Celebrating Year 12 Society and Culture Personal Interest Projects
Our Year 12 Society and Culture students have reached a remarkable milestone with the completion of their Major Works, the Personal Interest Project (PIP). Over the course of nine months, each student has embarked on an independent research journey investigating a contemporary sociological issue of personal and social significance. The process requires them to frame a central question, consult theoretical perspectives, engage with experts, and apply a wide range of primary and secondary research methods to produce a sophisticated written project.
This year’s projects showcase the breadth and depth of our students’ interests and critical thinking. From Lynn A’s exploration of Western Media as a Cultural Intermediary in Portraying Saudi Women to Georgia W’s study Unpacking the Socialisation of Masculine Norms and the Psychological Toll of Gendered Expectations on Young Males, students have applied theory to lived experience with maturity and insight. Abby Q’s assessment of the ways Dystopian films shape gender and social ideologies and Lucy Z’s investigation of Teen Makeover tropes connected the fictional world of film to its real-world impact on social norms.
Other projects pushed the boundaries of contemporary cultural debates: Sophia N’s The Final Girl and the Repetition of Fear in Horror Cinema examined gender tropes and fear in film, while Alessia L’s research into Sharenting interrogated the implications of parental digital practices for children’s privacy, identity formation, and agency. Similarly, Elissa G’s Analysis of Female Characterisation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe offered a detailed critique of popular culture and power.
Completing the Personal Interest project demands persistence and advanced scholarship. Students conduct questionnaires, interviews, and media content analyses, while consistently linking their findings to sociological and cultural theory. This year’s projects reflect not only academic rigour but also curiosity and creativity in exploring issues that matter to them and to society.
I am immensely proud of the way Year 12 students have brought their ideas to life through the PIP process. Their achievements demonstrate the strength of their learning journey and will no doubt shape the way they engage with the world well beyond the HSC.
Congratulations to this outstanding cohort.
Mrs Kelly Smit, Society and Culture Teacher and Leader of Learning and Teaching