SO 312 - Madness and Modernity

Credits: 4
In recent years, the word “mad” has been reclaimed to affirm the identities of those that hear voices and undergo extreme mental and emotional experiences, while questioning the pathologizing and medicalizing implications of “mental illness.” Without denying the reality of mad suffering, this course applies sociological inquiry to understand the ways in which modern societies police, label, segregate, rehabilitate, interpret, fetishize and at times celebrate the mad. Through the experiences of psychotics, schizophrenics and neurotics, but also mystics, artists and fools, this course seeks new ways to understand and appreciate madness both in others and in ourselves.

Course Restrictions: Junior standing
Liberal Arts Perspective(s): Social and Psychological
Foundations Requirement(s):