Narrative Medicine: Illness, Suffering, and Madness in Literature

About this course

How can literature help us understand illnesses? Combining close readings of fiction and hands-on meetings with doctors, therapists, authors, artists, and members of the ethical council and patient associations, this course explores narrative medicine as part of the new interdisciplinary field Medical Humanities. Gain insight into how literature can help us comprehend experiences of suffering and illness, approach the bioethical implications of treatment, and understand the complex relationship between patient and practitioner.

Faculty

Birgitte Duelund Pallesen

Faculty

M.A. Comparative Literature, University of Copenhagen (2013). BA studies in European Literature, Film and Philosophy, UCL, London, UK. Birgitte has previously worked with cultural journalism and publishing and done editorial work for Gyldendal (2009-14) and Litteraturnu.dk (2009-2017). Areas of Interest: Comparative literature (19th-20th century British, Francophone and German literature); Critical and Cultural Theory; Postcolonial Studies; Literary Geography; Medical Humanities/Narrative Medicine. With DIS since 2015