The Horror of Nicholas Brody

The Work

Written for a History of TV course at the University of Washington, this essay examines Homeland, a psychological thriller about a CIA officer who believes a rescued American POW has been turned by al-Qaeda.

Using the concept of affect work (or emotional labor), this piece explores the use of horror tropes to tell the unusual story of one of the show’s anti-heroes, Nicholas Brody.

The Skills

This essay demonstrates my ability to analyze visual storytelling through the lens of genre conventions and cinematic technique, using close reading of camera work, framing, and performance to explore how formal choices communicate theme and character psychology.

 Through critical writing, I synthesize theoretical frameworks, genre references, and scene-by-scene visual analysis to articulate how television drama creates meaning through deliberate cinematographic and structural choices. The essay reflects a strong understanding of how camera angles, depth of field, and visual aesthetics function as narrative tools and awareness of how genre conventions shape an audience's emotional response.