ABOUT ME
I'm an independent scholar of Film and Media Studies, based in Seattle, USA. I hold a Ph.D. in Communication and Culture (Film and Media Studies) from Indiana University, and my work has been cited in over 550 different publications. I'm best known for my research on the historical and contemporary circulation of culturally disreputable genres (e.g., exploitation, horror, and adult films), with a particular focus on the politics of taste and the aesthetics of pastness.
In addition to my academic work, I'm a co-founder and programmer of SECS Fest, a sex-positive, erotic film festival held annually in Seattle since 2017, with an emphasis on queer and feminist filmmakers.
My research and teaching interests include:
-
Film genres
-
Gender and sexuality studies
-
Fan studies and taste cultures
-
U.S. and European film and media history
-
Film exhibition and reception
-
Media industry studies
-
Home video and platform studies
-
Disability studies
-
Cultural memory and media
"Church is a vital voice in the study of popular cinema. We’ll be citing his stuff for many years to come."
– New Review of Film & Television Studies
Theatrical poster for The Orgy at Lil's Place (1963), a long-lost sexploitation film whose surviving 35mm prints I discovered during archival work in 2012, as recounted in my book Disposable Passions. The resulting restoration was available on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.