A Post-modern storytelling and fragmented narrations in the history of medicine

Abstract

In this article, I try to combine Hayden White’s work on historical narration with sociological and artistic perspectives in order to propose possible avenues for a new kind of storytelling in the history of medicine. Drawing on White’s focus on emplotment and the Actor-Network Theory, I try to think about new actors and plot-types for the history of epidemics. I also share White’s belief that fictional and historical narration share a lot, which leads me to study some artistic storytelling. This makes me speak in favour of fragmented and contradicting narrations aimed at spotting lies instead of conjuring an objective and unique “Truth”.