Dr Daniel O'Brien
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Email
d.obrien@essex.ac.uk -
Location
5NW.5.7, Colchester Campus
Profile
Biography
Daniel O’Brien’s research considers the relationship between cinema, interactive art and computer gaming. His work focuses upon the interdisciplinary nature of visual media, particularly how audiences have become participants in visual and audible storytelling through a postphenomenological framework. He has taught and had work published across each of these areas at a range of research institutes and academic journals, including the International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media.
Qualifications
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PhD university of Glasgow, (2016)
Appointments
University of Essex
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Department Disability Liaison Officer, LiFTS, University of Essex (9/9/2019 - 8/6/2020)
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Graduate Director, LiFTS, University of Essex (8/6/2020 - present)
Research and professional activities
Research interests
Delete Conference planning collective
Looking at the concept of "delete" in a post-digital world. Working with Jiri Anger (Queen Mary University) and Veronika Hanakova (Prince Charles, Prague)
Conferences and presentations
The Computer on Screen: Invisible labour and digital hoarding
BAFTSS conference 2024 - Labour and Screen Media, Brighton, United Kingdom, 5/4/2024
Embodying Screen and Story (Video Essay presentation)
Invited presentation, Screen Studies Conference 2022, Screen Studies Conference 2022, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 2/7/2022
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Contemporary Texts and Contexts (LT109)
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Approaches to Film and Media (LT121)
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Creative Media (LT205)
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Video Game Theory (LT399)
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Dissertation Preparation: Postgraduate Research and Writing Skills (LT901)
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Critical Moments in the Theory and History of Film (LT927)
Publications
Journal articles (15)
O'Brien, D., Everybody Dreams (Laird's Constraint). Screenworks
O'Brien, D., Everybody Dreams Sometimes. Screenworks. 16 (2)
O'Brien, D., (2025). The Time-Loop: Cycles of Play and Inequality. MAST: The Journal of Media Art Study and Theory. 6 (1), 144-145
O'Brien, D., (2025). Arnold Schwarzenegger Screen Stars Dictionary - – Aging Stars – Fading to Dust or Shining as Stardust?. Tecmerin. Revista de Ensayos Audiovisuales. 15
O'Brien, D., (2025). Public Domain. Fragments: A Journal of Videographic Form and Method
O'Brien, D., (2024). The Allure and Threat of Onscreen Computers: A Supercut of Onscreen Computers in Speculative Screen Fiction. Iluminace. 36 (2), 29-40
O'Brien, D., (2023). The Time-Loop as Game Mechanic, Narrative Device and Cycle of Systemic Racism. NECSUS: European Journal of Media Studies
O'Brien, D., (2023). Robert De Niro Screen Stars Dictionary. Tecmerin. Journal of Audiovisual Essays. 12
O'Brien, D., (2023). Screen Sustenance: Representations of Food and Drink in Film and Media. European Journal of Public Health. 33 (S2)
O'Brien, D., (2020). Extant’s Flatland: Disability and Postphenomenological Narrative. AModern. 10, 1-1
O'Brien, D., (2019). Hap-Tech Narration and the Postphenomenological Film. Philosophies. 4 (3), 47-47
O'Brien, D., (2018). Somaster Fiction and the Avatarial Game Body. Evental Aesthetics. 7 (1), 138-171
O'Brien, D., (2017). The pervasive and the digital. International Journal of E-Politics. 8 (3), 30-41
O'Brien, D., (2017). Postphenomenological performance in interactive narrative. International Journal of E-Politics. 8 (2), 40-55
O'Brien, D., (2017). Postphenomenological performance: bodily extensions in interactive art. International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media. 13 (2), 120-136
Book chapters (4)
O'Brien, D., (2024). Zoom's Performative Window: Affordances and Constraints. In: “You're Muted" Performance, Precarity, and the Logic of Zoom. Editors: Nunes, M. and Ozog, C., . Bloomsbury Academic. 109- 126. 9798765108246
O'Brien, D., (2023). Digital love: Love through the screen/of the screen. In: Love and the Politics of Intimacy Bodies, Boundaries, Liberation. Editors: Dikova, S., McMahon, W. and Savage, J., . Bloomsbury. 111- 126. 9781501387371
O'Brien, D., (2022). Media Ownership and Digital Authenticity in Slum TV. In: Media Ownership in Africa in the Digital Age Challenges, Continuity and Change. Editors: Mano, W. and El Mkaouar, L., . Routledge. 248- 265. 9781003111924
O'Brien, D., (2020). The Pervasive and the Digital: Immersive Worlds in Four Interactive Artworks. In: Handbook of Research on Recent Developments in Internet Activism and Political Participation. Editors: Ibrahim, Y., . IGI Global. 69- 85. 9781799847960
Conferences (2)
O'Brien, D., Keynote Speaker: Dr Daniel O’Brien: “Thinking Through Images: A Videographic Approach to Research”
O'Brien, D., The Memory of Computer in Film
Media (1)
O'Brien, D., Penny Marshall & The Absence of Continuity in Big and Awakenings. Video
Other (15)
O'Brien, D., (2025).A Complete Unknown: Chalamet’s brilliant performance captures the elusive essence of a young Dylan,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2025).Better Man: musical biopic of Robbie Williams as performing monkey will entertain you,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2025).One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: 50 years on Jack Nicholson's greatest performance is as fresh as ever,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2025).Opus: clunky satire about an evil celebrity cult has plenty to say – it just doesn’t know how to say it,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2025).The Phoenician Scheme: a fun watch even though it’s the same journey in a different vehicle,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2025).Back to the Future at 40: the trilogy has never been remade – let’s hope that doesn’t change,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2025).Robert Redford: ten great films from a brilliant career,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2025).Commando at 40: Schwarzenegger’s bonanza of bullets, bad guys and biceps rewards a rewatch,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2025).The Thing With Feathers: a dark but uplifting exploration of grief and despair,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2024).The power of POV: five films that put you in the shoes of otherwise unrelatable characters,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2024).Six Robert De Niro films that explore alienation, isolation and loneliness,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2024).Baby Reindeer and the problematic ownership of bad fans,CST Online
O'Brien, D., (2024).Gladiator II: a wavering thumbs up for a rehashed sequel that can’t escape the ghost of Russell Crowe,The Conversation
O'Brien, D., (2022).The TV dictionary and my first cuts and edits into videographic criticism,CST Online
O'Brien, D., (2019).John Marmysz (2017) Cinematic Nihilism: Encounters, Confrontations, Overcomings. Film-Philosophy. 23(1),Edinburgh University Press
Grants and funding
2025
Delete: Strategies of Negation in the Age of Data Suffocation
University of Essex (QR Impact Fund)