MHB 499: Introduction to Graphic Medicine

Instructor: MK Czerwiec, RN, MA [email protected]

The term graphic medicine refers to the interaction between the medium of comics and the discourse of health, illness, disability, and caregiving. For the past fifteen years, health humanities scholars, artists, researchers, patients, and families have collaborated to explore how comics can improve communication, care, and, potentially, clinical outcomes. In this tutorial, students will read, analyze, and create comics to engage with this nascent field. No experience with comics or drawing are required. Sessions will be hybrid via Zoom and in-person.

Readings: The readings for this course will be provided, either as an online link or in class. No books are required for purchase. Any other books that will be mentioned or excerpted in the course can be found here.

Supplies: This course will utilize basic drawing skills and focus primarily on analog techniques. Minimal supplies are required, such as pencils, a dark black pen, paper, ruler, and an eraser. Coloring supplies (crayons, colored pencils, markers) are welcome but not absolutely necessary. Students will need a Zoom-enabled computer and internet access.

Plan/Timeline:

Week of 4/13 =Introductions

Week of 4/21 = Comics for Health Education

Week of 5/5 = Comics for Health Research

Week of 5/19 = Comics for Health Advocacy

Week of 6/2 = Graphic Bioethics and Comics for Self-Preservation

Week 1: Introductions

To graphic medicine: Introduction to the Graphic Medicine Manifesto, available here. Explore the Graphic Medicine website.

To me: Check out my website, comicnurse.com

Homework for our second meeting:

1. Create your avatar and email to me.

2. Read Chapter 7 of Making Nonfiction Comics (book will be provided)

3. Read this journal article, “Are Comic Books Appropriate Health Education Formats to Offer Older Adult Patients?”

4. Read these 3 examples of Educational comics:

- “Empathy 101” by Josh Neufeld
- “Vaccinated at the Ball” by Josh Neufeld
- “A Tale of Two Pandemics” by Josh Neufeld

5. Be prepared to discuss the assertions in Making Nonfiction Comics as they relate to the examples you will be reading.

6. Consider a topic on which you would like to create a health education comic.Come prepared to discuss how you would approach this topic, perhaps a few thumbnail images, or even a few comic panels.

Class follow-up:

This is the video about “the graphic being the medicine.”