Mad Science/Mad Pride

Catalog description

Despite extensive numbers of people diagnosed with mental illness, there remains considerable debate and controversy surrounding these diagnoses. This class uses narrative theory and emergent work in mad studies to explore competing approaches to madness. We start with an overview of narrative theory as relevant to issues of mental difference and suffering. Key narrative topics we discuss include plot, metaphor, character, and point of view. With narrative theory as our guide, we consider multiple approaches to mental difference from mad science pathology to mad-positive art, activism, and spirituality. Throughout our exploration, we will be inspired by the mad pride idea that mental difference is often best seen as a “dangerous gift.” Mad gifts provide a way of knowing and being outside the norm but at the same time they can be challenging to navigate and negotiate.