Culture, Health and Illness

The course concentrates on health, illness and healing in cross-cultural perspective. It will examine ways in which culture mediates ideas of physical well-being, and will be aimed at dispelling belief in the absolute truth of medical dogma, teaching students to think outside their own cultural biases. It begins with a consideration of body image in a range of different cultures and then proceeds to the varying rationales for normal function and for dysfunction. The healing process as ritual and as scientific procedure, including the theory and practice of healing in different cultures, figures into the course as does the training and outlook of healers – doctors, priests, shamans, nurses, midwives and others. Finally, the medical systems of several cultures, ancient and modern, industrialized and preindustrial, are compared. Offered alternate years. (Formerly ANTH 330)