Directory Profile

Elizabeth Castaldo Lunden, Ph.D
Affiliated Divisions:
Division of Cinema & Media Studies
John C. Hench Division of Animation + Digital Arts
Dr. Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén is a Fulbright Scholar (2024-2025) and SweAmfo/ASF Research Fellow at the School of Cinematic Arts, currently researching the fashion segment of Fox Movietone News for her upcoming book. She holds a Ph.D. in Fashion Studies and an M.A. in Cinema Studies from Stockholm University, alongside a B.A. in Public Relations from Universidad Argentina de la Empresa.
Before transitioning into academia, Dr. Lundén spent over a decade working in public relations for the entertainment industry. This formative experience honed her understanding of media strategies, branding, and event management—insights that now inform her research into the intersections of cinema, fashion, and media. Her scholarly work investigates how Hollywood's influence has shaped global fashion discourse through its unique ability to merge celebrity culture with consumer trends, offering a historically grounded perspective on the media's role in shaping modern cultural and economic dynamics.
Dr. Lundén's most recent book, Fashion on the Red Carpet: A History of the Oscars, Fashion, and Globalisation (Edinburgh University Press, 2021), examines the history of the red carpet as a media phenomenon. By examining the role of PR campaigns, key players, and media collaborations in transforming the Oscars into a global stage for fashion, her work offers key insights for leveraging high-profile events to amplify brand identity and cultural relevance. Her expertise has been featured in international media outlets, including commentary on red-carpet events, celebrity culture, and fashion history. She has also appeared as a commentator for the Swedish broadcast of the Academy Awards and Nobel Prize red-carpet events. She has also contributed to Blu-ray and DVD collector editions of films such as Barbarella (Roger Vadim, 1968) and Borsalino (Jacques Deray, 1970), providing analysis of costume design in their historical and cultural contexts.
Dr. Lundén's research has been presented at international conferences and published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Film History, Film, Fashion & Consumption, The Historical Journal of Film, Radio & Television, Popular Communication, and Fashion Theory. She has contributed to prominent industry-focused reference works such as the Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Film and Television Costume Design, Routledge's Insights on Fashion Journalism, and the forthcoming Routledge Companion to Fashion and Business.
Recognized for her innovative scholarship, Dr. Lundén has received the prestigious Rettig Prize (2024) by the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History, and Antiquities, recognizing her foundational contributions to fashion studies and her insightful analysis of the cultural impact of film and television. She has also been awarded numerous research grants, including those from the Fulbright Scholar Program, The Sweden-America Foundation, and the American-Scandinavian Foundation, among others.
With over 15 years of teaching experience, Dr. Lundén has designed and delivered courses that integrate academic theory, historical context, and practical applications. her courses guide students in understanding how historical developments in fashion, media, and cinema intersect with contemporary industry practices. By examining the evolution of cultural narratives, branding strategies, and media influences, Dr. Lundén prepares students to analyze and engage with the current dynamics of global markets and cultural trends. At USC, she teaches Fashion and Media Synergies (Spring 2025), a course that explores the historical and ongoing relationship between fashion adn media, from Hollywood's silent era to digital platforms, offering students insights into how these industries shape and are shaped by cultural and commercial forces.
Dr. Lundén is eager to collaborate with organizations in media, fashion, and entertainment offering expertise in cultural trends, archival research, and historical context to inform brand strategies, creative direction, and content development. Her background in public relations, coupled with her academic achievements, provides her with a unique perspective on the synergy between media and consumer industries.