Epilepsy is one of the oldest known disorders affecting humans. For a millennium, epilepsy has been depicted in the arts, and males and females have often been depicted differently. Males might be seen as possessing prophetic powers, and females seen as evil because of epilepsy, or vice versa. How do we view women with epilepsy today? How can the experiences of women with epilepsy be depicted today?
I plan to explore both the historical and contemporary representation of epilepsy in the visual arts and literature; document in written form conflicting representations of persons with epilepsy based upon gender, relating differences to gender based cultural and legal biases in context to contemporary scientific and medical understanding. I will create a body of visual work, complemented with a narrative, which references historical and contemporary depictions of women with epilepsy, expanding on the visual language I currently use in my paintings to enhance the understanding of the theme while also seeking an alternative exhibition approach to complement understanding of the work in relation to the historical and contemporary depictions I will reference in the written documentation of my research. The idea for this project originates with my own recent diagnosis of epilepsy and my previous artwork dealing with issues of biology, neurology and gender.
The anticipated results of this project will be a written article referencing the research and a body of visual artworks with an intended exhibition plan.
Many creative people have lived with and documented epilepsy. One of the sources I will use in gathering material will be the Deutsches Epilepsiemuseum [German Epilepsy Museum] in Kork, Germany. I have scheduled a meeting at the museum with Dr. Hansjörg Schneble to discuss the museum’s collection as well as his work as an Epileptologist, Professor in the field of Social Medicine and Psychopathology, and founder of the museum.
Hippocrates identified Epilepsy as a simple brain disorder, dispelling the belief that those afflicted were either possessed by evil spirits or were prophets. However still today, despite advances in medical imaging and scientific understanding, fear and misunderstanding persists.
Artwork References to include:
The Transfiguration; 15161520. Raphael
The Portrait Anatomised; 2013. Susan Aldworth
The Red Curtain or Homage to Vincent; 1983. Karlheinz Geier
Brain I; 1992 and Brain II; 1999. Jessica Kincaid
Planned Bibliography and Sources:
Kerson J. F., Kerson T. S., and Kerson L. A. (1999). The depiction of seizures in film. Epilepsia1999; 40:11631167.
Kerson T.S. (2007). Lasting impressions of seizures and epilepsy in film and on television.The Epilepsy Report November 2007; 913.
Van Brakel, W. H. (2006). Measuring health related stigma – A literature review. Psychology, Health & Medicine: 11(3): 307334.
Elizabeth FooteSmith and Lydia Bayne, Joan of Arc, Epilepsia 32(6) : 810815, 1991.
H. Gastaut, Y Gastaut, and R. Broughton, Gustave Flaubert's Illness; a Case Report in
Evidence against the erroneous notion of Psychogenic Epilepsy, Epilepsia, 25(5): 62237, 1984 Oct.
M. Nikanorova and P. Temin, Epilepsy and Genius of Dostoevsky in Russian Neurology and Psychiatry, in Abstracts from the 22nd International Epilepsy Congress in Dublin, Ireland, Epilepsia, 38 S.3, 273,1997.
Landino LD, Hunter G, TellezZenteno JF. Art and epilepsy surgery. Epilepsy Behavior 2013. Oct;29(1): 829.
McHugh JC, Delanty N. Epidemiology and classification of epilepsy: gender comparisons.Internal Review Neurobiology 2008; 83:1126.
Schacter S. Visions: Artists Living with Epilepsy. 2003. Academic Press.
Matthew 17:1416; Mark 9: 213
Malleus Maleficarum. 1494.
Americans with Disabilities Act 1990.
Institutions and Online Sources:
International League Against Epilepsy
Please see the Project Related Reading Log and Blog for bibliography and notes on works recently read and referencing in this project.