Introduction

Since the first film was shot in nearby Leeds in 1888, screen and media cultures have evolved into some of the most powerful forces shaping contemporary life. They have a key role in shaping who we are, what we think, and what we value.

Media and Film at Lancaster is an established and dynamic community of internationally recognised scholars and practitioners which, along with is students, explores texts and images as well as digital platforms, AI, and the digital data. Together, these media forms shape contemporary media cultures, social power and identity.

Through our distinct but complementary undergraduate programmes our students examine how media systems and cultural narratives operate across a range of global contexts, from traditional screen forms to emerging digital cultures. At undergraduate level we offer: Media and Cultural Studies, Film Studies, Digital Media, and Film, and Media and Cultural Studies. MA programmes and PhD pathways include Film Studies, Global Media and Society, Science and Technology Studies (STS), and Gender Studies.

Both our research and teaching are grounded in critical theory and interdisciplinary perspectives, drawing on cultural studies, social theory, media theory, gender and feminist studies, critical data and AI studies, science and technology studies (STS), philosophy and psychoanalysis. We explore how images, interfaces, algorithms, and institutions shape both public discourse and private life — interrogating questions of race, gender, class, sexuality, and environmental crisis.

In addition, our programmes support the development of practical skills in filmmaking, editing, digital storytelling, and creative media production, always working with industry-standard facilities.

Whether you are analysing global media systems, producing short films, exploring digital activism, or researching audience cultures, Media and Film at Lancaster provides a rich, critically engaged, and interdisciplinary environment to think analytically, create boldly, and navigate the diverse media landscapes that define our world.