Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Ben joined UEA in 2016 from Middlesex University where he taught media and cultural studies for ten years. Ben’s current research is on generation, activism and the politics of digital culture.
He takes a personality driven approach to his research areas, looking at the way in which celebrified figures are key cultural locations for the exploration of political complexity. He has co-authored two recent books in this vein: Russell Brand: Celebrity, Comedy, Politics (with Jane Arthurs) was published in December 2016 by Palgrave; and in 2021 The New Patriarchs of Digital Capitalism: Celebrity Tech Founders and Networks of Power (with Alison Winch) looked at the men who own and run big tech companies like Facebook and Google. His PhD (2010) on the influence of 1980s British comic books on the politics of American comics culture won the John A. Lent scholarship for outstanding research in the field of comic art.
He teaches across politics and media modules in the Politics department, most notably a practice module called Activist Campaigning, which has seen students work with Greenpeace, Generation Rent and People and Planet on live campaigns. He is currently Associate Dean for Engagement and Innovation in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and co-lead on the Civic University Project.
Ben is a co-editor of Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture which sits at the intersection of academia, activism and politics. He is currently editing the article series Soundings: Critical Terms for Contemporary Politics series with Deborah Grayson (Goldsmiths). He is happy to receive suggestions for articles in Soundings.
He believes firmly in collaboration as we shouldn't have to do difficult things on our own.
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Partnerships for East Coast Communities - PECC's
Daniels, K., Jowitt, C., Little, B. & Fitzhugh, H.
Economic and Social Research Council
18/04/23 → 17/09/23
Project: Research
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The Ice House: Conversations About its Future and its Heritage
Webb, C., Vincent, S., Rodwell, M., Phillips, E., Jahanpour, T., Kingston, K. & Little, B., 25 Apr 2023, 25 p.Research output: Other contribution
Open AccessFile9 Downloads (Pure) -
‘A new social contract for our generation’: A conjunctural cultural studies approach to the Millennial
Little, B. & Winch, A., 14 May 2023, (Accepted/In press) Studying Generations : Multi-disciplinary perspectives. Bristol University PressResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Digital culture wars: understanding the far right’s online powerbase
Finlayson, A., Kelly, A., Topinka, R. & Little, B., 1 Oct 2022, In: Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture. 81, p. 43-64 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
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Mediating American hospitality: Mark Zuckerberg’s challenge to Donald Trump?
Winch, A. & Little, B., 1 Dec 2021, In: European Journal of Cultural Studies. 24, 6, p. 1243-1260 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)25 Downloads (Pure) -
The New Patriarchs of Digital Capitalism: Celebrity Tech Founders and Networks of Power
Little, B. & Winch, A., 24 Jun 2021, Routledge. 254 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
12 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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John A. Lent Scholarship for Outstanding Research in the Field of Comic Art
Little, Benjamin (Recipient), 2008
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Civic UEA Seder
Johanna Forster (Presenter) & Benjamin Little (Presenter)
12 Apr 2023Activity: Other activity types › Other
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Catalysing Communities of Practice to promote Active Citizenship
Benjamin Little (Speaker)
24 Mar 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Invited talk
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Civic University Network Showcase
Johanna Forster (Speaker), Fiona Lettice (Speaker), Julie Schofield (Speaker) & Benjamin Little (Speaker)
5 Dec 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Invited talk
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Civic UEA Open Space events (multiple)
Johanna Forster (Presenter) & Benjamin Little (Presenter)
2022 → 2023Activity: Other activity types › Other
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The Role of Volunteering in Participation and Democracy
Jurgen Grotz (Organiser), Benjamin Little (Speaker), Lucy Hogg (Speaker), Ewen Speed (Speaker), Stan Papoulias (Speaker), Jarina Choudhury (Speaker) & Mary Sadid (Speaker)
3 Jun 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Press/Media
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Musk isn’t serious about fighting, Zuckerberg says. Here’s the latest.
13/08/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Musk v Zuck: How The Tech Bro Billionaires Are Playing Us All
10/08/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Zuckerberg v Musk: Will Threads 'kill' Twitter?
7/07/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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The UEA Passover Seder
Benjamin Little & Johanna Forster
8/06/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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The University of East Anglia's Civic University Project
Benjamin Little & Johanna Forster
8/06/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media