Dr Hantian Zhang FHEA, PhD, MSc, BA Hons
Lecturer in Media
Summary
I teach Media at the Department of Media Arts and Communication. My research interests cover multiple aspects of digital media including social media, audience engagement, social/(tele)presence, participatory culture and network analysis. My current research explores YouTube video networks, audience engagement with YouTube video blogs (vlogs), and gamification elements on online streaming apps. I was awarded a PhD in Digital Media and Communication, and an MSc in Design and Digital Media (with Distinction) both at the University of Edinburgh.
About
I am a Lecturer in Media at the Department of Media Arts and Communication. I currently teach Making Media, Making Media 2, Media Evolution And The Professional Landscape, and Applied Project/Dissertation for Media modules for BA (Hons) Media. I am a Collaborative Course Leader for BA(Hons) Creative Practice (Topup). I received the Fellowship of HEA (FHEA). I was awarded a PhD in Digital Media and Communication in 2019 and an MSc in Design and Digital Media (with Distinction) in 2014 both at the University of Edinburgh, and a BA Hons (1st) in Fine Art at Nanjing Normal University in China in 2013. I consider the area of media to be challenging because it requires creative thinking, research and technical skills. However, it is also a rewarding subject because of the creative outcomes it delivers. Therefore, I always feel enjoyable in teaching and research in the area.
My research covers multiple aspects of Digital Media including social media, audience engagement, social/(tele)presence, participatory culture and network analysis. My current research explores YouTube video networks, audience engagement with YouTube video blogs (vlogs), and gamification elements on online streaming apps. Outcomes of my research have been recently published in and presented at peer-reviewed international journal and conferences in Internet, Social Media, Communication, and Human-computer Interaction (HCI) studies including First Monday (2018), HCI International (2020), International Communication Association Conference (ICA) (2021). In addition to Digital Media research, I also have a background in Creative and Digital Media Production, including Graphic Design, 3D, Film Production and Web Design.
Before joining Sheffield Hallam University, I was a tutor and project supervisor for MSc Design and Digital Media at the University of Edinburgh and taught several modules including 3D and Animated Design, Digital Design and Digital Media Studio Project. I also worked at the Edinburgh Centre For Data, Culture & Society. Furthermore, I worked as a professional Graphic and Digital Designer at creative agencies in UK and China, and delivered works in, for example, web/app design, infographic design, branding, advertising and visual identity.
Teaching
Department of Media Arts and Communication
Social Sciences and Arts
Media and Photography
BA(Hons) Media
BA(Hons) Creative Practice (Topup) (Collaborative Course Leader)
Making Media, Making Media 2, Media Evolution And The Professional Landscape, Applied Project / Dissertation for Media
Research
My recent research projects involve YouTube video networks, audience engagement with YouTube video blogs (vlogs), and gamification elements on online streaming apps. For project details please see my publication list.
Publications
Journal articles
Zhang, H. (2018). Evoking presence in vlogging: A case study of U. K. beauty blogger Zoe Sugg. First Monday, 23 (1). http://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v23i1.8107
Conference papers
Zimmer, F., Scheibe, K., & Zhang, H. (2020). Gamification elements on social live streaming service mobile applications. In Meiselwitz, G. (Ed.) HCI International 2020: 22nd International Conference on Human-computer Interaction, Copenhagen, Denmark, 19 July 2020 - 24 July 2020 (pp. 184-197). Springer: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49570-1_13
Zhang, H. (2018). Vlogger's engagement via facebook: A case study of UK beauty Vlogger Zoella. Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Social Media, ECSM 2018, 479-484.
Theses / Dissertations
Zhang, H. (2019). Exploring engagement in vlogs through content, context and presence. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Lee, J., & Rawlinson, J.
Presentations
Zhang, H., Rodgers, D., Rodriguez-Amat, J.R., & Belinskaya, Y. (2021). Algorithmic Alchemy: The Power of the Witch on YouTube. Presented at: ICA 2021 - 71st Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado [online]
Zhang, H., Rodgers, D.A., Rodriguez-Amat, J.R., & Belinskaya, Y. (2021). The Shape of Witchcraft. Analytics of Recommendation Algorithms and the Platformization of Culture. Presented at: Algorithms in Film, Television and Sound Cultures: New Ways of Knowing and Storytelling, Bilgi University, Istanbul [online]