Sharon Lockyer
Lecturer in Sociology and Communications
Sociology and Communications
Brunel University
Uxbridge, UB8 3PH
United Kingdom
Biography
Qualifications
- PhD Communication and Media Studies (Loughborough)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PGCert) (Brunel)
- BSc Communication and Media Studies (Loughborough)
Personal Biography
I joined the School of Social Sciences as a Lecturer in Sociology and Communications in September 2006. From May 2002 - September 2006 I was a Lecturer, and then Senior Lecturer, in Media Studies at De Montfort University. Prior to that I was a Lecturer in Communication and Media Studies at Loughborough University (June 2000 - April 2002) whilst also finishing my PhD thesis. Between the completion of my undergraduate degree and embarking on my doctorial research I worked as an Advertising Executive for Bailey Newspaper Group.
Research
Research Overview
My research interests fall within the broad areas of the sociology of mediated culture, critical comedy studies, media controversies and media representations. I am particularly interested in instances where humour and comedy excite social tension and moral controversy (e.g. Ali G, Borat, Brass Eye, Little Britain and Private Eye). My research on the sociology of mediated culture focuses on the media construction and reception of controversial social topics and groups (e.g. child sex offenders). I am also interested in issues related to the identity politics of popular media representations, especially in relation to social class, gender and disability.
Member, Centre for Culture, Media & Regulation (CCMC)
Member, Collaborative Research Network (CRN) in the Creative Industries
Member, Screen Media Research Centre (SMRC)
Current Projects
School of Social Sciences QR Funds
Understanding Contemporary Stand-up Comedy
£487.50 (Sociology & Communications); £1712.50 (Psychology)
January 2011 - July 2012
Sharon Lockyer (PI)
Sir Halley Stewart Trust
Exploring the Potential of Disabled Comedians in Improving the Lives and Experiences of Disabled People
£3080
May 2012 - October 2013
Sharon Lockyer (PI)
Recently Completed Projects
Reading Little Britain: Comedy Matters on Contemporary Television – book project
2007 - 2009
Sharon Lockyer (editor)
PhD Supervision
Anna Tippett: The Rise of Lads’ Mags and Cultural Politics of Masculinity: Hedonism, Sexual Nihilism and the Commodification of Sexuality in Contemporary Society; 2010 - 2013
Galib Al-Abady: Nation-Building in post-conflict Iraq; January 2009
Teaching
Undergraduate Programmes
Module convenor
- Research in Practice (Yr 2)
- Comedy, Culture and the Media (Yr 3)
Module contributor
- Introduction to Social Inquiry (Yr 1)
- Introduction to Media Studies (Yr 1)
- Media, Culture and Representation (Yr 2)
- Sociology and Communications Dissertation (Yr 3)
- Work Placements (Yrs 1 & 2)
Postgraduate Programmes
Module contributor
- Issues and Controversies in Media and Communication
- Media and Communications Dissertation
Administration
- Sociology and Communications UG Admissions Tutor
- Sociology and Communications Touch Point Leader
External Activity
- Editorial Board Member of Comedy Studies
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
- Member of Media, Communication & Cultural Studies Association (MeCCSA), including the Women's Media Studies Network and the Disability Studies Network
- Member of International Society for Humor Studies (ISHS)
- Awarded the International Society for Humour Studies (ISHS) Emerging Scholar Award 2004
- Editorial Board Member of Humor: International Journal of Humor Research
- International Advisory Board Member of European Journal of Humour Research
Publications
Publications
Journal Papers
(2011) Lockyer, S. and Myers, L., 'It’s about expecting the unexpected’: Live stand-up comedy from the audiences’ perspective, Participations: Journal of Audience and Reception Studies 8 (2) : 165- 188
(2011) Lockyer, S., From toothpick legs to dropping vaginas: Gender and sexuality in Joan Rivers' stand-up comedy performance, Comedy Studies 2 (2) : 113- 123
(2010) Lockyer, S., Dynamics of social class contempt in contemporary British television comedy, Social Semiotics 20 (2) : 121- 138
(2009) Lockyer, S. and Attwood, F., The sickest television show ever: Paedogeddon and the British press, Popular Communication: The International Journal of Media and Culture 7 (1) : 49- 60
(2008) Lockyer, S. and Pickering, M., You must be joking: the sociological critique of humour and comic media, Sociology Compass 2 (3) : 808- 820
(2006) Lockyer, S., A two-pronged attack? Exploring Private Eye's satirical humour and investigative reporting, Journalism Studies 7 (5) : 765- 781
(2006) Cross, S. and Lockyer, S., Dynamics of partisan journalism: Journalist-source relations in the context of a local newspaper's anti-paedophile housing agenda, Journalism Studies 7 (2) : 274- 291
(2006) Lockyer, S., Heard the one about...applying mixed methods in humour research?, International Journal of Social Research Methodology 9 (1) : 41- 59
(2004) Cross, S. and Lockyer, S., Paedophiles in the community: Inter-agency conflict, whistle blowers and the local press, Ethical Space: The International Journal of Communication Ethics 1 (4) : 22- 28
(2001) Lockyer, S. and Pickering, M., Dear shit-shovellers: Humour, censure and the discourse of complaint, Discourse & Society 12 (5) : 633- 651
Book Chapters
(2013) Lockyer, S., 'Dad's Army Side to Terrorism': Chris Morris, Four Lions and Jihad Comedy. In: Leggott, J. and Sexton, J. eds. No Known Cure: The Comedy of Chris Morris. London : BFI/Palgrave
(2010) Lockyer, S., Chavs and chav-nots: social class in Little Britain. In: Lockyer, S. ed. Reading little Britain: Comedy Matters on Contemporary Television. I B Tauris and Co Ltd 95- 110
(2010) Lockyer, S., Introduction: Britain, Britain, Little Britain. In: Lockyer, S. ed. Reading little Britain: Comedy Matters on Contemporary Television. New York : I B Tauris and Co Ltd 1- 18
(2010) Lockyer, S. and Pickering, M., Dear Shit-Shovellers: Humour, Censure and the Discourse of Complaint. In: Pickering, M. ed. Popular Culture, 4 Volumes. Los Angeles and London : Sage (4) : 227- 245
(2008) Lockyer, S., History of qualitative research. In: Given, LM. ed. The Sage Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA and London : Sage (Two Volume Set) : 706- 711
(2008) Lockyer, S., Observer bias. In: Given, LM. ed. The Sage Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA and London : Sage (Two Volume Set) : 576- 577
(2008) Lockyer, S., Textual analysis. In: Given, LM. ed. The Sage Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA and London : Sage (Two Volume Set) : 865- 866
(2006) Cross, S. and Lockyer, S., Paodophiles in the Community: Inter agendy Conflict, Whistleblowers and the Local Press. In: Keeble, R. ed. Communiction Ethics Today. Leicester : Troubador 197- 211
(2005) Lockyer, S. and Pickering, M., Breaking the mould: Conversations with Omid Djalili and Shazia Mirza. In: Lockyer, S. and Pickering, M. eds. Beyond a Joke: The Limits of Humour. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan 98- 125
(2005) Pickering, M. and Lockyer, S., Introduction: The ethics and aesthetics of humour and comedy. In: Lockyer, S. and Pickering, M. eds. Beyond a Joke: The Limits of Humour. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan 1- 24
(2005) Pickering, M. and Lockyer, S., The ambiguities of comic impersonation. In: Lockyer, S. and Pickering, M. eds. Beyond a Joke: The Limits of Humour. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan 180- 197
(2004) Lockyer, S., Coding Qualitative. In: Lewis-Beck, M., Bryman, A. and Futing Liao, T. eds. The Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA and London : Sage 137- 138
(2004) Lockyer, S., Deconstructionism. In: Lewis-Beck, M., Bryman, A. and Futing Liao, T. eds. The Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA and London : Saage 242-
Books
(2012) Attwood, F., Campbell, V., Hunter, IQ. and Lockyer, S., Controversial Images: Media Representations on the Edge. Palgrave Macmillan
(2010) Lockyer, S., Reading Little Britain: comedy matters on contemporary television. I B Tauris and Co Ltd
(2005) Lockyer, S. and Pickering, M., Beyond a joke: The limits of humour. Palgrave Macmillan
