Pathographies, also known as illness literature, are testimonials written by sick people. Although little is known about the autobiographical genre or testimonial literature, they are works that invite the reader to reflect on the essential questions of humanity such as happiness, life, death, and love. This presentation focuses specifically on 99% Thank you, an autobiography written by Japanese patient Hiro Fujita, who suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. 99% Thank you is a Japanese-English bilingual book consisting of 208 pages, and divided into six chapters, where Fujita explains what it is like to live with ALS. This proposal will raise the possibility of teaching this material in the classroom with an approach that emphasizes not only literary strategies, but also cultural and social aspects. As a theoretical framework, previous research on pathographies by Anne Hunsaker Hawkins and Lars Christer Hydén has been taken into consideration. Regarding issues of identity, the presentation will reflect on the works of scholars such as Arthur W. Frank and Jan C. Frich; and in the field of therapy and art, Gillie Bolton’s research will be utilized.

Authors:
Wladimir Chavez, Ostfold University College, Norway

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Wladimir Chavez is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at Ostfold University College in Norway

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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