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The implication of the illness metaphors of *In America*: Mitigating negative effects of metaphors through illness narratives in the postpandemic era of COVID-19

Medicine and Health

The implication of the illness metaphors of *In America*: Mitigating negative effects of metaphors through illness narratives in the postpandemic era of COVID-19

R. Dai and S. Peng

This paper, conducted by Rumeng Dai and Shuixiang Peng, delves into the detrimental effects of illness metaphors prevalent in our language and culture, particularly as critiqued by Susan Sontag in *In America*. It highlights how these metaphors exacerbate stigmatization during the COVID-19 pandemic and proposes illness narratives as a compassionate alternative to enhance communication and empathy between patients and doctors.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
This paper examines the negative impact of illness metaphors, particularly those used in Susan Sontag's *In America*, analyzing the personal, social, and national trauma they cause. The authors explore the prevalence of illness metaphors in medicine and daily life, highlighting Sontag's critique of their inappropriate use and its consequences. The study analyzes how the metaphorization of COVID-19 mirrors the phenomena depicted in *In America*, focusing on stigmatization and militaristic metaphors. The paper then proposes the use of illness narratives as a mitigating strategy to alleviate the negative effects of harmful metaphors, improving patient-doctor communication and fostering empathy.
Publisher
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS
Published On
Jun 18, 2024
Authors
Rumeng Dai, Shuixiang Peng
Tags
illness metaphors
COVID-19
Susan Sontag
stigmatization
militaristic metaphors
illness narratives
empathy

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