Declan John Prout

Beginning study at the University of Plymouth, Declan developed an interest in the politics and semiotics of media. Following this, they undertook as Master's course at the University of Exeter, studying Political Thought. Both of their dissertations for these programmes focused on American media in the 1990s and 2000s, but a lifelong interest in Japanese media lead them to SOAS, where they began undertaking a PhD in Japanese studies. More recently, they gave a presentation at the 31st Japan Anthropology Workshop Series conference in Barcelona.   Beyond academia, Declan has a great passion for teaching, taking any opportunity they can to engage in teaching both within and beyond the university. More recently, they have undertaken work assisting students in getting their own work published, through working to improve it to a proper academic standard. Previously, they worked as an English teacher in south London. They have also undertaken work teaching Japanese and politics, and organised events to encourage more students to apply for PhDs at SOAS.   Declan also possesses a passion for representing their fellow students. For two years, they have served as the East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) research student representative, bringing the interests of the department's research students to the attention of departmental staff. In this capacity, they were also given the privilege of sitting on the Research Students' Association, and being their representative on the Student's Union Executive Committee.   Declan is also involved in the Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) system within the College of Humanities. Sitting on the RKE committee for the College, they once again advocate for greater representation of PhD within the broader RKE structure, as well as being involved in discussions regarding all forms of best practice in terms of research and knowledge exchange.

Anime, manga, film, Japan, hauntology, alienation, isolation, loneliness, popular culture, the lost decade(s), dyschronia, trauma, media studies, semiotics, LGBTQ+, gender