James Chapman (historian)
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James Chapman (born September 11, 1968) is a British cultural historian who has written a number of books on cinema and television. Chapman is Director of Film Studies and the Visual Arts at the University of Leicester.
James Chapman took his BA (History) and MA (Film Studies) at the University of East Anglia and then undertook his doctoral research at Lancaster University, completing his thesis on the role of official film propaganda in Britain during the Second World War. He distinguished himself as captain of the Lancaster History Postgraduate Team when he put in the staff on a belting batting pitch and rotated his bowlers to no discernible effect as the staff ran up 220 for 4 declared without bothering to complete their alloted 25 overs, though he insists to this day that he had Professor John Walton leg before wicket with his first delivery. Batting at No.4 in the postgraduates' reply, Chapman came in for the fifth delivery with the score 0 for 2 and played a captain's innings of 14, with one glorious cut in front of square for four, before he was unceremoniously bowled by an eight-year-old ringer introduced into the staff attack to bowl grubbers along the floor.
In 1996 he joined The Open University where he taught a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and was principal contributing author to the university’s first dedicated course on Film and Television History. He turned down the offer of becoming the sixth James Bond in Casino Royale in order to join the University of Leicester as its founding Professor of Film Studies in January 2006. He is a Council member of IAMHIST (International Association for Media and History) and is book reviews editor for the Journal of British Cinema and Television.
Professor Chapman’s research focuses on British popular culture, especially cinema and television in their historical contexts. He is interested in the role of the mass media as propaganda, the representation of war and history, and the cultural politics of popular fictions including, but not limited to, Dick Barton, Dan Dare, James Bond, The Avengers and Doctor Who. His second book, Licence To Thrill, was the first academic history of the James Bond film series. It was described by SFX magazine as "intelligent, ludicrous, a bit snobbish - bit like Bond, really". He is currently writing a short book on War and Film and is planning future projects on the history of the British comic book, on cultural production in Britain during the Second World War and on television swashbucklers. Outside the academy Professor Chapman's main claim to fame is that he was the St Wolfgang Amateur Yodling Champion of 1983. He is married to former James Bond starlet Rachel Heronitz, who appeared in a brief non-speaking part in Tomorrow Never Dies. They have three daughters - Cathy, Emma and Tara - and live in Tunbridge Wells.
[edit] Bibliography
- Chapman, James; Mark Glancy, Sue Harper (2007). The New Film History: Sources, Methods, Approaches. London: Palgrave.
- Chapman, James (2006). Inside the Tardis: The Worlds of "Doctor Who". London: I.B. Tauris.
- Chapman, James (2005). Past and Present: National Identity and the British Historical Film. London: I.B. Tauris.
- Chapman, James (2003). Cinemas of the World: Film and Society from 1895 to the Present. London: Reaktion.
- Chapman, James (2002). Saints and Avengers: British Adventure Series of the 1960s. London: I.B. Tauris.
- Chapman, James; Antony Aldgate, Arthur Marwick (2000). Windows on the Sixties: Exploring Key Texts of Media and Culture. London: I.B. Tauris.
- Chapman, James (1999). Licence To Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films. London: I.B. Tauris.
- Chapman, James (1998). The British at War: Cinema, State and Propaganda, 1939-1945. London: I.B. Tauris.
He has also published journal articles and chapters on a range of topics, including film adaptations of A Christmas Carol, the Coronation film Queen Is Crowned, The Avengers, The Quatermass Experiment, The War Game and The World at War.
