I’m Dr Babar Hussain, Tutor in Filmmaking and Researcher specialising in the portrayal of masculinities in contemporary world cinemas at the School of Digital Arts (SODA) at Manchester Metropolitan University.

I hold a PhD in Film Studies from the University of the Arts, London. My PhD research explores portrayal of masculinities in contemporary Pakistani cinema and considers how this portrayal has evolved in response to the socio-political conditions in Pakistan. I examine theories of masculinity and narratives associated with culture and Islam, provided by conventional and contemporary scholars, to ascertain what masculinity means within the Pakistani context and how it is constructed and portrayed through Pakistani films. I investigate how the conflicting discourses related to male hegemony and women’s submissiveness are interrelated with the Pakistani state’s appropriation of different versions of Islam and how these versions have affected / are affecting the portrayal of men / women within Pakistani films.

Expanding these ideas further, my current research explores the role that socio-political conditions, religion and culture play in shaping the expression of masculinity in contemporary world cinemas.

I have over a decade of experience in various roles within radio, television, and film production, which I integrate into my teaching. I also have held various academic roles, including Visiting Lecturer in Film and Screen Studies at the University for the Creative Arts and Visiting Fellow/Video Instructor at the Lahore School of Economics, Pakistan. I have presented my research at various international conferences and published on topics such as the shifting portrayal of Muslims in Bollywood films.

Currently I am working on a monograph based on my PhD research.

My teaching and research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including Film Theory, Feminist Film Scholarship, Post-colonial Theory, Film Authorship, Islamic Feminism, autoethnographic film and more. Let’s connect to discuss cinema, research, and collaboration opportunities that engage with the intersections of film, gender, and culture.