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Dr. Harry M. Benshoff

Chair

University of North Texas

Department of Media Arts

(214) 770-8844

Email: benshoff@unt.edu

Education

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

Professional Positions

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

Professional Memberships

  • Society for Cinema and Media Studies. (1990 - Present).
  • American Studies Association. (2002 - 2004).
  • University Film and Video Association. (2002 - 2004).
  • Greater Bay Area Consortium of Moving Image Educators. (1996 - 1999).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • MRTS 3410 - Intermediate Topics in Media Studies, 3 courses.
  • MRTS 3460 - Diversity in U.S. Cinema, 2 courses.
  • MRTS 3465 - American Film History, 2 courses.
  • MRTS 3482 - Radio Practicum, 6 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, 7 courses.
  • MRTS 4540 - Lesbian, Gay and Queer Film and Video, 3 courses.
  • MRTS 4900 - Special Problems, 3 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, 7 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 (Consultant on AP Research Project), 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).

Awards and Honors

  • Honors Professor, UNT SGA. (2012).
  • Outstanding Academic Title for the book Queer Images: A History of Gay and Lesbian Film in America, American Library Association Choice Award. (2007).
  • Fine Arts Series Grant, University of North Texas. (2006).
  • Alton Thibodeaux Leadership in Diversity Award, University of North Texas. (2005).
  • Fine Arts Series Grant, University of North Texas. (2005).
  • Greater Denton Arts Council Grant, (2005).
  • Summer Research Grant, University of North Texas. (2005).
  • Fine Arts Series Grant, University of North Texas. (2004).
  • Greater Denton Arts Council Grant, (2004).
  • Faculty Research Grant (REG), University of North Texas. (2003).
  • Fine Arts Series Grant, University of North Texas. (2003).
  • Greater Denton Arts Council Grant, (2003).
  • Fine Arts Series Grant, University of North Texas. (2002).
  • Greater Denton Arts Council Grant, (2002).
  • Summer Research Grant, University of North Texas. (2002).
  • New Faculty Summer Research Grant, University of North Texas. (2001).
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, UCSC. (1997).
  • Re-Entry Teacher of the Year Award, UCSC. (1997).
  • Mary Pickford Award for Academic Excellence, USC. (1995).
  • Dissertation Fellowship Award, USC. (1994).
  • Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, USC. (1992).
  • Graduate Student Recognition Award, USC. (1991).
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, USC. (1991).
  • Outstanding Service Award, Student Senate, USC. (1990).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book

  • Benshoff. (2014). The Companion to the Horror Film.
  • Benshoff, H.M. (2011). Dark Shadows ..
  • Sean Griffin. (2006). Queer Images: A History of Gay and Lesbian Film in America..
  • Sean Griffin. (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. (2014). "Introduction" and "Horror Before the Horror Film".
  • Travis Sutton. (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. (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.
  • Barry K. Grant, editor. (2015). "The Monster and the Homosexual". Austin, TX, University of Texas Press.

    • Scholarly Note

  • eds. Markus P. J. Bohlmann and Sean 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. (2015). An Introduction to Film and Television Analysis: Theories, Methods, and Approaches.
  • Sean Griffin. (2009). America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies , Second Edition..
  • Sean Griffin. (2004). America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies ..

Presentations Given

  • Benshoff, H.M. (Other), "Queer For Fear", (2010 - 2010).
  • Benshoff, H.M. (Other), "Queer for Fear.", (2005 - 2005).
  • Benshoff, H.M. (Other), "Beyond the Valley of the Classical Hollywood Cinema: Rethinking the Loathsome Film of 1970.", (2004 - 2004).

    • 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 (Faculty Advisor and Film Series Coordinator), Global Film Series. (2001 - 2005).
  • Faculty Advisor, Lavender Circle. (2001 - 2004).
  • Faculty Advisor, Eagle Film Alliance. (2000 - 2002).
  • Other (Co-founder and Director), QFS, the UNT Queer Faculty and Staff Group. (1999 - 2002).
  • Other (Co-founder and Steering Committee Member), Zero de Conduite. (1990 - 1992).

Public Service

  • Other (Content Consultant/Interview Subject), 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).

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 (Guest Speaker), "Monsters in the Closet" Panel/Clip Show. (2008 - 2008).
  • Other (Guest Speaker), "Out Q Live" television show. (2005 - 2005).
  • Other (Guest Speaker), Image + Nation Montreal. (2004 - 2004).
  • Other (Guest Speaker), Outfest Los Angeles. (2004 - 2004).
  • Other (Co-Chair), SCMS Queer Caucus. (2002 - 2004).
  • Other (Guest Speaker), Telemundo Studios. (2003 - 2003).
  • Other (Director and Speaker), Women and Art Film Series. (2001 - 2001).
  • Other (Speaker), Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. (1997 - 1997).