Jacobs has an international reputation as a historian of television drama, its institutions, technology and aesthetics. He has taught film and television studies at the University of East Anglia, the University of Warwick, and Griffith University. His first book, The Intimate Screen (Oxford University Press, 2000) is a pioneering study of early television drama; his second book Body Trauma TV (British Film Institute, 2003) explores the aesthetics of the hospital drama in relation to the contemporary cultural imagination. More recently he published Deadwood (Palgrave Macmillan/British Film Institute, 2012), as part of the BFI TV Classics series. He is currently working on an Australian Research Council funded project called ’The Persistence of Television: How the Medium Adapts to Survive in the Digital World', and is writing a book on David Milch, the author of Deadwood (Manchester University Press).
Book: Reluctant sleuths, true detectives
Jacobs, Jason (2023). Reluctant sleuths, true detectives. Albany, NY, United States: State University of New York Press.
Book Chapter: Oddity and Catastrophe in The Big Short
Jacobs, Jason (2022). Oddity and Catastrophe in The Big Short. Autism in Film and Television: On the Island. (pp. 83-93) edited by Pomerance, Murray and Palmer, R. Barton. Austin, TX United States: University of Texas Press. doi: 10.7560/324912
Journal Article: Television rewired: the rise of the auteur series
Jacobs, Jason (2020). Television rewired: the rise of the auteur series. New Review of Film and Television Studies, 18 (2), 242-244. doi: 10.1080/17400309.2020.1738065
The Persistence of Television: how the medium adapts to survive in the digital world
(2014–2019) ARC Discovery Projects
AustLit - Infrastucture Supporting Studies in Australian Cultural History
(2014) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
(2011–2013) ALTC Innovation and Development Grants
Identity and Representation of Novel Female Superheroes in Contemporary Cinema
Doctor Philosophy
Female Spies and World War Cinema
Master Philosophy
The Presence of Performance and the Stakes of Serial Drama: Accrual, Transience, Companionship
(2019) Doctor Philosophy
Reluctant sleuths, true detectives
Jacobs, Jason (2023). Reluctant sleuths, true detectives. Albany, NY, United States: State University of New York Press.
Jacobs, Jason (2020). David Milch. Manchester, United Kingdom: Manchester University Press. doi: 10.7765/9781526107084
Television aesthetics and style
Jason Jacobs and Steven Peacock eds. (2013). Television aesthetics and style. New York, NY, United States: Bloomsbury Academic.
Jacobs, Jason (2012). Deadwood. 1st ed. London, United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan.
Body Trauma TV: The New Hospital Dramas
Jacobs, Jason (2003). Body Trauma TV: The New Hospital Dramas. London: British Film Institute.
The intimate screen : Early British television drama
Jacobs, Jason (2000). The intimate screen : Early British television drama. New York: Oxford University Press.
Oddity and Catastrophe in The Big Short
Jacobs, Jason (2022). Oddity and Catastrophe in The Big Short. Autism in Film and Television: On the Island. (pp. 83-93) edited by Pomerance, Murray and Palmer, R. Barton. Austin, TX United States: University of Texas Press. doi: 10.7560/324912
Jacobs, Jason (2015). Television Drama. The SAGE Handbook of Television Studies. (pp. 315-324) edited by Manuel Alvarado, Milly Buonanno, Herman Gray and Toby Miller. Los Angeles, CA United States: SAGE Reference. doi: 10.4135/9781473910423.n23
Jacobs, Jason and Peacock, Steven (2013). Introduction. Television aesthetics and style. (pp. 1-20) New York, NY, United States: Bloomsbury Academic.
Christopher, Osama and AJ : Contemporary narcissism and terrorism in the Sopranos
Jacobs, Jason (2011). Christopher, Osama and AJ : Contemporary narcissism and terrorism in the Sopranos. The essential Sopranos reader. (pp. 65-80) edited by David Lavery, Douglas L. Howard and Paul Levinson. Lexington, KY, United States: University Press of Kentucky.
Television interrupted : Pollution or aesthetic
Jacobs, Jason (2011). Television interrupted : Pollution or aesthetic. Television as digital media. (pp. 255-280) edited by James Bennett and Niki Strange. Durham, NC, United States: Duke University Press.
Jacobs, Jason (2010). South Park. The Essential Cult TV Reader. (pp. 229-236) edited by David Lavery. Lexington, KY, U.S.A.: The University Press of Kentucky.
Al Swearengen, Philosopher King
Jacobs, Jason (2006). Al Swearengen, Philosopher King. Reading Deadwood: a western to swear by. (pp. 11-22) edited by Lavery, David. London: I. B. Tauris.
Television and history: Investigating the past
Jacobs, Jason (2006). Television and history: Investigating the past. Tele-visions: An introduction to studying television. (pp. 107-115) edited by Glen Creeber. London, United Kingdom: British Film Institute Publishing.
Violence and therapy in The Sopranos
Jacobs, Jason (2005). Violence and therapy in The Sopranos. The contemporary television series. (pp. 139-158) edited by Michael Hammond and Lucy Mazdon. Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh University Press.
Jacobs, Jason (2004). Charlie's Angels. Fifty key television programmes. (pp. 45-49) edited by Glen Creeber. London: Arnold.
Jacobs, Jason (2004). ER. Fifty key television programmes. (pp. 80-84) edited by Glen Creeber. London: Arnold.
Experimental and live TV in the US
Jacobs, Jason (2004). Experimental and live TV in the US. The television history book. (pp. 72-75) edited by Michele Hilmes and Jason Jacobs. London: British Film Institute.
Jacobs, Jason (2004). Marty. Fifty key television programmes. (pp. 115-119) edited by Glen Creeber. London: Arnold.
Early Television in Great Britain (The Coronation)
Jacobs, Jason (2003). Early Television in Great Britain (The Coronation). The television history book. (pp. 69-72) edited by Michele Hilmes and Jason Jacobs. London, United Kingdom: British Film Institute.
Television rewired: the rise of the auteur series
Jacobs, Jason (2020). Television rewired: the rise of the auteur series. New Review of Film and Television Studies, 18 (2), 242-244. doi: 10.1080/17400309.2020.1738065
Jacobs, Jason and Thomas, Deborah J. (2017). From public–private virtue to cultural-corporate amoeba: Mr Blobby and the rise of BBC Worldwide during the 1990s. Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, 38 (2), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/01439685.2017.1285149
The persistence of television: the case of The Good Life
Bonner, Frances and Jacobs, Jason (2017). The persistence of television: the case of The Good Life. Critical Studies in Television, 12 (1), 6-20. doi: 10.1177/1749602016682751
Jacobs, Jason (2013). Buonanno, Milly, "Italian TV Drama and Beyond: Stories from the Soil, Stories from the Sea", Jennifer Radice trans.. Media International Australia (148), 158-159.
Jacobs, Jason (2011). Convergence or diffusion? The spread of media history. Janet Staiger and Sabine Hake (eds): Convergence Media History. Cultural Studies Review, 17 (2), 399-405.
The store of the worlds: Television's extraordinary archives
Jacobs, Jason (2011). The store of the worlds: Television's extraordinary archives. Journal of British Cinema and Television, 8 (2), 175-187. doi: 10.3366/jbctv.2011.0026
Bonner, Frances and Jacobs, Jason (2011). The first encounter: Observations on the chronology of encounter with some adaptations of Lewis Carroll's Alice books. Convergence, 17 (1), 37-48. doi: 10.1177/1354856510383361
The medium in crisis: Caughie, Brunsdon and the problem of US television
Jacobs, Jason (2011). The medium in crisis: Caughie, Brunsdon and the problem of US television. Screen, 52 (4), 503-511. doi: 10.1093/screen/hjr051
The Columbia History of American Television
Jacobs, Jason (2010). The Columbia History of American Television. Media International Australia, 134 (134), 157-158. doi: 10.1177/1329878x1013400121
Wilson, Jason and Jacobs, Jason (2009). Obsolete. M/C Journal of Media and Culture, 12 (3), x-x.
Jacobs, Jason (2008). Review of: Experimental British Television, L. Mulvey & J. Sexton (eds.), Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2007. Screen, 49 (3), 370-373. doi: 10.1093/screen/hjn046
Television aesthetics: An infantile disorder
Jacobs, Jason (2006). Television aesthetics: An infantile disorder. Journal of British Cinema and Television, 3 (1), 19-33. doi: 10.3366/JBCTV.2006.3.1.19
The television archive: Past, present, future
Jacobs, Jason (2006). The television archive: Past, present, future. Critical Studies in Television, 1 (1), 13-20.
What's the Competition? [Book Review]
Jacobs, Jason (2006). What's the Competition? [Book Review]. Southern Review: Communication, Politics & Culture, 38 (3), 118-120.
Channel 5: The early years by Christine Fanthome [Book review]
Jacobs, Jason (2005). Channel 5: The early years by Christine Fanthome [Book review]. Media International Australia (114), 153-154.
Criticism, submission and time: Mad Men and the killing
Jacobs, Jason (2014). Criticism, submission and time: Mad Men and the killing. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
True Detective and practical criticism
Jacobs, Jason (2014). True Detective and practical criticism. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Jacobs, Jason (2014). Inside sport. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Television aesthetics and style: a conversation with Jason Jacobs and Steven Peacock
Jacobs, Jason and Peacock, Steven (2013). Television aesthetics and style: a conversation with Jason Jacobs and Steven Peacock. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Beethoven, Games of Thrones and the pure aesthetic kick
Jacobs, Jason (2013). Beethoven, Games of Thrones and the pure aesthetic kick. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Ricky Gervais and Michael Haneke: together at last
Jacobs, Jason (2013). Ricky Gervais and Michael Haneke: together at last. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Jacobs, Jason (2013). Preacher man. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Jacobs, Jason (2012). Homeland, time and titles. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
The principles of garden design
Jacobs, Jason (2012). The principles of garden design. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Selling the medium: a brief history of the BBC's commercial arm
Jacobs, Jason (2012). Selling the medium: a brief history of the BBC's commercial arm. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Luck: a critical conversation (part two)
Jacobs, Jason and Peacock, Steven (2012). Luck: a critical conversation (part two). London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Luck: a critical conversation (Part one)
Jacobs, Jason and Peacock, Steven (2012). Luck: a critical conversation (Part one). London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Jacobs, Jason (2012). Sad screens and videots. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Witnessing excellence in David Milch's Luck
Jacobs, Jason (2012). Witnessing excellence in David Milch's Luck. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Jacobs, Jason (2011). Inner and outer in Homeland. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Up and down with Boardwalk Empire
Jacobs, Jason (2011). Up and down with Boardwalk Empire. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
Jacobs, Jason (2011). Against Occupation. London, UK: Critical Studies in Television, University of Hertfordshire.
O'Regan, Thomas, Bonner, Frances J., Jacobs, Jason, Kilner, Kerry, Djubal, Clay and Mills, Catriona (2009). Austlit: Screenlit. St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia: AustLit.
The Persistence of Television: how the medium adapts to survive in the digital world
(2014–2019) ARC Discovery Projects
AustLit - Infrastucture Supporting Studies in Australian Cultural History
(2014) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
(2011–2013) ALTC Innovation and Development Grants
ResTeach 2011 0.2 FTE School of English, Media Studies and Art History
(2011–2012) UQ ResTeach
Worldwide: the history of the commercial arm of the BBC
(2010–2012) ARC Discovery Projects
(2009–2011) UQ Postdoctoral Fellowships for Women
(2009) UQ Faculty Co-Funding
Unrealised Productions - the Underside of the Australian Film Industry
(2008–2009) UQ FirstLink Scheme
Identity and Representation of Novel Female Superheroes in Contemporary Cinema
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Female Spies and World War Cinema
Master Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
The Presence of Performance and the Stakes of Serial Drama: Accrual, Transience, Companionship
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Profoundly Disturbing: The Aesthetics of Violence and the Everyday in European Art Cinema
(2014) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Absence, Presence, and Presences: An Aesthetic Evaluation of Twin Peaks: The Return
(2020) Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Characteristics and Cultural Function of the Television Auteur Showrunner in the Digital Age
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Docucharacters: Public Persona as Character in Film, Television, and Fandom
(2017) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Australian press constructions of the 2002 Bali bombing: differing imaginings of the nation and its place in the world
(2015) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
"A present of things past": Re-imagining Medieval Masculinities in Contemporary Media and Practice
(2014) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Creating Heritage in the Australian Historical Miniseries 1978-1995
(2014) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
The Science Wars and Stargate SG-1: An Exploration of Science within Science Fiction Television
(2014) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Breaking Bad and Dignity: Possibilities of Character in the Television Fiction Series
(2013) Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
New media and minors: the production ecology of Australian children's television from 2006-11
(2012) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor