Olena Gepper

Academic Coordinator

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

About me

I am delighted to introduce myself as the Academic Project Coordinator for the research initiative “AGE-C: Ageing and Gender in European Cinema.” My journey with this project commenced in 2023 when I joined the Department of Film Studies at Goethe University Frankfurt.

I have a master’s degree in Human Geography from Goethe University Frankfurt, which provides me with a diverse academic background. This background allows me to bring a unique perspective to the project, merging the fields of cinema studies and social sciences.

Throughout my academic journey and active participation in diverse research projects, I have had the privilege of gaining comprehensive insights into the socio-economic challenges that elderly individuals face within the European Union. This experience has not only deepened my understanding of the complexities of ageing but also motivated me to explore how these issues are portrayed and addressed within the realm of European cinema.

As the Academic Project Coordinator, I am honored to support a team of dedicated researchers in this journey of discovery. Together, we are committed to contributing valuable insights to both the academic field and the broader public discourse.

Thank you for visiting our project’s website, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or wish to collaborate on this important endeavor.

Contact

gepper[at]tfm.uni-frankfurt.de

Research interests

Film Studies, European Studies, East Europe Studies, Knowledge Transfer

Publications

Alexandru Firus, Richard Bůžek und Olena Mankivska (2017). “What happens after care drain? A nexus between external migration, peripheralization, institutional (dis)involvement and NGO action on elderly care in the EU’s Nord-Est Romanian region”. In: Feministisches Geo-RundMail. Informationen rund um feministische Geographie, Nr.73, pp. 9-18.

https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/142217/1/2017_Nr._73_September.2017_Migration.pdf

My AGE-C Story

From the very moment I joined the AGE-C project as the academic research coordinator, I was excited to become a part of such an international and inspiring team of researchers. It is truly motivating to observe and participate in the gradual establishment of cultural gerontology as a key approach in film studies during the regular AGE-C team meetings, which I coordinate.

Participating in this research project provides me with an opportunity to explore the concepts of ageing and gender from an entirely new perspective. I firmly believe that the need for re-articulation and redefinition of the experience of old age and gender is now more acute than ever before. While this process is undoubtedly complex, I am hopeful that I can contribute my skills and training to support the study of these dynamic social issues and advance public discourse on them.