Stéfy McKnight
Assistant Professor, Media Production and Design (cross-appointed with Communication and Media Studies)
| Building: | Richcraft Hall, Room 4105 |
| Department: | School of Journalism and Communication |
Biography
Dr. Stéfy McKnight (they/them/elle) is a white settler (French, Scottish, Greek, English descent), non-binary queer artist-scholar based in Katarokwi/Kingston, on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. They are Director of PROTOHYVE: Centre for Innovative Research-Creation in so called Canada, and SurveillART: Laboratory for Disruptive Exhibitionism at Carleton University on the unceded territories of the Algonquin nation. Stéfy’s research examines research-creation as a methodology for knowledge production and fact-based storytelling in so called Canada. Their research interests are broad and look at surveillance as contemporary colonialism; queer and femme representation in digital and virtual spaces; 2SLGBTQIA+ activism; technology and surveillance in rural communities, and art as function-creep.
Their scholarly work takes the form of performance, multi-media interventions, online curatorial projects, 3D printing, installation, video, and live streaming. Their research-creation has been exhibited at the Stratford Gallery (Stratford); Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre (Kingston); Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts (Kingston); White Water Gallery (North Bay) and others.
Stéfy is a member of the performance duo Cam Hunters (with Dr. Julia Chan). Cam Hunters seeks to reveal and interrogate the increasing presence of surveillance, in all its forms, in our lives. Cam Hunters does this through a range of projects, such as performances, creating satirical videos, recording a podcast, and offering critical tools. In 2020, they created the “Statement on Declining Online Imaging and Recording”, which was shared and used across Canada and internationally.
Cross Listed for Graduate Supervision
Communication and Media Studies
Curatorial Studies
Current Projects
2023- ongoing: Surveillant Pleasures: Using Research-Creation to Explore the Generative Potential of Surveillance with co-PI Dr. Julia Chan (University of Calgary), NFRF funded
“Pleasures of Surveillance”, edited collection, with Dr. Julia Chan, Surveillance & Society. Forthcoming.
2022-ongoing: Phantom Intimacies: Creative Interventions into Visualizing Chronic Pain and Queer Relationality funded by City of Kingston Arts Fund
Surveillance/Art: A Creative Address of Surveillance Logics edited collection with Drs. Susan Cahill (University of Calgary), Julia Chan (University of Calgary) and sava sava saheli singh (York University). Forthcoming.
2022-ongoing: SurveillART: Laboratory for Disruptive Exhibitionism, CFI Funded and ORF SIF Funded
2017-ongoing: Cam Hunters with Dr. Julia Chan (University of Calgary)
Select Past Projects
2021-2023: Aqtion Arqhive: Tracing 2SLGBTQIA+ Labour Activism in Katarokwi-Kingston (Public Service Alliance of Canada) SSHRC PEG funded
2021-ongoing: PROTOHYVE: Centre for Innovative Research-Creation in so called Canada (protohyve.com) SSHRC IDG funded
2021: “Multimedia Storytelling with Indigenous Youth and Post-Secondary Students: Youth Co-creation of a Vision for Sustainable Development as a Strategy toward Reconciliation”, co-applicant (PI: Rick Colbourne), funded by Multidisciplinary Research Catalyst Fund (MRCF).
2020: “Creative Research Methodologies for Surveillances Studies”, Surveillance & Society. 18 (1), 148-156, SSHRC funded
2016: Organic Surveillance: Security & Myth in the Rural (www.organicsurveillance.com) SSHRC funded
Select Publications
Chan, Julia and S. McKnight. (2023). “Disruptive Exhibitionism: A performance methodology for surveillance art”, Media Practice and Education, Taylor & Francis Online.
Bahng, Sojung, S. McKnight, and J. McCormack. (2022). “A comparative study of practice-based research and research-creation in media art: Comparing two doctoral studies in Australia and Canada”, ISEA Proceedings.
McKnight, S. (2020). “Creative Research Methodologies for Surveillance Studies”, Surveillance & Society.
Select Awards
2022: Individual Project Fund, City of Kingston Arts Fund
2021: Partnership Engage Grant, Social Sciences Humanities Research Council
2021: Insight Development Grant, Social Sciences Humanities Research Council
2021: (co-applicant) Multidisciplinary Research Catalyst Fund (MRCF), Carleton, University
2018-2021 (deferred 2021): (PI) Joseph-Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship, Social Sciences Humanities Research Council
Select Honours
2022: Research Excellence Award, Faculty of Public Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
2019: Union Activist of the Year, Kingston District Labour Council, Kingston, ON
2017: Honorable mention, Inaugural bi-annual Surveillance Studies Network Art Fund Prize
Academic Training
2020: PhD, Cultural Studies Program, Queen’s University, Kingston,
2016: Master of Art, Cultural Studies Program, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON.
2014: Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) and minor in Gender Equality and Social Justice, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON.
University Service
Member of the Carleton Trans Advocacy Group (CTAG) Operating Team
Equity Chair of CUASA
Websites
@aqtion_arqhive
@protohyve
@professor_lavender
@camhunters