In the week’s installment of Dissertation Corner, we hear from Anna Simmonds about her project on the figure of ‘the girl’ in recent crime fiction!
Tell us about your dissertation, what is it about?
My dissertation is about contemporary crime fiction and how the lead females are represented. It’s very interesting doing it from a contemporary perspective as it’s so different to the conventions of the genre created years ago (sometimes!).
How did you choose the texts for your dissertation?
My primary texts for my dissertation are The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl. My choices were simple as I LOVE the texts and the film adaptations. It’s important to do something you enjoy for your dissertation otherwise you’d very easily get bored… I don’t mind re-watching the films and re-reading the texts one bit!
Has your project changed much since the proposal stage?
My project has changed quite a lot from my proposal. I’ve narrowed down on my primary texts (I was originally looking at four…) and developed my ideas and thought processes towards the texts significantly. It’s okay to do that though – as you develop as a critic your ideas will change and clarify.
Why are you interested in this topic?
I’m interested in this topic for many reasons. One of my main interests in Literature is how gender is represented, and looking at this from a crime perspective allows for an interesting twist.
What have you enjoyed most about the project?
This may sound like a “cop out” answer but I’ve loved looking at the texts again and fully delving into them.
What has it been like working closely with an academic supervisor?
I love working with my supervisor! Adam is great and very helpful. It allows for you to develop a working relationship through something specific and enjoyable to you both.