14th December 2007 at the University of Amsterdam

The annual symposium of the journal Medische Antropologie (Friday 14th December 2007) will have as theme ’sickness and love’. The symposium will consist of thematic discussions based on submitted papers of the participants. During the symposium there will be no formal presentation of papers, but only a short introduction to be followed by a discussion. An exploration and overview of the theme – intended to motivate and encourage participation and writing of papers – can be found in the current issue of Medische Antroprologie under the above-named title and can be downloaded from the journal’s website (see below).

Registration for participation in the symposium is possible until 30 November. Registration is possible via the website of Medical Anthropology & Sociology Unit http://www.medical-anthropology.nl under Agenda: “Sickness and Love". Participation is limited to 35 people.

About the theme

Sickness and love – it seems an odd combination. Still, there are many similarities between love and sickness. In both cases the persons involved are overcome by it, the experiences are intense, they are not always controllable, and they often reveal the vulnerability of life. In literature and poetry, suffering from life and suffering from sickness are often compared with each other.

The love and the sickness both pose questions about who you are and how you relate to the world. Both are experiences that belong to the ‘condition humaine’. Sickness can be both an invitation for love and a test of it. ‘Sickness and love’ in its many varieties, is a theme that prompts reflection from several focus points, such as literature, anthropology, psychoanalysis, medical history, and cinema.