Perceptions of the 19th century Medicine in America based on Cultural Aspects: The Medicine Man

Bc. Amira Smoudi

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Medicína 19. století v Americe představuje kontrast mezi praktikami indiánů a vývojem exaktní vědy zpochybňující nedostatečný vědecký přístup ve formování oblasti medicíny. Pohled na léčebné procesy domorodců sčítaly větší míru negativních recenzí, které zastínily jejich kompetence, stejně tak jako přidanou hodnotu ve vývoji medicíny. Cílem této práce je analyzovat účel a formu kritiky domorodých obyvatel Spojených států americkými autory v 19. století, na pozadí historického a kulturního rozboru.

Abstract:

During the 19th century, the major competitors in the medicine were the newly established medical professionals following a scientific based medicine, and Native American healing practices comprising deep knowledge of the land’s fauna and flora. Not only was the American medical society in dispute with the Native American medicine, but also within the American culture itself aroused criticism around the American medicine, as there were multiple movements established, practiced during this period, gravitating towards Native healing practices. The perceptions of medicine during this century offers analysis at the cultural level as these two counterparts differed culturally in great manner. The medicine man offers an example of such diversity, as this figure is the target of many written critiques encompassing the cultural gap between the American and Native belief system evolving around medicine. To support the views of the American politics and the ideology of the medical society, White authors sustained at the critique of the medicine man and the depiction of the Native American culture.

Keywords

American Medicine, 19th century, Native American Medicine, spirituality, science, medicine-man, shamanism, religion, indigenous, treatment, alternative medicine, mythology, culture

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 17. 8. 2020

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 10. 9. 2020
• Supervisor: M.A. Jeffrey Alan Smith, Ph.D.
• Reader: B.A. Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Philology / English Language and Literature