About
We are a team of researchers with a passion for Medical Humanities situated at the Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies, University of Vienna. We are curious about the way societies think and talk about health and illness, the ethical and social impacts of such narratives and images, and the medical/cultural practices that shape our ideas about these topics. As humanities scholars, we also care deeply about the potential of creative work and the arts to help patients, doctors and caregivers.
If you are interested in our current events such as workshops and conferences, as well as our Medical Humanities projects, please get in touch via the contact form. We look forward to potential collaborations!
News
- Ringvorlesung “Geschlecht und Diversität in der Medizin” an der Medizinischen Universität Innsbruck
Im Sommersemester 2026 findet an der Medizinischen Universität Innsbruck unter der Leitung von Univ.-Prof.in Dr.in Sabine Ludwig, MSc, MA, eine Ringvorlesung zum Thema “Geschlecht und Diversität in der Medizin in den deutschsprachigen Ländern: ‘Gendermedizin’ neu gedacht” statt. Wann: donnerstags oder dienstags, 18.30-20.00 Uhr (Präsenz und per Livestream) Wo: Audimax, EG, Fritz-Priegl-Straße 3, 6020 Innsbruck Monika Pietrzak-Franger wird am Donnerstag, dem 11.6., einen Vortrag zum Thema “Leben mit Long Covid – Aspekte von Geschlecht und Diversität” halten. Webseite der Veranstaltung - #LNF26 Lange Nacht der Forschung (24 April 2026)
“But You Don’t Look Sick” – Making the Invisible Visible — This year, two team members, Monika Pietrzak-Franger and Maria Morata Marco, will present their projects at Lange Nacht der Forschung on 24 April 2026 (17:00-23:00). Have you ever been told you look perfectly fine while having to actively manage pain? At our interactive station at LNF, we explore why the phrase “you don’t look sick” can be more of a burden than a compliment. Inspired by Christine Miserandino’s famous blog post under the same title and her formulation… - Lecture series “Visual Culture, Photography and Medicine: Bodies, Technologies and the Politics of Seeing” (11 March-17 June 2026)
This summer term, stemming out of a close cooperation between University of Vienna and FOTO ARSENAL WIEN, this lecture series equips MA students with a theoretically grounded, media-literate understanding of how medicine operates as a cultural system of images, spaces, and narratives – and how these shape lived realities in powerful, often invisible ways. Medicine has never been a purely scientific enterprise. It is deeply embedded in cultural imaginaries, visual regimes, and aesthetic practices: from anatomical atlases, hospital architecture, and… - Lecture course “(Sexual) Health: Media, Inequalities and Justice”
The summer term 2026 edition — How have visual cultures shaped our understanding of health, identity, and justice across time? From the woodcuts of 17th-century broadsheets to the fast-paced, algorithm-driven world of TikTok, the public sphere of health information has always been deeply intertwined with media, politics, and power. This lecture series, led by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Monika Pietrzak-Franger, invites you to explore the ever-evolving relationship between health, visual representation, and societal inequities. Join us as we explore the ways medical… - Lecture series “Health in Society”
Starting with an opening event on 18 March, the lecture series “Health in Society” (organised by the Health in Society Research Network) will focus on the many factors health depends on that go beyond the individual and interact with each other. Each unit will bring two members of the research network into dialogue. They will speak from their respective disciplinary perspectives on a common, socially significant topic and then engage in conversation with each other and the audience. On 2…