Skip to main content

Search

pece_annotation_1479066419

Sara.Till

1) early on the article, Dr. Good discuses how individuals would use the word "fainting" to described their tonic-clonic seizure episodes. This was quite divergent from the word "epilepsy" in Turkish, thus allowing the patient to distance themselves from the well-stigmatized diagnosis of epilepsy. It also served as a point of reference for what linguistic nuances could be expected during the course of the interview, as these can play a great deal into the narrative.

2) Dr. Good also discusses the work of Dr. Evelyn Early, who interviewed members of the Turkish female population. His description of Dr. Early's work states these narratives “allow the women she studied to develop an interpretation of the illness in relation to a local explanatory logic and the biographic context of the illness, to negotiate right action in the face of uncertainty, and to justify actions taken, thus embedding the illness and therapeutic efforts within local moral norms".

3) Dr. Good includes the story of Zeki Bey, an individual with generalized seizures for 15 years at the time of interaction. Dr. Good describes his narrative of his illness as being "[told with] immediacy, drama, and poignancy... His illness had a powerful and meaningful beginning, which gave shape and coherence to the larger narrative."

pece_annotation_1476029512

Sara.Till

The creators of the platform and film are part of a C3 non-profit called NOVAC-- New Orleans Video Access Center. There are several organizational partners that work on the ground accomplishing the organization's goals. These partners also provide a measure of funding; as a non-profit, most of the support comes from outside donations, either to the organization or through one of their proxy groups.

pece_annotation_1476065634

Sara.Till

The web platform is supported by the organization Land of Opportunity. Land of Opportunity partners with several sponsors, including a local organization called NOVAC (New Orleans Video Access Center). Other partners include Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, Center for Social Media, Louisiana Justice Institute, PATOIS, Survivors Village, New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice, and Video Veracity. These organizations represent funding and on-the-ground workers for Land of Opportunity

pece_annotation_1479064932

Sara.Till

1) Hocas: an anglicized ottoman-Turkish word meaning "master, professor, teacher"; it evolved from "khawaja", and is an honorific title given to a teacher of the Muslim faith, particularly a sufi teacher. 

2) Tonic-clonic seizure: formerly described as "grand mal seizures", they include two sections (hence the "tonic" and "clonic"). The tonic phase includes the initial rigor and consciousness, while the clonic phase is the characteristic muscle spasms. These phases each last around 1 minute and 3 minutes, respectively.

3) Jinns: anglicized to "genie", this is the term for a supernatural creature in the Muslim faith. Many of the patients interviewed in Dr. Good's work spoke of a terrifying event prior to the onset of their epilepsy, often involving the presence of a "jinn". 

pece_annotation_1476029302

Sara.Till

It's unclear who, at this time, primarily views and utilizes the information presented here. However, this web platform seems to be one piece of an ongoing project called "Land of Opportunity". This film discusses the ongoing urban issues and developments in America; as we move forward from disasters and begin rebuilding, the question becomes how we want to fortify our cities. The film itself specifically focuses on Hurricane Katrina, while the interactive web platform inclides information about Hurricane Sandy. The film has had several showings, has DVD's for purchase, and a viewing request can also be made.

pece_annotation_1479066991

Sara.Till

The bibliography is not included in the PDF uploaded, most likely because this a chapter excerpt from a larger work. However, there are several citations within the article, most of which are elaborated on. These descriptions indicate the works follow similar lines of thought and provide similar information to supplement Dr. Good's assertions. This includes his description of Dr. Evelyn A. Early's works (discussed earlier--ha), and several other prominent medical anthropologists. 

pece_annotation_1479063804

Sara.Till

1)      From the perspective of readers or hearers of stories that are in process, plot is less a finished form or structure than an engagement with what has been told or read so far in relation to imagined outcomes that the story may bring - outcomes that are feared, longed for, or seem ironically or tragically inevitable.

2)      Second. several prototypical plot types can be identified among the illness narratives, as well as among the specific stories of which they are constituted. These have a distinctive cultural form, rooted in Turkish popular medical culture. They are present as the plot structures of the narratives we heard. They are also available as cultural resources for those in the midst of illness attempting to make sense of their experience; that is, they are possible stories one might reasonably tell about such an illness, potential plots giving order to the events one is experiencing.

3)       Meanwhile, he continues to work in a job at the municipality, where he is treated well by co-workers. His major concern is that he and his wife have had no children, and he wonders if either the illness or the medications are to blame. This, rather than treatment of the primary disease, organizes his interest in shaping the outcome of his illness story.

pece_annotation_1476026860

Sara.Till

The web platform appears to be a space to compile stories and information from Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. The primary goal seems to be informing the public about the hurricanes, specifically the aftermath in the days and months following the flooding. It serves as a method of remembrance for what occurred (the flooding, death toll, lack of appropriate and timely response, the struggles of survivors) and as a way to warn that these problems will continue to occur in the future. In the last few days, Hurricane Matthew ravaged the Caribbean, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. It will take weeks to return power to all who have lost it, and exact damage tolls will take months to compile. Although each time, with each pass of destruction, our responses seem to be improving, the disasters continue to accumulate-- despite warnings such as this site. 

pece_annotation_1479066822

Sara.Till

This chapter from the work "Medicine, Rationality, and Experience: an anthropological perspective" seems to most frequently appear on websites for various Universities and Colleges. Moreover, the work as a whole seems to have been cited several times by subsequent reports further defining patient narration and medical relations.