Illness Narratives
MMH 721
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
"The kingdom of the sick" as Susan Sontag called it, is no single place. The experience of each ill person and each caregiver is unique, shaped by psychological, social, biological, political, economic, and other forces beyond a specific diagnosis. Narratives in the form of essay, memoir, poetry, fiction, pathography, and other genres help us make meaning and even beauty out of the complex and often bewildering experience of illness. In this course we will read several such narratives as well as writing our own, addressing topics including disability, addiction, mental illness, the role of the family in illness, the role reversal that occurs when clinicians become ill, and the end of life. We will also explore the history of medical narratives, the ethical considerations involved in telling the stories of illness, and the power of such stories to promote healing in individuals and society.
Class Notes
This class is only open to students in the Master of Science in Media, Medicine, and Health program.
Not Available for Cross Registration
