About us

The aim of PopCRN is to leverage UNE’s research capability with to produce excellent research in popular culture. It provides a venue for researchers to share and collaborate on work.

The Popular Culture Research Network (PopCRN) brings together researchers across a variety of disciplines to further popular culture studies. Established in 2021 in response to the University of New England’s strong research output in the popular culture field, it provides a centre of excellence to showcase academic talent.

Popular culture field stretches across a number of modes, including television, music, fashion, theatre, literature, sport and film. Popular culture is an important aspect of society to study as it reflects issues such as trends, norms and social identity. PopCRN furthers research into the field through collaborations of its members, with a focus on interdisciplinary work. PopCRN researchers are established in their field and their work represents the cutting edge of popular culture study.

PopCRN aims to:

• Lead cutting edge research into a diverse array of pop culture
• Facilitate cross disciplinary connections to enhance academic outputs
• Invite and engage with people interested in and curious about pop culture studies

PopCRN was founded by Jo Coghlan and Lisa Hackett.

Jo Coghlan

Dr Jo Coghlan is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of New England, Armidale, NSW. She teaches in the areas of research and methodology in popular and material culture. Her research interests are in the fashioned political body with recent publications in Persona and Places: Negotiating Myths, Stereotypes and National Identities (WalterHill Publishing), The Australasian Journal of Popular Culture, The Journal of Contemporary Gothic Studies, and Media/Culture Journal.

Lisa J. Hackett

Dr Lisa J. Hackett completed her Ph.D. in Sociology 2020 at the University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales. Her thesis examines the reasons why women choose to wear 1950s style clothing in the current context. Her current research explores the use of elite women pilot's uniforms during the Second World War. Her research interests include material culture studies, fashion history, media and popular culture. Her latest article "Performing Nostalgia: Men's consumption of 1950s fashion" was published by Critical Studies in Men's Fashion in December 2020.