A.W. McGowan is an independent scholar, writer, and educator. His articles and essays on film, media, and culture have appeared in various publications, and he has presented his research at academic conferences across the country. He graduated from Bowdoin College and the UCLA Film & TV Summer Institute, and has served on committees for the Austin Film Festival and the Rhode Island International Film Festival. He has also worked in the entertainment industry as a script reader, production coordinator, and actor.