Digital humanities and sociological critical thinking

Annemarie Jutel is a critical diagnosis scholar.  Her focus is on how diagnostic categories are shaped by social factors, and in turn, how these social factors shape the experience of health, illness and disease.  Her specific interests include classification theory, medicalization, conflict of interest in diagnostic development (pharmaceutical industry), and diagnostic narratives.  Her books include:  Putting a Name to It: Diagnosis in Contemporary Society (JHUP), and Diagnosis:  Truths and Tales (UTP).  As a rural nurse, she also (carefully) uses diagnostic apps in her clinical practice.  

Read more about Annemaries' work: 

Lupton, D., & Jutel, A. (2015). 'It's like having a physician in your pocket!' A critical analysis of self-diagnosis smartphone apps. Social Science and Medicine, 133, 128-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.04.004

Jutel, A., & Lupton, D. (2015). Digitizing diagnosis: a review of mobile applications in the diagnostic process. Diagnosis, 2(2), 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1515/dx-2014-0068

Dr Octavia Calder-Dawe is interested in how digital technologies – and social media in particular – are shaping the way we understand and pursue health and wellbeing.

Drawing on critical social and psychological theory, Octavia is currently leading externally funded research exploring how “think positive” messaging circulates and interpellates on Instagram. Recent collaborations include student projects exploring how digital wellbeing application Mentemia constructs mental health, and the psychosocial implications of online medical crowdfunding.