Ms Jessica Evans

Research interests

For many years I have taught and researched in the interdisciplinary area of combinations of psychosocial theory, cultural and media studies and sociology. My interests are in the psychoanalytic aspects of the public sphere and its governance, particularly policy development based on the idea of civic renewal and the centrality of communities, and therapeutic culture and the place of emotions in public life. My early writings were on visual culture and representations of disability from within a psychosocial framework.

Selected publications

Evans, J. and Hesmondhalgh, D. (eds) (2005) Understanding Media: Inside Celebrity, Buckingham, Open University Press.

Evans, J. ‘Celebrity, Media and History’ in Evans and Hesmondhalgh (eds)

Evans, J. (2005) ‘Against Decorum! Jo Spence, a voice on the margins’, in Jo Spence, Barcelona, Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA). In English, Spanish and Catalan (major international catalogue)

Evans, J. (2004) Review essay on Love and Hate in the Welfare State by Lynn Froggett, International Journal of Critical Psychology, no.10, pp.182-188.

Evans, J. (2003) ‘Vigilance and Vigilantes: A Psychoanalytic View on Anti-Paedophile Protesters’, Theoretical Criminology, Vol. 7 (2) Spring. pp. 163-189

Evans, J. (2000) 'Feminism and photography: languages of exposure' in Pajackowsksa, C. and Carson, F. (eds) Feminism and Visual Culture, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press.

Du Gay, P., Evans, J. and Redman, P. (eds) (2000) Identity: A Reader, London, Sage in association with The Open University.

Evans, J. (1999) 'Feeble monsters: making up disabled people' in Evans and Hall (eds)

Evans, J. and Hall, S. (eds) (1999) Visual Culture: The Reader, London, Sage in association with The Open University.

Boswell, D. and Evans, J. (eds) (1999) Representing the Nation: A Reader; Histories, Heritage and Museums, London, Routledge in association with The Open University.

Evans, J. (1998) 'In de geest van liefdadigheid? Fotografie en verstandleijk gehandicapten', chapter (on the representation of mental disability) in ter Haar, J.A.A. and Flikweert, D.A. (eds) Beelden en Beeldvorming (trans. A. ter Haar), Houten/Diegem, Bohn Stafleu Van Loghum, Netherlands.

Evans, J. (1997) 'An affront to taste? The disturbances of Jo Spence' in Evans (ed.)

Evans, J. (1997) 'Camerawork in context' in Evans (ed.) (1997).

Evans, J. (1997) 'Feeble monsters: making up disabled people' in Cobley, P. and Briggs, A. (eds) Introduction to Media Studies, London, Longman. [Also anthologized in Evans and Hall (eds) (1999) above.]

Evans, J. (ed.) (1997) The Camerawork Essays: Context and Meaning in Photography, London, Rivers Oram Press. (Received Arts Council Publishing Grant)

Evans, J. (1994) 'Victor Burgin and his polysemic dreamcoat' in Roberts, J. (ed.) Art Has No History: The Making and Unmaking of Modern Art, London, Verso.

Evans, J. (1992) 'Little Stephen: infantilism, projection and naturalism in the charity image' in Hevey, D. (ed.) The Creatures That Time Forgot: Charities and Disability Photography, London, Routledge.

Evans, J. (1988) ‘The Iron Cage of Visibility: a critique of dominant representations of mental handicap’, in Ten.8 International Photography Journal, no.29, pp. 38-51. ISSN 01429663

Evans, J. (1986/7) ‘The Imagined Referent – an analysis of photography within the institutions of medicine and charity’, Block, no.12, Winter, pp. 71-82.

A repository of research publications and other research outputs can be viewed at The Open University's Open Research Online.

Teaching interests

I have an interest in pedagogy particularly in assessment-for-learning and leadership in HE. I contributed to the Palgrave Teaching and Learning Website with articles on developing a coherent assessment strategy in a modular curriculum, accessed at http://vm3.ehaus2.co.uk/macmillan/companion/Palgrave-Teaching-And-Learning/

I am an HEA-Senior Fellow.

Impact and engagement

Selected blogs and interactives

2014 Stuart Hall: An OU Perspective: accessed at http://www.open.edu/openlearn/society/politics-policy-people/stuart-hall-ou-perspective

2014 ‘Are you a secret hoarder?’ accessed at http://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/psychology/are-you-secret-hoarder

2009 ‘Can we ever learn to love social workers?’ accessed at http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/social-care/social-work/can-we-ever-learn-love-social-workers

2008 ‘Tears or an ice-maiden: is there a double standard for women in public?’ accessed at http://www.open.edu/openlearn/society/politics-policy-people/politics/tears-or-ice-maiden-there-double-standard-women-public

2008 ‘Sarah Palin: when politics is personal, ignorance is a woman’ accessed at http://www.open.edu/openlearn/society/politics-policy-people/sociology/sarah-palin-when-politics-personal-ignorance-woman

I was OU academic advisor on:

• the BBC TV series The Men Who Made Us Spend (2014) and director of associated open educational interactive resource for OpenLearn, accessed at: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/people-politics-law/politics-policy-people/sociology/the-shops-make-us-buy
•  BBC TV series Women at the Top (2012) and director of associated open educational interactive resource on OpenLearn, accessed at: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/comment/14311?all-comment=1