September 24, 2013, by Graham Kendall

Thomas Barker wins the International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS) 2013 Reading Committee Accolade

SMLC Assistant Professor Thomas Barker has won the International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS) 2013 Reading Committee Accolade for “Most Captivating and Accessible Thesis“. The prizes were awarded at the IBP 2013 Award Ceremony in Macao on 25 June 2013 as part of the ICAS8 conference. Over a hundred scholars from around the world submitted their work for consideration in the 2013 competition.

Dr Barker’s winning 2011 doctoral thesis A Cultural Economy of the Contemporary Indonesian Film Industry shows how after 1998 the Indonesian film industry has transformed from a state dominated industry to one determined by the market. The thesis explores the legacy of the national cinema debate in light of a new generation of Indonesian filmmakers who now make films for a local audience. Problems persist however in the political economy of the film industry and the lack of regulatory reform. Key information came from interviews with over fifty directors, producers, scriptwriters and others who revealed the inner workings of the Indonesian film industry.

Dr Barker is working on publishing his thesis as he begins new research on the creative industries in Malaysia and Indonesia. Students interested in researching topics related to film and the cultural industries in Southeast Asia should visit the School of Modern Languages at Cultures at UNMC.


Links

More information about the IBP Prize can be found at: http://www.icassecretariat.org/ibp-2013

Reading Committee Accolades: http://www.icassecretariat.org/icas-8-reading-committee-accolades

A copy of Dr Barker’s thesis can be downloaded at: http://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/25805

School of Modern Languages and Cultures: http://www.nottingham.edu.my/Modern-Languages/index.aspx

School of Modern Languages and Cultures facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNMCSMLC?fref=ts

Posted in AwardFASS