Dr. Bar Leshem
Department of Arts, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
My life before BGU:
I was born and raised in Jerusalem and later in Kiryat Ono. Academically, though, I grew up at BGU. I earned my bachelor’s degree in the Department of Arts, with minors in Hebrew Literature and European Studies. I completed my master’s degree in the Interuniversity Program in Classical Studies, supervised by Prof. Yulia Ustinova of the Department of General History and Prof. Nirit Ben-Aryeh Debby of the Department of Arts. Prof. Ben-Aryeh Debby also supervised my doctorate in the department.
I held several postdoctoral fellowships: a short-term Kreitman fellowship at BGU, again under Prof. Ben-Aryeh Debby’s supervision; a fellowship with a research group studying pop culture at the University of Haifa; and a short-term fellowship at the University of Kassel in Germany, supported by the Minerva Foundation.
Why BGU?
As I mentioned, BGU is where I grew and developed academically. Ever since I realized I wanted an academic career, I think my dream was to join its Department of Arts. I love the atmosphere, the approach of both the university and the department, the energy, the excellence in research, and the students.
After my doctorate and postdoctoral work, I joined the faculty at the University of Haifa, but I always dreamed of returning to BGU. Now that dream has come true, and I really feel I have come home.
What do I research?
I wear two research hats. The first is early modern art, primarily in Italy. I am currently exploring how people in the early modern period understood the influence of celestial bodies, such as stars and planets, on human life, particularly sexuality, and how these ideas were expressed in art. In short, I study astrology.
My second field is comics studies. My current focus is on gender representation in comics, including portrayals of women and men, queerness, and related questions. I also co-host a podcast with Priel Cohanim of BGU’s Department of Foreign Literatures, where we discuss all things comics, in academia and popular culture. The podcast, The Thing About Underpants: A Podcast About Comics and Superheroes, is recorded and released through BGU Radio.
An insight from my research
My main insight is that you should research something that interests you and that you feel passionate about. If it also connects to your personal life, all the better. I am an astronomy enthusiast: I took a course in observational astronomy and have my own telescope. All of this led me to study astrology in the early modern period.
The same is true of comics. I have always loved comics and everything to do with pop culture, so it is a pleasure to bring my passions into my research.
Something you won’t find on my CV:
I am a geek. I love all sorts of things associated with pop culture: Star Trek, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, comics, and much more. In my spare time, I enjoy creative projects, including building LEGO models. For my birthday, my partner bought me a LEGO model of the Hubble Space Telescope. Once I finish building it, it will go in my university office.
My partner and I have a dog, Picard, and three cats, Ripley, Buffy, and Gimli. I am addicted to tattoos and am always thinking about my next one. My tattoos often relate to my research, too.
My sources of inspiration:
Throughout my studies and research, I have met women scholars who encouraged me to pursue this path and became role models. The three who stand out most are Prof. Nirit Ben-Aryeh Debby, Prof. Yulia Ustinova, and Prof. Inbal Ben-Asher Gitler.
If we are talking about fictional characters, it would be Captain Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager. She embodies my ideal of a woman in leadership.
When I grow up…
Good question. I am not sure I have an answer. Until I started my undergraduate studies, I don’t think I knew what I wanted to do. As soon as I arrived at university, I fell in love with academia and knew it was what I wanted to do. I love researching, teaching, and mentoring students.
If I weren’t a researcher, I would…
Buy a big house on a moshav or kibbutz and open a sanctuary for dogs and cats. Maybe for farm animals and horses too.
In brief
- Summer or winter? Winter, obviously
- Steak or tofu? Steak
- Careful planning or spontaneity? Planning
- Hiking or lounging? Both
- Car or train? Train
- Market or mall? Mall, unless it’s a food market.
- Sea or pool? Neither
- Dog or cat? Both!
- Cinema or streaming? Both
- Three things I would take to a desert island? My pets, my partner, and LEGO to keep boredom at bay.
