Social History of Disease

In his existentialist novel, The Plague, Albert Camus wrote, “All I maintain is that on this earth there are pestilences and there are victims, and it’s up to us, so far as possible, not to join forces with the pestilences.” Despite good intentions and the best efforts of governments and public health authorities, actions taken in order to stem the spread of a disease can actually exacerbate its dissemination–with deadly consequences for vulnerable populations. Viewing history through the lens of disease thus provides not only a unique approach to a familiar discipline, but also a way to better understand both the larger demographic turning points of world history and examine the ways in which societies break down along the lines of social class, gender, religion, and sexual orientation (among other things) in response to epidemics.

This course will center on a series of case studies, beginning with the bubonic plague, proceeding through cholera, tuberculosis, and AIDS, and finally ending with a consideration of contemporary epidemics like the Ebola, Zika, and Coronaviruses, and the opportunity for students to pursue their own research. Students will also consider how understandings of contagion and the progress of medical science have evolved over time. Lastly, though many of these diseases have been mostly eradicated in the Western world (with some notable exceptions), students will look at the areas of the world in which these diseases persist and consider the reasons why. We’ll draw upon a variety of sources–historical, literary, and visual, among others–in order to enhance our collective understanding, as well as have the opportunity to hear from medical professionals, epidemiologists, and activists who have been on the front lines of epidemic diseases in recent memory.

About the Instructor

Whitney Davidson – Marin Academy
Whitney is a recent transplant to the Bay Area and could not be more thrilled to be joining the BlendEd Consortium in her capacity as a history teacher at Marin Academy. She earned a B.A. from Grinnell College and an M.A. from Yale University, and is now approaching her 17th year of teaching, having taught in both public and independent schools in the Boston area, New York City, and northern New Jersey. She also taught at Summerbridge San Francisco when she was in college, which was a major catalyst for her career choice as an educator. The course Social History of Disease was inspired by Whitney’s fascination with social history and morbid curiosity about the bubonic plague. In her spare time, Whitney enjoys watching birds, playing the guitar, and finding novel ways to cook tofu.