The Pop Cancer Phenomena: Media, Myths, and Medical Truths
Course Description
“Pop culture and cancer, really?” These two subjects are intertwined in more ways than you might think. From the “Angeline Jolie Effect” to Chadwick Boseman’s private battle, high-profile individuals with cancer have sparked widespread conversations about screening, treatment, survivorship, and access in cancer care. Beyond celebrities, films and social or mainstream media influence public perception, policy, and sometimes even medical decision-making. How much of what we hear about cancer in the media is real? How much is hype?
We will focus on headlines and mainstream media to motivate the dive into key topics in oncology. Should everyone get full-body scans like Kim Kardashian? Did Jimmy Carter’s experience with immunotherapy transform the paradigm for how we approach advanced cancer or oncology in the elderly? What can we learn from Steve Jobs’ decision to delay standard of care cancer treatment?
Through lively discussions motivated by real-life examples from the media and social media, students will develop a better understanding of cancer science while critically evaluating how pop culture representations align (or don’t) with medical reality. By the end of the seminar, students will have a deeper understanding of the juxtaposition of cancer as a heterogeneous medical condition and a powerful cultural phenomenon. They will then be poised to evaluate a mainstream or social media headline of interest to them and share with the class what we should (and should not) believe. No prior science background is needed!
Meet the Instructor: Beth Beadle
“By day, I’m a radiation oncologist who specializes in head and neck cancer. By evening, I’m a pop culture enthusiast who spends (too much?) time enjoying literature, movies, and music… and talking to her friends who chose careers in journalism, music, and television. In discussions with my cooler resident, Nikhil Kotha, who will provide additional input in case choice and focus, we realized how positive cancer stories can be in getting information about cancer to the public… and how negative they can be when they spread misinformation or recommend unproven tests or treatments. Let’s figure out how to tell them apart and work to increase medical knowledge presented and discussed in the context of pop culture.”
Of related interest
