Tensions in Medical Anthropology

All information can be found in attached document. The Book used is Understanding Medical Anthropology third edition, Editors: Peter J. Brown and Svea Closser. In exploring the human experience, anthropologists engage with topics that are tense and conflict ridden. We have read some weighty chapters on the history of health, climate change, biomedicine and technology, and structural violence. Embedded in these readings are potential areas of tension or conflict. Specifically in alignment with course objectives one, two, and five, this assignment is designed to help you compare major theoretical approaches – the biosocial approach vs. a cultural one – within medical anthropology, as well as to explore the interrelationships between human biological and cultural systems for a particular health concern. You are tasked with writing a short paper that 1.) explores a key topical area in the biosocial or cultural approach to medical anthropology and 2.) describes and evaluates a tension raised within the readings. Through writing this paper, you will demonstrate an understanding of key terminology in medical anthropology and you will apply critical thinking to grapple with tensions within the discipline. 1.) Pick one of the topics listed below: – History of health (biosocial) – Climate change (biosocial) – Biomedicine, technology, and the body (cultural) – Structural violence (cultural) 2.) Within your paper be sure to unpack the that topic. – What are the key concepts or terms in that area? – Why is this topic being discussed within a course in anthropology or medical anthropology more specifically? – Be sure to explicitly link your discussion to at least one of the chapters assigned on that topic, but the best papers will link to two of the assigned chapters to explore the chosen tension/conflict. 3.) Describe and evaluate a tension raised within the readings. – What is the tension or conflict around this topic and/or within this article? Depending on the conflict chosen, the following prompts may help you in exploring and evaluating the tension. You do not have to address all of these. They are suggestions to help you if you feel stuck. – What is the significance of this tension/conflict? (“So what”?) – Who is impacted? Is power involved? – Is there a potential resolution for this tension/conflict? – Is there anything that leaves you feeling uncomfortable or frustrated? – What questions does the article or topic raise for you personally? – What resources can you find to address these concerns? If it is an older article, what has been published more recently on this topic or a related area? If it is a more recent article, what work still needs to be done? You are encouraged to find another reference that speaks to the general topic or question raised by the article