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Publisher
Date
2018
Additional date(s)
Abstract
Reading and Writing Epidemics: Illness Narratives as Literature explores illness narratives as a genre in 20th-and 21st-century American literature, paying close attention to the intersections of disability studies and the medical humanities. Focusing mainly on book-length narratives of illness and disability, my project traces the development and lineage of the illness narrative from early American nonfiction writing, such as Puritan redemption narratives, to literary modernism and to contemporary memoir. I argue illness narratives are intensely interdisciplinary; to understand both the importance and influence of this genre within American literature and the broader culture, illness narratives need to be read through both literary and disability studies frameworks to challenge ableist assumptions and demonstrate how illness narratives are of both historical and literary importance in 20th and 21st century America. To explore the development of illness narratives as a genre in American literature, I examine a variety of texts, including Katherine Anne Porters Pale Horse, Pale Rider, Bentz Plagemanns My Place to Stand, Arthur Ashe and Arnold Rampersads Days of Grace: A Memoir, and Richard Prestons The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus. To substantiate my argument of these books importance, I consider these works in conversation with critical race theory and crip theory, as these books narrate experiences of illness and disability intertwined with multicultural and politicized contexts that draw enlightening parallels to experiences of sexuality, racial identity formation, contemporary politics, and social justice.
Contents
Subject
Subject(s)
Diseases and literature.
Sick Psychology.
Race discrimination.
Sociology of disability.
Discourse analysis, Narrative.
American literature 20th century History and criticism.
American literature 21st century History and criticism.
Sick Psychology.
Race discrimination.
Sociology of disability.
Discourse analysis, Narrative.
American literature 20th century History and criticism.
American literature 21st century History and criticism.
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Genre
Dissertation
Description
Format
1 online resource (iii, 212 pages).
Department
English