Your case study should consist of a detailed analysis of a particular example (e.g. an image; a genre; a text), or theme (e.g. the ageing process; celebrity bodies), or set of debates (e.g. about pornography and the body), etc. relevant to the module.

Case study

Your case study should consist of a detailed analysis of a particular example (e.g. an image; a genre; a text), or theme (e.g. the ageing process; celebrity bodies), or set of debates (e.g. about pornography and the body), etc. relevant to the module.

the purpose of this piece of assessment is for you to undertake a detailed study on an example, theme or aspect relating to the body and popular culture in order to reveal just that: its complexity.

Sometimes people go astray by picking an appropriate topic but approaching it from an inappropriate angle. Make sure that you have discussed your chosen topic with a member of staff in the project workshops and/or tutorials to check you are approaching it from an appropriate angle.

 Overall, in the course of your project you should demonstrate the ability to provide a detailed, theoretically informed and critically sensitive analysis of your chosen topic 

In order to assess whether you are on the right track, ask yourself:

• Have you set up a theoretical context for your case study?
• Have you done some independent research?
• Have you done an analysis of material you have gathered together from your research?
• Is your case study sufficiently focused so that you can do a detailed analysis?
• Have you drawn conclusions from your analysis?
• Does your case study address some of the themes of the module? (It’s not at all essential that it is on something we have covered in class – although most will be on a related issue: however, it must address the aims and learning outcomes of the module.)
• If in doubt, sign up for a tutorial.