Michael Thorn

Background

About Michael Thorn

I have a PhD in Communication and Culture from York and Ryerson universities and have been teaching as a contract lecturer for several years now. I also have a background in screenwriting and media production. My PhD research focused on the public relations controversy and mass media debate surrounding the Christian ex-gay movement and religiously justified sexual orientation conversion efforts (i.e. trying to pray the gay away). My current research investigates discourses of religion and psychology in film and television narrative, both fictional and documentary. I have also researched, written, taught and presented on Christianity and popular culture, the history of religious and psychological confession, religion in film and television, the ownership and regulation of the Canadian religious broadcasting channels VisionTV and CTS (now YesTV), and representations of poverty, drug use, and harm reduction in Canadian Television narratives. I am currently developing an interest in representations of refugee issues in Canadian media and their relationship to the governmental policies and legal practices that constitute the Refugee Board of Canada. Recent publications attached and link to Three Minute Thesis presentation provided under experience. Please feel free to visit my website: http://michaelthorn.net/