ENGL 222 - Health, Illness, and Narrative

What stories do we tell ourselves about our bodies, relationships, and lives as we try - individually and as a culture - to be "healthy"? And how do stories help us cope with the uncertain, often scary, and sometimes tragic scenarios when illness replaces health? In this course students will pursue these questions by exploring the role narrative plays in our broader perceptions of health and illness. Through discussion and writing, students will analyze a range of media and genres to gain insight into the larger cultural discourses and social institutions that shape our understanding of these topics.