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January 12, 2006
Starting Another Term...
Under the London Eye.
After a month of travel and visitors, I am back in London to begin another academic term. For many, this means a bit more work than last, as most courses are evaluated through an unseen timed essay Examination in May that require intensive review. While I only have to sit for two (most students are doing anywhere from 3-8), it is enough to get some anxiety started. But, any such fears were temporarily assuaged by todays department email. It read:
Hello everybody, as the new year arrived and a new term starts we have decided to organise a pub crawl to start the term off properly. Being more easily excited than other people after seeing the strange red line that has appeared through a large part of London we have decided that we should follow this piece of material culture to its end, stopping at some pubs on the way to debate its purpose.We will begin at.... Please come along as we are hopng to get great numbers for a brilliant start to the term. Try and wear a line based outfit (I have no idea what that is) and I shall see you all
there. The rules will be explaied on the night, but the group must pass down the red line in a line (so original I know).Look forward to seeing you all there.
My 'modules' (courses) this term look something like...
Advanced Medical Anthropology : This course is taught namely to UK medical students. The concerns are addressing "domestic international health" (my label, though I imagine there is a better one) issues, such as access and compliance amongst immigrant groups at the Primary Care level. A recent survey showed that nearly %40 of people in London identitfy themselves as belonging to an ethnic/'racial' minority group. How must a physician change his or her approach being trained in a biomedical tradition, treating a patient who has grown up in a non-biomedical health orientation (or even a different biomedical system)? How can such a space be negotiated?
Anthropological Approaches to Eurasian Post-Socialist and Post-Communist Societies: What is Socialiam? The Rise, the Fall, and what comes next? I will, after some background reading, choose one society to intensely focus on. Czech is high on my list at the moment, but suggestions are welcome.
Art in London from the 19th and 20th Centuries: London is home to a number of significant galleries, and while they are "fun to look at", it is better, I think, to know why they matter besides "just looking nice." Topics are varied, but two of personal interest are 1.) the politics of display (how museums display certain artifacts in a way that support a certain political agenda) and 2.)medicine in art (how the body is understood and imaged in different cultural and historical contexts).
Psychiatry and Anthropology: Many (if not all) anthropologist (particulary those following a Boazian way of thinking) will agree to favor "nuture" in a discussion of "nature vs. nuture" concerning mental health. The cultural relativity of psychiatry is, I think, one of the sharpest and most glaring contrasts in cross-cultural medical systems. What is a 'mental illness'? And if it indeed has namely social origins, how might one approach treatment? How does this change in a cross-cultural or multi-cultural setting? My understanding in the department is that taking this course with Professor Littlewood will be something almost CV worthy, or at the very least annecdotally worthy amongst other anthropologists.
I did not commit to this last term, but I hope (largely for my benefit in revising for year end Examnations) to try incorperating a few posts about some potential applications of my course work.
Posted by ami6 at January 12, 2006 04:35 PM
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Comments
Yes, you took Roland's course! You won't regret it (hopefully) but please don't hold me responsible because I may have talked you into it ;)
Posted by: Anonymous at January 18, 2006 05:48 PM
Actually, a pint with Roland (and others) last week convinced me his work was more valuable to hear about than my options at the time. Also, if frees up my timetable for four occassional four day weekends. But I do remember your petition as well.
Posted by: Andrew at January 18, 2006 06:30 PM