In addition to being a Professor in Film at Bangor University, I am also the lead director for the Centre for Film, Television and Screen Studies. I co-convene the British Jewish Contemporary Cultures network. I lecture, write and broadcast widely (in English and Welsh) on British and American popular culture, history film and intellectual culture. I co-founded Jewish Film and New Media: An International Journal.

My most recent books are Kubrick: Odyssey (with Robert Kolker; Faber & Faber/Pegasus, 2024); Alien Legacies: The Evolution of the Franchise (edited with Greg Frame; forthcoming from Oxford University Press); Eyes Wide Shut: Behind Stanley Kubrick's Masterpiece (edited with Georgina Orgill; Liverpool University Press, 2023); New Wave, New Hollywood: Reassessment, Recovery, and Legacy (edited with Greg Frame, Bloomsbury Academic, 2021), The Bloomsbury Companion to Stanley Kubrick (edited with I.Q. Hunter, Bloomsbury Academic, 2021), Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick and the Making of His Final Film (with Robert Kolker, Oxford University Press, 2019), Stanley Kubrick: New York Jewish Intellectual (Rutgers University Press, 2018), Hidden in Plain Sight: Jews and Jewishness in British Film, Television, and Popular Culture (Northwestern University Press, 2016), and The New Jew in Film: Exploring Jewishness and Judaism in Contemporary Cinema (IB Tauris; Rutgers University Press, 2012).

I am also interested in issues of sustainability and the environment, exploring the problem of single-use plastic pollution and its solution. 

Tel: + 44 (0)1248382196 

Email: n.abrams@bangor.ac.uk

Twitter: @ndabrams; https://bangor.academia.edu/NathanAbrams

I would be interested in supervising postgraduates in any of the areas in which I teach and research. Current and previous topics include David Cronenberg's Jewishness; The Iraq War on Film; Stanley Kubrick as a musician; Stanley Kubrick and the Holocaust; Steven Spielberg's Jewishness; DreamWorks Animation; Childhood in the Films of Stanley Kubrick; Jewish Women in 21st-century sitcoms; The Planet of Apes as History; Stereotypes of Wales and the Welsh on Film; The Jews of Bangor and Llandudno; The Jewish Diaspora in Wales; Jews in Italian Cinema; and Washing and Clotheslines on Film.

I teach at the Master's level in Film Studies. I am also responsible for the following undergraduate modules:

  • Stanley Kubrick: Producer and Director
  • Advanced Film History: America
  • Film Language
  • Film History

I have written widely on transatlantic Jewish film, history, politics and popular culture with specific reference to the United States and the United Kingdom. My current research falls into three key areas:

  • Jews, Jewishness and Judaism in Popular Culture, 1990–present -- recent and changing representations of Jewishness as ethnicity and religion in contemporary cinema and other forms of popular culture.
  • Public Intellectuals and American Culture -- exploring, theorising and widening the notion of the function of the intellectual in post-war America, with a specific focus on Norman Podhoretz, neoconservatives, Commentary magazine, the New York Intellectuals, Arthur Miller and Stanley Kubrick.
  • Belonging and Diasporas in Europe -- Jewish Diasporic communities in Europe with a particular emphasis on the UK.
  • Sustainability and the Environment -- research into messaging, representations, semiotics and solving the issue of single-use plastic pollution with a focus on disposable masks and energy drinks. 

 I am co-coordinator of the British Jewish Contemporary Cultures Network

American Studies and History

Film Studies

Film History

Jewish Studies and History

Stanley Kubrick

Celtic Jewish Studies

British Jewish History

Sustainability and the Environment

2024

2023

2022

  • PublishedCircumcised Cinema: Representing Jewishness on Film through Circumcision
    Abrams, N., 2022, Thought-Sign-Symbol : Cross-Cultural Representations of Religion. Kopytowska, M., Gałkowski, A. & Leone, M. (eds.). Lodz Studies in Language ed. Berlin: Peter Lang, Vol. 71. p. 447-464 464 p. (Lodz Studies in Language; vol. 71).
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
  • PublishedCrypto-Wiseaulogy: Uncovering Stanley Kubrick, Jewishness, and Judaism in The Room
    Abrams, N., Oct 2022, You are Tearing Me Apart, Lisa!: This Year's Work on The Room, The Worst Movie Ever Made. Rosen, A. (ed.). Bloomington: Indiana University Press, p. 87-97
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2021

  • PublishedIntroduction
    Abrams, N. & Hunter, I. Q., 14 Jan 2021, The Bloomsbury Companion to Stanley Kubrick. New York: Bloomsbury
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
  • PublishedIntroduction
    Abrams, N. & Frame, G., 21 Oct 2021, New Wave, New Hollywood:  Reassessment, Recovery, and Legacy. Abrams, N. & Frame, G. (eds.). New York: Bloomsbury
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
  • UnpublishedKubrick & Race: Some Thoughts
    Abrams, N., 2021, (Unpublished).
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedKubrick and Childhood
    Abrams, N., 14 Jan 2021, The Bloomsbury Companion to Stanley Kubrick. New York: Bloomsbury
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
  • PublishedKubrick and Psychoanalysis
    Abrams, N. & Hunter, I. Q., 14 Jan 2021, The Bloomsbury Companion to Stanley Kubrick. Abrams, N. & Hunter, I. (eds.). New York: Bloomsbury
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
  • PublishedKubrick’s Jewesses Onscreen and Offscreen
    Abrams, N., Dec 2021, In: Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies. 39, 3, p. 210-242
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedNew Wave, New Hollywood: Reassessment, Recovery, and Legacy
    Abrams, N. (Editor) & Frame, G. (Editor), 21 Oct 2021, New York: Bloomsbury.
    Research output: Book/Report › Anthology › peer-review
  • PublishedReview: Stanley Kubrick: American Filmmaker
    Abrams, N., 2021, In: Jewish Historical Studies. 52, 1, p. 297-301
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review › peer-review
  • PublishedRites of Passage: Jewish Representations of Children and Childhood in Contemporary Cinema
    Abrams, N., 2021, No small matter: features of Jewish Childhood. Helman, A. (ed.). Oxford: Oxford: OUP, Vol. 32. (Studies in Contemporary Jewry).
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedThe Bloomsbury Companion to Stanley Kubrick
    Abrams, N. (Editor) & Hunter, I. Q. (Editor), 14 Jan 2021, New York: Bloomsbury. 352 p.
    Research output: Book/Report › Anthology › peer-review
  • Published“It was f***ing biblical, mate”: The Maturing of British Television Drama
    Abrams, N., 22 Apr 2021, A Companion to British-Jewish Theatre since the 1950s. Malkin, J., Voigts, E. & Ablett, S. J. (eds.). New York: Bloomsbury Methuen
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

  • PublishedA Significant Journal of Jewish Opinion? Commentary Magazine.
    Abrams, N. D. & Abrams, N., 1 Jan 2001.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedBlaxploitation.
    Abrams, N. D. & Abrams, N., 1 Jan 2001.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedContaining America: Cultural Production and Consumption in Fifties America.
    Abrams, N. D. (Editor), Abrams, N. (Editor) & Hughes, J. (Editor), 1 Jan 2001, 2001 ed. University of Birmingham Press.
    Research output: Book/Report › Book
  • PublishedContemporary American Society in Film: David Fincher’s Fight Club.
    Abrams, N. D. & Abrams, N., 1 Jan 2001.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedFilm and the Construction of Identity.
    Abrams, N. D., Abrams, N., Kurian, G. (Editor), Orvell, M. (Editor), Butler, J. (Editor) & Mechling, J. (Editor), 1 Jan 2001, Encyclopedia of American Studies. 2001 ed. Grolier Publishing
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedFrom Madness to Dysentery: Mad’s Other New York Intellectuals.
    Abrams, N. D. & Abrams, N., 1 Jan 2001.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedIntroduction.
    Abrams, N. D., Abrams, N. & Hughes, J., 1 Jan 2001, Containing America: Cultural Production and Consumption in Fifties America.. 2001 ed. University of Birmingham Press, p. 1-11
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedJewish Americans in Film and Theater.
    Abrams, N. D., Abrams, N., Kurian, G. (Editor), Orvell, M. (Editor), Butler, J. (Editor) & Mechling, J. (Editor), 1 Jan 2001, Encyclopedia of American Studies. 2001 ed. Grolier Publishing
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedJewish Americans: An Overview.
    Abrams, N. D., Abrams, N., Kurian, G. (Editor), Orvell, M. (Editor), Butler, J. (Editor) & Mechling, J. (Editor), 1 Jan 2001, Encyclopedia of American Studies. 2001 ed. Grolier Publishing
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedMother’s Old-Fashioned Gefilte Fish.
    Abrams, N. D., Abrams, N. & Hughes, J. (Editor), 1 Jan 2001, Containing America: Cultural Production and Consumption in Fifties America.. 2001 ed. University of Birmingham Press, p. 76-90
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedNorth by Northwest and Memento.
    Abrams, N. D. & Abrams, N., 1 Jan 2001.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedPaul Robeson.
    Abrams, N. D., Abrams, N., Kurian, G. (Editor), Orvell, M. (Editor), Butler, J. (Editor) & Mechling, J. (Editor), 1 Jan 2001, Encyclopedia of American Studies. 2001 ed. Grolier Publishing
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedSex and Obscenity in Commentary Magazine.
    Abrams, N. D. & Abrams, N., 1 Jan 2001.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedStudying Film.
    Abrams, N. D., Abrams, N., Bell, I. & Udris, J., 1 Jan 2001, Hodder Arnold.
    Research output: Book/Report › Book
  • PublishedThe Holocaust on Film.
    Abrams, N. D. & Abrams, N., 1 Jan 2001.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedThe Jewish Dream Factory: Jews and the American Film Industry.
    Abrams, N. D. & Abrams, N., 1 Jan 2001.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
  • PublishedUndoing the Cold War: Mad Magazine.
    Abrams, N. D. & Abrams, N., 1 Jan 2001.
    Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

2000

2026

  • Thought for the Weekend

    A reflection on Holocaust Memorial Day 2024.

    31 Jan 2026

    Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation (Contributor)
  • Holocaust Memorial Day 2024

    Annual Holocaust commemoration service featuring staff, students, members of the public, local dignitaries and school pupils.

    26 Jan 2026

    Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Schools engagement (Contributor)

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

  • Review of The New Jew in Film in Studies in Contemporary Jewry

    Review of The New Jew in Film by Aharon Feuerstein, The Hebrew University: "The New Jew in Film: Exploring Jewishness and Judaism in Contemporary Cinema is an expression of the relatively new and growing interest in the way cinema presents Jews, Judaism, and Jewishness. What is unique about this book is its breadth—unlike many books on the subject, it does not limit itself to any niche or narrow issue but rather references more than 300 films from every existing genre. Its emphasis is on cinema

    worldwide from the last two decades (excluding, however, the Israeli film industry)... The New Jew in Film makes a real contribution to that discussion [of discussing the Jewish image in cinema]. with its clear and challenging arguments, its genre-crossing analysis, and its numerous detailed examples that provide a springboard for further research." (pp. 298-299.)

    2015

    Activity: Other (Recipient)
  • Studies in Eighteenth-Century Culture (Journal)

    2015

    Activity: Editorial activity (Editorial board member)

2014

  • Screenplay consultant

    Advised on issues relating to Jewish identity and the Holocaust for the TV programme WPC56, Series 3.

    Sep 2014

    Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation (Advisor)

2013

4

  • Shaken and Stirred: The Jewish Origins and Themes of James Bond

    Director Sam Mendes' 007 is more personal than all previous Bonds: we have an origin story, identity crises and a plethora of biblical imagery. From the Jew who inspired Flemming's Bond - Sidney Reilly, born Shlomo Rosenblum - to the latest movie in the franchise, this presentation uncovers the disturbing Jewish themes of the spy of spies.

    29 Feb 4

    Links:

    Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Public lecture/debate/seminar (Contributor)