Originally from Southern California, John Trafton is a film historian, writer, and educator whose work explores the relationships between cinema, history, place, and cultural memory. He received his PhD from the University of St Andrews in Scotland and currently teaches Cinema and Media Studies at Occidental College and Chapman University in Los Angeles.

His newest book, Los Angeles and Film: A Cultural History of 20th Century Hollywood (Bloomsbury, 2026), examines the century-long relationship between Los Angeles and the movies, exploring how cinema has shaped the way the city is seen, imagined, experienced, and remembered. His previous book, Movie-Made Los Angeles (Wayne State University Press, 2023), traces the emergence of Los Angeles as the center of American filmmaking and the role the city itself played in the development of early Hollywood.

John’s research and writing range across film history, historical cinema, urban space, and the cultural geography of Los Angeles. Alongside his academic work, he regularly speaks about film history and culture for public audiences.

He also co-hosts two podcasts: Moving Histories, with film scholars Kim Nelson and Robert Burgoyne, exploring the relationship between cinema and the past; and This Movie Saved My Life, with photographer Miles Fortune, a wide-ranging conversation about movies, culture, and the films that stay with us.

E-mail: JohnTraftonFilm@gmail.com