Dr. Janet Staiger

Biography

Janet Staiger is a renowned theoretician and historian in the fields of American film and television. With extensive research published on a variety of topics, she focuses on authorship theory, modes of production in classical Hollywood, and the dynamics of 'Indie' and world cinema. Her work critically examines cultural and political issues of representation, particularly concerning gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, and genre theory. Staiger has also engaged with historical reception of cinema and television and historiographical approaches to media histories. She has an extensive service record in professional organizations, having served on the National Film Preservation Board through the U.S. Library of Congress from 1992 to 1996 and as a jury member for the American Film Institute's Television Awards in 2010 and 2012. Additionally, she held the position of past president of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies from 1991 to 1993 and contributed to the Executive Committees of the Cultural Studies Association from 2005 to 2009 and the Reception Studies Society from 2005 to the present. During her tenure at the University of Texas at Austin, she directed the Center for Women's and Gender Studies from 2001 to 2004 and was the chair of the University’s Faculty Council from 2009 to 2010.

Research Interests