Research Clusters

Research at COMD brings academic inquiry and creative practice into dynamic conversation through Research Clusters that articulate shared questions of overlapping interests in specific fields of communication and design to create a framework fostering dialogue, co-creation, and collaboration. Research Clusters are where the COMD faculty and students meet to engage in interdisciplinary work across the social sciences, the humanities, and creative practices. They support collaboration in research via labs, facilities, exhibitions, festivals, and projects that allow students to gain direct opportunities to participate in faculty-led research and creative production. 

Research cluster

Society, Politics & Communication

The “Society, Politics, and Communication” cluster explores how media and communication shape public life, political processes, institutions, journalism, and social relations. Faculty combine qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches to questions of citizenship, participation, migration, polarization, crisis communication, and mediated publics. Their work spans political communication, digital media and democracy, public opinion, online political expression, journalism, organizational communication, public relations, advocacy, elections, trust, and media research methods.

Research areas

Political communication Digital media and democracy Public opinion Online political expression Journalism Organizational communication Public relations Elections Migration Polarization Crisis communication

Faculty

Ayşenur Dal Burak Özçetin Deniz Ergin Erbil Emel Özdora Emre Toros Müge Mengü Hale Özen Baş

Research cluster

Histories, Theories & Aesthetics of Media

The cluster approaches media through historical, theoretical, philosophical, and aesthetic inquiry. Research ranges from global new wave cinemas, film-philosophy, aesthetics, adaptation, nostalgia, photography, video-essays, design history, cultural heritage, digital art history, digital obsolescence, media archaeology, and the post-cinematic image.

Research areas

Global new wave cinemas Film-philosophy Aesthetics Adaptation Nostalgia Photography Video essays Design history Cultural heritage Media archaeology Post-cinematic image

Faculty

Andreas Treske Colleen Kennedy-Karpat Egemen Kırkağaç Jülide Akşiyote Görür Ruochen Bo Wickham Catesby Flannagan

Research cluster

Media Practices & Design

Faculty whose work is grounded in filmmaking, audiovisual production, sound, visual communication, interactive media, and design-led experimentation find home in the “Media Practices & Design” cluster. Research and creative practice in this cluster move between studio production and reflective inquiry, spanning cinematography, video production, screenwriting, post-production, sound for visual and interactive media, interactive design, design thinking, glitch aesthetics, virtual reality, digital art history, and digital obsolescence.

Research areas

Cinematography Video production Screenwriting Post-production Sound design Interactive design Design thinking Glitch aesthetics Virtual reality Digital art history Digital obsolescence

Faculty

Andreas Treske Boran Aksoy Bülent Çaplı Egemen Kırkağaç Fulten Larlar Jülide Akşıyote Görür Melih Aydınat Ufuk Önen Wickham Catesby Flannagan Yusuf Akçura