EXAMINED ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. Using your own examples, identify the intersection of psychology and the media, and explain how you understand this relationship.

2. To what extent can we understand reality TV as being an example of social

governance and the governance of the neoliberal self? Illustrate your answer with examples.

3. Examine the intersection of psychology and the media, by exploring the way

difference signifies as Otherness, in media portrayals of race, class, sexuality or gender. Discuss your examples in terms of the issues raised on the course.

4. Discuss some of the ways in which psychology is implicated in current forms of

neoliberal government and regulation. 5. In light of issues raised on the course how do you understand the cultural and

psychological significance of ‘self-help’ and self-improvement as it is enacted within ‘makeover culture’?

6. If you were to do a genealogy what do you think would be an interesting subject for

inquiry? Please frame your discussion within genealogical studies and give examples.

7. How do approaches to televisual affect challenge active audience research?

8. Can we choose to be happy? Discuss the problems and possibilities of this statement in light of issues raised on the course. Please give examples from your academic reading and your own experience of selfhood.

9. Using the concepts of fantasy, desire and discourse examine how subjectivity is

constructed within a film, TV programme, piece of journalism, photograph, novel, or media text of your choice.

10. Think about your own subjectification and subjectivity and in terms of the issues

raised on the course, discuss aspects of your own formation referring to regulatory practices, texts, media texts, images and practices etc. (Although this essay is intended to be autobiographical, telling your life story alone will not do! What you have to do is to attempt to use the theoretical frameworks and methods from the course to understand and analyse aspects of your own formation).

11. Make up your own question in consultation with your seminar tutor.

Students are encouraged to submit visual or audio material as part of any of the above essays. NB.

Students wishing to do questions 10 must have an initial discussion with the course leader or your seminar leader.

Students (including visiting students) wishing to do question 11 must discuss their question with the course leader or your seminar leader as it will need to be approved.