Lu, Kevin and Yeoman, Ann (2023) Jungian Psycho-Social Studies: Akira, Greta Thunberg and Archetypal Thematic Analysis (ATA). International Journal of Jungian Studies, 16 (1). pp. 77-112. ISSN 1940-9060

Abstract

This paper establishes a specifically Jungian and Post-Jungian contribution to psycho-social studies. It locates the position an analytical psychological approach may occupy within existing debates before turning its attention to developing archetypal thematic analysis (ATA) as a psycho-social method that may be employed in qualitative research. Using 2019 as a focal point, the authors argue that an archetypal thematic analysis of texts related to two ‘events’ – the release of the 30th anniversary edition DVD of Akira and the announcement of Greta Thunberg as Time magazine’s ‘person of the year’ – supports the assertion that the archetype of the child has been constellated. This paper proposes that a Jungian hermeneutic may usefully be mobilised to bring structure to a dataset, and to deepen the researcher’s interpretation of the data. Utilising Jung’s theory of synchronicity, and extending Main’s (2006) argument for a synchronistic approach to a reading of contemporary events, where appropriate, the authors provide an interpretation of the data’s possible meaning.

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• Jungian Psycho-Social Studies: Akira, Greta Thunberg and Archetypal Thematic Analysis (ATA). (deposited 26 Oct 2023 14:17)
  • Jungian Psycho-Social Studies: Akira, Greta Thunberg and Archetypal Thematic Analysis (ATA). (deposited 28 Apr 2025 11:39) [Currently Displayed]