The illustrated essay requires a significant amount of preparation. You must choose a topic that illustrates an area of social life in which you can discuss gender, space and culture.
You will need to take 8-10 photographs of this phenomenon and discuss them. You may provide other images too if they are relevant (see below for more detailed tips on how to take, select and use photographs in your essays).
You will then be required to critically analyse your chosen topic, using reading from the module, and wider reading taken from the course guide or from your own private study (see below for tips on research, structure and formatting).
You will be asked to provide an analysis which demonstrates that you have understood the module as a whole, can apply its approaches, and show familiarity and understanding with its critical sources. The essay involves an element of research, and asks you to apply the knowledge that you have learned.
Depending on the example/space you have chosen, you may need to get permission to photograph it and use these images in your assignments (for example, if it is a commercial space, or someone elses private space). This may take some time, so you should start thinking about the example you would like to use as soon as possible. You must get approval for your project from your module tutor by the end of week 9. It is up to you to book a tutorial with your tutor, email them, or drop in to their office hours to discuss your project.
Photos:
1)Your photos are to be used as evidence of how a space is laid out, how it looks and how it is used.
2)All the photos should be analysed (they are not just there for illustration)
3)Not all your photos should be of the exact same thing, but dont have too many very different things either. Try to get a balance.
4)You can only analyse what you can see in the photos. You cannot discuss at length aspects of a space that you do not have photographic (or academic) evidence of.
5)As this is your research essay, you are expected to take the photos yourself. Ensure your own safety when taking photos (eg. take or inform a friend)
6)If people will appear in your photos you need to think about ethics:
a.Crowd type images in public places may be unavoidable this is ok.
b.If people are identifiable, have you got their permission?
c.It is not ethical to other people you have taken pictures of ie. You cannot use photos to show people in a negative light, make judgements about their clothing and behaviour, or show oppression.
d.You cannot include info about people (this is not an interview project).
e.If in doubt: do not take identifiable pictures of people and/or focus on spaces without people. You can still show how people use space without having people physically in the picture.
Research:
1)Start with the reader but read widely beyond it, be specific to your topic.
2)Make sure the texts you are using are from relevant fields (cultural studies, cultural or social geography, gender studies).
3)Bring details of relevant texts you have looked at so far and any questions/problems about research to your tutorial.
Essay structure (use subheadings):
1)Question or title (eg: how is gender (+ other intersecting identities?) represented/constructed/performed in__________?)
2)Introduction (summarise your argument, provide context)
3)Methodology. In this section you reflect on the decisions you made in doing this project. Be critical about your choices (its ok and often interesting to talk about what, if anything, went wrong in research). Questions to consider:
a.Why did you choose this space?
b.What did you do to make sure the project was ethical?
c.What decisions did you make about the photos (what to focus on, use of people, time of night/day etc.)? How did this effect the results?
d.Did you encounter any problems in taking the photos (eg. did you find what you were expecting, did you have to refocus or change your plans and why?)
4)Analysis (main part of the essay): Referencing a number of key theories alongside your photos, analyse in detail the space you have researched in relation to gender (and other identities). Remember the key theoretical frameworks these should inform your approach throughout:
a.Intersectionality
b.Performativity
c.Representation
d.Dont simply go through each photo one at a time. Work through your argument, exploring how gender is produced in your case study, drawing on evidence from theory and your photos when relevant.
5)Conclusion (summarise your central point / argument)
Formatting:
1)Black and white should be ok. If your photos do not show up well in black and white (do a test print in advance), try adjusting the brightness and contrast, or use colour if possible.
2)Each photo needs a label (Fig. 1, fig. 2 etc.) and should be referenced in brackets after each mention in the text of the essay. Eg. There are a selection of family photos on the mantelpiece (Fig.5).
3)The photos themselves should be dispersed through the analysis section at regular intervals. Try to place them in an appropriate order if possible.
4)Include a table of figures (a list of figures, not the images themselves) before your bibliography giving relevant info about the picture. Eg Figure 1: Western Road Brighton at 5pm on a Saturday
5)Use Harvard referencing for academic references.
Good essays will show:
Evidence of thorough research and an in depth, detailed engagement with relevant texts and theoretical frameworks.
Evidence of a thoughtful, reflective attitude towards undertaking research. Ability to make and reflect on ethical and methodological decisions and reflect on how they have shaped outcomes.
Demonstration of ability to analyse in depth the ways that gender and other intersecting identities are represented, constructed and performed in different spaces.
Strong, well supported argument throughout, a clear structure and correct referencing and formatting.
There are examples of good essays for this module on the Study Direct site. Please take some time to look at how these have been researched, presented and argued.
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