
BA (Hons), MA, MSc, PgCert, PhD, FHEA
Lecturer
- About
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- Email Address
- barbara.leon@abdn.ac.uk
- Office Address
Taylor A51, Old Aberdeen
Aberdeen AB24 3SW
Tel: 01224274572- School/Department
- School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture
Biography
Graduated with a BA (Hons) and MA in History of Art (University of Oviedo) in 2012, and a further MSc in Research Methods in Humanities (UNED), I finished my Ph.D. in History of Art (University of Oviedo) in 2020.
I came to the University of Aberdeen as a Visiting Student in 2016 to the Centre for Modern Thought in February 2016, and then to the Film & Visual Culture Department in January 2017. Later that year, in September I joined the Language, Literature, Music Film & Visual Culture School as a Teaching Assistant in Film and Visual Culture. In 2018, I also started working with the Spanish and Latin American Studies Department. I became a Teaching Fellow in Spanish & Latin American Studies and in Film & Visual Culture in September 2021. In September 2022, I moved to a Lecturer position in Film & Visual Culture.
Qualifications
- PgCert in Higher Education Teaching & Learning2023 - University of Aberdeen
- MA Art and Social Practice2022 - University of the Highlands and Islands
- PhD History of Art2020 - University of OviedoThesis: The study of the city through photography: from Surrealism to Postmodernism
- MSc Research Methods in History, History of Art and Geography2014 - UNED
- BA (Hons) & MA History of Art2012 - University of Oviedo
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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Deputy Race Equality Champion - School of Languages, Literature, Music, Film and Visual Culture (2021-)
- External Memberships
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Grant Applications Reviewer Scottish Universities Insight Institute
Peer reviewer RevistArq Revista de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Costa Rica | ISSN 2215-275X
Peer reviewer Estoa. Revista de la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo. Universidad de Cuenca (Ecuador). e-ISSN: 1390-9274
Peer reviewer Res Mobilis. Revista internacional de investigación en mobiliario y objetos decorativos. Universidad de Oviedo. ISSN 2255-2057
Latest Publications
Dreams, the Female Gaze, and the City of Paris: Urban Landscapes through the Writings of the Surrealist Movement
Escritura e Imagen, vol. 17, pp. 89-101Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMetaphors in architectural theory and poetic urbanism: Flânerie and drift within the surrealist perception of the city
RevistArquis, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1-13Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAsturias Concejo a Concejo: Siero
Ridea. Real Instituto de Estudios Asturianos, Oviedo. 213 pagesBooks and Reports: BooksThe Visual Imagery of the Disney World: Between Theory and Practice
Journal on Arts: Studies in Visual Arts and Communication, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 15-22Contributions to Journals: ArticlesLa ciudad como significante y significado de la cultura visual: Del Surrealismo a la Posmodernidad
Contributions to Conferences: Papers
Prizes and Awards
Award for 'The most useful improvement' Ministry of Innovation, Education and Science (Spanish Government) - 2014
- Research
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Research Overview
My lines of research correspond to Identities in Postmodern and Contemporary Visual and Popular Culture. I also explore the representations of cultural identities through popular culture images in wider media and visual culture, such as the Eurovision Song Contest and Music Videos
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Film and Visual Culture.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Film and Visual Culture
Accepting PhDsSpanish and Latin American Studies
Art History
Research Specialisms
- Visual Communication
- Film Studies
- Urban Studies
- History of Art
- Spanish Society and Culture
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Current Research
I currently focus on Visual Culture, Cultural Identities, and Urban and Media representations. I am exploring the sense of belonging and the relationship between the individual and its representation from the perspective of cultural identities.
I’m working on the representation of cultural identities through media and film narratives. I look at Music Videos and also at other global events such as the Eurovision Song Contest. I am currently developing an analysis of Bad Bunny's music videos as a representation of Puerto Rican Identities
Another research interest is 20th Century Cultural Identities in Spain, looking at different modes of Visual Culture, such as Film, Advertising, Architecture, Paintings, TV, and other sociocultural events.
Past Research
Previous research has been focused on the aesthetics o the Surrealist movement alongside the photography produced by this group of artists, with special attention to the artist Man Ray. As a result of my MSc, I produced a dissertation titled The surreal erotic image through the photography of Man Ray.
The use of photography as a method to study Art History and Visual Culture has been key to my current and previous research. Furthermore, my Ph.D. was entitled The study of the city through photography: From Surrealism to Postmodernism.
Knowledge Exchange
(For conferences and symposiums, please see publications)
- Identity and Myth of the Spanish Folklorica in Art and Visual Culture. Art History Research Seminar, University of Aberdeen, 25th of January 2023.
- Spanishness versus Tourism: Identities and representations in Visual Culture. Centre for Modern Languages Research Seminar, University of Aberdeen, 8th February 2023
- Methods of Research and the Masterpiece: from History of Art to Visual Culture. 17th October 2018. University of Aberdeen
- Coordinator of the Seminar "Restoration and sculpted bodies. how our perception has changed over time". 10th October 2018. University of Aberdeen
- Amnesiac Spaces and Ephemeral Aesthetics: Postmodern Cities. (Film and Visual Culture Research Seminar Series, University of Aberdeen) 15th March
Collaborations
University of Oviedo (Spain)
University of Groningen (The Netherlands)
Supervision
Supervision of dissertations in:
MA Spanish and Latin American Studies (2020-2021)
MA Film & Visual Culture
MLitt Film, Visual Culture and Arts Management
MSc Creative and Cultural Communication (2019- 2020)
Funding and Grants
Conference Travel Grant - University of Oviedo, 2015
EU Fund Postindustrial Development - University Access (Fees and Support) 2007-2012
EU Fund Postindustrial Development - English Language Studies in England (Fees, Accommodation, and Support) 2009-2012
- Teaching
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Programmes
- Undergraduate, 4 year, September start
- Undergraduate, 5 year, September start
- Postgraduate, 3 semester, September start
- Postgraduate, 3 semester, January start
- Postgraduate, 3 semester, September start
Courses
Teaching Responsibilities
Coordination Fall 2022/2023
SP30SD, SP40SD From Cultural Dictatorship to Almodovar Sexualities: Gender Narratives in Spanish Cinema
SP40A5 Spanish Language 7
PD50C2 Critical Skills
Teaching Fall 2022/2023
FS1008 Introduction to Visual Culture
FS4002: Dissertation in Film and Visual Culture
SP30SD/SP40SD From Cultural Dictatorship to Almodovar Sexualities: Gender Narratives in Spanish Cinema
SP40A5 Spanish Language 7
SP2026 Spanish 4
PD50C2 Critical Skills
SX1022 Arts for a More Sustainable Planet
Non-course Teaching Responsibilities
Film & Visual Culture
Library Rep
Spanish and Latin American Studies Department
Library/bookstore Rep
Incoming Erasmus Coordinator
Website Coordinator
- Publications
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Dreams, the Female Gaze, and the City of Paris: Urban Landscapes through the Writings of the Surrealist Movement
Escritura e Imagen, vol. 17, pp. 89-101Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMetaphors in architectural theory and poetic urbanism: Flânerie and drift within the surrealist perception of the city
RevistArquis, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1-13Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAsturias Concejo a Concejo: Siero
Ridea. Real Instituto de Estudios Asturianos, Oviedo. 213 pagesBooks and Reports: BooksThe Visual Imagery of the Disney World: Between Theory and Practice
Journal on Arts: Studies in Visual Arts and Communication, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 15-22Contributions to Journals: ArticlesLa ciudad como significante y significado de la cultura visual: Del Surrealismo a la Posmodernidad
Contributions to Conferences: PapersUrban theory in postmodern cities: Amnesiac spaces and ephemeral aesthetics
URBS. Revista de Estudios Urbanos y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Almeria, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 57-65Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMan Ray's Erotic photography: Gender ideal and the Embodiment of the Surreal
Contributions to Conferences: PapersThe idea of space as a symbol in Ingmar Bergman’s oeuvre: identity, experience and shelter in Postwar Sweden
Nordic Research Network: The North as HomeContributions to Conferences: PostersDecorated Sheds: La publicidad como ornamento en la ciudad posmoderna
Arte y Sociedad: Revista de Investigacion, vol. 11Contributions to Journals: ArticlesLa estetica posmoderna de Jean Baudrillard en las Estrategias Fatales
Eikasia: Revista de Filosofía, vol. 68, pp. 249-263Contributions to Journals: Articles