Malady and Mortality: Illness, Disease and Death in Literary and Visual Culture

Front Cover
Helen Thomas
Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Jun 22, 2016 - Social Science - 351 pages
This ground-breaking study examines visual and literary responses to, and representations of, illness, dying and death from the perspective of the chronically ill, their families and carers, medics, artists, photographers, authors, and academics. It encourages a re-examination of cultural taboos and visual and literary practices that engage with illness and death. Focusing upon a wide range of creative and critical engagements, this book makes a significant contribution to the medical humanities via its exploration of medical practice, literature and film, digital media studies, graphic design, and both contemporary and historical attitudes towards illness, death (including infant mortality), mourning and bereavement. For some, the experience of illness provokes feelings of exile, crisis or social critique, whilst for others it instigates utopian discourses predicated upon personal reflection, communication or connectivity, wherein the “self” is redefined beyond the parameters and constraints of the “body”.

 

Contents

Introduction
1
Illness and Dying
11
Illness Memory and Representation
109
Art and Mourning
221
Bibliography
295
Contributors
323
Index
327
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About the author (2016)

Dr Helen Thomas is an academic and active researcher whose interests include literary and visual responses to, and representations of, illness and disease, eighteenth century literature and culture, and black/transatlantic studies.

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