Unnatural Causes: Bad Sugar (2008. Directed by Larry Adelman). This documentary explores the prevalence of diabetes among Native Americans in southern Arizona. The Pima and Tohono O’odham Indians of southern Arizona have arguably the highest diabetes rates in the world – half of all adults are afflicted. But a century ago, diabetes was virtually unknown here. Researchers have poked and prodded the Pima for decades in search of a biological explanation for their high rates of disease. Meanwhile, medical-only interventions have failed to stem the rising tide not just among Native Americans, but globally. What happened to the health of the Pima? Bad Sugar explores this topic.
GTC Medical Anthropology Film and Discussion Group - Film Programme Hilary 2023
Health Inequalities
3.30-5pm, Tuesdays (Weeks 4, 6 and 8)
Convened by Alisha Maycock, Gaia Campanelli, and Farah El-Sharnouby (MSc Medical Anthropology) with Dr Paola Esposito (paola.esposito@anthro.ox.ac.uk)
The GTC Medical Anthropology Film & Discussion Group explores the extent to which film can complement, enrich and further the study of medical anthropology themes, topics and methods. After watching selected clips, we discuss a film’s content and approach, and interrogate its capacity to support the analysis of issues relating to illness, crisis, health and wellbeing.
This term we focus on the theme of ‘health inequalities’.
