Professor of Film and Screen Studies Catherine Zimmer, PhD, authored an article in Avidly (a channel of the LA Review of Books) titled “” in which she discussed the “phenomenon” of the singer-songwriter, which includes, among other things, “an earnest and passionate longing for the analog,” something Zimmer feels the artist herself embodies.
In Zimmer’s view, Roan’s work is not necessarily about acoustic instrumentation, and it goes beyond nostalgia. It is “inhabitable” and “relational.”
She said, “Analog, in this instance, signals a certain type of materiality and presence. But the self-evidence of the analog includes constant reference to itself within history, within culture, within what phenomenology—a field of philosophy most simply defined by the notion that existence is always situated and relational—would call a ‘lifeworld.’
The 'phenomenon' of Chappell Roan is one that should be recognized as such because she embodies her own talent so well at the same time that it is clear that she is a canvas for performative transformation, cultural interaction, and productive, communal spectatorship.”
Through 鶹ֱ’s unique relationship with the United Nations, students are taking their education beyond the classroom and onto the global stage, advocating for human rights, engaging with international leaders, and gaining firsthand experience in shaping conversations that can change the world.
From studying disease at the molecular level to exploring the ecosystems in our own backyards, two 鶹ֱ professors are helping undergraduate students turn curiosity into meaningful research. Meet the 2026 Faculty Undergraduate Research Mentor Award recipients.
How much freedom are we willing to sacrifice in the name of security? As facial recognition and AI-powered surveillance expand worldwide, Political Science Professor and Chair Amy Freedman, PhD, examines what the rise of digital monitoring in Southeast Asia reveals about democracy, individual rights, and the growing power of governments to watch and control their citizens.