Course blog for SUNY Fredonia HIST 375/AMST 399: History of Authority (Science, Medicine and the "Deviant" Body), taught by professor Jeffry J. Iovannone, Spring 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Response to Jim Crow Museum
Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia
After reading this, I started wondering, what would a museum with all the things we have discussed in class would look like? (outside of what is in the Mutter museum).
-Josh Steffen
sacrifice few to benefit the many
hope and artifice
Its fascinating to see the medical advancements humans are making each year including the examples of a machine heart and synthetic blood - scary but cool! What you never hear are the sacrifices that were made to get there. Its a shame that those who are being used tend to be underprivileged people, especially because they are paying for something they cannot afford.
Brian
Debate from class
Friday, April 20, 2012
Debate Last Class
Response to "Cake" Posts
-Josh Steffen
Response to "A Village of Henriettas"
Response to "Vaginal Mutilation...In Cake Form!"
I am very offended and almost surprised that such an event occurred. I feel that there many issues surrounding the creation of a cake which was supposed to represent a black woman, yet was conveyed by an Afro-Se Afro-Swedish artist Makode Linde – who was blackfaced, let alone performing a clitoridectomy on the cake as an attempt to bring awareness to the global practice of female circumcision. This cake symbolizes the notion that genital mutilation is a “primitive” practice, which is more commonly performed by black individuals. The creation and actions of the individuals involved further supports the notion of an “us” vs. “them” mentality. For Westerners are depicted as having overcome inequality, as being more innovated, and having the authority to “help” the less unfortunate individuals affected by the practice of female circumcision. However, within western society genitalia mutilation occurs, yet is centered within a medical realm as a cosmetic-surgery procedure. Furthermore, the fact that this cake was presented during an event and did not create a sobering or awakening effect, but rather elicited a response of laughter and photo-taking, suggests that there exists a sort of entertaining element to the cake, just as freak shows and photos served previously in history. I don’t agree with the supporters of this event and act that this “artistic” attempt to address a global practice of female circumcision was simply that, a way of shedding light on an issue or sparking discussion surrounding the topic. Much rather, I feel that this was a racist and inappropriate way to addressing the practice of female circumcision. It only further instills the notion that this is an “others” problem, and negates to acknowledge larger socioeconomic, political and historical involvement.
Angela B.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Few for the Many?
I wanted to say that I do not agree the few being sacrificed for the many. This is an unnecessary evil but, some people are sacrificed for the many. Some not by choice.
Under the Henrietta Lacks discussion, she did not have to be sacrificed for the many. But if we did not have her cells, we would not be as advanced in the medical world as we are now. If we did not have a lot of vaccinations we would not be as healthy as we are now. I know many people are opposed to vaccines, but I know they have helped me in the long run.
Leslie Walter
The Machine Age
Debate reflections
Vaginal Mutilation...In Cake Form!
I don't really know what to say about this, but this is absolutely messed up. Anyone else find this unbelievably shocking?
The Machine Age
However, I feel like more and more people in class are gaining a growing distrust for the medical community and their own doctors. I don't think this is completely appropriate because the truth is, most doctors are not malicious and manipulative like the ones we've been reading about. I think the reason some of us have become so jaded is because we've only been focusing on the bad doctors. We should remember that there are still a lot of good ones out there who truly want to do everything they can to make their patients better and who would never take advantage of them.
Sarah Bradley
The MAchine Age
Erin Pattridge
Henrietta Part III
Erin Pattridge
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Discussion from 4/17/12
This discussion got pretty heated and some people thought that her family should be given health care and that brings the questions of should the United States have universal health care. We also talked in class about how this happened to a lot of other people. It Brings up the issue that the other family's should be compensated.
Personally, I think Henrietta's family should be compensated for the selling of her cells and they should be given a chunck of the profits since her cells are still alive today. This would bother me if I was her family. I would ask to have the money adjusted for today's economy and be compensated that way.
Leslie Walter
Immortal Cells
Henrietta Lacks: Washington's Medical Apartheid vs. Skloot
- Josh Steffen
The new fingerprint
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Compensation?
Brian G
Henrietta Lacks
HeLa 3
A Village of Henriettas
- Josh Steffen
The root of all evil.
I was intrigued to witness some classmates bringing up economics today and how corporations(including hospitals, drug companies, and food "manufacturers") owe profit to their shareholders before owing quality and safety to their customers. Large corporations are always calculating "risk assessments" to see whether it would cost more to protect their customers/consumers up front or if the cost would be greater in legal defenses or settlements. So, unfortunately it is in the best interest of the medical community to keep people sick or even make them sick so patients keep coming back for more and paying their dues. Most of this may not even be on purpose, but rather the fact the that doctors are so crunched for time that they rarely question the standard treatments taken for granted or aren't up-to-date with studies surrounding new "medicines" drug companies target at them.
It is important to understand that the way these corporations practice business is not conspiratorial in any sense. They're not inherently evil and out to get you, but rather they are perpetuating a tendency which is determined by the pressure of the economic system and psychological/cultural values rewarded by the system.
If you want to begin understanding economics as the cause of social injustice and inhumane behavior please set aside 5 hours this weekend and watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EewGMBOB4Gg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9WVZddH9w&feature=player_embedded
~ John
What does Wonder Woman deserve?
-Sarah Fiorella
A Christmas Carol - Bad Karma
-Sarah Fiorella
Monday, April 16, 2012
Bad karma
HeLa 2
Domalski