Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04
Medical images and illustrations are important in medical research, clinical practice, and public communication. This course employs the tools and insights of the humanities (e.g. history and philosophy of science, visual culture) to explore questions such as: What makes medical images so important? What roles do they play? How do images inform and provide evidence? How do images depict what they are about? How are images produced and why does it matter? Do image-makers follow pictorial traditions? How do medical images travel between research communities and the public?
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
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| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
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The course will be taught, and all assessments completed, in teaching weeks 7-12 of 1HS. Through lectures and seminars during weeks 7 and 8, students will acquire knowledge about medical images and illustrations as well as learn about relevant approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines. There will also be sessions on research methods in philosophical and historical research. During weeks 8-11, students will work individually on a research project of their choice, assisted by support workshops (week 9) and feedback on their project plan (week 10). They will present their findings as part of a course conference (week 11) and submit them in the form of an essay (week 12).
The course is aimed at medical students who (1) like conceptual work (e.g. identifying, evaluating, and creating arguments and hypotheses), (2) seek a deeper theoretical understanding of medical images, (3) are keen to engage critically with intellectual traditions beyond medicine and the life sciences, and (4) like to develop their own research project. Familiarity with concepts and approaches of humanities disciplines is not required. But willingness to acquire such knowledge and (especially) skills is essential.
The course is also aimed at philosophy students who like to (1) apply their analytical skills to the “real world” (medicine), (2) expand their knowledge in philosophy of science, philosophy of medicine, and aesthetics, and (3) look beyond philosophy towards other humanity disciplines (e.g. history, visual culture). Basic knowledge of human biology and diseases is beneficial. Willingness to acquire such knowledge, as well as basic knowledge about types of medical images and image production technologies, is essential.
Finally, the course is aimed at film and visual culture students who (1) seek to gain a theoretical understanding of medical images and their visual cultures, (2) are keen on exploring how medical images permeates public imaginaries, (3) are keen to engage critically with intellectual traditions beyond film and visual culture, and (4) like to develop their own research project using still and moving images.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 10 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | 7,8 | Feedback Weeks | 9 | |
| Feedback |
Oral feedback |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 70 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | 12 | Feedback Weeks | 15 | |
| Feedback |
Students may choose between either (1) a 4000 word essay OR (2) the ‘Design Project: Individual’, either of which contributes 70% to overall course mark Written feedback |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | 11 | Feedback Weeks | 11 | |
| Feedback |
Oral Feedback |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Formative | Weighting | ||
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Oral Feedback |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Written feedback. |
Word Count | 5000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Factual | Understand | Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of (1) medical images and illustrations and of (2) relevant concepts, hypotheses and approaches in the humanities (e.g. history and visual culture). |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Students will be able to analyse medical images and illustrations using the approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Students will be able to evaluate arguments and hypotheses in the humanities literature on medical images and illustrations. |
| Reflection | Create | Students will be able to create arguments and hypotheses about medical images and illustrations using the approaches and concepts of humanities disciplines. |
| Reflection | Create | Students will be able to create an output (using any medium) that employ creatively the concepts and approaches learnt with the goal of engaging the lay public with medical images. |
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