Busting Buzzwords

This episode features the word ‘LECTURE’.

In episode 2, we talk to Bruce Isaacs. Bruce is Associate Professor in Film Studies at The University of Sydney.

He is interested in a wide range of film studies-related topics: histories of film (with a focus on Hollywood, though abiding interests in various ‘New Waves’ and movements), film aesthetics and style, critical approaches to film production, film and popular culture (including the relationship between film and other pop culture art forms such as television, literature and music).

Currently, Bruce is intrigued by various developments in High Concept Hollywood and its evolution of new aesthetic practices, including digital and 3D cinema.

When we talked to him, he occupied the Role of Associate Dean of Education in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, in which he concerned himself with pedagogical issues in higher education settings and specifically those relevant to the student experience at The University of Sydney.

Bruce is a passionate educator, and you might find that when listening to ‘Film Versus Film’ podcast he co-hosts: https://filmversusfilm.podbean.com/.

Here is his academic profile: https://www.sydney.edu.au/arts/about/our-people/academic-staff/bruce-isaacs.html.

You can also find us and leave comments and likes on Instagram: @busting.buzzwords

Production Credits and Acknowledgments: 

Hosts: Clara Sitbon and Ben Nickl

Have a buzzword you’d like us to talk about? You can email us at [email protected]

We thank the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the technical team for their invaluable support.

We thank Michael West as a member and representative of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council for recording a Welcome to Country segment for the podcast's pilot season. We thank the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council for the opportunity to collaborate on this project and hope to continue in future. Please note that Michael West/the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council holds the sole copyright to the Welcome to Country segments. No reproduction, edits, or re-use of any kind of these segments is permitted without express and written confirmation from Michael West and the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Always was, always will be

This episode features the word ‘OUTPUT’.

In this inaugural episode of Busting Buzzwords we meet Matt Shores. Matt is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Japanese Studies at The University of Sydney.

He has a Ph.D. in Japanese literature and specialises in Edo-period (1600-1868) literary arts and entertainment. His research and interests span eras before this to the present day.

Matt apprenticed with rakugo (comic storytelling) masters Katsura Bunshi V (1930-2005) and Hayashiya Somemaru IV (b. 1949) and has trained in other traditional performing arts, such as bunraku, kabuki, kyōgen, nō, shamisen, etc., to supplement his understanding of premodern Japan and be better situated to illustrate that it was anything but quiet or confined to the page.

He has worked with numerous scholars and licensed practitioners, examining and translating works, performing in and staging productions, and enjoys involving students in educational and outreach projects.

In our conversation, Matt refers to his personal website which you can find here: https://mwshores.com.

You can also find us and leave comments and likes on

Production Credits and Acknowledgments:

Hosts: Clara Sitbon and Ben Nickl

Have a buzzword you’d like us to talk about? You can email

We thank the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the technical team for their invaluable support. 

We thank Michael West as a member and representative of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council for recording a Welcome to Country segment for the podcast's pilot season. We thank the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council for the opportunity to collaborate on this project and hope to continue in future. Please note that Michael West/the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council holds the sole copyright to the Welcome to Country segments. No reproduction, edits, or re-use of any kind of these segments is permitted without express and written confirmation from Michael West and the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Always was, always will be