This course is offered in two modes: online and in person. Please select the correct class number for the relevant mode of delivery when enrolling.
This course introduces students to the field of medical humanities, highlighting the complex and important relationship between medicine, literature and popular culture. It focuses on the representation of medicine in both literary and televisual texts and is divided into modules based on four different kinds of medical representation:
1) Medical autobiography and reflective accounts of medical practice by doctors and other professionals
2) Pathography (personal accounts of illness)
3) Medical television drama
4) Medical reality television
These four modules will be linked through 6 key themes explored throughout the course:
Representations of the ideal medical professional (and challenges to this idealised identity)
Representations of the ideal patient (and challenges to this idealised identity)
The idea of medicine as performance
The cultural construction of medical practice
The relationship between narrative and illness
The relationship between drama and medicine
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Critically and reflectively analyse written and visual texts.
- Demonstrate awareness of the cultural discourses and themes which structure representations of medicine.
- Demonstrate awareness of the relationship between narrative, illness and medicine.
- Synthesise and reflect on idealised representations of medicine and medical professionals, and the impact of these on popular understandings of health, disease and medical practice.
Indicative Assessment
- Presentation of visual material (7) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Minor Essay (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Major Essay (Presentation and Essay) (55) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Class participation (8) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face or online component which will consist of 2 hours per week for 10 weeks (total 20 hours).
- Online discussion component which will consist of 1 hour per week for 10 weeks (total 10 hours).
- Approximately 100 hours of self directed study which will include preparation for lectures, presentations and other assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
To be determined
Prescribed Texts
n/a
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $3840 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $5700 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
