Artistic representations of infectious disease. Issue 4 (20th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaptein, Ad A.; Meulenberg, Frans; Murray, Michael
• Is Part Of: Psychology, health & medicine. Volume 25:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 492
• Page End: 496
• Publication Date: 2020-04-20
• Subjects: Infectious disease -- novels -- films -- paintings -- songs; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2019.1705991
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-8506

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Artistic representations of disease are widespread yet largely ignored in health psychology research. In this paper we use two infectious diseases, tuberculosis and the plague, as tracers to study how infectious diseases are represented in novels, films, paintings, and songs. They were represented especially in terms of their causes and seriousness. Studying how diseases are represented in various art forms extends our understanding of how they are socially constructed. This knowledge can also be incorporated into the training of health care providers to sensitize them to issues in patient care.