SBS 308 HEALTH, ILLNESS, AND CULTURE
SYLLABUS FOR SPRING 2003

 

University of Southern Maine/Lewiston-Auburn College                                                  Mark Silber Ph.D.

Phone messages: (not always reliable) (207) 753-6500                                         Home (207) 388-2341
E-mail: (most reliable) mark.silber@maine.edu Office Hours: By Appointment before or after class
Web Page: www.usm.maine.edu/~msilber

 

Course Objectives:

In this survey course in Health, Illness and Culture we will focus on the interface between human ecology and culture. The course will be taught from the perspective of medical anthropology (my training is in this sub-discipline of Anthropology which uses interdisciplinary approach, incorporating fields of Physical Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Linguistics, and Archaeology to understand concepts of health and illness.) Human beings, unlike other animals, have traveled far around the globe, occupying even the most inhospitable niches. However, they have not only adapted to what exists in nature, they have radically altered the landscape to obtain food, to create shelter and to dispose of waste. They have also imbued all of their activities with symbolic meaning. Thus, eating is not only a matter of getting food, obtaining shelter is not only a matter of creating an adobe, and defining a state of well being is not only a matter of curing an acute episode of illness. All that human beings did, do, and will do, has to be viewed as social activity within the context of the individual's culture, an activity, oftentimes, with global repercussions. Everything has contextual meaning and everything has many-layered implications.

To understand how Culture and Health are interdependent, we will first examine how human populations, as well as concomitant endemic and communicable diseases, evolved, spread and adapted to various environments. We will then look at how behavior and lifestyles contribute to distribution of disease. Moreover, we will discuss how different societies and ethnic groups view the processes of birth, life, and death, define health and illness, and redefine their social roles under duress. And lastly, we will evaluate how responses of traditional and western medical systems are affected and constrained by culture. The goal of this course is to introduce students to a cross-cultural perspective (holistic, relativistic and comparative) and to a critical analysis in delivery of health care - significant issues facing all contemporary human populations. Ethnographic readings, films, and textbook articles will introduce you not only to the pertinent vocabulary, but, more importantly, will contribute to your ability to integrate, synthesize and apply that knowledge in a context of multicultural and cross-cultural health-seeking behavior.

 

Required Textbooks:

            Understanding and Applying Medical Anthropology.  By Peter J. Brown (Ed.) (1998) Mayfield Publishing.

            Medical Anthropology In Ecological Perspective. By Ann McElroy and Patricia K. Townsend, 3rd edition (1996) Westview Press.

Additional Readings will be handed out in class to supplement the texts. Syllabus changes, if any, will be announced before class date. Please do ALL the readings before the class for which they are assigned. I expect you to be prepared for the class. The readings will help you understand the materials - lectures, films, or slides presented in class. Films will supplement lectures and will be shown, if not on time, then as they become available.

 

Course Format:

1. LECTURES: The two-and-one-half hour classes will include the presentation of materials discussed in your text as well as any current research, readings, case studies or topics in Health and Illness. Works of researchers in the field may be presented to explore their theoretical perspectives and their contribution to the study of relationships between health, illness and culture. Lectures will include time for discussion and questions.

2. A/V: Several films will supplement lectures.

3. CLASS Discussions: Class discussions will allow you to clear up questions that you may have about the readings and/or films. The objective of discussions is to encourage you to come to class prepared (i.e. do the readings before class time) and to think broadly and critically about anthropology and application of anthropological perspective to a variety of issues. We should also have time for short discussions before or after each film to identify the key issues and to comment on films we see in class.


COURSE OVERVIEW

This is a college level survey course. You will be responsible for completing all the readings (before coming to class) and assignments (on time.)

 

1. Course Requirements and Grading: One short proposal paper (2 pages) and the final research paper (maximum 15 pages including bibliography) will be assigned during the semester. In each paper you will be expected to do primary research. In the second paper, you will be expected to analyze and interpret concepts which you learned in class. (See below for further details.) Ability to write is of paramount importance. If you have any difficulties with study habits or in organizing your papers, I suggest that you see Karen Hall, Writing Center Coordinator (mailto:khall@usm.maine.edu or call 753-6513). The midterm and quizzes will cover the vocabulary and the conceptual aspects of the course, i.e. you will be responsible for all the material covered and not, necessarily, only the topics discussed in class.

2. Papers: All papers should be delivered as hard copies, not e-mailed or attached to e-mail. Please leave adequate margins for comments. In fairness to the people who hand in their papers on time and do well, there will be no extra credit work or rewrites. However, I will be happy to look at your outlines or rough drafts (at the latest, one week before due date) and to offer suggestions before the papers are due. Papers should be handed in on time. The due dates for the papers are clearly noted in the syllabus. There may be a penalty for late papers: one percentage point per day or one grade level per week. Points may be subtracted from grades on late papers unless you acquire an extension for extenuating circumstances before the due date.

3. Class attendance: Yes, attendance is mandatory. I will take attendance at every class. You have to attend classes regularly since materials presented in class, may not be in your textbooks. My lecture material will draw on my research and studies. Certainly, films or filmstrip presentations will not be available to take home. Unfortunately, there is no time for repetition. If you miss a class (e.g. due to a major illness,) please contact me so that we can deal with the situation before your grade is adversely affected - it is your responsibility to keep up with the material. Take note: THREE absences from class will be grounds for loss of 10% of your grade (attendance grade.) If you expect to miss an exam, you must contact me before the exam. Please note that attendance is divided into two parts – your presence and your participation. Participation in the discussions not only affects your grade but also contributes to everyone's understanding of the topics covered. In case of class cancellation due to weather conditions, I hope we will make up the time by extending the length of class.

 

Details of Grading:

 

The Final Grade:

Attendance/Participation

10%

 

Short Planning Paper

10%

 

Short Midterm Exam

10%

 

Long Paper

20%

 

8 Quizzes @ 5 points each (actually 10 quizzes in total)

40%

 

Short Final Exam

10%

 

Here is the explanation: Attendance counts for 10% of your grade. During each class (except for the first one) there will be a 15-minute quiz (click for a sample.) Of all the quizzes, eight will count towards the grade, meaning the lowest scored quizzes will be dropped from the total. I am hoping that this method of grading will entice you to do well throughout the term and to keep up with the readings and lecture material. You should know that much of the testing material comes directly from lectures; hence, it is beneficial to attend and to participate in discussions.

 

Disabilities

      USM is committed to ensuring access to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you have a documented disability and wish to receive academic support, please let us know. Mary Sylvain-Leonas in the LAC Student Services Office is our liaison to Joyce Branaman Coordinator of the Office of Academic Support for Students with Disabilities for USM. Joyce can also be reached directly at 1-800-800-4876, ext. 4706. Only students who qualify will be accorded appropriate special consideration.

 


COURSE SCHEDULE

 

January 13            Biocultural and Cultural Approaches: Discussion of Fields of Anthropology.

                              http://www.medanthro.net/definition.html

                              Because this is the first class, please add this assignment to that of the following week.

                              McElroy & Townsend: Chapter 2; Brown: Chapter 1

                              Film - Yanomamo: An Interdisciplinary Study; http://astro.temple.edu/~stakarag/533%20final.htm; http://www.unm.edu/~kimhill/tierney/health.htm

 

January 20            Martin Luther King Day – No Class

January 27            Concepts of Physical Adaptation to Environment

                              McElroy & Townsend: Chapter 1, 2, and 3

                              Brown: Chapters 1, 2, & 3, 4

                              http://www.aecf.org/kidscount/categories/collecting.htm

                              Paper Proposal Assignment Handout: Due by February 24th.

 

February 3            Concepts of Cultural Adaptation

                              McElroy & Townsend: Chapter 4

                              Brown: Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10

                              Film: N/UM TCHAI: The Ceremonial Dance of the !Kung Bushmen; http://www.der.org/films/num-tchai.html; http://www.loe.org/series/discovery_women/marshall.php

 

February 10          Nutrition and Health

                              McElroy & Townsend: Chapter 5, 6

                              Brown: Chapter 41, 42

 

February 17          VACATION

 

February 24          Concepts of Health and Illness

                              Brown: Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15

                              Film: Simple Courage: An Historical Portrait for the Age Of AIDS
http://www.ayurvedic.org/ayurveda/index.asp; http://nccam.nih.gov/; http://www.pitt.edu/~cbw/altm.html

                              Paper proposal due (Please hand in the paper in class, deposit the paper in my mailbox before class, or mail it to me at LAC by due date.)

 

March 3                Social Construction of Illness

                              Brown: Chapters: 16, 17

                              Film: Magical Curing - William E. Mitchell; http://www.uea.ac.uk/care/elu/Issues/Research/Res1Glos.html; http://www.transcultura.it/booksreview.html

 

March 10              From Birth to Death; Stress, Illness and Healing

                              McElroy & Townsend: Chapter 7
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20612F93C590C748DDDAB0994DA404482

                              A brief Midterm Revue - bring questions


 

March 17              Culture, Illness, and Mental Health

                              Brown: Chapter 21;
http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/clinical/chronic.htm

                              Midterm Exam in Class: Exam will be only one hour. Please stay in class after the exam to continue with a lecture and a discussion.

 

March 24              VACATION

 

March 31              Healers in Cross-Cultural Perspective

                              McElroy & Townsend:

                              Brown: Chapters 18, 19, 20

                              Film: House of the Spirit: Perspectives on Cambodian Health Care.

 

April 7                   Ethnicity and Health Care

                              McElroy & Townsend:
http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/2731.html

                              Brown:  Chapters 28, 29, 30, 31

                              Final Paper Due (Please hand the paper in at class, deposit the paper in my mailbox, or mail it to me at LAC by due date.)

 

April 14                 Ethnomedical Beliefs

                              McElroy & Townsend:

                              Brown:  Chapters: 25, 26, 27

                              Film: Cancer Detectives of Xin Lian.

 

April 28                 Presentation of Self: Illness and Stigma

                              McElroy & Townsend:

                              Brown: Chapters 33, 34, 35, 36; http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2001/02.15/03-rosenberg.html; http://www.thebody.com/encyclo/stigma.html

 

May 5                   Gender and Women's Health

                              McElroy & Townsend: pp.354-355, 357-364; reread pp. 113-114; http://www.paho.org/English/HDP/HDW/childdevelopment.doc

                              Brown: Chapters 37, 38, 39, 40

                        Short Final Exam covering period from March 17th to April 28th.

                       

 

NOTE: If you would like me to mail you your paper or exam back DIRECTLY TO YOU, please give me a SASE (be sure that you give me a large enough envelope - 6x9 or 9x12, and put enough postage on the envelope to cover the mailing costs.) before leaving on vacation, otherwise, I will deposit all the materials at the administrative office for you to pick up. They will be stored there for one semester and then they will be discarded.