Visualizing Medicine Medical Visions

Ludmila Jordanova argues that -medicine is [...] a form of visual culture, as well as being an integral part of other visual cultures- (90). This fundamental intertwining of medical practice, representational traditions and scopic regimes is as old as medicine itself. It is this interlacing which constitutes the focus of our study. In this seminar, we will ask how medical concepts have been made visible through and in a variety of media. We will also enquire about the ways in which medicine has made use of new optical discoveries and technologies. Finally, we will ask in how far discourses around body, gender, race and class inform these visual and medical practices. These questions will be accompanied by more fundamental queries concerning (personal and national) identity. The interdisciplinary methodological framework of visual culture studies (e.g. W. J. T. Mitchell, Rosalind Krauss, Nicholas Mirzoeff etc.) will help us analyze various case studies. We will also become acquainted with a number of historically specific representation strategies and a plethora of texts (e.g. dermatological atlases, paintings, sculptures, (Röntgen) photographs, films, museums, TV series, performance art, literary and medical works) from ancient times to contemporary medicine. If you are interested in the ways in which we make sense of our bodies and our selves you are very much welcome to participate in this seminar. Make sure you don't faint at the sight of blood. Englisch, LA Gymnasium / Gesamt, PO 2004 Universität Siegen 20101 SoSe 2010 Literature, Culture and Media, LCM-Englisch, Master, PO 2005 Literaturwissenschaft: Literatur, Kultur, Medien, Englisch, Master, PO 2009 Dr. Pietrzak Franger Monika Maria