Personal profile
Short presentation
My main interest is film theoretical and I have long been focused on film acting and the power of performances for affecting our experience of moving image narratives. I'm the author of Spillets kunst (2003) on emotions and nonverbal meaning, and I have contributed to encyclopedias, anthologies, and journals on this and other issues. Currently I'm working on a book-length study of film acting styles between 1920 and 1980, adressing American, European and Asian actor-director collaborations. I'm particularly interested in cognitive film theory and have attended the SCSMI conferences for years. A secondary interest is that of media industries, in particular issues of distribution and ownership, and I have a particular liking for short film narratives.
I have been teaching course on film theory and analysis, as well as institutions and organizations, inclduing a course concurrent with students' internships. Since 2005 I have been a member of the board at Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image, since 2017 on the board for Carl Th. Dreyers Mindefond.
Keywords
- Faculty of Humanities
- acting
- cognitive film theory
- film distribution and marketing
- aesthetics
- short film
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Research output
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Communicative Functions of Performer Expressiveness and Their Artistic and Aesthetic Aspects: Analysis of a Scene from Smiles of a Summer Night
Riis, J., 2017, In: Projections: The Journal for Movies and Mind. 11, 2, p. 49-66 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus)15 Downloads (Pure) -
Can involuntary contributions be authored? A note on the Actor's art
Riis, J., 2005, Visual Authorship: Creativity and intentionality in the Media. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum, p. 87-101 15 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research
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Naturalist and classical styles in early sound film acting
Riis, J., 2004, In: Cinema Journal. 3, p. 3-17 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
7 Citations (Scopus) -
Spillets kunst - følelser i film
Riis, J., 2003, København: Museum Tusculanum. 264 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research
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Bogey's Imaginative Contribution
Riis, J., 2002, In: P.o.v.. 14, p. 199-235 37 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research
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Is a Realist Style Aimed at Providing an Illusion?
Riis, J., 2002, Realism and Reality in Film and Media. København: Museum Tusculanum, p. 93-115 23 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research
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L'expérience émotionelle et le style: Le troisième sens, l'excès et le sublime vus à la lumière
Riis, J., 2002, In: Cinémas. 12, 2, p. 117-134 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Activities
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Gender and Colonial Narratives in Isabella Eklöfs Kalak (2023)
Riis, J. (Other)
8 Nov 2025Activity: Presentations, memberships and other activity types › Lecture and oral contribution
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Læger i filmens tjeneste
Riis, J. (Lecturer) & Kjær, M. (Other)
25 Sept 2025Activity: Presentations, memberships and other activity types › Lecture and oral contribution
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Preliminary findings on media use and occupational images of police
Riis, J. (Other)
29 May 2024Activity: Presentations, memberships and other activity types › Lecture and oral contribution
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Stylistic change and the norms that guide spectators’ appraisal of screen performances
Riis, J. (Other)
22 Mar 2024Activity: Presentations, memberships and other activity types › Lecture and oral contribution
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Norwegian University of Science and Technology (External organisation)
Riis, J. (Member)
1 Dec 2023 → 30 Jan 2024Activity: Presentations, memberships and other activity types › Membership of review committee
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Symbolic purposes of style in The Square (2017)
Riis, J. (Other)
3 Jun 2023Activity: Presentations, memberships and other activity types › Lecture and oral contribution
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Uddeling af Dreyer Prisen 2023
Riis, J. (Speaker) & Redvall, E. N. (Other)
13 Mar 2023Activity: Presentations, memberships and other activity types › Lecture and oral contribution
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Lægeskildringer i filmhistorisk perspektiv
Riis, J. (Other)
8 Sept 2022Activity: Presentations, memberships and other activity types › Lecture and oral contribution
Press/Media
Prizes
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Københavns Universitets Guldmedalje
Riis, J. (Recipient), Dec 1997
Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions