Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies:
To be confirmed.
Essex Law School:
To be confirmed.
Essex Business School:
Consumer Resistance, Anti-Consumption & Doppelgänger Brand Images. Brands aren’t always in control of their image, sometimes, customers and consumers push back. This session unpacks anti-consumption and consumer resistance, exploring how people challenge brands, reject influence, and even create “doppelgänger” brand images; twisted, rebellious versions of a company’s identity. We’ll break down how these counter-brand narratives spread, their impact on marketing strategies, and what brands can (or can’t) do about it. If you’re curious about how consumer activism is reshaping the marketplace and marketing campaigns in general, this one’s for you!
Department of Government:
Information Wars! What is propaganda? How has it changed? How has it become a tool of conflict, and how does it affect the quality of democracy? This taster lecture provides students with information about what propaganda is, disinformation and fake news, and how these terms have evolved in practice. In other words what is the difference between disinformation campaigns, and marketing? What is the difference between sharp power and soft power? We then look at how disinformation campaigns are used by different actors to undermine the quality of democracy both in their own countries and abroad.
Department of Sociology and Criminology:
Can We Trust Scientists? The Hidden Pressures Behind Scientific Misconduct and Questionable Scientific Practice. Science shapes our world, but can we always trust the research behind it? This talk explores the hidden pressures scientists face—funding, publication demands, and career ambitions—that can lead to questionable research practices (QRPs) and even scientific misconduct. Discover why some researchers cut corners, what this means for scientific integrity, and how we can safeguard the pursuit of truth.