A lacanian reading of the study of big brother in the english curriculum

Authors: McDougall, J. and Peim, N.

Journal: Changing English: Studies in Culture and Education

Volume: 14

Issue: 3

Pages: 299-312

eISSN: 1469-3585

ISSN: 1358-684X

DOI: 10.1080/13586840701712063

Abstract:

This article presents a Lacanian analysis of the legitimising event represented by the circulation of materials from the English DfES (Department for Education and Skills), a ministerial government office, to teachers of English in schools to use as a means to facilitate the study of the television show Big Brother. The attempt, through Media in English, to ‘pin down’ the meaning of ‘reality’ television presents for analysis here the identity crisis of English—the tension between what it is and how it recognises itself—its ideal ego and its ego-ideal. © 2007, The editors of Changing English.

Source: Scopus