Christian Thomas

Lecturer
cthomas@writing.ucsb.edu

Office Hours: 

Spring 2022 - please email for appointment

Office Location: 

South Hall 1401

Specialization: 

Christian Thomas is a lecturer in the Writing Program and the Associate Director of the Center for Digital Games Research. He teaches Academic Writing (WRIT 2), Rome: The Game (WRIT W 6R/ARTHI W 6R), How Games Tell Stories (INT 36GS), Writing and the Research Process (WRIT 50), Multimedia Writing (WRIT 105M), Writing for Public Speaking (WRIT 105PS), and Writing about Film (WRIT 109F). 

Research: 

Selected grants, publications, and conference presentations:

  • Innovative Learning Technology Initiative grant ($94,000) in support of development of Rome: The Game (co-PI, 2019)
  • Interdisciplinary Humanities Collaborations in the Virtual Classroom grant (corecipient, 2019)
  • Mellon Engaging Humanities Faculty Fellowship (2019)
  • Arts Special Issue, The Art of Adaptation in Film and Video Games (editor, 2021)
  • "Writing for Emotional Impact in Film and Video Games: Lessons in Character Development, Realism, and Interactivity from the Alien Media Franchise" (author, Arts, 2021)
  • "Interview: Acclaimed Game Designer Ryan Kaufman Discusses Telltale Games, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and How Video Games Can Transform Us" (interviewer, Arts, 2021)
  • "Game Writing Meets Online Course Design" (presenter, University of California Writing Programs Conference, 2021)
  • "Teaching an Online Course as a Story-Based Game" (presenter, Engaging Teaching Symposium, 2020)
  • "VR Games for Learning" (presenter, The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation, 2019)
  • "Gaming in the Writing Classroom" (presenter, Writing Program Professional Events, 2019)
  • "Character Development in Horror Fiction & Film" (presenter, College of Creative Studies, UCSB, 2019)
  • "Interactive Writing" (presenter, Technology in Writing Converence, 2018)
  • "Video Game Production" (presenter, UCSB Career Services, 2018)