Cariad Martin

Cariad Martin is an AHRC-funded doctoral researcher in Media Studies at the University of Kent, currently working on her PhD thesis about Disney family fan culture. Her recent publications include a chapter on inherited fandom in infancy, and a comparative study of shopper labour in Lush, Disney and Primark stores.
Cariad has presented her research at several international conferences, and was also a recipient of the Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship 2024. She currently teaches on the Media Studies and Media and Film BA(Hons) programmes, including convening the module Media, Ethics and Social Justice.
Prior to postgraduate study, Cariad worked in TV and as a brand strategist before completing an MA with Distinction in Brands, Communication and Culture in 2022 at Goldsmiths University. She also holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Photography and Creative Writing from Roehampton University.  

Cariad’s PhD research examines the role of Disney fan culture within the family unit, including the ways in which certain fandoms are seemingly “inherited” by each new generation in the family life cycle. 

The project uses a combination of ethnographic methods and textual analysis to document and analyse the ways in which Disney fandom is used to form intergenerational bonds, establish shared rituals and develop deep connections to sacred spaces and texts. While seemingly positive for the health of the family unit, evidence that fan culture can play a significant role in the primary socialisation of children raises significant questions, particularly regarding corporate influence.

More widely, Cariad’s research interests include family and children’s media, and digital media ethics.  

Supervised by Professor John Wills and Dr Lavinia Brydon.

PhD Title

The Disney Family: Ritual, Collective Identity and Generational Bonds

Publications

Martin, C. (2024) ‘Inheriting my Ears: Disney Fandom and Identity Formation in Infancy’ in Muir, Aguiló-Perez, Helm and Rowe The Cultural Legacy of Disney: A Century of Magic.

Martin, C. (2025) Retail spaces and consumer labour in a digital first economy: A comparative study of atmospherics and shopper behaviour in Lush, Disney and Primark. Journal of Consumer Culture, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14695405241310988