Course Description:
This course will be interdisciplinary with a look at the biochemical components of mental health along with a
historical global view of treating mental health with emphasis on Western health. Students will explore a range of illnesses, including, but not
limited to dementia. Students will look at modern trends at the government level addressing mental health via the
current healthcare system. Special attention will be given to art as a means of addressing mental heath, with
emphasis on puppetry. Students will gain an understanding of how this has been used in the past and learn basic
manipulation of a variety of puppets to perform a show, as a group or individually, according to what circumstances
may allow.
Course Objectives: Upon completing this course, students will be able to describe:
•Demonstrate understanding of the challenges that exist in understanding mental health;
•Demonstrate understanding of the American healthcare system and its role in addressing mental health
traditions in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas;
•Demonstrate understanding of historical and contemporary global approaches to addressing mental health;
•Familiarize with common classifications of mental illnesses;
•Familiarize with current approaches to diagnose and treat modern day mental illnesses;
•Demonstrate knowledge of non medical approaches to address mental health;
•Apply puppetry to their understanding of mental health.
Course Texts:
Madness: A Brief History by Roy Porter
Puppetry in Dementia Care: Connecting Through Creativity by Karrie Marshall
Supplementary Course Packet by Orin James (open source, online content)
Non-Discrimination Policy: The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) was established in 2015 to
help build the University into a world-class model of diversity and inclusion defined by inclusive
excellence and an environment that allows everyone to thrive. ODI is committed to fostering
diversity and celebrating differences, educating the community on the benefits of diversity, promoting equity,
eliminating discrimination, and advancing equal access to all opportunities at the University. Given the size,
complexity, and collegial nature of the University, ODI does not do this alone. The campus community contributes
to the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion, through the work of faculty, staff and students at all
levels of the University.
Respect and Toleration: The issues we will be covering in this class will evoke a variety of
differing opinions and comments;
some will be very controversial. Successful college-level learning requires the careful
analysis and dissection of arguments, our own and those of others.
In accomplishing this, we must commit ourselves to listening with respect (not necessarily agreement) to
the views of all members of our group, and to thoughtfully examining and articulating our own views.
Attendance: Attendance in the key to your success in this course, as it will be in class room where you
have an opportunity to share your knowledge and opinion on important
issues that will affect you and others not only in your college career, but thereafter as well.
Your grade will be lowered for unexcused absences.
More than 5 absences equals a failing grade.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism: Members of a university community, both faculty and students,
bear a serious responsibility to uphold personal and professional integrity and to maintain complete honesty
in all academic work. Violations of the code of academic integrity are not tolerated. Students who cheat or
plagiarize or who otherwise take improper advantage of the work of others face harsh penalties,
including permanent dismissal. The academic integrity guidelines set forth student and faculty obligations
and the means of enforcing regulations and addressing grievances.
Students with Special Needs: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 provide students with learning or
physical disabilities the right to certain accommodations. If you will be requesting any such accommodations,
please speak with me during the first week of
class so that I can make the necessary arrangements promptly. If you have any questions about your
eligibility for such services, please contact:
Academic Support Academic Advising Center Academic Coaching and Tutoring Center
Disability Resources and Services Hanley Library Mathematics Center TRIO SSS (Student Support Services) Writing Center
Grading and Missed Assignments: I will assess your progress in this course in several different ways:
•You will take a one-hour midterm exam on the Friday before midterm break, and a two-hour
final exam at the scheduled time (2/5 of grade);
•You will complete two term projects a paper and presentation (2/5 of grade);
•You will participate in coursework, including short writing assignments, quizzes, other
classroom activities, and occasional homework (1/5 of grade).
Puppetry and Mental Health(care) Course Outline (put together by Orin James)
Week 1Introduction to Class
Review of Instructional Delivery.
Week 2Early Understandings of Physical and Mental Health
Focal points will be on the ideas of Empedocles' 4 elements along with Hippocrates' concept of the four humors and some of his writings from the Hippocratic Corpus.
Considerable time will be spent looking at Plato's idea of the soul.
Special attention will be given to the concept of health in Ancient Egypt.
Week 3Madness
This week exploration of madness begins in Ancient Greece with a look at Plato's Phaedrus and the Charioteer with Two Horses metaphor. Free Online Text Here
Conversation of Sophocles' Ajax and the concept of madness imposed from the Gods. Free Online Text HereWeek 4Madness Continued
Exploration of madness in the classical world transitions into the Ancient Roman times. We will discuss Ovid's "Echo and Narcissus". Free Online Text Here
Look at the life and works of Galen.
Week 5Health in Medieval Times (European and Arabic worlds)
Introduction into Christianity, with emphasis on catholic views on physical and mental health. We explore the concept of charity and the establishment of hospitals.
Special attention will be given to the life and works of Macrobius, Boethius, Isidore of Seville, Al Kindi, Avicenna,
Trotula of Salerno, Hildegard of Bingen, Al Hazen, and Averroes.
Week 6Health in Medieval Times (European and Arabic worlds) Continued
Look at the establishment and development of health boards during the Black Death. Special consideration is given to
town councils, founding of medical universities, apothecaries, monestaries and medical guilds.
We will also navigate the variety of ways mental health was addressed during this time period.
Week 7The Asylum
Focus will be on Bethlem Royal Hospital, The Narrenturm among others. Discussion of the Age of Enlightenment will be
provided with emphasis on Emmanuel Kant's "What is Enlightenment?" Free Online Text
Exam I
Week 8The Asylum Continued
Practices of the Asylum: Trephination, Lobotomy, and other practices that were once used, but now deemed inhumane.
Week 9Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Mental Care
The establishment of institutions such as Eastern State Hospital and Pennsylvania Hospital in America.
American health care policies during the Progressive Era.
Week 10American Healthcare System
Continuation of discussion of health policies and practices from the Progressive Era to passage of Medicare/Medicaid.
American policies governing mental health.
Week 11Mental Health in America
Ethical, Legal, and Sociocultural issues.
Current theories, therapies (complementary and alternative) and psychotherapeutic drugs.
Week 12Mental Health in America Continued
Mental health problems during childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Week 13Mental Health in America Continued & Introduction into Puppetry as Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease continued.
A look at historical uses of puppets, the various common forms of puppets and begin learning how to manipulate them.
Week 14Puppetry
Practice a routine for live presentation.
Exam II
Finals Week
Final Exam TBA
