Dr. Samantha Thrift
Positions
Department Head
Faculty of Arts, Department of Communication, Media and Film
Associate Professor (Teaching)
Faculty of Arts, Department of Communication, Media and Film
Contact information
For media enquiries, contact
Background
Educational Background
Ph.D. Communication Studies, McGill University,
M.A. Communication Studies, University of Calgary,
Research
Areas of Research
In this research, I critically examine how digital media platforms, feminist hashtags, and political memes shape both feminist discourse and activist strategies in contemporary public culture. This research tracks the rise of digital feminisms, including analyses of viral meme culture, hashtag activism (#YesAllWomen), and the mediated circulation of feminist ideas on social media. Publications from this work appears in Feminist Media Studies, Feminist Theory, and Continuum.
My work also foregrounds feminist organizational history and media representation, specifically by situating Canadian feminist activism within broader cultural and political transformations - such as those during the rise of neoliberalism. I investigate how feminist movements have adapted media strategies in response to changing sociopolitical conditions, with a focus on preserving movement memory and analyzing episodic histories of phenomena like federal leadership debates on women's issues.
A third area of my research centers on feminist and critical pedagogy, which I actively integrate into my teaching, collaborative projects, and publications. I strive to advance conversations about feminist cultural studies, communication methodologies, and the incorporation of feminist ideas within educational and public spheres.
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| COMS 201 | Intro to Comm & Media Studies | Fall 2023 |
| COMS 371 | Critical Media Studies | |
| COMS 453 | Race, Representation and Media | |
| COMS 473 | Popular Culture | |
| COMS 479 | Feminist Media Studies | |
| COMS 581 | Senior Project in BCMS/BFS | Winter 2022 |
| COMS 591 | Senior Seminar in COMS (Media & Memory) | Fall 2025 |
| COMS 591 | Senior Seminar in COMS (Video Activism) |
Awards
- University of Calgary Teaching Award for Full-Time Academic Staff (Instructor), University of Calgary. 2019
- Nominee, Student Union Teaching Excellence Award, Student Union, University of Calgary. 2019
- Faculty of Arts Teaching Award (New Teacher), Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary. 2018
Publications
- Up For Debate: Remediating Feminist Media Activism in Canada. Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies, Vol 32, No 1. 29-41. (2018)
- Doing Feminism in the Network: Networked Laughter and the ‘Binders Full of Women’ Meme. Co-authored with Dr. Carrie A. Rentschler. Feminist Theory, Vol 16, No 3. 329–359. (2015)
- #YesAllWomen as Feminist Meme Event. Feminist Media Studies, Vol 14, No 6. 1090-1092. (2014)
- Feminist Eventfulness, Boredom and the 1984 Canadian Leadership Debate on Women’s Issues. Feminist Media Studies, Vol 12, No 3. 406-421. (2012)
- Digital Feminism: Networks of Resistance, Neoliberalism, and New Contexts for Activism in Canada. In Digital Politics in Canada: Promises and Realities (eds. Tamara Small and Harold Jansen), University of Toronto Press. 263-286. (2020)
- Thinking Beyond Backlash: Remediating 1980s Activism. Journal Special Issue, co-edited with Dr. Elizabeth Groeneveld. Continuum: A Journal of Media and Cultural Studies, Vol 32, No 1. (2018)
- Doing Feminism: Event, Archive, Techné. Journal Special Issue, co-edited with Dr. Carrie A. Rentschler. Feminist Theory, Vol 16, No 3. (2015)
In the News
- The secrets behind the top three memes of the decade. UToday. (2021)
More Information
I supervise graduate students pursuing research in the area(s) of feminist digital activism, feminist cultural history, media and representation, queer and critical race studies, media and memory.
I supervise Honours (COMS) projects and welcome expressions of interest from students seeking an advisor for PURE research projects. (More information about the PURE Awards is available here).
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