with temporal play. In: Ames, M. ed. Time in Television Narrative: Exploring Temporality in Twenty-First-Century Programming. University Press of Mississippi, pp. 297-309.
2011
- Bennett, L. 2011. Listening Through Social Media: Online fan engagement with the live music experience. Presented at: Transforming Audiences 3, London, 1-2 September 2011.
- Bennett, L. 2011. Transformations through Twitter: Television viewership and negotiations of power through media convergence. Presented at: COST Action Transforming Audiences, Transforming Societies, London, 31 August 2011.
- Bennett, L. 2011. Log on and Freak Out: Twitter and online fan engagement with the live music experience. Presented at: The Business of Live Music, Edinburgh, 31 March – 2 April 2011.
- Bennett, L. 2011. Conference Reports. International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM) UK and Ireland Branch, Biennial Conference, 2–4 September 2010, Cardiff, UK: Experience, Engagement, Meaning. Popular Music -Cambridge- 30(1), pp. 145-147. (10.1017/S0261143010000632)
- Bennett, L. 2011. Delegitimizing strategic power: normative identity and governance in online R.E.M. fandom. Transformative Works and Cultures 7(2011) (doi:10.3983/twc.2011.0281.)
2010
- Bennett, L. 2010. Drooling R.E.M. fans as “matter out of place". Presented at: International Association for the Study of Popular Music-UK / Ireland, Cardiff, 2 – 4 September 2010.
- Bennett, L. 2010. Triskaidekaphobics: R.E.M. fans in pursuit of the ultimate first listen. Presented at: Popular Music Fandom Symposium, Chester, 25 June 2010.
2009
- Bennett, L. K. 2009. Thinking fan's rock band : R.E.M. fandom and negotiations of normativity in Murmurs.com.. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
2008
- Bennett, L. 2008. Normative identity and governance of R.E.M. fans in Murmurs.com. Presented at: MeCCSA, Cardiff, 9-11 January 2008.
- Lewis, J. M. W., Cushion, S., Groves, C., Bennett, L., Reardon, S., Wilkins, E. and Williams, R. 2008. Four Nations Impartiality Review: An analysis of reporting devolution. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff University. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review_report_research/impartiality/appendix_a_cardiff_u_analysis.pdf
Teaching
I teach and design the following undergraduate degree modules:
Popular Music, Media & Culture
Media Fandom
I have also been the module co-odinator for the Dissertation, and Media and Gender modules.
My key research areas are:
- Popular Music: My key area of research is popular music and how it intersects with media and culture. I teach a big third year module on this topic and supervise BA, MA, and PhD students in JOMEC in this area. I have published academic research on on music festivals, musician presence on social media, live music concerts, digital music fandom and online music cultures. I am currently undertaking academic research on music journalism.
- Music Fandom: I have been researching how music fandom and audiences are being impacted by technology and the implications that arise out of this. My PhD thesis focused on an online community of R.E.M. fans and their online fandom. I have published further on topics such as the use of technology during live music concerts, the use and implications of Twitter by fans, celebrities and producers, and Lady Gaga, social media and activism. In addition to my published jorunal articles and books in this area, I am on the editorial board of the Journal of Fandom Studies and Transformative Works and Cultures.
Supervision
I would be interested in supervising PhD students in the the areas of:
- Popular music
- Fandom/media audiences
Current MPhil and PhD student topics supervised:
- Popular music consumption practices on the Internet
- #MeToo in the Media: justice and discourse
- "Peppa Pig: ‘Poor Daddy having to work. Lucky Mummy, you can play at home all day!’ An investigation into the representation of gendered parenthood roles in pre-school and children’s television"
Completed projects supervised:
- Fandom is Beautiful (Except When It Isn’t): Hatred, Dislike and Toxicity Online
