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How religious figures are depicted in films
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Over a century ago, when Bernard Shaw wrote The Doctor’s Dilemma in 1906, England’s health care was terrifyingly primitive. If one had the misfortune of falling ill during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, essentially, one had the choice of two treatment options. The sufferer could either turn to the local druggist to purchase an expensive patent medicine, of which the ingredients largely comprised of opiates or alcohol and were consequently addictive; or, the patient could visit the equally costly doctor and receive a diagnosis which often led to a treatment involving sharp knives, bleeding, and the prescribing of more addictive drugs. Both treatment options and professions claimed they could cure anything and everything, and save a man from his impending last rites. Bernard Shaw apparently found these claims as quacked as his contemporary audiences as his comedy, The Doctor’s Dilemma, bestows an ironic portrayal of the attempts of the period’s medical professionals’ to play God. This biblical irony which Shaw so wittily scribed could not have been depicted more clearly than through Ken MacDonald’s set design. In particular, MacDonald’s design renditions of Christian symbolism became further pronounced when combined with director Morris Panych’s blocking choices and Shaw’s text.
There exist several references in the Bible suggesting a theme of left versus right holding significance within the Christian faith. The right side is generally symbolized as the side of good and righteousness, whilst the left is characterized as perverse and corrupt. Expanding upon this theme in the first act, MacDonald implemented three larger-than-life x-ray portraits to transform the entire stage into an aesthetic depiction of the ...
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..., his Last Supper portrayal, and his allusion of the Original Sin, portrayed an acute question of where does God’s work end, and the doctor’s begin? In our contemporary society where cloning, euthanasia, abortion, and artificial insemination are gaining social popularity and support, the divide between the roles of the supernatural and that of medical science becomes increasingly unclear. Let’s just hope any dilemmas over present medical morality will always contain egalitarian and humanistic principals.
Works Cited
Matthew 25:31-46 and Matthew 6: 3
"The Human Body: An Orientation." http://www.augustatech.edu/anatomy/chapter%201.html (accessed 23 Aug 2010).
Ken MacDonald. "Designer's Notes." The Doctor's Dilemma, 2010.
"Analysis of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night ." 2010.http://www.lifeofvangogh.com/analysis-starry-night.html (accessed 23 Aug 2010).
Even in the medical field, male doctors were dominate to the hundreds of well educated midwives. “Male physicians are easily identified in town records and even in Martha’s diary, by the title “Doctor.” No local woman can be discovered that way” (Ulrich, 1990, pg.61). Martha was a part of this demoralized group of laborers. Unfortunately for her, “in twentieth-century terms, the ability to prescribe and dispense medicine made Martha a physician, while practical knowledge of gargles, bandages, poultices and clisters, as well as willingness to give extended care, defined her as a nurse” (Ulrich, 1990, pg.58). In her diary she even portrays doctors, not midwives, as inconsequential in a few medical
People trust doctors to save lives. Everyday millions of Americans swallow pills prescribed by doctors to alleviate painful symptoms of conditions they may have. Others entrust their lives to doctors, with full trust that the doctors have the patient’s best interests in mind. In cases such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, the Crownsville Hospital of the Negro Insane, and Joseph Mengele’s Research, doctors did not take care of the patients but instead focused on their self-interest. Rebecca Skloot, in her contemporary nonfiction novel The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, uses logos to reveal corruption in the medical field in order to protect individuals in the future.
On July 8th 1741, Jonathan Edwards preached the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” in Enfield, Connecticut. Edwards states to his listeners that God does not lack in power, and that people have yet not fallen to destruction because his mercy. God is so forgiving that he gives his people an opportunity to repent and change their ways before it was too late. Edwards urges that the possibility of damnation is immanent. Also that it urgently requires the considerations of the sinner before time runs out. He does not only preach about the ways that make God so omnipotent, but the ways that he is more superior to us. In his sermon, Edwards uses strong, powerful, and influential words to clearly point out his message that we must amend our ways or else destruction invincible. Edwards appeals to the spectators though the various usages of rhetorical devices. This includes diction, imagery, language/tone and syntax. Through the use of these rhetoric devices, Edwards‘s purpose is to remind the speculators that life is given by God and so they must live according to him. This include...
The film gives a historical overview of how the mentally ill have been treated throughout history and chronicles the advancements and missteps the medical community has made along the way. Whittaker recounts the history of psychiatric treatment in America until 1950, he then moves on to describe the use of antipsychotic drugs to treat schizophrenia. He critically summarizes that it is doctors, rather than the patients, who have always calculated the evaluation of the merits of medical treatment, as the “mad” continue to be dismissed as unreliable witnesses. When in fact it is the patient being treated, and their subjective experience, that should be foremost in the evaluation. The film backs up this analysis with interviews of people, living viable lives in the town of Geel, Belgium. I would recommend this film to anyone interested in the history of medicine and specifically to those examining mental illness. It provides a balanced recounting of historical approaches to mental illness, along with success stories of the people of Geel, Belgium. And although I had to look away during the viewing of a lobotomy procedure, I give credit to the power of the visual impact the footage
Duffin, Jacalyn. Medical Saints: Cosmas and Damian in a Postmodern World. : Oxford University Press, 2013-06-01. Oxford Scholarship Online. 2013-05-23. Date Accessed 17 Feb. 2014
Twenty four centuries ago, Hippocrates created the profession of medicine, for the first time in human history separating and refining the art of healing from primitive superstitions and religious rituals. His famous Oath forged medicine into what the Greeks called a technik, a craft requiring the entire person of the craftsman, an art that, according to Socrates in his dialogue Gorgias, involved virtue in the soul and spirit as well as the hands and brain. Yet Hippocrates made medicine more than a craft; he infused it with an intrinsic moral quality, creating a “union of medical skill and the integrity of the person [physician]” (Cameron, 2001).
...ealth care. However, if capitalism is to remain in America, universal health care system may never happen since there will be innovation and competition between the private companies. Also, universal health care system may result in high taxes and long wait lines. Yet, Moore’s usage of rhetorical techniques appeals the positive aspects, such as extended health care and reduced medical costs, more than its negative aspects to the viewers. In fact, he uses emotionally affecting interviews to make them feel genuine sympathy towards the victims of America’s irrational health care system. At the same time, he presents logos that unveil the reality of greedy health care companies and uses ethos to backup his claims. As a result, Moore’s effective use of pathos, logos, and ethos eventually evokes urgency for universal health care within the audience by the end of the film.
At the turn of the nineteenth century, medicine was hardly the enlightened profession it is today. Medical practices were often barbaric, employing methods that had been used for centuries, yielding little or no results and often killing the patient with a different affliction than the original ailment. Leeching (or blood letting), purgation, poor liquid diets, and cold water dousing were common practices as late as the 1850's. Even after newer, more effective methods of medical treatment had been introduced, many of the physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries hesitated to use them. Fearing the loss of their reputations, they hung on to superstitious beliefs, doubting the effectiveness of su...
The flow and organization of the topics are structured chronologically and easy for readers to have a clear depiction of the progression of the book. He explains and elaborates his ideas and assumptions on struggles with morality, through real voices of patients and his own personal encounter. The first few topics were lighthearted, more on procedural terms such as the demographics of care in the United States and India and the evolution of care. This heightens to themes that are close to one’s heart as he uncovers the relationship amongst medicine, patient, and the family. It also deliberates on the concerns after medicine becomes impotent and society is ill-equipped for the aging population, which highlight the decisions and conversations one should or might have pertaining to death. He makes
There have been numerous debates all around the globe as to whether or not the practice of euthanasia is ethical or unethical. People who are in pain and suffering are more likely to have pro-euthanasia. Those who never have to feel that level of pain and suffering that would drive a person to want to end their lives could never understand a person’s reason for considering this option. Fictional characters are used to express human suffering, such as those found in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. There are several modern themes such as genetic engineering, cloning, the treatment of outcasts and playing God highlighted in Shelley’s book, however the focus of this paper is on the less common theme of euthanasia involving the main character Dr. Victor Frankenstein.
Doctor Who has been one of the most successful TV series of all time. Produced by the BBC, it describes adventures of a time-traveling humanoid alien, the Doctor, who, in his spaceship TARDIS, encounters different times, places and parts of the universe (Leach, 2009). The series, aired from 1963 until the present day, is a science fiction drama, focused on cutting edge technology and alien civilisations but also, on social issues and individual behaviour, always presenting the Earth as a central setting for the Doctor's ventures. Science and technology are the major themes in the series, acting as catalysts for stories and their characters. This essay is going to discuss morality and religion in Doctor Who, depicting alongside scientific and technological inventions. It's aim is to analyse the shows scientific themes, to contrast them with social and cultural mores in Britain, and to identify a social impact of the program. On the one hand, it will be argued that Doctor Who attempts to portray Britain of its time, its moral values, and prevailing social, political and cultural views. It will be shown that the series is about education and authority on social behaviour, depiction of social reality, and about human values, all derived from religious morality, and codes of action, typical of contemporary society. On the other hand, the essay will examine the show's scientific take on morality and religion. It will be considered that the program's sci-fi genre challenges religious perspectives and offers social commentary. The text will also suggest that Doctor Who uses humanism as a form of a cultural debate, and that science and tech...
The truth Duffy reveals is often to show the inadequacies of our institutions. Duffy illustrates this in ‘And how are we today’. Duffy states “they are going to make it rain” Irony seeps through as one comes to a realisation that, people are behaving absurdly due to the way they are treated in an institution. Consequently,Duffy’s didactic message places blame firmly on these institutions. The underlying tone suggests it is these places where one loses one’s self completely. Moreover, violent behaviour occurs as patients who receive no attention, indulge into negative and horrific thoughts such as “take my eye out and swallow it”. This illustrates to the audience that the patients are ready to do almost anything; in order to gain any attention,
Since the beginning of time man has been infatuated with the idea of pushing the human body to its limits. The Guinness Book of World Records, the Olympics, the Space program, and more are all dedicated to celebrating Humans that push these boundaries. In the age of technology and scientific advancement ideas that once seemed like science fiction are now a reality. In order to push these constraints to human evolution, ethics and morals have been pushed aside. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, plays God by bringing his creature to life. When Frankenstein realizes the full extent to what he’s done, he abandons the monster. The monster then seeking revenge, killing all who Victor cares for. In Ishiguro’s Never Let
“As physicians have always their instruments and knives ready for cases which suddenly require their skill, so do you have principles ready for the understanding of things divine and human, and for doing everything, even the smallest, while remembering the bond which unites the divine and human to one another. For you will not do anything well affecting humans without at the same time referring to things divine; or the contrary.”
While Charon whole-heartedly endorses Narrative Medicine, and narrative knowledge as the means to radical change of the practice of medicine, Garden takes a few steps back to objectively assess the issue. Garden goes all the way back to the eighteenth century to