Spotlight on Creativity:
A career advocating for the arts
Vice-Provost of the Faculty of the Arts and Professor of Film and Television Studies, Rachel Moseley realised her passion and followed the path it led her down.
Defying expectations
In the 1980s, Rachel embarked on her A-Levels at King Edward’s High School for Girls in Birmingham. “It was kind of like - you’re destined for Oxford or Cambridge, so I think there was an expectation for me to apply to university and I didn’t.”
Rachel studied English Literature, French and initially Latin, until she realised her real passion – and switched from Latin to Art A level, and then went on to do a Foundation course in Art and Design.
Unable to take up a place in Fine Art at Canterbury, she got a job at Culpeper the Herbalist in Birmingham, a popular shop in the 1980s and 1990s. Eventually, after becoming manager of the store, Rachel knew that she needed to do something more intellectually stimulating, and it needed to be local,so that she could continue to live at home.
“I started looking locally and realised that I could do a degree in Film and Literature at The University of Warwick. I put a late application in and was accepted.”
Rachel attributes this decision to her formative experience of doing an Art Foundation course, which cemented her passion for and understanding of the value of creative subjects.
Defying expectations
In the 1980s, Rachel embarked on her A-Levels at King Edward’s High School for Girls in Birmingham. “It was kind of like - you’re destined for Oxford or Cambridge, so I think there was an expectation for me to apply to university and I didn’t.”
Rachel studied English Literature, French and initially Latin, until she realised her real passion – and switched from Latin to Art A level, and then went on to do a Foundation course in Art and Design.
Unable to take up a place in Fine Art at Canterbury, she got a job at Culpeper the Herbalist in Birmingham, a popular shop in the 1980s and 1990s. Eventually, after becoming manager of the store, Rachel knew that she needed to do something more intellectually stimulating, and it needed to be local, so that she could continue to live at home.
“I started looking locally and realised that I could do a degree in Film and Literature at The University of Warwick. I put a late application in and was accepted.”
Rachel attributes this decision to her formative experience of doing an Art Foundation course, which cemented her passion for and understanding of the value of creative subjects.
Following a passion
After completing her Film and Literature undergraduate degree at Warwick, she then went on to complete her Masters at the University of East Anglia. Rachel returned to Warwick for her PhD in 1996.
“At the time, it was still possible to get an academic job pretty directly out of your PhD, without having already published books.”
Rachel began a position in the Film and Television Studies department, where she undertook both teaching and research, and acted as Admissions Tutor and then Director of Graduate Studies. Eventually, the opportunity came up to be the Head of Department and Rachel took on that role.
“It was something that I was nervous about. But once I started doing it, I realised that I really, really loved it, so I carried on for five years.”
Pivoting through change
Rachel has seen many changes in the department. Film and Television Studies became part of the School of Creative Arts, Performance and Visual Cultures, and Covid-19 transformed everyday lives and working practices.
“There were a lot of things happening during those five years, but it was manageable and I felt like I was making a contribution. So, when the role of Vice-Provost and Chair of Faculty came up, the choice was: apply for this role or take two years of research leave and write another book.”
“I applied for the role and was successful, and I’m really enjoying it! Plus, I’m still doing a bit of research.”
There have been recruitment difficulties in the sector, combined with the often-negative narrative about the Arts and their value. Warwick Arts is really strong though, we’re still recruiting well and the University believes in our importance.”
The new Faculty of Arts building was built during Rachel's tenure
The new Faculty of Arts building was built during Rachel's tenure
The new Faculty of Arts building was built during Rachel's tenure
The new Faculty of Arts building was built during Rachel's tenure
The new Faculty of Arts building was built during Rachel's tenure
The new Faculty of Arts building was built during Rachel's tenure
The value of an arts degree
Rachel explains the breadth of skills Arts and Humanities degrees offer.
At first look, they can appear to deliver a set of skills that are subject-specific.
But, looking more closely, an arts degree offers a wide array of transferable skills; creative thinking, communication through writing, speaking or visual literacy, and critical thinking.
“They’re fundamental skills valued by all employers and something that sets Arts and Humanities degrees apart. We just need to make that more visible.”
“I'm still in touch with graduates who have become midwives, work in advertising, national theatre or work in specific areas of the film and tv industry, or are in publishing - a really wide range of careers.”
Innovation for the Arts
The term ‘innovation’ is often aligned to technology, science or manufacturing. But there is also a place for innovation in the Arts.
“In an Arts and Humanities context, innovation is centred around the ability to bring things together in different ways and experiment without the fear of getting it wrong. There are multiple possible outcomes that might be right.”
“As in any other discipline, it’s critical to evaluate evidence, make an argument for an interpretation, present supporting evidence and argue the case. That kind of thinking is fundamental to most roles”.
Authorship and sustainability
Rachel has written several books including ‘Growing up with Audrey Hepburn’, ‘Fashioning Film Stars’, ‘Feminism in Popular Culture’ and ‘Hand-Made Television’, and has influenced further research with her article ‘Makeover Takeover on British Television’, published in 2000.
“Writing a book is hard! I have to be strict with myself and set tasks for every day to make sure I progress. There’s a lot of research involved, but I love going into archives and then putting it all together - shaping the book and working the information into chapters.”
Rachel ran a research project for the Warwick Commission on the Future of Cultural Value, focused on cultural production in Cornwall. This has led more recently to research on the ways in which policy change could improve sustainable production practices in locations where repeated filming leads to increased tourism.
She has a broader interest in gender, media and societal issues in the 1970s. She is currently working on a research project focused on the 1970s television drama “Crown Court” and is exploring the themes of social change and second-wave feminism in courtroom dramas.
There’s a lot of research involved in writing a book, but I love going into archives and then putting it all together - shaping the book and working the information into chapters.”
Advice for aspiring academics
While there are challenges along the way; long hours, balancing teaching, research, and administrative duties with personal life, Rachel believes these are the three key factors to shaping a rewarding career in the Arts.
Curiosity: Vital for sustained interest in research and/or teaching.
Resilience: Essential for leadership roles and adapting to changes in higher education.
Empathy: Needed to lead and balance institutional demands with support for staff and student communities.
Rachel’s personal mission is to make the value of arts and humanities education more visible, and paths into arts education and careers accessible for everyone.
“You need to have a limitless thirst for finding out more about the subject you’re pursuing.”
Professor Rachel Moseley
Profess of Film & Television Studies
Vice-Provost for the Faculty of Arts
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