Dr. Eric Chalfant

Biography

Eric Chalfant is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Film and Media at Queen's University, where his teaching focuses on Film Politics, specifically intersections of media studies and religious studies. He holds a PhD from Duke University (2016), an MA from Wake Forest University (2011), and a BA from Whitman College (2008). His research critically examines the evolution of media in shaping atheist identities in North America through various historical periods. Chalfant's work draws upon critical media studies and explores subjects such as material media analysis, affect studies, and sound culture studies. His current book project employs media archaeology to investigate the historical contexts of North American Freethinkers and their use of different media forms to articulate identity. Notably, the project discusses how 19th-century print media allowed atheists to present new subject positions, while the later adoption of visual media, such as political cartoons, transformed Freethought into a more militant discourse. Chalfant also analyzes the role of 20th-century broadcast media, particularly through the figure of Madalyn Murray O'Hair, examining how radio's unique qualities fostered affective community visibility. Furthermore, he explores the implications of digital media in contemporary atheist communities, drawing parallels with historical media practices and emphasizing the shifting dynamics of expression within these digital contexts. Overall, his scholarly pursuits contribute to the understanding of media's impact on religion and affectivity in today's networked society.

Research Interests