The Spectacularization of the Anorexic Subject Position

Abstract

Literature on the aetiology of anorexia nervosa is largely dominated by the discipline of psychology. This has meant that current research on the topic approaches the disorder as stemming from the psychologically `maladapted' individual diagnosed with anorexia. Thus, the `pathological' self-conduct of the anorexic is viewed as a result of his, or her, psychological `deficits and dysfunctions' (Malson and Swann, 1999: 397). As a result, the experiences and practices of the anorexic are regarded as being separate from the social and cultural context from which they emerge. This article argues that denying the contextual aspects that the disorder is entrenched in is theoretically insufficient as it neglects the complexity of anorexic practice. Moreover, it is acknowledged that there exists a multiplicity of discourses that have amalgamated to spectacularize the anorexic subject position. Employing a poststructuralist approach, the discursive constructions produced by the media, the discipline of psychology itself and the new public health agenda are examined to reveal the foundations of anorexia's current appeal.