The Polyphony
LightNews LightNews
banner
the-polyphony.bsky.social
The Polyphony
@the-polyphony.bsky.social
1.2K followers 1.5K following 180 posts
To stimulate, catalyse, provoke, expand and intensify conversations in the critical medical humanities. Hosted by Durham University's Institute for Medical Humanities. Supported by Wellcome.

https://thepolyphony.org/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
the-polyphony.bsky.social
The Polyphony @the-polyphony.bsky.social · Mar 31
🚀 Delighted to announce the publication of our new #MedHums101 brochure: ‘What is Medical Humanities?’ We hope it sparks your imagination, inspires your curiosity & encourages you to engage in our vibrant interdisciplinary field! tinyurl.com/what-is-med-...
Med Hums 101: What is Medical Humanities?
The Polyphony is delighted to launch the publication of a new brochure – MedHums 101: What is medical humanities?
tinyurl.com
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Gracie Wilson and Momoko Katayama reflect on the key points raised at the Cultures of Youth Mental Health workshop held at the University of Chicago’s Hong Kong campus.

thepolyphony.org/2026/02/10/y...
The Cultures of Youth Mental Health
Gracie Wilson and Momoko Katayama reflect on the key points raised at the Cultures of Youth Mental Health workshop held at the University of Chicago’s Hong Kong campus.
thepolyphony.org
February 10, 2026 at 12:07 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Years of chronic illness left Eve McDonald frustrated by lack of language. Rather than submitting to suffering in silence, she chose to piece together a new language, embracing the “ineffability of illness” through creative writing and online support groups.

thepolyphony.org/2026/02/09/a...
Articulating Pain: Online Support Groups and Chronic Illness
Years of chronic illness left Eve McDonald frustrated by the lack of language available to describe her pain. Rather than submitting to suffering in silence, she chose to piece together a new langu…
thepolyphony.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Reposted by The Polyphony
arb0re1um.bsky.social
My short article on ‘ontological friction’ is out now! Super grateful to @evasurawy.bsky.social for the incredible support
February 8, 2026 at 5:23 AM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Kristin Zeiler reflects on features of the early field of medical humanities in Sweden, specifically focusing on Linköping University, and poses three questions for the field based on these features.
thepolyphony.org/2026/02/06/m...
Medical Humanities and Humanistisk hälsoforskning in Sweden: mid-1970s to mid-1990s
Kristin Zeiler reflects on features of the early field of medical humanities in Sweden, specifically focusing on Linköping University, and poses three questions for the field based on these feature…
thepolyphony.org
February 6, 2026 at 12:09 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Michaela Clark reviews an exhibition that explores and complicates the social and psychiatric norms of post-war Germany.

thepolyphony.org/2026/02/04/n...
Review of the Exhibition: Normal#Verrückt – Zeitgeschichte einer erodierenden Differenz
Michaela Clark reviews an exhibition that explores and complicates the social and psychiatric norms of post-war Germany.
thepolyphony.org
February 4, 2026 at 12:08 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Annie James introduces the concept of ‘ontological friction’ to explore the medical and lived complexity of a form of menstrual pain.

thepolyphony.org/2026/02/02/o...
Ontological Friction: Understanding Dysmenorrhea through Multiplicity
Annie James introduces the concept of ‘ontological friction’ to explore the medical and lived complexity of a form of menstrual pain.
thepolyphony.org
February 2, 2026 at 12:13 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Claire Jeantils, Rong Huang, and Benjamin Dalton unravel the stories behind the International Narrative Neurology Network (INNN), a cross-sectoral network that investigates Narrative Neurology from a practical and theoretical perspective.

thepolyphony.org/2026/01/29/i...
Hearing the Neuro-Voice in the International Narrative Neurology Network (INNN)
Claire Jeantils, Rong Huang, and Benjamin Dalton unravel the stories behind the International Narrative Neurology Network (INNN), a cross-sectoral network that investigates Narrative Neurology from…
thepolyphony.org
January 29, 2026 at 12:12 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
@drmonicaross.bsky.social uses her personal and clinical experience to explore how diagnostic language can clarify, constrain, and quietly shape the meaning of a life.

thepolyphony.org/2026/01/28/w...
When A Name Replaces The Story
Monica Ross uses her personal and clinical experience to explore how diagnostic language can clarify, constrain, and quietly shape the meaning of a life.
thepolyphony.org
January 28, 2026 at 12:05 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
How can dystopian narratives illuminate real-world structures of coercion, exclusion, and exploitation? Anindita C Xavier explores Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go.

thepolyphony.org/2026/01/27/n...
Disabled by Design: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Anindita Charles Xavier explores the representation of disability, state control, and body politics in Ishiguro’s novel.
thepolyphony.org
January 27, 2026 at 12:10 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
We're pleased to announce this collection of contributions to The Polyphony from attendees at the 2025 International PhD School on Queer Methodologies in Medical Humanities, which took place in Durham in March 2025.

📖 Read the collection 👇
thepolyphony.org/category/col...
PhD School 2025: Queer Methodologies in Medical Humanities – the polyphony
Conversations across the medical humanities
thepolyphony.org
January 21, 2026 at 3:01 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Julián Bohórquez and Ivory Day reflect on the importance of translating fundamental terms in philosophy of medicine into Spanish, as well as the value of importing Spanish terminology into the Anglophone discussion.
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/20/m...
The Language of Medical Concepts in Spanish
Julián Bohórquez and Ivory Day reflect on the importance of both translating fundamental terms in philosophy of medicine into Spanish, as well as the value of importing Spanish terminology into the…
thepolyphony.org
January 20, 2026 at 12:03 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Loïc Bourdeau discusses the #ENDOs project and the deployment of narrative tools to challenge the normalisation of endometriosis pain, empower those living with the disease, and educate health practitioners.
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/14/e...
Endometriosis in Words: Stories, Emotional Dictionaries, and Endostand
Loïc Bourdeau discusses the #ENDOs project and the deployment of narrative tools to challenge the normalisation of endometriosis pain, empower those living with the disease, and educate health prac…
thepolyphony.org
January 14, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Reposted by The Polyphony
claireturner.bsky.social
Enjoyed reflecting on @thackraymuseum.bsky.social's 2024 exhibition 'You Choose' in this piece with @jackgann.bsky.social for @the-polyphony.bsky.social. Some fascinating insights into the prevalence of cancer in the popular imagination among all age groups.

thepolyphony.org/2026/01/12/y...
‘You Choose’: 3D Pills, Cancer, and Personalised Medicine in the Museum
Claire Turner and Jack Gann explore questions of personalised medicine, digital technologies, and prevalent health concerns in the exhibition You Choose.
thepolyphony.org
January 13, 2026 at 2:21 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Claire Turner and Jack Gann explore questions of personalised medicine, digital technologies, and prevalent health concerns in the exhibition You Choose.

thepolyphony.org/2026/01/12/y...
‘You Choose’: 3D Pills, Cancer, and Personalised Medicine in the Museum
Claire Turner and Jack Gann explore questions of personalised medicine, digital technologies, and prevalent health concerns in the exhibition You Choose.
thepolyphony.org
January 12, 2026 at 12:07 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Dilip K. Das introduces an interdisciplinary framework for epidemic narratives in India by drawing on methods from literature, social theory, and public health. He explores how communities, writers, and scholars make sense of outbreak narratives.
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/09/e...
Epidemic Narratives
Dilip K. Das introduces an interdisciplinary framework for epidemic narratives in India by drawing on methods from literature, social theory, and public health. He explores how communities, writers…
thepolyphony.org
January 9, 2026 at 3:38 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Xue Dong examines a seemingly euphemistic expression used by Chinese patients that may actually suggest serious discomfort.
thepolyphony.org/2025/12/19/w...
When “A Bit Unwell” Means a Lot
Xue Dong examines a seemingly euphemistic expression used by Chinese patients that may actually suggest serious discomfort.
thepolyphony.org
January 8, 2026 at 10:55 AM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Surjavo Sen Gupta reimagines a multisensory art gallery as a space for restoration and ocular relief through his time as a walk leader at the Flowing Heritage exhibition at Arthshila.
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/07/h...
Holding and Beholding Art
Surjavo Sen Gupta reimagines a multisensory art gallery as a space for restoration and ocular relief through his time as a walk leader at the Flowing Heritage exhibition at Arthshila.
thepolyphony.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:25 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Suniti Madaan discusses how Amruta Patil’s graphic narrative Kari reconceptualises graphic medicine to trace the sociocultural and temporal paradigms of sickness in Mumbai.
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/05/t...
The Boatman of the Sewers: Queering Graphic Medicine
Suniti Madaan discusses how Amruta Patil’s graphic narrative Kari reconceptualises graphic medicine to trace the sociocultural and temporal paradigms of sickness in Mumbai.
thepolyphony.org
January 7, 2026 at 9:32 AM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Dolly Sen dismantles psychiatric authority through art activism, exposing the politics of diagnosis and reclaiming the narrative of madness.

thepolyphony.org/2026/01/02/d...
DMS 69: Art Activism as Rebellion Against Psychiatric Authority
Dolly Sen dismantles psychiatric authority through art activism, exposing the politics of diagnosis and reclaiming the narrative of madness.
thepolyphony.org
January 5, 2026 at 4:35 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
"Participants in Chronic Illness Inclusion’s research... explained that disbelief from medical professionals ‘knocked [their] self-confidence’... [they] were left wondering if they were ‘making things up’. Ultimately many were left feeling ‘worthless’."

thepolyphony.org/2025/12/22/e...
Whose Body is it Anyway? Epistemic Injustices in Healthcare
Leo Gunn explores epistemic injustice, “a wrong done to someone specifically in their capacity as a knower” in chronic illness.
thepolyphony.org
December 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by The Polyphony
miladaskalova.bsky.social
Back in August, I ran a poetry workshop for psychiatrists at St Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic career, and I hope more will follow.

A special thanks to the History of Psychiatry Special Interest Group of the @rcpsych.bsky.social!
December 19, 2025 at 10:16 AM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
In our next creative piece for the 'In Practice' project, Greg Hoghman explores disability, geography and mobility through his digital cartography titled Travels of a Disabled Person Who Does Not Drive in 'America's Finest City (2003-2025).

thepolyphony.org/2025/12/18/c...
Cartographies of Disability through Creative Practice
In our next creative piece for the ‘In Practice’ project, Greg Hoghman explores disability, geography and mobility through his digital cartography titled Travels of a Disabled Person Wh…
thepolyphony.org
December 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Anuj Kumar brings together ecological vulnerability, multispecies care, and relational health in his reading of Shaunak Sen’s film All That Breathes.

thepolyphony.org/2025/12/17/b...
Breathing Together: Multispecies Care in Shaunak Sen’s All That Breathes
Anuj Kumar brings together ecological vulnerability, multispecies care, and relational health in his reading of Shaunak Sen’s film All That Breathes.
thepolyphony.org
December 17, 2025 at 1:56 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Pragna Dev discusses the Indian care system in this personal review, in dialogue with Miller's foundational text.

thepolyphony.org/2025/12/16/e...
Exploring the Indian Care Labyrinth through Sarah Clark Miller’s The Ethics of Needs
Pragna Dev discusses the Indian care system in this personal review, in dialogue with Miller’s foundational text.
thepolyphony.org
December 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
the-polyphony.bsky.social
Mila Daskalova reflects on the importance of poetry to psychiatry, both in the nineteenth-century and the present day.

thepolyphony.org/2025/12/15/p...
A Return to the Poetic Roots of Psychiatry
Mila Daskalova reflects on the importance of poetry to psychiatry, both in the nineteenth-century and the present day.
thepolyphony.org
December 15, 2025 at 12:24 PM