Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I studied English and Media studies (BA) at the University of Sussex, then gained an MA in film from the University of Southampton. I then undertook a PhD on the subject of British film and television in the 1950s (also at the University of Southampton), specifically the early relations between the two media, in the form of the first ‘cinema programmes’ on television. In my first full-time teaching job at the Southampton Institute (now Southampton Solent University) I taught Media and Cultural studies, before moving on to teach television and film at the University of Kent. I joined UEA as Reader in Television in 2007, where I primarily teach in the areas of introduction to Television Studies; theoretical approaches to television, and the subject of celebrity. I was appointed to Professor in 2018.
My research focuses on different areas spanning celebrity culture; popular British television (such as Reality TV or quiz shows); British television history; and feminist approaches to eating disorders. In my historical research on British television (the books British TV and Film in the 1950s, Entertaining TV: the BBC and Popular Programme Culture in the 1950s), I have been keen to challenge received ideas about British television history, whether with regard to its relations with the film industry in the early years, or the canonical ideas about early BBC television rejecting notions of the ‘popular’. With regard to British reality TV, I have examined aspects of historical development, issues of generic labeling and circulation, and questions of celebrity. In addition to this, my work on celebrity has aimed to contribute to historical knowledge about British television and celebrity, as well as feminist approaches to the field. I also co-founded the Routledge journal Celebrity Studies (2010) and edited it for the first 8 years of its life.
Since 2014 I have done considerable work in the different field of feminst approaches to eating disorders, especially anorexia. This has involved analysing media representations of anorexia (YouTube for example) and particularly doing empirical work with people with lived experience. A key focus of my research has examined how feminist approaches are neglected in contemporary treatment for eating disorders and the implications of this both clinically and culturally.
I am interested in supervising postgraduate research in a broad range of areas, whether popular television, the intersection between television/ film history, British TV history, stardom/celebrity, feminist approaches to eating disorders/ the body.
Key Research Interests
Research interests - Popular television, British television history; celebrity; feminist approaches to eating disorders.
Key Responsibilities
I currently run the Feminist Media Studies research cluster.
Areas of Expertise
British TV history; popular TV, celebrity, feminist approaches to eating disorders.
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Entertaining Television: British TV, the BBC and Popular Programme Culture in the 1950s
1/08/07 → 31/08/08
Project: Research
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Female audiences for true crime television: Popular discourse, feminism and the politics of ‘ethical viewing’
Holmes, S. & Hines, C., Mar 2025, In: Critical Studies in Television. 20, 1, p. 26-53 28 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile347 Downloads (Pure) -
Locating the ‘invisible’ mum: Exploring maternal selfie practices
Holmes, S. & Atkins, B., Apr 2024, In: Journal of Gender Studies. 33, 4, p. 386-403 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Downloads (Pure) -
‘Some of the episodes are literally like a screen from [my] WhatsApp groups …’: Mothers talk about Motherland (BBC, 2017-)
Holmes, S. & Godfrey, S., Apr 2024, In: Participations: online Journal of Audience and Reception Studies. 20, 1Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile30 Downloads (Pure) -
A feminist approach to eating disorders in China: A qualitative study
Holmes, S. & Ma, H., 14 Sept 2023, In: Journal of Eating Disorders. 11, 157.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)13 Downloads (Pure) -
‘It's always that idea that everyone's trying to look like something’: Revisioning sociocultural factors in eating disorders through Photovoice
Holmes, S., Jul 2023, In: Women's Studies International Forum. 99, 102753.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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In 2011, Celebrity Studies was nominated for the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) award for best new journal.
Holmes, Su (Recipient), 2011
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Senior Fellowship Advance HE
Holmes, Su (Recipient), 5 Mar 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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MLC Talk: ‘Female audiences for true crime television: Popular discourse, feminism and the politics of ‘ethical viewing’’
Claire Hines (Speaker) & Su Holmes (Speaker)
6 Nov 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop or seminar
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Participations (Journal)
Su Holmes (Peer reviewer)
1 Jan 2023 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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Archives of Psychology (Journal)
Su Holmes (Editorial board member)
2018 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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Big Data & Society (Journal)
Su Holmes (Editorial board member)
2018 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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Critical Studies in Television (Journal)
Su Holmes (Editorial board member)
2011 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
Press/Media
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Everything Now: eating disorder recovery is treated with sensitivity and nuance in Netflix comedy drama
4/10/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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Celebrity Big Brother: a trashy but vital insight into the way we think
13/09/18
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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To The Bone: Why Netflix’s portrayal of eating disorders has got it all wrong
26/07/17
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution