Sut Jhally

About Sut

• Born in Kenya and raised in England with Indian parentage, he was constantly trying to figure out who he was.
• When he was in college, a cultural theorist named Stuart Hall spoke at his university; he realized that examining identity and cultural trends could be fun.
• He's been teaching for thirty years-his studies focus on advertising, media, and consumption.
• Says his goal as a professor is to help his students "take the red pill," and open their eyes to issues that may be outside of their comfort zones.
• One of his studies culminated in a short film about MTV's negative portrayal of women; MTV approached him and asked him to stop showing the film.
• He stepped right up to the plate and challenged them back; when he told the media that MTV was trying to censor him, they withdrew their case.
• College was a transformative time for him-it helped him develop a self-identity-so he hopes he can construct a similar environment for his students.
• When students come to him and say, "I don't know what to do with my life," he says, "good, that's how you should feel."