Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr David Sorfa is a Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Edinburgh and editor-in-chief of the journal Film-Philosophy. He has written on Michael Haneke, Czech film, surrealism, belief in cinema and the philosophical implications of point-of-view. He has particular interests in film-philosophy, existentialism, phenomenology, the work of Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida and the presentation of thought and thinking in cinema.
He has acted as Programme Director of the MSc and PhD in Film Studies and as the Postgraduate Research Director for the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. He was previously Head of Film Studies at Liverpool John Moores University.
Administrative Roles
- 2024 - present: Director of PhD Film Studies
- 2020 - 2022: Director of Postgraduate Research, LLC
- 2013 - 2022: Programme Director of the MSc & PhD Film Studies, University of Edinburgh
Teaching
Film-Philosophy, Film and Existentialism, Film Theory, Research Methods in Film Studies
PhD Supervision
For a full list of PhD projects I have supervised or am supervising, please visit: https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/david-sorfa
Education/Academic qualification
English Literature, Bachelor of Arts, University of Cape Town
Literary Studies, Master of Arts, University of Cape Town
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), The Fetishism of Meaning: Disavowal in Kafka, Švankmajer and the Quay Brothers, University of Kent
External positions
Board Trustee & Convenor of the Academic Committee, Edinburgh University Press
2022 → …
Member of the SGSAH Media, Communications, Film & TV Catalyst, Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities
2022 → …
Member of the Academic Committee, Edinburgh University Press
2019 → …
Board Trustee, Africa in Motion Film Festival
2015 → 2019
Editor-in-Chief, Film-Philosophy Journal
2006 → …
Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, Liverpool John Moores University
2002 → 2013
Keywords
- PN1993 Motion Pictures
- Film Theory
- Film-Philosophy
- European Cinema
- Czech Cinema
- PR English literature
- Film Adaptation
- B Philosophy (General)
- Film-Philosophy
- Post-Structuralism
- Phenomenology
- Existentialism
- BF Psychology
- Psychoanalysis
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The assassination of Marilyn Monroe by the coward Andrew Dominik: An existentialist phenomenology of cinematic imagination
Sorfa, D., 30 Sept 2024, Film Phenomenologies: Temporality, Embodiment, Transformation. Fuery, K. (ed.). Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, p. 141 - 166Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
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Suicide in the moving image
Sorfa, D., 16 Oct 2023, (Accepted/In press) The Oxford Handbook of the Philosophy of Suicide. Cholbi, M. & Stellino, P. (eds.). Oxford University PressResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
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The Loves of a System: Miloš Forman and Barrandov
Sorfa, D., 20 Sept 2023, The Barrandov Studios: A Central European Hollywood. Herzogenrath, B. (ed.). Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, p. 251-270Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
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Bohuslav Brouk
Sorfa, D., 21 Feb 2019, The International Encyclopedia of Surrealism. Richardson, M., Ades, D., Fijalkowski, K., Harris, S. & Sebbag, G. (eds.). London: BloomsburyResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
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Seeing oneself speak: Speech and thought in first-person camera cinema
Sorfa, D., 4 Feb 2019, In: JOMEC Journal: Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies. p. 104-121Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Activities
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Blonde Precedes Blonde: An Existentialist Phenomenology of Cinematic Imagination
Sorfa, D. (Speaker)
8 Jul 2024Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Firing Marilyn Monroe / Firing Jean-Paul Sartre: Something’s Got to Give and Freud
Sorfa, D. (Speaker)
3 Apr 2024Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Imagination, Existentialism and Fiction Film: Marilyn Monroe and the Problem of Blonde
Sorfa, D. (Invited speaker)
28 Mar 2024Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Intransition: Journal of Videographic Film and Moving Image Studies (Journal)
Sorfa, D. (Peer reviewer)
21 Aug 2023Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
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The Lad Meets the Existentialists: Tony Hancock, The Rebel and Rendezvous in July
Sorfa, D. (Speaker)
4 Apr 2023Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Press/Media
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Fantasy/Animation Podcast - Everything Everywhere All At Once
24/04/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other
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David Sorfa guests on The Cinematologists Podcast
15/09/18
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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James Bond: From racial stereotypes to a ‘Queer’ and a ‘Woke’ 007
3/04/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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