Narrations of Medicine

The theme of illness and its societal context, particularly in the constellation of patients and medical staff, is a classical topos in both popular and high-culture media, calling to mind plays such as "The Imaginary Invalid", novels such as "The Magic Mountain", films such as "Rain Man" or cult series such as "ER".

It is at this point that the CAS Research Focus "Narratives of Medicine" takes up its work. Medical questions must always be translated into narratives. This begins with diagnosis, continues through the communication of research findings, and finally extends into the socio-cultural sphere. The Research Focus aims to initiate a dialog between humanities scholars and medical professionals concerning these "translation issues." How are topics from the field of medicine portrayed in theater, in novels, and in film? How do these media approaches influence general perceptions of conditions such as depression, neurodegenerative diseases, or even death? What roles do doctors and patients play in these portrayals?

The Research Focus Group takes the influential power of these images seriously and aims to create an analytical tool for addressing these questions which play a significant role in everyday medical practice, thus developing an interdisciplinary curriculum open to students of medicine and the participating humanities.

• Prof. Dr. Johannes Großmann (Modern History, LMU)
• Prof. Dr. Jeanine Grütter (Psychology, LMU)
• Prof. Dr. Georg Marckmann (Ethics of Medicine, LMU)
• Prof. Dr. Claudia Olk (English Literature, LMU)
• PD Dr. Mathias Schütz (History of Medicine, LMU)
• PD Dr. Matthias Siebeck (Medical Education, LMU)