Vaughn Joy

I’m an independent researcher and recent graduate with a PhD in History from University College London. My first book, Selling Out Santa: Hollywood Christmas Films in the Age of McCarthy (2025), explores how Hollywood manipulated the American Christmas holiday for socially conservative ends in the post-war, early Cold War period in response to federal pressures on the motion picture industry. My other work concerns McCarthyism, Hollywood business practices and politics, and media literacy of pop culture. I’m currently located just outside one of my favorite American cities (Boston) with my favorite American Studier (Ben) and my favorite American cat (Biscuits). (But we’re willing to relocate if you’re hiring!)