C.G. Branch

C.G.’s research examines the connection between sex work and the Hollywood studio system throughout the mid-nineteenth century. Analyzing the Hacienda Arms Hotel as a tangible focal point, this infamous hotel, rumored to have been a brothel, provides a compelling case study for exploring the link between star systems, studio monopolies, and reproductive labor. Through their research, C.G. seeks to shed light on the sexual hegemonies and gendered labor practices of the Hollywood studio system during the ‘Golden Age’ of American Cinema.

C.G. received their Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley, where they double majored in American Studies (with a concentration in gender and narrative) and English Literature. At Cal, they completed two theses with distinction, titled “Silver Screen Sex Work: The Spectacular Mythology of ‘Prostitution’ in 1960s American Cinema” and “The Slut of All Time”: Elizabeth Taylor and Cold War Obscenity in Butterfield 8 (1960)”. Subsequently, they were awarded the departmental citation for excellence in American Studies.