230494 Narrating Mental Illness: Critical Disability Studies and Literary and Cultural Studies:USA, Canada, Caribbean (S) (WiSe 2022/2023)

This class will take a close look at Cultural Disability Studies and places American Studies in the larger context of the interesting newer field of Medical Humanities. In particular, we will explore ‘illness’ as cultural narrative beyond the medical clinical diagnosis. Guiding questions for our reading of Cultural Disabilities Studies texts are: “How is ‘illness’ represented (and narrated) in media like literature, life writing, TV and film? How can ‘illness’ become a cultural narrative beyond individual case studies? Why do we have waves of ‘illness’ narratives in cultural history and why do we encounter a new boom of ‘illness’ narratives in contemporary times?” Our analyses consist of selected media primarily from the U.S. but also Canada and the Caribbean. Amongst the theoretical texts from Cultural Disability Studies, selected media are also read as theory alike and include LGBTQI+ authors, diasporic characters, and FYI echo voices from traumatized individuals. This seminar will be taught in collaboration with Sarah-Lena Essifi (Rincipal Researcher/ DFG Project Mental Illness as Cultural Narrative).