Dr. Harry M. Benshoff
University of North Texas
Media Arts
(214) 770-8844
Email:

Education

PhD, University of Southern California, 1996.
Major: Cinema-Television (Critical Studies)
MA, University of Southern California, 1992.
Major: Cinema-Television
Degree Specialization: Critical Studies
BA, Franklin and Marshall College, 1985.
Major: English

Professional Positions

Uncategorized
Professor, UNT. (2012 – Present).
Associate Professor, University of North Texas. (2006 – Present).
Assistant Professor, University of North Texas. (2000 – 2006).
Visiting Assistant Professor, University of North Texas. (1999 – 2000).
Full-Time Lecturer, University of California at Santa Cruz. (1996 – 1999).
Adjunct Professor, Antelope Valley College. (1994 – 1996).

Professional Memberships

Society for Cinema and Media Studies. (1990 – Present).

Member, American Studies Association. (2002 – 2004).

Member, University Film and Video Association. (2002 – 2004).

Member, Greater Bay Area Consortium of Moving Image Educators. (1996 – 1999).

Awards and Honors

Honors Professor, UNT SGA. (2012 – 2012).

Outstanding Academic Title for the book Queer Images: A History of Gay and Lesbian Film in America, American Library Association Choice Award. (2007 – 2007).

Fine Arts Series Grant, University of North Texas. (2006 – 2006).

Alton Thibodeaux Leadership in Diversity Award, University of North Texas. (2005 – 2005).

Fine Arts Series Grant, University of North Texas. (2005 – 2005).

Greater Denton Arts Council Grant. (2005 – 2005).

Summer Research Grant, University of North Texas. (2005 – 2005).

Fine Arts Series Grant, University of North Texas. (2004 – 2004).

Greater Denton Arts Council Grant. (2004 – 2004).

Faculty Research Grant (REG), University of North Texas. (2003 – 2004).

Fine Arts Series Grant, University of North Texas. (2003 – 2003).

Greater Denton Arts Council Grant. (2003 – 2003).

Fine Arts Series Grant, University of North Texas. (2002 – 2002).

Greater Denton Arts Council Grant. (2002 – 2002).

Summer Research Grant, University of North Texas. (2002 – 2002).

New Faculty Summer Research Grant, University of North Texas. (2001 – 2001).

Excellence in Teaching Award, UCSC. (1997 – 1997).

Re-Entry Teacher of the Year Award, UCSC. (1997 – 1997).

Mary Pickford Award for Academic Excellence, USC. (1995 – 1996).

Dissertation Fellowship Award, USC. (1994 – 1995).

Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, USC. (1992 – 1992).

Graduate Student Recognition Award, USC. (1991 – 1991).

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, USC. (1991 – 1991).

Outstanding Service Award, Student Senate, USC. (1990 – 1990).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

University of North Texas
MRTS 3410, Intermediate Topics in Media Studies, 3 courses.
MRTS 3460, Diversity in U.S. Cinema, 1 course.
MRTS 3465, American Film History, 2 courses.
MRTS 3482, Radio Practicum, 4 courses.
MRTS 3610, Film and Television Analysis, 2 courses.
MRTS 4350, Film Authors, 3 courses.
MRTS 4415, Topics in Film and Television Genres, 1 course.
MRTS 4520, Africian American Film, 3 courses.
MRTS 4530, Gender and Sexuality in the Horror Film, 6 courses.
MRTS 4540, Lesbian, Gay and Queer Film and Video, 3 courses.
MRTS 4900, Special Problems, 2 courses.
MRTS 5120, Critical Cultural Media Theory, 5 courses.
MRTS 5420, African American Film, 4 courses.
MRTS 5430, Gender and Sexuality in the Horror Film, 6 courses.
MRTS 5435, Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Film and Video, 3 courses.
MRTS 5515, Media Genres and Authors, 2 courses.
MRTS 5804, MFA Colloquium, 1 course.
MRTS 5900, Special Problems, 3 courses.
MRTS 5950, Master's Thesis, 14 courses.
RTVF 1320, Introduction to Film Studies, 5 courses.
RTVF 3465, American Film History, 1 course.
RTVF 3610, Film and Television Analysis, 19 courses.
RTVF 4350, Film Authors, 9 courses.
RTVF 4415, Topics in Film and Television Genres, 5 courses.
RTVF 4520, Africian American Film, 5 courses.
RTVF 4530, Gender and Sexuality in the Horror Film, 6 courses.
RTVF 4540, Lesbian, Gay and Queer Film and Video, 5 courses.
RTVF 4900, Special Problems, 2 courses.
RTVF 4951, Honors College Capstone Thesis, 1 course.
RTVF 5120, Critical Cultural Media Theory, 13 courses.
RTVF 5420, African American Film, 4 courses.
RTVF 5430, Gender and Sexuality in the Horror Film, 5 courses.
RTVF 5435, Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Film and Video, 5 courses.
RTVF 5515, Media Genres and Authors, 12 courses.
RTVF 5530, Studies in Film History, 3 courses.
RTVF 5900, Special Problems, 6 courses.
RTVF 5950, Master's Thesis, 27 courses.

Non-Credit Instruction

Other, Saginaw High School. (September 2019 – April 2020).

Directed Student Learning

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (2021 – 2022).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (2020 – 2022).

Dissertation Committee Member, English. (2019 – 2022).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (2020 – 2021).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (2019 – 2021).

Master's Thesis Committee Member, Media Arts. (2018 – 2021).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (January 2020 – May 2021).

Master's Thesis Committee Co-Chair, Media Arts. (2020 – 2020).

Master's Thesis Committee Member, Mayborn School of Journalism. (January 2019 – 2020).

Master's Thesis Committee Member, Media Arts. (2019 – 2019).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (March 2018 – 2019).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (2016 – 2019).

Master's Thesis Committee Member, Media Arts. (January 2018 – June 2019).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, Media Arts. (September 2018 – December 2018).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, Media Arts. (2018).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, Psychology. (2018).

Dissertation Committee Member, English. (2017 – 2018).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (2016 – November 2018).

Dissertation Defense Committee Member, Media Arts. (2017).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (2017).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (2017).

Master's Thesis Committee Member, Media Arts. (2017).

Master's Thesis Committee Member, Media Arts. (2017).

Master's Thesis Committee Member, Media Arts. (2016 – 2017).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (2015 – 2017).

Dissertation Defense Committee Member, English. (August 2017).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, Media Arts. (May 2017).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, Media Arts. (May 2017).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, Media Arts. (December 2016).

Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Media Arts. (2016).

Master's Thesis Committee Member, Media Arts. (2016).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

Book
Benshoff, H. M. (2014). The Companion to the Horror Film.
Benshoff, H. M. (2011). Dark Shadows ..
Benshoff, H. M. (2006). Queer Images: A History of Gay and Lesbian Film in America..
Benshoff, H. M. (2004). Queer Cinema: The Film Reader..
Benshoff, H. M. (1997). Monsters in the Closet: Homosexuality and the Horror Film..
Book Chapter
Benshoff, H. M. (2024). "Angel, Angel, Down We Go (1968)". Screening American Cinema. Oxfordshire: Taylor & Francis/Routledge.
Benshoff, H. M. (2019). Blaxploitation Filmmaking. A Companion to the Cult Film. NYC, NY: Routledge.
Benshoff, H. M. (2014). "Introduction" and "Horror Before the Horror Film".
Benshoff, H. M. (2011). "'Forever Family' Values: Twilight (2008) and the Modern Mormon Vampire," in Horror After 9/11, eds. Aviva Briefel and Sam J. Miller. Co-author with Travis Sutton (former RTVF graduate student), forthcoming Texas UP, 2010..
Benshoff, H. M. (2011). "'Way Too Gay to be Ignored': Queer Horror in the 21st Century," in Teratologies, eds. Kay Picart and John Browning..
Benshoff, H. M. (2010). " Gus Van Sant," in Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers, ed. Yvonne Tasker. .
Benshoff, H. M. (2009). "(Broke)back to the Mainstream: Queer Theory and Queer Cinemas Today," in Film Theory and Contemporary Hollywood Movies, ed. Warren Buckland. New York: Routledge, 2009. Pp. 192-213..
Benshoff, H. M. (2009). "A Straight Cowboy Movie: Heterosexuality According to Brokeback Mountain," in Hetero, ed. Sean Griffin..
Benshoff, H. M. (2008). "1966: Movies and Camp," in Screen Decades: The Sixties, ed. Barry Keith Grant..
Benshoff, H. M. (2008). "Beyond the Valley of the Classical Hollywood Cinema: Rethinking the Loathsome Film of 1970," in The Shifting Definitions of Genre, eds. Lincoln Geraghty and Marc Jancovich..
Benshoff, H. M. (2008). "Blaxploitation Horror Films: Generic Reappropriation or Reinscription," in The Cult Film Reader, ed. by Ernest Mathijs and Xavier Mendik..
Benshoff, H. M. (2008). "Queers and Families in Film: From Problems to Parents" in A Family Affair, ed. Murray Pomerance..
Benshoff, H. M. (2007). "Representing (Repressed) Homosexuality in the Pre-Stonewall Hollywood Homo-Military Film," in Sleaze Artists: Cinema at the Margins of Taste, Style, and Politics, ed. Jeff Sconce..
Benshoff, H. M. (2004). "Reception of a Queer Mainstream Film ," in New Queer Cinema: A Critical Reader, ed. Michele Aaron..
Benshoff, H. M. (2004). "The Monster and the Homosexual," in Queer Cinema: The Film Reader, eds. Harry Benshoff and Sean Griffin./Reprint.
Benshoff, H. M. (2002). "The Monster and the Homosexual," in Horror: The Film Reader, ed. Mark Jancovich. /Reprint.
Benshoff, H. M. (2001). "Horror Movies," and "TV Westerns," in Boyhood in America: An Encyclopedia..
Benshoff, H. M. (1998). "Secrets, Closets, and Corridors Through Time: Negotiating Sexuality and Gender in Dark Shadows Fan Culture," in Theorizing Fandom: Fans, Subcultures, and Identity, ed. Cheryl Harris and Alison Alexander..
Benshoff, H. M. (1997). "Dark Shadows" and "Pee Wee's Playhouse," in The Museum of Broadcast Communication Encyclopedia of Television, ed. Horace Newcomb..
Benshoff, H. M. (1993). Compilation of "Bibliography" and "Filmography," for Theorizing Documentary, ed. Michael Renov..
Book Review
Benshoff, H. M. (2018). Book Review of "Clive Barker: Dark Imaginer". Gothic Studies. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Benshoff, H. M. (2014). Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present by Robin R. Means Coleman.
Benshoff, H. M. (2004). "Richard Dyer's Now You See It and The Matter of Images,".
Benshoff, H. M. (2003). "Experimental Cinema: The Film Reader, ed. by Wheeler Winston Dixon,".
Benshoff, H. M. (2003). "Peter Hutchings's Terence Fisher,".
Benshoff, H. M. (2001). "Alexander Doty's Flaming Classics,".
Journal Article
Benshoff, H. M. (2008). "Brokering Brokeback Mountain: A Local Reception Study." .
Benshoff, H. M. (2000). "Blaxploitation Horror Films: Generic Reappropriation or Reinscription?".
Benshoff, H. M. (1992). "Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, Is Disney High or Low? From Silly Cartoons to Postmodern Politics,".
Magazine/Trade Publication
Benshoff, H. M. (1993). "Excess.".
Benshoff, H. M. (1993). "Resurrection of the Vampire: Dark Shadows and Fan Culture,".
Benshoff, H. M. (1990). "Homoerotic Iconography and Anti-Catholic Marxism: Proto-Feminist Discourse in Sergei M. Eisenstein's QUE VIVA MEXICO,".
Personal Essay
Benshoff, H. M. (2008). "Vincent Price and Me: Imagining the Queer Male Diva,".
Popular Press Article
Benshoff, H. M. (2009). "Milk and Gay Political History." Jump Cut 51 (Spring 2009) www.ejumpcut.org/home..
Benshoff, H. M. (2001). "MARS ATTACKS and INDEPENDENCE DAY," Film Review.
Reprinted Article
Benshoff, H. M. (2020). The Monster and the Homosexual. chapter in The Monster Theory Reader, ed. Jeffrey A. Weinstock. University of Minnesota Press.
Benshoff, H. M., Samer, R., Whittington, B. (2017). Resurrection of the Vampire and the Creation of Alternative Life: An Introduction to Dark Shadows Fan Culture. Gender, Sexuality, and Media: Audiences and Spectatorship. Austin TX: University of Texas Press.
Benshoff, H. M. (2015). "The Monster and the Homosexual". Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.
Scholarly Note
Benshoff, H. M., Moreland,, (2015). Afterword. Monstrous Children and Childish Monsters: Essays on Holy Terrors. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., Inc..
Textbook
Benshoff, H. M. (2024). Film and Television Analysis: An Introduction (Second Edition).
Benshoff, H. M. (2021). America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies, Third Edition..
Benshoff, H. M. (2015). An Introduction to Film and Television Analysis: Theories, Methods, and Approaches.
Benshoff, H. M. (2009). America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies , Second Edition..
Benshoff, H. M. (2004). America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies ..

Presentations Given

Oral Presentation

Benshoff, H. M. (Presenter), Representing Difference: Teaching Gender and Sexuality Studies Through Film and Television, Texas A&M, United States of America. (2017).

Panel Presentation

Benshoff, H. M. (Panelist), Popular Culture Assocation Annual Conference, Decentering White Heteronormaitivity in Cinema History, Popular Culture Assocation, Virtual, United States of America. (2022 – 2022).

Benshoff, H. M. (Author & Presenter), The Radically Queer Proto-Slasher Films of Andy Milligan, SCMS-POSTPONED, United States of America. (2020 – 2020).

Benshoff, H. M. (Author & Presenter), Postwar Faculty Colloquium, Heterosexual Dynamics and Gendered Expectations Between Creator and Creature in Postwar Frankenstein Films, UNT, United States of America. (2019 – 2019).

Benshoff, H. M. (Author & Presenter), Heterosexual Dynamics and Gendered Expectations Between Creator and Creature in Postwar Frankenstein Films, SCMS, United States of America. (2019 – 2019).

Benshoff, H. M. (Presenter), Annual BEA Meeting, Teaching About Gender and Sexuality in Media-Related Courses, BEA, Las Vegas, United States of America. (2018).

Benshoff, H. M. (Presenter), Frankenweek, Female Doctors and Male Monsters in Postwar Frankenstein Films, UNT Libraries, Denton TX, United States of America. (2018).

Brown, C. (Moderator), Everbach, T. (Panelist), Benshoff, H. M. (Panelist), UNT Equity & Diversity Conference, Finding a Voice in Media and Sharing Identity Stories, UNT, United States of America. (2018 – 2018).

Benshoff, H. M. (Panelist), Annual SCMS Conference, A Closer Look at Cruising, SCMS, Atlanta GA, United States of America. (2016).

Paper

Benshoff, H. M. (Author), SCMS annual conferecne, The Radically Queer Proto-Slasher Films of Andy Milligan., SCMS, online, United States of America. (2021 – 2021).

Benshoff, H. M. (Author & Presenter), Annual SCMS Conference, Chasing The Bat from Page (1908) to Stage (1920) to Screen (1926), SCMS, Toronto, Canada. (2018).

Benshoff, H. M. (Author & Presenter), Annual SCMS Conference, Tearing Apart Tinsel-town and the American Family in Angel, Angel Down We Go (1969), SCMS, Atlanta GA, United States of America. (2016).

Benshoff, H. M. (Author & Presenter), Society for Cinema and Media Studies, Hollywood Hollywood Down we Go: Tearing Apart Tinsel-town and the American Family in "Angel Angel Down We Go" (1969), SCMS, Atlanta, GA, United States of America. (2016).

Benshoff, H. M. (Author & Presenter), Terror On Tape, Queering Collinwood: Exploring the LGBTQ appeal of Dark Shadows (1966-1971), Yale University, Princeton, CT, United States of America. (2016).

Benshoff, H. M. (Author & Presenter), UNT Postwar Faculty Colloquium, Tearing Apart Tinsel-town and the American Family in Angel, Angel Down We Go (1969), UNT, Denton TX, United States of America. (2016).

Service

University Service

Chairperson, Media Arts. (February 1, 2022 – Present).

Committee Member, UNT LGBT Minor Steering Committee. (2002 – Present).

Committee Member, UNT ALLY Program. (1999 – Present).

Committee Member, Media Arts Executive Committee. (2019 – 2021).

Other, Library Liaison. (2018 – 2021).

Committee Member, Media Arts Graduate Committee. (2018 – 2021).

Committee Chair, Media Arts RPTC. (2018 – 2021).

Member, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. (August 15, 2021 – December 15, 2021).

Member, English Lit Search Committee. (2019 – 2020).

Co-Chair, CLASS PAC. (2018 – 2020).

Committee Member, CLASS Dean Search. (2018 – 2019).

Director, Graduate MA in Media Arts. (2017 – 2018).

Committee Member, CLASS PAC. (2017 – 2017).

Committee Member, RPTC. (2017).

Chairperson, Search Committee. (2017).

Committee Member, Search Committee. (2017 – 2017).

Committee Member, Executive Committee. (2015 – 2017).

Committee Member, CAS PAC. (2016).

Committee Chair, CAS PAC. (2015 – 2015).

Committee Member, CAS Graduate Curriculum Committee. (2006 – 2009).

Guest Speaker, UNT Multicultural Center. (2008 – 2008).

Committee Member, Student Code of Conduct Appeals Committee. (2000 – 2008).

Committee Member, CAS Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. (2002 – 2006).

Other, Global Film Series. (2001 – 2005).

Faculty Advisor, Lavender Circle. (2001 – 2004).

Faculty Advisor, Eagle Film Alliance. (2000 – 2002).

Other, QFS, the UNT Queer Faculty and Staff Group. (1999 – 2002).

Other, Zero de Conduite. (1990 – 1992).

Professional Service

Editorial Review Board Member, Horror Studies. (2017 – Present).

Mentor, SCMS Queer Caucus Alex Doty Mentor Porgram. (2014 – Present).

Member, SCMS Queer Caucus. (2000 – Present).

Member, Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS). (1996 – Present).

External T&P Letter Writer, Connecticut College, New London, CT. (June 1, 2021 – August 1, 2021).

External T&P Letter Writer, CUNY, New York, NY. (June 1, 2021 – August 1, 2021).

External T&P Letter Writer, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. (2019 – 2020).

External T&P Letter Writer, DePaul University. (2017).

External T&P Letter Writer, Miami University. (2017).

Other, "Monsters in the Closet" Panel/Clip Show. (2008 – 2008).

Other, "Out Q Live" television show. (2005 – 2005).

Other, Image + Nation Montreal. (2004 – 2004).

Other, Outfest Los Angeles. (2004 – 2004).

Other, SCMS Queer Caucus. (2002 – 2004).

Other, Telemundo Studios. (2003 – 2003).

Other, Women and Art Film Series. (2001 – 2001).

Other, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. (1997 – 1997).

Public Service

Other, Bryan Singer (Producer of Queer for Fear TV Series), Los Angeles, CA. (2020 – Present).

Guest Speaker, Booker T. Washington High School, Dallas, TX. (November 19, 2021 – November 19, 2021).

Guest Speaker, Horror Queers Podcast, Internet, Internet. (June 15, 2021 – June 15, 2021).