Deng is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Media at the City University of Hong 

Kong. She completed her MFA in Visual Art at Washington University in St. Louis in 

2018 and gained valuable experience as a college lecturer in Guangzhou for 3 years. 

Deng has published several journal articles and actively participated in international 

conferences and research projects. Her film work, “Passages in Revisiting, I Hear 

Someone Playing Urheen,” was awarded Best Experimental Film in the 18th St. Louis 

Filmmaker Showcase and received nominations in three other international film 

festivals. Deng is also a proud member of the Guangdong Film Association (GDFA), 

contributing to the film community. 

Her research interest lies in exploring the trajectory of contemporary Chinese comedy 

films, examining how they navigate the fissures of rapid modernization, urbanization, 

and globalization. She aims to explore comedy’s role in critiquing societal norms and 

shaping cultural narratives by unraveling its paradoxical capacities. Through a 

historical review and analysis of contemporary films, Deng’s research contributes to 

understanding the interplay between comedy, social change, and cultural identity in 

China.