Biography
I am Dr Jack McGowan. I recently completed a PhD thesis on ‘Harmony and discord within the English “Counter-Culture”, 1965-1975, with particular reference to the “Rock Operas” Hair, Tommy, Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar‘. My research within the School of History at Queen Mary, University of London was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and, latterly, by a Scouloudi Research Fellowship from the Institute of Historical Research. I was supervised by Dr Dan Todman, author of The Great War: Myth and Memory.
My primary research interest is British society c.1960-c.1990, particularly when viewed through the arenas of cultural representation, the cultural industries, and national, collective interpretation. I use an interdisciplinary approach to examine what the mainstream press, film and TV, pop music and the performing arts can tell us about the ‘zeitgeist’ of the times. By addressing the overlap, friction and conflict between popular and ‘highbrow’ culture and ‘high’ and ‘revolutionary’ politics and popular opinion I aim to interrogate and challenge how and why ‘agreed’, sustained concepts of recent decades have been formed.
My first article – “Dispute”, “Battle”, “Siege”, “Farce”? Grunwick 30 Years On – appeared in Volume 22 Issue 3 of Contemporary British History in September 2008 and is available online. This article developed upon my MA dissertation, Reduced Snapshots and Enlarged Negatives? Grunwick: The Left, The Right, The Media, which was supervised by Dr Peter Catterall. As a result of my ongoing research into the Grunwick Dispute of 1976-78, I was interviewed by the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on the release, under the Thirty Year Rule, of National Archive documents relating to Grunwick. On completion of my MA, with Distinction, in Twentieth-Century History at Queen Mary in 2005 I was awarded both The MacMillan-Palgrave Prize and The Drapers’ Company Postgraduate Award for Academic Excellence.
While researching my PhD I taught and lectured in both the School of History and the Department of Drama at QMUL. I have also been a regular guest teacher of theatre history with Midwestern State University of Texas. Since 2009 I have been History Year 0/Bridging Year module co-ordinator and Lecturer in the International Academy of the University of Essex. Since 2011 I have also been a Teaching Fellow in History on the International Foundation Programme run by the Language Centre, which is part of Queen Mary’s School of Languages, Linguistics and Film.
Between 1990 and 2004 I worked throughout Britain as an actor, musician, musical director and, occasionally, director, teacher and stage manager. I remain actively involved in the performing arts and a member of Equity. I coach academics and others in presentation skills. My professional acting credits can be seen in the Spotlight directory.
My experience as a creative practitioner and my pre-Doctoral study and training inform my trans-disciplinary approach to contemporary British History:
2004-05 – MA (with Distinction) in Twentieth-Century British History, Queen Mary, University of London.
2003-04 – studied Cultural Studies and Film & TV History with the Open University, graduating with a BA (Open) (Honours) (First Class).
1993-96 – Diploma in Drama (Acting) (with Merit), accredited by Equity and the National Council for Drama Training, Queen Margaret College (now University), Edinburgh.
1989-92- BA (majoring in Social & Economic History and Spanish), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
1987-89 – studied Music (Piano & Voice) at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, Glasgow, completing two years of a BA (Music Performance).
Further information and my contact details can be viewed here and here.
Last updated May 2012.
