PhD in Cultural Studies

Chelsea Wenzhu Xu, 2025

Degree: PhD in Cultural Studies 

I chose George Mason because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., and funding structure. It offered a competitive package for the PhD program.

I decided to pursue media studies under the discipline of cultural studies because I was interested in the way media culture is produced and circulated in the contemporary world. I am especially interested in learning how critical theory and Marxist critique can inform understandings of 21st century Chinese media culture. I loved the diverse course offerings and the wide range of intellectual pursuit that the Cultural Studies Program at George Mason offers.

My dissertation studies the representation of women in contemporary Chinese popular media. I read the texts about women in the context of postsocialism, neoliberalism, globalism, and Chinese traditionalism. I see the representation and imagination of women as important sites of political discussion as China navigates acute social issues such as the population crisis and urban-rural inequality.

Most impactful class: History of Cultural Studies with my dissertation director Professor Alison Landsberg

This was one of the first classes I took at George Mason. And she laid such a solid foundation and introduced us to the key thinkers in the discipline. It was the most intellectually challenging and stimulating experience, and I was able to use the knowledge from the course throughout the entire PhD journey and in my dissertation.

Favorite George Mason memory: Taking evening classes with my cohort and friends on campus and taking the metro back to D.C. together while discussing course materials the entire way.

Advice for future George Mason graduate students: Be proactive. Seek out opportunities and build your own path. It's a massive university and there is always something you can participate in, you can learn from, and benefit in. It's what you make out of the time here.

Future plans: I started a new job as a communications strategist at UL Research Institutes in June.