Dr Dirk Reynders

Senior Research Associate
Name: Dirk Reynders
CaM Senior Research Fellows  Staff Members

Contact Details:

Email: dirk.reynders@kuleuven.be

About Dr Dirk Reynders

Dirk Reynders, PhD, is a lecturer, writer, researcher and cultural critic. His research and expertise focus on visual culture, gender and ethnicity. Reynders’ work offers a renewed and modern perspective on social visual culture, exploring the paradox between realism (representation) and formalism (aestheticism). This theme contributes to a better understanding of the role images play in both functional and expressive resistance within gender and inclusion.

He is currently serving as dean of the Media, Arts & Design faculty at PXL University College. In this role, he oversees the academic and administrative functions of the faculty, ensuring the quality of education and fostering a creative environment for students and staff. His leadership is marked by a commitment to innovation in media, arts, and design education.

In addition to his academic positions, Reynders is involved in several research projects and publications that analyze the influence of visual culture on social norms and values. He investigates how images in fashion and pop culture contribute to shaping perceptions of masculinity and how these images can reinforce or challenge existing narratives about gender and ethnic identities. His multidisciplinary approach helps to better understand the complex interactions between visual representations and social issues such as gender diversity and inclusion.

Reynders’ work is of great value to both academia and practices within the arts and culture sector. His insights offer important perspectives for promoting a more inclusive and equitable society by critically examining the role of visual culture in shaping social norms.