PhD Studentship – Representation of the Overweight Body in Children’s Literature & Media 1960-2010

International Centre for Research in Children’s Literature, Literacy and Creativity

Applications are invited for a fully-funded full-time studentship on the representation of the overweight body in English children’s literature and the media, 1960-2010. With the expansion in media and the increased impact of popular culture on the lives of children from the latter stages of the 20th century, representation of the body is an important area of consideration in how children perceive themselves socially and culturally, with the cultural notion of an ‘ideal’ body shape and size in Western society. With a focus on the overweight child the study aims to:

• Identify and analyse the links between media and magazine representation of the child body and English fictional texts for children 1960-2010
• Analyse the literary and media response to body image representation in the changing cultural and historical period 1960-2010 particularly in relation to the contemporary problem of obesity in childhood and adolescence
• Identify and analyse the changing representation of the body in texts for children in the period
• Analyse the changing approaches to literary representation of problems associated with body image, interrogating the growing social and psychological complexity.

This will be an interdisciplinary study with a literary focus, incorporating literary studies, media studies, child psychology and child health. Consideration may also be given to complexities arising from multicultural perspectives.

The student will carry out a research project that will, on successful completion, lead to the award of a higher research degree (MPhil/PhD). The student will be expected to carry out their individual research study under the direction of Prof. Jean Webb, Director of Studies, Professor of international Children’s Literature and Director of the International Centre for Research in Children’s Literature, Literacy and Creativity; Dr. Barbara Mitra, Media and Cultural Studies; Penney Upton, child psychology and health, with a particular focus on obesity.

Applicants should preferably have a good first degree in literary studies, although applicants from other subject disciplines may be considered. It should, however, be emphasized that this is primarily a literary study. Excellent oral and written English are a must, as are a commitment and enthusiastic approach to completing a higher research degree. The successful applicant will receive a tax free bursary of £12,300 per annum from the University of Worcester plus a limited budget to support their research. Fees will be paid in full at the UK/EU rate for home and EU citizens. Overseas students are welcome to apply but will need to fund the balance of fees for Overseas Research Students.

For further details visit: http://www.worc.ac.uk/research/studentships

Application forms can be found here: http://www.worc.ac.uk/research/studentships

For an informal discussion about the studentship please feel free to contact Prof Jean Webb on +44 1905 855459 or by email to: j.webb@worc.ac.uk

For questions regarding the application process contact Mrs Helen Tabinor, Graduate Research
School Manager (tel: 01905 855012, email: h.tabinor@worc.ac.uk).

Closing date for applications is 15th May 2009
Candidates will be invited for interview on 26th May 2009