Spring Break in London
Program Description
Through an introduction to medicine in modern Western culture, this course demonstrates how scientific theories and practices can be understood as part of wider histories. A focus on bodies (human and social) will illustrate how histories of medicine address themes such as class, race, gender, national identity, economic life and cultural production. These bodily themes link long-term global histories to the rhetoric of particular places and times (e.g. Renaissance Padua, Revolutionary Paris, industrializing Manchester, present-day U.S. clinics). Special emphasis will be given to the professionalization of medicine in London in the course as well as during the study abroad. While no scientific background is required an interest in medicine is welcomed.
Program Eligibility
2.5 gpa for undergraduate students
Program Dates
April 3 - April 10, 2010.
Location(s)
This course offers a study abroad component in London, which is strongly encouraged. Our studies will feature explorations of the birth of modern medicine, including trips to early hospitals and labs, one of the first operating rooms, the Physic Gardens, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, and some the many museums on science and medicine including the psychiatric history of Sigmund Freud. See http://www.medicalmuseums.org/ for more info.
There will be plenty of time to absorb London’s famous places, such as Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London, and to soak in the culture with London’s lively theater and pub scenes.
Courses Offered
CMST 3900-03 – The History and Rhetoric of the Body in Medicine, 1500-2000.
The course can be taken as an honors option (upon arrangement with instructor)
This course can count as a free elective
This course can count as an upper-division humanities credit
This course does not count as a general education credit.
There are no pre-requisites for this course.
Possible readings include:
Duffin, J. (1999). History of medicine: A scandalously short introduction. Toronto: U of Toronto P.
Johnson, S. (2007). Ghost map: The story of London’s most terrifying epidemic and how it changed science, cities and the modern world. NY: Penguin.
Mitchell, S.A. and M.J. Black (1995). Freud and beyond: A history of modern psychoanalytic thought. NY: Basic Books.
Steinbock, B., J. Arnas and AJ London (2008). Ethical issues in modern medicine: Contemporary readings in bioethics. (7 ed.) NY: McGraw-Hill.
Stevenson, R.L. (2004). Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. NY: Barnes and Noble.
Expected Program Costs
$2,500, which includes airfare, ground transportation, hotel and most meals. You must enroll not only in the class but also arrange for payment through the study abroad office. A small deposit for the trip will be on your spring term fee bill with the rest a few weeks before we leave. Your itinerary and more payment details to follow.
Faculty
Dr. Stephanie Houston Grey
Department of Communication Studies
224 Coates Hall
houston@lsu.edu
shgphd1@yahoo.com
Application Deadline
January 28, 2010. (Last day to withdraw and receive deposit back is December 18, 2009.)
Application
Spring Break in London |
