This course explores how personal, literary, and cultural narratives shape the way individuals and societies understand experiences of illness and injury. Theories about narrative will support interpretations of texts in multiple genres, including folk and visual art, poetry, memoir, film, graphic novel, and essay. Course texts will investigate the role of narrative in constructing identity, navigating healthcare systems, and reshaping dominant medical discourses. The course will also consider representations of illness and injury, as well as the ways in which storytelling can be a tool for advocacy, resilience, and meaning making.
Semester Offered
Offered spring odd years