How is the experience of illness portrayed in various artistic mediums? Can art offer insight into the personal experience of disease and its social perception? How is art used to communicate and to provide perspective about foreign concepts such as illness?

Second: You will search for more images that relate to your topic. As you search for images, such as posters, paintings, and photographs, that stand out to you, you can also test your preliminary theories and identify the complexities that the images you find offer. 

1. Louis Wain. Series of painting completed from the 1880’s to late 1930’s.

2. Frida Kahlo. The Broken Column. 1944

3. Myron Dyal. “Sculpture 66”. Untitled and undated.

4. Dhruvi Acharya. Fog. 2019.

5. Paulina Siniatkina. Hold Your Breath. 2016.

6. Paulina Siniatkina. Simonneta's treatment. 2019.

7. Vincent van Gogh. Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear. 1889.

Third: You will conduct research to learn more about the time period in which the images were produced, the audience for these images, responses to these images, and related issues, such as the historical, geographical, or political context.

#1 Context: Wain’s cat drawings grew in popularity in the 1880’s. Commissioned for children's books, magazines, and journals, his art was displayed for a wide social audience. Wain's marriage to Emily Richardson was the root of his success and as well as the trigger to his decline in health. Shortly after the marriage in 1883, Richardson was diagnosed with breast cancer. In an attempt to lift his wife’s spirit, Wain started to draw Richardson his signature cats, igniting his fame. After the death of his wife, Wain fell into a depression. Riddled with poverty due to World War One, his mental health further deteriorated. In 1924, he was committed to an asylum where he spent the last 15 years of his life. Although unofficially diagnosed due to the lack of diagnosis measures, it is believed that Wain suffered from schizophrenia. (Philip) Throughout his time at the asylum, Wain continued to draw his famous subject: cats. The panel of eight cat drawings are positioned in chronological order from before his diagnosis to the midst of it. They serve as a timeline and reflection of his state and internal experience with the illness.

Art Analysis

• The cats are constantly alone: representative of the isolation of illness and its understanding

• The cats grow increasingly foreign and abstract: The experience of having a mental health disease can be so foreign to the extent that the later cat drawings depiction can be hard to understand and decipher. The realities of a mental health illness are often unknown by those unaffected, leaving those who experience it to be misunderstood by others

• As his disease progressed, his cats became less “cat-like” symbolizing how society distanced him from his original humanity. The use of geometric patterns and unconventional colors questioned the typical depiction of a cat. Communicating through his cat drawings, he reflected the way in which society saw him: non-human, crazy, foreign, and abnormal.

Sources

• www.cerebromente.org.br/gallery/gall_leonardo/fig1-a.htm

• https://illustrationchronicles.com/cute-cats-and-psychedelia-the-tragic-life-of-louis-wain

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9481114/

#2 Context: Freida Khalo was a Mexican artist known for her self-portraits. When she was six years old, she caught polio. Later, at age 18, she was in a bus accident which left her with a broken spinal column, a broken collarbone, and 11 fractures in her right leg. The intensity of her injuries left her chronic pain and she endured over 30 surgeries in her life. Her back injury was so severe that between 1940 and 1954 she wore 28 separate supportive corsets. Her health left her both hospitalized and bed bound for months at a time during various periods of her life.

Art Analysis

• Painted after a back surgery which left Kahlo wearing a steel corset

• Almost completely nude: vulnerable, unprotected, alone.

• Empty background: alone, lost, misunderstood by surroundings.

• Tears and nails: clear pain. 

• Division down the middle of her toros: representative of a divided identity and the condition of her back due to the bus accident.

Sources

• https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/frida-kahlo-created-art-that-transcended-her-suffering/

• https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/frida-kahlo-suffering-paintings/

#3 Context: Myron Dyal is a California based artist who makes paintings, drawings, and sculptors. At age 4, he started expecting seizures and was later diagnosed with femoral lobe epilepsy. “Each of Myron’s works of art is based on a vision he had during a seizure.” For Dyal, using art as a method of coping and expressing his illness was lifesaving: “had I not discovered the process of art, I think that I would have been dead long ago.”

Art Analysis

• The figure's arms are raised and its head is up: representative of freedom. Dayle embraces his illness and its symptoms. Without his symptoms (when he was on valium) he felt unlike his true self.

• The background is filled with dull looking heads and skulls: representative of the perception of illness being deadly, draining, and stripping of a person’s identity.  The figure is brightly colored and patterned which is in contrast to the background. Dayle is breaking free from the negativities imposed by him by society on behalf of the perception of epilepsy.

• The figure wears sunglasses. The sunglasses can be seen as blocking the social perception of epilepsy which stignize the disease.

Sources

• https://reelabilities.org/stream/product/charon/

• https://www.myrondyal.com/

#4 Context: Dhruvi Acharya is an India artist known for her paintings about death, women's health, politics, and violence. As an artist, it is her goal to create art “where thoughts are as visible as “reality”. In 2010, Acharyas’s husband died abruptly in a car accident. Feud, a painting in her “permeated absence” collection, reflects on life after her husband's death. The painting is from the perspective of a person's whoose loved-one’s health is drastically affected; in this case, completely ended.

Art Analysis

• The figure is alone, only surrounded by her own thoughts.

• The thought bubble is filled with circular color, but no uniform words or image is portrayed: representative of confusion, deep emotion, uncertainty, and longing. 

• The background is dark and melancholy, speaking to the sadness which the figure feels.

• The thought bubble is consuming, it makes up the majority of the painting. Likewise, health has the potential to control one life and a loved one.Speaks to the unexpected turn of events in respect to health.

Sources

• https://naturemorte.com/exhibitions/permeatedabsence/

• https://scroll.in/magazine/816423/after-the-fall-dhruvi-acharyas-new-work-examines-the-solitude-of-grief

#5 Context: Paulina Siniatkina’s collection, Hold Your Breath, was inspired by her experience receiving treatment for tuberculosis in 2015.  In total, Siniatkina spent 7 months in isolation in a TB clinic in Moscow, Russia. During her time in treatment, she came to witness the stigma surrounding the disease. The first words she heard from her doctor after her diagnosis were: “don’t tell anyone about your diagnosis”.

Art Analysis

• The painting depicts the stigma which society has towards tuberculosis through the faces of the people surrounding Siniatkina. The faces express disgust, annoyance, fear, and uninterest.

• Siniatkina is masked: representative of trying to protect the public and lessen their fear of her. At the same time, the mask hides a part of her from society. Despite being in a crowd, Siniatkina is alone. No one is showing her comfort or care.

• Siniatkina holds her hands together. She is not resisting those around her. She is simply in the midst of the scene which she paints. In her hand she holds a white flower. White flowers symbolize purity, ehealth, and rebirth all of which are polar to the characterization of tuberculosis.

• The entire painting is gloomy and dark: representative of the feelings which patients of tuberculosis experience and societies view towards the disease.

• The painting is modern (2019). It speaks to the irony of medical advancement in correlation to the advent which society has in understanding and seeing disease despite available treatments.

Sources

• https://www.paulinasiniatkina.com/projects/hold-your-breath

• https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/hold-your-breath-paintings-made-by-russian-artist-while-in-a-tb-clinic

#6 Context: Paulina Siniatkina’s collection, Simonetta’s Treatment, was inspired by Simonetta Vespucci’s death from tuberculosis. It speaks to the advancements of treatment for tuberculosis despite the stigmas which never-the-less exist for the disease. Siniatkina combines her own experience with the illness with the depiction of “Venus.”

Art Analysis

• Venus is alone and naked: speaks to vulnerability, exposure, and dehumanization.

• The figure is surrounded by medical equipment: representative of how the experience of illness is dependent on technology. However, the experience is also dependent on society's conception of the disease.

• On the back of Venus there's a shadow of a window. Symbolic of longing for freedom beyond the confines of a disease and medical facility.

• Venus is an adored figure both historically and in the art world. The art speaks to the “nature” of illness in humanity, despite its foreignness in personal experience.

  
  

Sources

• https://www.paulinasiniatkina.com/projects/hold-your-breath

• https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/hold-your-breath-paintings-made-by-russian-artist-while-in-a-tb-clinic

#7 Context: Vincent van Gogh is a celebrated artist, known for his landscape and self-portrait paintings. Gough struggled to make ends meet during his life, despite his celebrated success in the modern day. Throughout his life Gogh suffered from various mental illnesses, although he was only officially diagnosed with “insanity.” His mental health led him to cut off his left year shortly before Christmas in 1888. Following the event, Gough suffered from several documented severe crises and eventually committed himself to an asylum. 

Art Analysis

• One could argue that Gogh is putting on a brave face: he is facing his illness and working through it. Like his ear which is healing through the bandage, he is healing through his art.

• In the background, a traditional Japanese scene is depicted. In it there are several people, contrary to the solitary of Gough’s room. 

• By the nature of the painting being a self-portrait, Gough is speaking to how he feels and how he chooses to be represented. He composes his self-portrait very literally, representing himself as human, despite his struggles with his mental health.

• Gough wears a thick coat despite being indoors. Does this speak to him covering up forms society?

Sources

• https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/art-and-stories/stories/vincents-illness-and-the-healing-power-of-art

• https://courtauld.ac.uk/highlights/self-portrait-with-bandaged-ear/

General Topic Idea: Although there is much discussion about global health, not much is actually done. There are a ton of people fighting for access to quality healthcare both domestically and abroad. Global health refers to the idea of providing equal access to healthcare for all people worldwide. Millions of individuals in the United States alone struggle to get quality healthcare, and a large portion of this population lives in rural areas. Anyone who resides in an area with fewer than 50,000 people is considered rural in the United States, which includes a sizable portion of the population. As a result, we will continue to delve into this subject via various artistic creations. We will examine the effects of COVID on the broader rural population as well as the topic of health insurance on indigenous lands, as they face significant challenges in this area of global health. I think, growing up in the Suburbs with a family with lots of different medical issues showed me how valuable good healthcare is, and sometimes it’s not always the easiest to access when you are 45 minutes away. Seeing this constantly, I think it sparked my interest in this global health issue as a whole.  

1. Covid-19 and other challenges: A perfect storm for Rural Hospitals https://online.maryville.edu/blog/rural-hospital-closures/ 

   1. When it came to finding this image, I really had to search. I feel like for this topic alone, there are not a lot of variations in the imagery available, and most of them are factual posters without any actual visual components of rural living. That is why the image I chose for my closed reading I felt had the most to work with. However, as for understanding the image, it was very straightforward and went along with my initial findings in my previous paper. Due to the simplistic look, I felt it helped get the points across without making it too confusing. It is very clear that the article this was in, had different topics, and each one of the blocks represents the individual topics, and the issues that arise when living in the rural United States in need of medical assistance.  

   2. Now that I am looking at the image again, I never noticed the stylistic choice, as it was so simple my own eyes overlooked it. The first thing I saw was the course topics, as they take up a large portion of the image. The second thing I noticed was of course the title as that also is large in the picture. However, I didn’t see the rural life components until really examined the image. The use of mills and barns tells us that this poster's purpose is to be set in the rural areas of the United States. The lack of colors makes it so it doesn’t stand out like the hospital, the other main point, but having it in the center provides us with the understanding that it is one of the main topics.  

   3. When it comes to questions that were sparked while looking at this specific image, what was their reason for choosing these colors? Did they purposely make the hospital appear further away while the challenges scream in your face? What is the biggest barrier, and how is it represented in the image? Or are they all comparable? Following this image, I will need to expand on the topic I believe, as a lot of the information and works are repetitive.  

2. Number of U.S Hospitals on the Decline https://online.maryville.edu/blog/rural-hospital-closures/ 

   1. This image comes from the same website as the previous image, but I felt like it holds a lot of value. Because it’s found on the same website, it was easy to find. Although it has a very similar topic, I felt that the image itself carries a lot of importance.  

   2. The imagery of the poster having the hospital sit in the United States is one that is very fascinating. However, one thing that makes this differ from the previous poster is the components of the posters, as this has more statistical numbers which I believe could greatly provide insight into how bad the issue really is. As shown in the numbers, in rural United States, there are six times more hospitals in urban areas, in comparison to its rural counterparts.  

   3. As for questions this brings up, there are none now, as I feel like this website provided a lot of information, and it is fairly like the previous image chosen.

3. The Challenge of Rural Health Care https://www.embs.org/pulse/articles/improving-rural-health/  

   1. When looking for more images that could relate to the overarching topic, I stumbled upon this poster. It is not too similar or too different. It is once again a post; however, I feel like there is more happening in the image.  

   2. Compared to the two prior posters, there are more visual things to look at, however, it is a little more chaotic to look at, and figuring out the main points isn’t as easy, as there are so many moving parts in the image. Although it says the same things essentially, it does it in a very different way, it has a lot of pictures within the image. Something else that is also interesting is combining statistics. For example, the 10% while also pairing it with the visual aid of 1 opaque caretaker, almost representing the represented of physically being there, while the rest of the needed healthcare workers are absent, are a ghost essentially. All the visual aids, without reading the words, allow you to create a belief and interpretation on your own, however, the words that are strategically placed near the image, tell the story as an entire whole. The scenery too incorporates the rural theme with a barn and fences. And the choice of making humans die through the color of black and the crossbones contrasts the very bright vibrant background, showing that this is mainly focusing on the negative effects on humans.  

   3. What was their reason for making it so chaotic to the eyes?  

4. Rural Areas Have Fewer Health Care Providers https://nihcm.org/publications/rural-areas-have-fewer-health-care-providers  

   1. Finding this image was like many of the others, from scrolling I was able to eventually find another image that had importance in the research that has been done.  

   2. The purpose of this is to show how the rural healthcare workforce compares to its urban counterparts. It is crazy to see these numbers in a more visually statistical way. I feel like this image alone is very important, as there is only so much information that can be processed through words, and oftentimes, having a visual aid helps in fully understanding the concept.  

   3. No questions are stemmed due to this image at the moment.  

5. Partnering to increase funding for health care for Native Americans https://www.apaservices.org/advocacy/news/health-care-native-americans  

   1. Honestly, finding this image was extremely challenging, and for once, differs from the other images I had been finding earlier. I feel like the actual image isn’t too overwhelming, as there is not a lot going on visually speaking, but there is still definitely a story that is being told in it.  

   2. The choice in the background is not one we are used to, it typically is lush green woods and fields, however, this appears to be more dry lands. From the image, it’s clear that there is no hospital in sight and that this medical worker has brought the medicine to her, rather than she is going out to find it, as it is probably too far. From the image, it appears they don’t have a lot of equipment or too much-advanced technology, so it shows the difference between rural and urban healthcare and overall treatments are given, and what can be given.  

   3. Where is this image captured? Because if it’s not in the United States, I don’t know if this source would be helpful as I am mostly looking at the United States at the moment.

Homosexuality and health: how homosexuality went from being treated as a disease to being viewed as a means of spreading disease and ultimately a limiting factor in equitable access to healthcare. 

Images:

1.  National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (U.S.). Activists at the APA Press Conference. 1973-12. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Records; 7301; Human Sexuality; Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library; 183; 42; http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMM07301.html, JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.575367. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023. 

2. ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) -- Silence = Death. 1987. Courtesy of the Richard F. Brush Art Gallery., JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.29377294. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

3. Shams. “Est-Il Possible de Refuser Un Test Anal?,” Human Rights Watch, 2015, www.hrw.org/modal/28435. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.

4. Whitman-Walker Clinic. “No Ifs, Ands or Butts-- - Digital Collections - National Library of Medicine.” Collections.nlm.nih.gov, resource.nlm.nih.gov/101444872. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

5. Whitman-Walker Clinic. “Men of the 90’S: Positive, Negative, Both Do the Safe Thing - Digital Collections - National Library of Medicine.” Collections.nlm.nih.gov, resource.nlm.nih.gov/101451822?_gl=1. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

6. Antipodean Resistance. “Happy AIDS Month.” Inquirer.net, 2023, newsinfo.inquirer.net/files/2018/07/AIDS-month.jpg. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

7. Boffin, Tessa. “Ecstatic Antibodies: Resisting the AIDS Mythology,” Rivers Oram Press, 1985. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023. 

8. Freedom From Religion Foundation. Freedom from Religion Foundation, ffrf.org/uploads/images/HHSLGBTQRule.jpg.

The images I chose vary in context, but all demonstrate an era where homosexuality was either viewed as a disease itself (images 1 and 2), as a means to spread the disease resulting in stigma surrounding homosexuality (images 3-7), or a factor threatening equitable access to healthcare. The images portray these viewpoints from places all over the world such as Tunisia, Australia, and the United States, highlighting the universal aspect of this issue. Some images (3,4,5) depict the issue as a problem that needs to be solved, while images 6 and 7 are examples of the inhumane portrayal of people identifying as homosexual and the hateful propaganda that was popular at the time. The progression of the pictures I chose display the way homosexuality was perceived, treated, and stigmatized changed over time. This can be seen through the use of language, imagery, and overall layout of the images. Each of the images takes a slightly different approach, speaking to different aspects of the issue such as AIDS, healthcare rights, safe sex, mental health, homophobia, and the use of religion as a justification for the disparity of access healthcare.

Below are some secondary sources that I will use to further my research and provide more context to the images.

1. Drescher, Jack. “Out of DSM: Depathologizing Homosexuality.” Behavioral Sciences, vol. 5, no. 4, 4 Dec. 2015, pp. 565–575, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4695779/, https://doi.org/10.3390/bs5040565. 

2. Ahmed Mirza, Shabab, and Caitlin Rooney. “Discrimination Prevents LGBTQ People from Accessing Health Care.” Center for American Progress, 18 Jan. 2018, www.americanprogress.org/article/discrimination-prevents-lgbtq-people-accessing-health-care/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.

3. Casanova-Perez, Reggie, et al. “Broken down by Bias: Healthcare Biases Experienced by BIPOC and LGBTQ+ Patients.” AMIA ... Annual Symposium Proceedings. AMIA Symposium, vol. 2021, 2022, pp. 275–284, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8861755/.

4. Nachreiner-Mackesey, Bailey. “FFRF Condemns HHS Rule Explicitly Allowing Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination - Freedom from Religion Foundation.” Ffrf.org, 15 June 2020, ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/37609-ffrf-condemns-hhs-rule-explicitly-allowing-anti-lgbtq-discrimination. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

5. St. Catherine University. “How Discrimination Impacts LGBTQ Healthcare | St. Catherine University.” Www.stkate.edu, 15 Apr. 2021, www.stkate.edu/academics/healthcare-degrees/lgbtq-health-discrimination.

6. Jones, Jesse. “Nazi Group Plasters Melbourne Street with “Happy AIDS Month” Posters.” Star Observer, 25 June 2018, www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/victoria-news/nazi-group-plasters-melbourne-street-homophobic-posters/169870.

1. The topic I am the most interested in so far is the anti-vaccination movement. I wrote my last essay about it and I think there are still a lot of ideas to explore with regard to anti-vaxxers, especially in the US (I talked more globally in my paper). One example of this is demographics (like region, gender, religion) of people who are a part of the anti vax movement. There is a lot to unpack within the topic but also room for a lot of depth if I hone in on the United States.

2. Apply these questions to my chosen image out of the ten: 

-Rally of the Anti-Vaccination League of Canada, Old City Hall, Toronto, November 13, 1919. https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/Whf_BSkAACsAgwil

-Phone ecard, https://heartruth.info/category/health/ .https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/Whf_BSkAACsAgwil

Points out problems with the idea that vaccines are personal choices bc they rely on herd immunity 

-Gun mom, Anonymous. Source: facebook.com/thughealth. https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/Whf_BSkAACsAgwil

Points out right wing mindset and rural setting 

-Oct. 25, 2021 | New York City | People protest the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for municipal workers during a march over the Brooklyn Bridge. https://www.usnews.com/photos/2021/10/29/protests-against-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-photos

(photo 1 of 21), shows how deeply politicized the issue is? Why is the american flag so common?

-Sept. 11, 2021 | Paris | Protesters wave flags as they take part in a demonstration called by the leader of French nationalist party. https://www.usnews.com/photos/2021/10/29/protests-against-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-photos

Photo 6 of 21), references same covid ticket that i wrote about in my essay 

Sept. 17, 2021 | Boston | Correctional officers join demonstrators as they gather outside the Massachusetts State House to protest COVID-19 vaccination and mask mandates. https://www.usnews.com/photos/2021/10/29/protests-against-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-photos

Photo 15 of 21

-An anti-vaccination caricature from the UK in 1907. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22958419/covid-vaccine-mandate-pandemic-history

-Flanked by supporters, British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield and his wife Carmel arrive outside the General Medical Council in London, England, on July 16, 2007. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22958419/covid-vaccine-mandate-pandemic-history

-rumors about autism in antivax communities, this man pictured started an outbreak 

-Dr. Rita McGuire, an obstetrician and infection control specialist at Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, speaks with staff members about taking the Covid-19 vaccine on January 29, 2021. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22958419/covid-vaccine-mandate-pandemic-history

-important bc it touches on hesitation in the dance community that has been a root of mistrust in the black community since the tuskegee study 

What do you see? What ideas or questions does it raise? What else do you need to know to better understand that image?

I see a lot about nationalism and use of country flags to promote a cause that loosely even relates to being patriotic. It shows the strong ties between nationalism and anti-vaxxers. I also see a lot about certain demographics. For example, I see hesitation in the black community around vaccines for valid reasons. I also see hesitations in the rural community and right-wing political parties in these images. Therefore, the most interesting image to me is the image of the woman with her gun and her child. It speaks to statistics that I have found about rural populations and right-wing populations. It raises questions about why these people don’t trust the government as much as people in cities might? Who is this woman? Who posted this image?

3) Are there any ideas or themes that rise to the top in a particular image? Are there any questions or themes or patterns that you see that interest you? If not, what step do you take next? 

Yes there are, I like the idea that politics and people’s characteristics define what they chose to do about their health. However, I have to decide which aspect I want to focus on. I focused on right-wing parties and nationalism in my last essay, so I might want to focus on race or religion instead for the final project. 

I found this interesting piece of information that relates to my image, “However, a 2015 Pew Research study in the USA found that people who distrust vaccines are more likely to be earning less than $25,000 a year, live in the Midwest rather than more affluent California, and lack college-level education.”(https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/Whf_BSkAACsAgwil)

My topic is on how immigrants were associated with sickness and disease in the 20th century, and taking a closer look at the health conditions within these immigration facilities in Angel and Ellis Islands.

In choosing my topic I really wanted to focus on Angel Island in particular and see how immigrants were processed there and how ideas of sickness associated with immigration played out in the policies of these immigration facilities.

Important Questions:

Were the people being subjected to health screenings by physicians being subjected to especially cruel and painful methods of testing? Were there any IQ tests conducted? Were the living conditions favorable? And if they weren't did they contribute to the spread of disease in these immigration facilities?

Second: You will search for more images that relate to your topic. As you search for images, such as posters, paintings, and photographs, that stand out to you.

I've found several images that I hope to organize in a way that takes the viewer on a journey through my exhibition.

• I have several passport photos of immigrant travelers, that I hope to turn into a subsection in the gallery.

• I have a couple of photos and hope to expand my collection of images that document the processes of what it was like to screen immigrants for disease in immigration facilities in the early 20th century.

• I have posters of racist caricatures of Asian immigrants and other posters that have xenophobic imagery and rhetoric that also show immigrants as unhealthy

• I also hope to meet with a historian who does research at Angel Island who can help provide me with a greater understanding of what the health screening processes looked like in these immigration facilities, and also provide me with more images of the processes and facilities.

Third: You will conduct research to learn more about the time period in which the images were produced, the audience for these images, responses to these images, and related issues, such as the historical, geographical, or political context. Remember that you can start with a basic Wikipedia search.

1) Passport photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/fekete-feher/albums/72157670424983090

• CONTEXT: These passport images are critical as they help highlight the humanity of immigrants at the time and are a stark contrast to the picture painted of them being unhealthy and disease-ridden by the government and the perception held by the public.

2) Racist Caricatures

• Source 1: https://www.loc.gov/item/98502829/

• Source 2: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/anti-immigration-cartoon-entitled-everett.html?product=art-print

Contextualizing Source 1:

• This image showcases the fears penetrating the general public in the early 20th century in America towards immigrants and highlights the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment after a century of increased rates of immigration to the Americas.

Contextualizing Source 2:

• This image is a continuation of the previous one and shows a white man surrounded by what are racist imitations of various people from different backgrounds surrounding him. The image highlights the rising fear of the time: that immigrants were going to take over and rob the white man of his social and systemic power.

3) Photos documenting screening processes in Angel and Island Island immigration facilities

• Source 1: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/phs_history/images.dir/20.gif

• Source 2: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/phs_history/images.dir/24.gif

Contextualizing Source 1:

• This image shows a testing center in Ellis Island, where patients are getting inspected by health physicians due to an 1891 law. In this image specifically patients are getting their eyes checked for Trachoma.

Contextualizing Source 2:

• This image shows a young boy getting interrogated by officers and getting subjected to Intelligence tests.

Fourth: You will choose a design (from Padlet) to link the images/posters/etc. that you choose and arrange them, so that they illustrate your argument.

• For my visual Padlet exhibition I plan to use the canvas template and connect the images to each other via the arrows. I also hope to specialize my gallery to really make it feel like a visual journey for the viewer through time. I hope to do this by creating certain subsections within my padlet, where within each there would be images on that particular topic. So passport images would have it's own corner, and xenophobic posters would have it's own section, and so on.

• I am also hoping to add audio pieces from a conversation between me and a researcher from Angel Island, where we talk about certain images or certain issues referenced in an image, and it will work as an audile component, complimenting the images selected.

My area of focus is the global health issue of menstruation stigmas. From this issue arises a lack of education among women and their families and limited/poor access to proper products and hygiene resources. What makes this issue stand out to me is how underserved this issue is by governments and public health policy makers.

The number of women and people who experience periods is in the billions, yet almost half a billion of these people lack the proper resources to manage their periods. I want to focus on the history of periods and the neglect that arises from societies harsh stigmas.

Question:

Still in development

Images:

1. https://theconversation.com/menstruation-is-a-global-health-problem-and-we-need-to-talk-about-it-46045

2. https://www.everydayhealth.com/menstruation/national-period-day/

3. https://www.thelittlehawk.com/60791/feature/period-poverty-at-city/

4. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smithsonianmag.com%2Fsmart-news%2Fhow-taboos-around-menstruation-are-hurting-womens-health-180949992%2F&psig=AOvVaw3kx0ANp6x0p7EhFkoKsnnB&ust=1701238325567000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCODUnOKE5oIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

5. https://www.thefader.com/2016/08/01/the-end-of-period-shame

6. https://www.newsweek.com/2016/04/29/womens-periods-menstruation-tampons-pads-449833.html

7. https://iwda.org.au/what-is-it-like-to-have-your-period-in-a-developing-country/

What are the global health implications of this topic:

This topic shows that women's menstruation health is in a global crisis. Without proper access to clean products and support, women are put at medical risk. The improper use of products such as tampons can lead to TSS (toxic shock syndrome) which can lead to sepsis and ultimately death. These risks are made greater countries where women live in poverty and can't receive immediate medical attention in the case of a period related emergency.

How do these images represent my topic:

All of these images share a general theme of women's health being put last. Wether it be companies profiting off of periods, men publicly shaming periods, or societies creating taboos around women and periods. These all end up humiliating and disrespecting a natural and important process for those who experience periods.

Additional Sources:

https://www.ohchr.org/en/stories/2022/07/removing-shame-and-stigma-menstruation

https://www.unicef.org/wash/menstrual-hygiene#:~:text=Every%20month%2C%201.8%20billion%20people,in%20a%20dignified%2C%20healthy%20way.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565616/

​​https://www.care-international.org/stories/period-taboo-universal-problem

https://www.naturalcycles.com/cyclematters/period-products-through-history

https://hr.uw.edu/cfd/2023/06/27/menstrual-equity/#:~:text=This%20limited%20or%20lack%20of,income%20communities%20around%20the%20world.

The topic of maternal health, abortion health and fetal health has interested me for a few years now. I am not sure where the interest started but I want to keep studying this subject throughout my career. The field of maternal and fetal health is dynamic, with ongoing research and innovations aimed at improving outcomes for both mothers and babies. It is a subject that has been around since the beginning of time, and will continue to be adapted in order to improve outcomes and experiences, it is a field that will never go away. Maternal and fetal health is an area that connects us all as a species, no matter gender, age, or race, it is a common experience that has the power to bring people together. Maternal health, fetal health and abortions are a global concern not only because it affects all women no matter where in the world they are but it is intertwined with broader public health challenges, such as infectious diseases, malnutrition, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure; depending on the resources you have at your disposal these experiences can be life-threatening. 

2

A.) Finding images for my topic was fairly easy, there are a lot of images out there that cover what my topic was. However choosing one that resonated with me and that I thought would resonate with others was a difficult task. I was being very picky with the images where I could be because I got an image in my head and then wanted to find a picture exactly like what I was invisoning. Thankfully I found similar ones and compromised with myself. The images weren’t too difficult to link together as it is a fairly easy field to have two images work well together in.

B.) Now that I have these images the next steps are to look at them and ask questions, then find the answer to those questions in order to get in indepth insight into the images I choose to represent my project with. I would ask what the mother was feeling at that time, what emotions were tied to the photo, and where the image was taken, are there any political, religious, or economical backgrounds to the photo. I would also like to research what the original use of the picture was, so I can gain the perspective of the photographer and learn the intended audience for the image. Addressing these questions as a group is going to be difficult to keep them all on the same message but I think I am just going to focus on them individually and if an image ends up too unsuitable to the rest of the images I’ll just get rid of it and find a new image that fits better.

C.) The image I choose to really emphasize in this post is one that depicts women in different stages of maternal care, and pregnancy stages. The photo is exciting with a sharp burst of warm yellow on a glowing blue background, it invites you into the people drawn, letting you see a positive happy atmosphere. The women are smiling looking down at a pregnancy test, a baby bump and a young healthy child. The photo was used to express the progress Rwanda has made in maternal and pregnancy health care in the last few years. It is a great example of why I chose to write on this topic, because the field is always evolving with modern technology and medicine. This image encompasses this idea while not just focusing on the progress we see in many first world countries, where all advancements are for standardized care. Instead Rwanda say in issue and specifically adapted to accommodate for it creating a safer experience in a testing time. These included monitoring COVID-19 patients through robots and using drones to deliver supplies, resulting in lower infection and mortality rates. The echoes of Rwanda’s past resonate with a profound message of resilience and transformation. Amidst this historical context, the nation’s strides in maternal and child health take on a significant mantle, showcasing the power of renewal, achieving notable advancements in reducing maternal mortality rates by 42 percent, lowering them from 487 to 203 per 100,000 live births. An impressive 93 percent of women deliver their babies in health-care facilities due to a built trust between communities and health care providers. By prioritizing community engagement and leveraging existing health-care structures, Rwanda has fostered strong relationships between health-care providers and the communities they serve. This trust enables women, particularly those in vulnerable situations, to seek and receive appropriate maternal care without fear or hesitation. In contrast, the United States faces challenges in building trust, resulting in disparities in access and outcomes among marginalized communities, especially Black Americans.

In 2007, Rwanda launched a reform of its national community health system that mandated  that Community Health Workers (CHWs) possess at least six years of education and be chosen through community elections. Three CHWs would serve each village, including two general CHWs responsible for community health, nutrition, and HIV/AIDS prevention, as well as a maternal health worker who oversaw infant and maternal care before and after birth. Rather than imposing external models, Rwanda embraces a context-specific approach. By understanding the unique challenges faced by women in their communities, local solutions can be crafted to address these issues effectively. This approach emphasizes the importance of cultural competence and tailoring interventions to the specific needs of each community. In contrast, the United States often relies on standardized approaches, which may not sufficiently consider the nuances of diverse communities. This aspect of the story is shown through the image through the faces of the women, the one holding the pregnancy test seems happy but conflicted or worried, leading you to infer that she is going to ask questions or consult with a physician about her new pregnancy. In the woman who is holding a newborn you can see that they are both happy and healthy, that there were obviously no negative feelings about that birth, with the image being used to show the progress of Rwanda it tells you that they have adapted a healthy relationship with communities accounting for the wants of mothers, shown by her other kid being in frame.(Binagwaho et. al)  

Images 

1.  This image is discussed in detail in the above paragraph. This image depicts three women, one looks confused or conflicted while looking down on a pregnancy test, another who is pregnant and smiling bright while wrapping her hands around her belly, her actions irradiate love and affection, the third holding a newborn with a young kid looking up at her, she has her eyes closed in a peaceful, content gesture. The background is blue with a greenish highlight where a warm yellow background surrounds the women. The yellow that surrounds the woman is known to represent joy, happiness, optimism, caution, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, and friendship, the color picked purposely by the designer. The blue of the background is a warm blue. It's comforting, most likely representing freedom, intuition, imagination, inspiration, and sensitivity. All of these emotions used to create trust between the community seeing this image and the health care workers in the village that have the ability to provide help. The theme of this image is advancement and adaptation to this field of medicine, changing it for the better of the people. 

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/using_a_community_based_approach_to_improve_maternal_and_child_health 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9013293/ 

2. This image is about teenage pregnancy in the US, it is meant to show the issue and the harm it causes in order to fight to change practices in order to help prevent it. The image is of a young African-American girl who is obviously pregnant, she is dressed in overalls and stylish boots that help paint her as an innocent child. She is shown as running, grabbing for something (help) that is not there, her face contorted in a scared expression almost helpless. From her stomach a black chaotic darkness is consuming her belly and the purple background of the image, its zigzags and pointed edges show it as dangerous and chaotic. The images raised the question of why teen pregnancy is so prevalent in some states and what are people doing about this issue. It makes you wonder why this problem isn’t talked about in the news. I would love to dive into the numbers for states and maybe even different countries and how they compare. 

https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/abortion-bans-teen-childbirth-dangerous/

https://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm 

https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/abortion-ban-alabama-handmaids-tale.html

https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/ 

4. The fourth image I choose to also use as a warning as my main focus for the essay was abortion rights in the US. Depicting pregnant women with their faces blurred out an obvious statement that women are used as incubators. This image represents the thousands of women who are seen as just incubators. Women whose lives are at risk because doctors are no longer allowed to provide life saving medicine without facing large fines or jail time. It clearly mimics how women are seen by the government in conservative states throughout the US after the overturning of RoevWade. While this is the main point of the image, I decided to keep it because I can relate it back to my first image where it talks about “This approach (Rwandas’) emphasizes the importance of cultural competence and tailoring interventions to the specific needs of each community. In contrast, the United States often relies on standardized approaches, which may not sufficiently consider the nuances of diverse communities. This image represents standardized care, every woman gets asked the same questions, is prescribed the same initial treatments and their pregnancy is handled in the same way even though pregnancies have been proven to be different between women. 

https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/when-does-pregnant-texan-life-count-under-new-abortion-ban/ 

https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2021/10/012.html

5. My fifth Image is from the improvements made by Tanzania the article using the photo showing the benefits of the government’s implementation of high-impact health programmes such as routine immunization, Vitamin A supplementation, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and improved management of common childhood illnesses such as the flu, has saved the lives of thousands of children across the country allowing the rate of children who make it past 50 to grow. While this is a huge step in Tanzania’s health care it still faces problems that are beginning to be addressed, like preventable and treatable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea and neonatal conditions continue to claim the lives of Tanzanian children every day. Early marriage and childbearing remain high in some regions and economic groups, worsening existing vulnerabilities. There are broad gaps in births assisted by skilled health professionals in rural and urban areas (55 per cent and 87 per cent respectively). The percentage of women (20–24 years) who have given birth or are pregnant with their first child by the age of 18 has increased from 23 per cent in 2010 to 27 per cent in 2015. Vast variations are observed based on the place of residence – 19 per cent in urban versus 32 per cent in rural areas, and 27 per cent in mainland Tanzania versus 8 per cent in Zanzibar. However although problems are plentiful UNICEF is supporting the Tanzanian government to strengthen the enabling national environment; improve the district health system to plan and monitor services; reinforce sub-national capacity to deliver quality reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health services; and empower individuals, families and communities to adopt healthy family practices.(UNICEF)  Which is what the image is made to represent, it inspires hope through the bright eyes of a child. The photo is of a mother holding her child in joy as he looks at the camera with curiosity and joy.

https://www.unicef.org/tanzania/what-we-do/health

https://fameafrica.org/?gclid=CjwKCAiAmZGrBhAnEiwAo9qHiUpIvjgPr6UkOHkQP76Trsx1v-xFSdgr8JO1PsH-HsrapmdlhJl_NRoCH8sQAvD_BwE 

6. My next image depicts a family planning association meeting in India. It is full of women sitting in a circle learning about reproduction and the effects of pregnancy on not only your body but your entire life. This gathering was created to help women gain better control of their choices and bodies. It has led to safer practice and better preparedness for children. The image  This image represents India's progress in its groundbreaking progress in recent years in reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by 77%, from 556 per 100 000 live births in 1990 to 130 per 100 000 live births in 2016. India’s present MMR is below the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target and puts the country on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of an MMR below 70 by 2030. Since 2005, coverage of essential maternal health services has doubled, while the proportion of institutional deliveries in public facilities has almost tripled. India has put significant emphasis on mitigating the social determinants of maternal health. Women in India are more literate than ever, with 68% now able to read and write. They are also entering marriage at an older age, with just 27% now wedded before the age of 18. These factors alone have enabledIndian women to better control their reproductive lives and make decisions that reflect their own interests and wants. (WHO) You can see the woman learning how to cook balanced nutritious food, allowing them to support children better as well as themselves during the pregnancy process.  Maternal and child health has been a key public health issue In India since decades. In the Global Hunger Index 2019, India ranks 102nd out of 117 qualifying countries, which intensifies the need to work around health and nutrition. (FPAI)

https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/10-06-2018-india-has-achieved-groundbreaking-success-in-reducing-maternal-mortality 

https://fpaindia.org/our-projects/maternal-and-child-health-project

7. This image is a little different from the rest as it is of a panel, both the US and UK two countries that  had innovative and advanced maternal and child survival rates met to discuss how they are sending help and resources to Bangladesh. It shows a panel of people though only one of them is a woman the whole area is covered in blooming flowers of all colors which is what caught my attention. With their colorful and beautiful blooms, flower meanings are often synonymous with joy, beauty, innocence and pleasure. However, different types and colors of flowers bring unique meanings like symbols of friendship and purity much like the one brought on between the US, UK and Bangladesh. While this fits my theme of advancing maternal health care it allows you to see the larger picture. The evolution of medicine is not just up to each individual country the most change will be made through collaboration. The panel shows speakers and representatives from all over the US, UK and Bangladesh. The 2012 Call to Action scheme helped catalyze a global movement to dramatically improve maternal and child survival. Following Bangladesh's Call to Action launch ten years ago, the government reiterated its commitment to end preventable child deaths by 2035 by building on its previous successes in reducing child mortality.(USAID)

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/usaid-uk-high-commission-celebrate-decade-progress-maternal-child-survival-603362 

https://www.bmj.com/content/336/7659/1459

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/maternal-mortality-on-the-rise 

https://earlysuccess.org/maternal-health-disparities-webinar?gclid=CjwKCAiAmZGrBhAnEiwAo9qHiSmUkbVZnrDpWaZC83CvT3nm7Lbi5zs36lyDMZ60WlOOtxgY3cdrcRoCvzEQAvD_BwE 

9. This next image shows a group of fathers in a room full of newborn babies. It is taken from the cover of the John Bull magazine. Showing how in the 1900s it was not common practice to have husbands in the delivery room with their wives. It shows just how much has changed in maternal health, and maternal medicine in the last 50-100 years. It offers a new perspective on the advancement of medicine. How there are always ways to change even if you can’t see them at the time. The image leads you to ask if it is safe, to have all those germs in the same room as all the new born babies? I found myself asking what changed that changed the norm of men not entering the room. Or when even bottle feeding became an option, how many small advancements were made that we now take for granted? 

https://kidsofthe50sand60s.com/tag/childbirth/ 

https://hekint.org/2017/01/27/changes-in-childbirth-in-the-united-states-1750-1950/ 

10.  My last image is on a similar note as the previous. The image shows an old ad to get women in to get checked up for pregnancy. Stating in bold ‘After two months of pregnancy 56% of women have not yet consulted a physician’.It had cut out figures next to women showing them missing from the picture without a check up. I took this as almost a warning.  It had me asking why not? Were these women afraid, did they not know any better, did they not have access to a physician, was this throughout the world or just the states?  

https://history.nih.gov/display/history/Pregnancy+Test+Timeline

https://history.nih.gov/display/history/Pregnancy+Test+Popular+Culture+-+Advertisements

a.     Write down what concerns your topic has raised for you.

I am interested in continuing my essay topic and writing about how poverty affects healthcare access, I am specifically focusing on Latin America, and how those who are poor are more likely to suffer from illnesses because of things like living conditions and lack of accessible healthcare.  This topic interests me because it relates to problems my family has struggled with, especially those that still live in Dominican Republic, and it is just something I want to research more and have a better understanding of the problem.

            Originally, I was going to research the lack of access to healthcare in low-income communities in America, however, to make it global, I chose to switch to looking at Latin America because I knew it was still a problem in this area of the world.

            Concerns that my topic has raised are how impactful living conditions are to the health of a person and how dire the living conditions of the poor are in these countries; and what solutions those who do live in these conditions come up with.  

2a.

Looking for the images was fairly easy; when looking for images for the essay, I had also saved other options that I had which I decided to use for this project. Then, I sort of just resumed my search that I had going for my essay and used a couple of photos from the same person because they had captions on their images about what was going on in the images. Finally, I searched up some keywords, like hospitals in Brazil. The field was a little overwhelming because there were still images that would show up that would not exactly relate to what my topic was. I do have some images that I found that relate to my topic however I don’t know how I would connect them yet.  

2b.     Now that you’ve collected these images—what are the next steps? How do you approach a group of images and ideas? What do you do first? What sorts of questions do you want to ask?

My next step is to try and group them and build connections between all of them and my topic. I think I am going to do the sketch on paper that Dr. Mahoney suggested. I think I’ll put bullet points under the images of what I want to talk about before fully writing everything, then I’ll ask what picture seems to be portraying similar messages.

2c. (For Image on top)

This image shows a lady who has lost her leg, and is very clearly ill and injured. She lays on her bed with a piece of wood under her leg and also has severe burn marks. I also see how her surroundings show that she is not living in the best condition, and it seems as though she is using the piece of cardboard to fan herself. Some questions that are raised are where she lives in Latin America, how she lost her leg, and how it got so far to this point. To understand this image better, I would need to know where her nearest hospital was. An idea that rises to the top is how her poor living conditions potentially caused her conditions to get worse; her leg may have gotten very infected after being burned because of home.

3.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/glosackmd/33898868976/in/album-72157618412715615/

Image 1: The woman shows the photographer her home and it seems very unstable. The house and the roof seem to be made up of various supplies, the main one being tin. There are visibly large holes in the roof which allow rain to come in. The woman also shows that she has a child to take care of. The image shows what those conditions are, that the poor in Latin America live in. This is to show that because of how drastic their conditions are, their health is going to definitely be impacted by it. I find it interesting how there are so many people living like this, however, there are no hospitals nearby.

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/haiti/publication/better-spending-better-care-a-look-at-haitis-health-financing

Image 2: This image shows how Haiti has improved its healthcare throughout the years, however, it still struggles in other aspects. Haiti is not having as much money go to healthcare and the number of people who cannot access healthcare continues to be extremely high. This is showing how Latin America does not help the poor and makes it so that public hospitals will probably not be as good and well-supplied, and have people relying more on private healthcare which is even more expensive.

https://blchonduras.com/galer%C3%ADa

Image 3: The image is from an organization that helps the poor in Honduras. This specific image shows the bags that they give out to children. You see from the bag that there is a stuff animal and, but also other food; there is also a long line of children waiting behind this child. This image interests me because it sort of shows how not much support is given by the government. This community is lucky to have this organization, however not every community in need has this help.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/91311153@N02/8291478128/in/photolist-SrbJ1o-opeqce-jwY2a5-ew5sSi-6gRjWS-5YAo6b-dxS7cj-dCFZzs-8DHiS8-5ePrxZ-dCCxsd-G7Pcej-m5B8Dh

Image 4: The woman in the image stands caring for her baby and on her side, there is a new water filtration system. This allows her to access water, however, it also shows how there is no running water in her home, which is the case for many people living in poverty in Latin America. In the background it is also shown how her conditions are not the best, she has 4 very loosely hung picture frames and a curtain instead of a door.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/glosackmd/12483721905/in/album-72157618412715615/

Image 6: The man in this image has lost his leg and must use this wheelchair now. He suffers from many diseases, which is not clearly show in the image however the photographer mentions it, his home is also very visibly dirty and very cluttered with things. The ground is just natural dirt and his walls are made from tin.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/19/venezuela-crisis-hospitals-shortages-barcelona-caracas

Image 7: This is a picture from inside a hospital in Venezuela. It is very crowded and seems understaffed. There are various beds out in the hallway, and this all shows how the public healthcare system is lacking in many of these countries. Good healthcare is almost impossible to find for poor people in many of these countries because most of them will be unable to afford a private hospital to get treated.

https://www.oecd.org/health/health-at-a-glance-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-2020-6089164f-en.htm

Image 8: This chart shows how most of the countries in Latin America are under LAC33 which is serving as the base. This shows how many of the countries are not spending what they should be on healthcare which causes their things like government-funded hospitals to lack. In many of these countries, The average spending for private makes up a very significant chunk. In Haiti at the bottom, for example, it is almost completely made up of private healthcare.

https://www.matter.ngo/modernizing-mexio-guatemala/

Image 9: This is children’s hospital in Guatemala, the room is very bare and there are not many machines around. The bed looks sort of rusted and the only machine there is the one the nurse is currently using. This shows how there is not much funding going towards these government hospitals which then forces people to find better alternative which may cost more money.

https://www.paho.org/en/news/2-6-2023-healthcare-service-disruptions-during-covid-19-latin-america-and-caribbean

Image 10: This image shows a crowd of people waiting. This image is meant to represent the high demand, yet short supply that is heavily affecting Latin American countries. The short supply that Latin America faces makes it even harder for those in poverty to have access to certain vaccines and medications.

Question for class- What topics should I talk more or less about throughout my presentation?

Image 1- History and present state of endogenous opioids and their receptors

Kosterlitz, H. W. (Hans W.), Howard Hughes Medical Institute., National Institutes of Health (U.S.). History and present state of endogenous opioids and their receptors. Artstor, library-artstor-org.ezproxy.trincoll.edu/asset/28560848

This image was used to advertise a lecture by Dr. Hans Kosterlitz in April of 1989. He was a biochemist and a key discoverer of endorphins, leading further research into drug addiction. Dr. Kosterlitz did experiments on a mouse to find that when opioids were introduced certain muscles in the body would not contract leading to more research that is essential today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Kosterlitz

• Shows opioids from more of a medical scientific standpoint

• Showing endogenous effects meaning how the brain receptors affected by the opioids effects the body and signaling 

• Large background, very simple image; adds to power of the small image showing the brain stimulated by the opioids causing this powerful effect on brain similarly to image being small but having a powerful effect

Image 2- Executing a Strategy

Kasakove, Sophie. “Executing a Strategy.” Nation, vol. 306, no. 9, Apr. 2018, p. 10. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=nih&AN=128343584&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

In March of 2018 the opioid epidemic was a major health crisis in the United States, In 2016 killing 42,000 people which has drastically increased, but at the time was the last available data. At the time Trump was president and although talked about harsh punishment over treatment, also considered suing drug manufacturers for failing to make sure their products were put toward illicit use.

• Pile of drugs in picture just sitting there for people to view looking like a problem but what is being done- Often instead of fixing opioid epidemic it is just talked about and threats are made but there is not action 

• This picture is showing there is an issue, but nothing is visible being done similarly to what was going on at the time with more talk about the issue than action

Image 3- Treating Opioid Addiction

SATEL, SALLY. “Treating Opioid Addiction.” National Review, vol. 69, no. 4, Mar. 2017, pp. 26–29. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=nch&AN=121302518&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

The Author Satel published this image as the start of an article. This article examines the use of opioids and overdoses being increased. It also discusses the US government policy and role of the US criminal justice system in opioid addiction treatment. The article addresses the major issue that even if politicians make treatment more available it is very difficult to get an addict to stay committed to this treatment and recover.

• Image shows the resources being put into the opioid epidemic and the different groups of people trying to help including politicians, doctors, psychologists, family, ect…

  • Gives this idea that steps are being made by many people but nothing is really helping as you can see from this inhuman looking addict

• The non human like features give the viewpoint of how addicts are often viewed separately and somewhat degraded in society

Image 4- Opioid Facts and Statistics

https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/statistics/index.html

This poster’s audience is the United States to show the epidemic of opioids and real statistics to persuade those seeing this that the problem is real. 

• On image it is shown that there are valid sources to make sure people realize this validity of the statistics

• Arranged and information given to make you feel that those using opioids are not always homeless and that this can happen to anyone

Image 5- Economic Toll of Opioid Crisis in the US Exceeded $1 Trillion Since 2001

https://altarum.org/news/economic-toll-opioid-crisis-us-exceeded-1-trillion-2001

The economic toll that this epidemic is taking on the United States is drastic and according to the graph and data is increasing drastically. This money being spent causes the economy to struggle.

• This image appeals to those who relate to money and see the stats about the causes the epidemic has on the economy and how it it's not stopped the effects will only grow

How does the narrative of healthcare access in Afghanistan, particularly for women and children, intertwine with the broader theme of global health disparities?

What are the implications of the challenges faced by Afghan women in accessing healthcare, considering the historical context and ongoing geopolitical situation?

2. Global Health Implications:

The image of Afghan women in the healthcare clinic raises questions about the global health implications of war, gender inequality, and cultural barriers on healthcare access. How do these factors contribute to health disparities not only in Afghanistan but in conflict zones globally?

3. Image Representation:

The photograph captures a moment of healthcare provision in challenging circumstances. How does this image represent the struggles of Afghan mothers and children, and what symbolic elements, such as the burqas, convey about societal challenges and restrictions?

4. Raised Questions:

How can international collaboration address the healthcare needs of conflict-ridden regions?

5. Relating to Existing Knowledge:

Building on existing knowledge, I aim to explore how historical events, such as the Taliban's rule and subsequent fall, have shaped the healthcare landscape in Afghanistan. How have these events influenced the shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly women, and what role have international organizations played in mitigating these challenges?

6. Connecting Globally:

The Padlet will touch on the interconnected nature of health issues globally, linking war, gender inequality, racial disparities, poverty, and natural disasters. How can the experiences of Afghan women and children resonate with health challenges faced by communities worldwide, and what lessons can be drawn for addressing global health disparities?

Images:

1. Jabal-e-Saraj Clinic - Family Planning Education (2002)

• Kazemi, Kaveh. "A nurse teaches family planning methods to Afghan women in the burqa while holding a card with condoms and pills drawn on it, in an old building used as a clinic in Jabal-e-Saraj, Afghanistan, 25th April 2002." Getty Images, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/nurse-teaches-family-planning-methods-to-afghan-women-in-news-photo/121991355?adppopup=true.

• Description: The image captured by Kaveh Kazemi in 2002 showcases a nurse providing family planning education to Afghan women clad in burqas. The setting is an old building used as a clinic in Jabal-e-Saraj, Afghanistan. The nurse holds a card featuring illustrations of condoms and pills, emphasizing the educational aspect of the clinic.

2. Tangi Saidan Clinic - Women's Health Under Taliban Rule (2021)

• Blanchard, Elise. "This picture taken on October 6, 2021 shows a child standing in a waiting room at the Tangi Saidan clinic run by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, in Daymirdad district of Wardak province." Getty Images, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/this-picture-taken-on-october-6-2021-shows-a-child-standing-news-photo/1235851918?adppopup=true.

• Description: Captured by Elise Blanchard in 2021, this image depicts a child in the waiting room of the Tangi Saidan clinic, run by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan. The clinic operates in the Daymirdad district of Wardak province. Notably, the photograph highlights the unique scenario where women openly work alongside men at this vital health clinic in a village ruled by the Taliban.

• AFGHANISTAN-HEALTH-POLIO-VACCINATION Afghan burqa-clad women health workers knock the door of a house during a polio vaccination campaign in Jalalabad on May 15, 2023. (Photo by Shafiullah KAKAR / AFP) (Photo by SHAFIULLAH KAKAR/AFP via Getty Images).

  https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/afghan-burqa-clad-women-health-workers-knock-the-door-of-a-news-photo/1255012431?adppopup=true

• https://www.globalvillagespace.com/taliban-would-roll-back-afghan-womens-rights-us-report/

These images provide glimpses into the healthcare challenges and efforts in Afghanistan, portraying different aspects of women's health and healthcare access in distinct periods.

Ovarian cancer is one of the fewest types of cancer that has the least symptoms, and that is one of the reasons why so many women reach an advanced stage of this disease. This interests me especially because I was lucky enough to work in a research lab in high school where scientists were working towards finding a solution to prevent the metastasis stage of this cancer. While doing this research, I went to a hospital in Romania and I heard real stories from women there. They were all complaining that there are no screening tools that they have for ovarian cancer. So, the majority of women have very vague symptoms, such as abdominal bloating, lack of appetite or filling up quickly.

Important questions:

Why do so few people know about this type of cancer that affects over 100,000 women each year, with an annual of 30,000 deaths? Why do people focus more on breast cancer and less on this type of cancer? Why do so many women die from this type of cancer just because they didn't know they had it?

Images:

1. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwalnuthillobgyn.com%2Fblog%2Fovarian-cancer-prevention-its-all-about-awareness%2F&psig=AOvVaw3Z87RsTLxrhhTGGPj8-OKa&ust=1701270063972000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCKiQh4P75oIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAR

The teal ribbon, which represents the ovarian cancer awareness month.

2. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fovarcome.org%2Fabout-ovarian-cancer%2F&psig=AOvVaw0w-gm8xv8C7ath0lxV7C7n&ust=1701270362111000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCPiJgpL85oIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAO

Learn & Share The B.E.A.C.H. Symptoms:

1. B = Bloating

2. E = Early Satiety or feeling full quickly

3. A = Abdominal and/or Pelvic Pain

4. C = Changes in Bowel & Bladder Habits

5. H = Heightened Fatigue

3. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cosmopolitan.com%2Fuk%2Fbody%2Fhealth%2Fa19038551%2Fovarian-cancer-symptoms-signs-treatment-cure%2F&psig=AOvVaw0w-gm8xv8C7ath0lxV7C7n&ust=1701270362111000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCPiJgpL85oIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAW

4. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.novanthealth.org%2Fhealthy-headlines%2Freducing-the-stigma-around-gynecological-cancers&psig=AOvVaw1zM6N-6YMbuhrpSqeVZA8Z&ust=1701270494592000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCJD1-M385oIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAR

What do you see? What ideas or questions does it raise? What else do you need to know to better understand that image?

All these images are referring to the importance of prevention. Due to the fact that it doesn’t have distinctive symptoms, it is very important for doctors to encourage regular screenings and check-ups. In my opinion, one great step towards the prevention of this cancer is educating women and providing access to healthcare for them. In many countries, such as Romania, these type of specialized screenings are very expensive and usually not covered by insurance. If they would be free, more women would go and have them done regularly. The woman in the fourth picture stood out to me because she was trying to get rid of the stigma towards ovarian cancer and also dyed her hair in the teal color of ovarian cancer prevention.

Additional sources:

https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/ovarian-cancer/prevention

https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-ovarian-cancer-prevention

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/prevention.html

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/basic_info/prevention.htm