Dr Sharif Mowlabocus

Biography

1997 - BA Hons - English Literature and Theatre Studies (University of Sussex)

2000 - MA - Sexual Dissidence and Cultural Change (University of Sussex)

2006 - DPhil (PhD) in Media and Cultural Studies (University of Sussex)

Role

Lecturer (B) in Media and Digital Media Studies

Researcher - Count Me In Too

Sharif's primary research interests are located at the intersection of sexuality/queer studies and digital media studies. Since 1999 his research and study has focused on LGBTQ identities and practices, with a particular emphasis on their representation within mainstream and queer online media. Based within the School of Media, Film and Music, his work draws upon cultural theory, anthropology, cultural geography and social history as well as media and communication theory.

His recent publications explore the following themes:

The relationship between urban gay male subcultures and digital media technologies (Gaydar Culture)

The development of new pornographic economies and aesthetics within digital contexts (Porn.com ed. Attwood. Read Times Higher Ed review here)

The challenges of researching 'extreme' pornographies within current legislative frameworks (Sexualities)

The regulation and (re)production of space through mobile-locative media and 'App Culture'

Alongside his interest in digital media formations and practices, Dr Mowlabocus is currently engaged in research in the following areas:

Bareback pornography and the eroticising of sexual risk (Porn Laid Bare).

The production, consumption and politics of gay male pornography within digitally mediated contexts

The 'sonics' of pornography and (mis)use of sound as an erotic signifier.

In 2011 Sharif began working in collaboration with the Terrence Higgins Trust on Porn Laid Bare, an innovative and challenging research project that explores the relationship between pornography, gay male subculture and sexual practice. Findings from the research are due to be published in a variety of formats in 2012. Please email Sharif for further information. 

Sharif was also a visiting researcher at Microsoft Research (Cambrdige Mass.) in April 2011, working alongside danah boyd and the Social Media Collective. He presented the keynote paper at MSR's Hot Apps symposium and workshop. 

Between 2008 and 2010 Sharif was a researcher on the award-winning Count Me In Too research project. Responsible for project evaluation, digital content management and dissemination of the research findings to diverse audiences. As part of the research team Sharif also contributed to a monthly column in the local LGBT press.

Sharif sits on the steering committee of the Centre for Material Digital Culture at the University of Sussex and the joint Brighton and Sussex Universities Sexualities Network (BSSN). As a member of the Association for Internet Researchers (AoIR), Sharif regularly presents at the annual conference and most recently presented work on pornography and affect at AoIR 12.0 in Seattle, (October 2011).

Sharif's external activities include media consultation work for the Britain's leading HIV/AIDS awareness charity, Terrence Higgins Trust and he is regularly consulted by journalists in relation to his work on gay men's digital culture. His work on queer popular culture led to an invitiation to lecture at Mancheter Art Gallery in 2007. In 2010 he was invited to present at the 'Pop Porn' research symposium for the 2nd Paris Porn Film Festival.

Sharif acts as a reviewer for a number of journals and publishers including:

Journals

Sexualities

Feminist Media Studies

Sociological Research Online 

He is also a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Language and Sexuality. 

Reviewer for Publishers including

Sage

Pearson Education

Taylor & Francis

Selected Publications:

Single-authored Books

Mowlabocus, S. (2010) Gaydar Culture: Gay Men, Technology and Embodiment in the Digital Age. Abingdon, Ashgate.

Single-authored Articles 

Mowlabocus, S (2010) ‘Look at Me! Images, Validation and Cultural Currency on Gaydar’ in Pullen, C. & Cooper, M. (eds.) LGBT Identity and New Online Media. New York, Routledge.

Mowlabocus, S. (2010) 'Porn 2.0? Technology, Social Practice and the New Online Porn Industy' in Attwood, F. Porn.com: Making Sense of Online Pornography. Peter Lang.

Mowlabocus, S. (2009) 'Revisiting Old Haunts Through New Technologies: Public (Homo)Sexual Cultures in Cyberspace' in International Journal of Cultural Studies.

 Mowlabocus, S. (2007) 'Life Outside The Latex: HIV, Sex and the Online Barebacking Community' in O'Riordan, K & Phillips, D. J (eds.) Queers Online: Media Technology and Sexuality. New York, Peter Lang.

Mowlabocus, S. (2007) 'Arse Bandits: Exploring Nostalgic Representations Of Queerness In Gangster Films' in Peele, T. (ed.) An Anthology of Queer Popular Culture. New York, Palgrave.

Mowlabocus, S. (2007) 'Gaydar: Gay Men and the Pornification of Everyday Life' in Nikunen, K, Paasonen, S. & Saarenmaa, L. (eds.) Pornification and the Education of Desire. London, Berg.

Mowlabocus, S. (2005) 'Being Seen to be Gay: User Profiles and the Construction of Gay Male Identity in Cyberspace' in Simon, G. & Burkitt, K. (eds.) Working Papers in Contemporary History & Politics. Manchester, European Studies Research Institute.

Co-authored articles

Attwood, F. et al. (2011) 'Engaging with the Bailey Review: Blogging, Academia and Authenticity' in Psychology and Sexuality, (Nov 2011) 

Jones, S. & Mowlabocus, S. (2009) 'Hard Times and Rough Rides: The Legal and Ethical Impossibilities of Researching 'Shock' Porn' in Sexualities Vol. 12, No. 5, pp. 613-628      DOI: 10.1177/1363460709340371

Selected Conference Papers, Keynotes and Guest Talks:

2012

Bored & Horny at the Bus stop: Mobile-locative technologies and the production of space. 

Sexual Cultures Conference (Keynote)

2011

W**ker: The Cruel Optimism of Porn Consumption

AoIR 12 (Seattle, WA)

 Gaydar Culture: Gay Men, Technology & Embodiment

Berglund Centre for for Internet Studies (Pacific.edu)

Lavender Languages Conference (Keynote). American University, Washington D.C.

2010

Six Propositions on the Sonics of Pornography

(co-authored with Medhurst, A). Sounds Queer Conference (Kings College, London)

Two Propositions Regarding Bareback Porn

'Pop Porn’ Porn Studies day (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris)

2009

G.P.S – Gaydar Positioning Service: Mobile (and) Locative Technologies in Gay Men’s Digital Culture.

AoIR 10.0 'Critical' conference (Milwaukee)

2008

Internet Studies: Histories and Futures.

Keynote Speaker, Internet Studies Festival (Liverpool John Moores Univerity)

Pecs, Pics and Profiles: Authoring Gay Male Subjectivity in Digital Space.

Guest Speaker at CENEL Research Seminar (University-Paris XIII)

Look at Me! Validation and Cultural Currency on Gaydar.

MeCCS Annual Conference (University of Wales-Cardiff)

2007

Sexual Vandalism: ICT use and the queering of public space in Britain.

IAMCR, Paris

Kylie: The Ultimate Gay Icon?

Guest Speaker- Kylie Fashion Exhibition (Manchester Art Gallery)

2006

Virtually Visible: Identity Construction in Gay Male Cyberspace

Technology, Performance and Identity Conference (Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College)

2005

Revisiting Old Haunts Through New Technologies: The Case Study of a Cyber-Cottage.

(Dis)junctions 2005 conference(University of California, Riverside).

Arse Bandits: Queer Configurations of British Gangster films

Representation.Period Study Day, (University of Sussex)

2004

How the online Bareback community is negotiating HIV.

Elton John HIV/AIDS unit ( Brighton General Hospital) research seminar.

Being Seen to be Gay: User profiles and the construction of gay male identity in cyberspace.

AoIR Conference.

TEACHING INFORMATION 2011 / 12

AUTUMN TERM

Theory Taste and Trash

SPRING/SUMMER TERM

Digital Cultures

Debates in Media Studies

DPhil (PhD) Supervision

Sharif is currently supervising doctoral research into:

• Chinese blogging culture
• Language change in the british press
• Masculinities, code and digital interfaces
• Queer Internet use in India
• Representations of Islam in News media

Sharif is interested in supervising doctoral research that explores any of the following themes: Digital Media/Culture, Gay/Queer sub-cultures and representation, Popular Culture, Masculinity, Race, Class, Pornography and the Sexually Explicit. If you are interested in pursuing doctoral study in any of these areas, please email Sharif to arrange an informal meeting in the first instance.

Administrative Responsibilities

Senior Admissions Tutor for the School of Media, Film & Music

Liaison Tutor for Study Group International programme 

Current External Commitments

External Examiner for Media Subject Group (University of Chichester)

Student Consultation

OFFICE HOURS

Students who would like to see Sharif should in the first instance attend one of his drop-in office hours, listed below. Should you be unable to attend, please send Sharif an email to arrange an appointment. Please note that the quickest way to see Sharif is to attend an office hour.

Spring 2013 office hours will be:

12:00 - 13:00 on Tuesdays

12:00 - 13:00 on Wednesdays

All office hours are held in Sharif's office - SB 338 - which is located on the top floor of the Silverstone Building.

Mowlabocus, Sharif (2011) Arse bandits: exploring nostalgic representations of queerness in gangster films. In: Queer popular culture: literature, media, film, and television. Palgrave Macmillam, Basingstoke ; New York , pp. 137-150. ISBN 9780230105591

Jones, Steven and Mowlabocus, Sharif (2009) Hard Times and Rough Rides: The Legal and Ethical Impossibilities of Researching 'Shock' Pornographies. Sexualities, 12 (5). pp. 613-628. ISSN 1363-4607

Mowlabocus, Sharif (2008) Revisiting old haunts through new technologies: public (homo)sexual cultures in cyberspace. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 11 (4). pp. 419-439. ISSN 1367-8779

Mowlabocus, Sharif (2007) Gaydar: gay men and the pornification of everyday life. In: Pornification: sex and sexuality in media culture. Berg, Oxford, pp. 61-72. ISBN 9781845207045

Mowlabocus, Sharif (2007) Life outside the latex: HIV, sex and the online barebacking community. In: Queers online: media technology and sexuality. Peter Lang, New York, pp. 217-233. ISBN 9780820486260