Anthropology of the chosen cultural phenomena - Medical Anthropology

optional

Ethnology and medical anthropology

2nd cycle

Teaching about the history, subject and state of the art of medical anthropology, and its contemporary theoretical and methodological orientations. Discussing its relationship with other disciplines of social science, humanities and natural science. Introducing terminology and concepts used in medical anthropology. Developing the ability of critical analysis of health, illness and medicine within different socio-cultural and political contexts, from the perspective of medical anthropology. Discussing its practical applications and developing ethical sensitivity necessary for medical anthropology studies.

Good command of English necessary for reading and understanding scholarly texts.

Most of the literature is available at the Library of the Faculty of History and at the University Library. Some articles will be sent to students via e-mail.

Lectures and multimedial presentations by the lecturer; discussion on literature and presentations; discussion on the materials gathered by students in the course of their individual work.

Contact hours with the teacher as specified in the programme - 30

Reading (recommended texts) - 35

Individual search for additional materials for classes - 20

Preparation to the exam - 35

Total hours - 120

Total ECTS credits for the module - 4

This course gives a basic knowledge on medical anthropology as a subdiscipline of socio-cultural anthropology. It discusses the emergence, development and state of the art of this discipline in world anthropology and in Poland, as well as its specificity which results from interdisciplinarity and strong applied research. The course presents the most important theoretical orientations and concepts developed in medical anthropology, and contemporary areas of studies. Among the discussed topics there are also ethical challenges connected with researching health and illness.

During the course students become acquainted with the basic knowledge about the scope of medical anthropology as an important subdiscipline of socio-cultural anthropology. The following topics will be discussed:

1. The history of medical anthropology in the USA and Europe.

2. State of the art and future prospects.

3. History of medical anthropology in Poland; current developments and directions of research.

4. Main theoretical and methodological orientations in medical anthropology.

5. Interdisciplinary relations of medical anthropology - examples of medical sociology, history of medicine and epidemiology.

6. Main terms and concepts of medical anthropology I: health and illness.

7. Main terms and concepts of medical anthropology II: medical systems, folk medicine, traditional medicine, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), biomedicine.

8. Medical pluralism in the "developing countries" - impact of biomedicine, the role of traditional medicine, cultural hybridisation.

9. "New medical pluralism" in the West - the role of CAM, biomedicine as a cultural system, medicalization, biomedicalization, and demedicalization.

10. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Poland.

11. New fields of research in medical anthropology - some examples.

12. Medical anthropology as an applied science.

13. Ethical challenges in studying health and illness.

Bartoszko A., Penkala-Gawęcka D., Medical Anthropology in Poland, „Cargo”, 1,2: 2011.

Blaxter M., Zdrowie, Warszawa 2009.

Helman C., Why medical anthropology matters?, “Anthropology Today” 22 (1): 2006.

Penkala-Gawęcka D., Antropologia medyczna dzisiaj: kontynuacje, nowe nurty, perspektywy badawcze, in: Piątkowski W., Płonka-Syroka B. (ed.), Socjologia i antropologia medycyny w działaniu, Wrocław 2008.

Penkala-Gawęcka D., Medykalizacja w perspektywie antropologii medycznej, in: Nowakowski M., Włodzimierz Piątkowski W. (ed.), Procesy medykalizacji we współczesnym społeczeństwie, Lublin 2017.

Penkala-Gawęcka D. (ed.), Nie czas chorować? Zdrowie, choroba i leczenie w perspektywie antropologicznej (chosen articles), Poznań 2010.

Penkala-Gawęcka D., Main I., Witeska-Młynarczyk (ed.), W zdrowiu i w chorobie… Z badań antropologii medycznej i dyscyplin pokrewnych (chosen articles), Poznań 2012.

Piątkowski W., Lecznictwo niemedyczne w Polsce. Tradycja i współczesność (chosen chapters), Lublin 2008.

Sharma U., Contextualising Alternative Medicine, “Anthropology Today” 9 (4): 1993.

Torrey E.F., Czarownicy i psychiatrzy (chosen chapters), Warszawa 1981.

Upon completion of the course, the student:

- has knowledge of the history, state of the art and main theoretical and methodological orientations of medical anthropology;

- understands interdisciplinary relations between medical anthropology and other disciplines;

- knows and properly uses terminology adopted in medical anthropology;

- is able to analyse and interpret cultural and social phenomena studied by medical anthropology in their wider socio-cultural and political contexts;

- is aware of practical applications of medical anthropology and the significance of its expertise for health policy;

- understands ethical aspects of practising medical anthropology.

Assessment will be based on the results of written examination.

5.0 – excellent knowledge,

4.5 – very good knowledge

4.0 – good knowledge

3.5 – satisfactory knowledge, but with significant inadequacies

3.0 – satisfactory knowledge, but with numerous errors

2.0 – unsatisfactory knowledge