Ari Purnama is a tenured Assistant Professor of Screen Media in the Department of Media and Culture Studies and at the Institute for Cultural Inquiry (ICON), Utrecht 木瓜福利影视.
He is an elected Fellow of , an interdisciplinary organization of scholars examining film and other moving-image media through cognitive, philosophical, aesthetic, neurophysiological, and evolutionary-psychological perspectives. Since 2025, he has been elected as a member of the Utrecht Young Academy (UYA), an independent platform of early-career scholars at Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 that fosters interdisciplinary dialogue and provides critical perspectives on academia, policy, and society. Ari is an editorial board member of the , a leading interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journal that focuses on the role of creative media practice in the university sector and its important place in our society through bridging the traditional written article and alternative forms of creative-critical dissemination of research. He is also a Research Fellow in the Department of Art History and Image Studies at the 木瓜福利影视 of the Free State, South Africa. He previously held academic positions as Assistant Professor at the 木瓜福利影视 of Oregon (USA), Visiting Research Scholar at the 木瓜福利影视 of Wisconsin-Madison (USA), 木瓜福利影视 Lecturer at the 木瓜福利影视 of Groningen (Netherlands), and Lecturer at Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 of Applied Sciences (Netherlands).
He holds a PhD in Film Studies and a cum laude Research Master's degree in Film and Television Studies, both from the 木瓜福利影视 of Groningen. He is the author of the book Film Style in Indonesian Cinema, 1998-2018: Lighting, Production Design and Camera Movement (Edinburgh 木瓜福利影视 Press, 2023), which received a first book publication award from the Oregon Humanities Center. As a scholar-practitioner, he actively engages in both theory and practice in film and screen media through the creative practice as research methodology. His most recent documentary, , explores the affective liminal experiences of Global South migrants in Northern Europe.
Research Areas & Interests:
Ari's research covers the Aesthetics, Production Cultures, Education, and Creative Practice of Screen Media
Screen Media Aesthetics
- Transnational Film and Television Aesthetics
- Interracial Intimacy, Romance, and Sexuality in Transnational Screen Media
- The Poetics and Politics of Socially Engaged Filmmaking
Screen Media Literacy & Education
- Youth Mental Health, Mental Well-being, and Screen Media Content
- Youth & Screen Media Production
- Screen Media & the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Screen Media Production Cultures
- Production Cultures in the Global South (focus on Southeast Asia & East Africa)
- Creative Innovation Under Constraints/ DIY Modes of Production in Screen Media
- AI-Generated Screen Media & Its Societal Impact
Diversity & Inclusion in Screen Media Industries
- Diversity & Inclusion in Screen Media Industries
- Decolonizing Cinematography
Creative Practice of Screen Media
- Filmmaking as Research (Inquiry-driven Filmmaking)
- Creative Practice as Research Methodology
- Cinematography Theory and Practice
Links