MASH
For this paper, you will choose and watch 2-3 episodes of the 1970s television show M*A*S*H from the attached list and analyze episodes in light of everything you’ve learned in this class thus far. You can access all episodes on the open access website Archive.org, linked on UBLearns. (If you would like to watch an episode not on the list, please come talk to me about it first.)
You should develop a thesis based upon your thoughts and reactions as you watch the episodes, but the following questions may help guide your thinking:
What themes of military medicine do you notice?
Do you see any diagnoses, themes or issues that we’ve discussed in class or that have appeared in readings?
How does the show handle topics like trauma, gender, race, etc?
How are nurses represented compared to the doctors?
What is the dynamic between doctors and nurses?
Do you think the show handles these issues well?
Why do you believe the show portrays life in this mobile surgical unit in this way?
What is the relationship between doctors and soldiers?
Do you think the medical storylines have a political message? Why might that be?
You do not need to answer all of these questions, and you may choose to take your paper in another direction if you find other inspiration, as long as your paper analyzes the episodes with the themes of the course in mind.
