AUK Hosts Seventh Talk of Faculty Speaker Series

AUK hosted the seventh talk of the Faculty Speaker Series, and the second talk of the academic year 2022-2023, entitled “Literature and Medicine in the English Classroom” presented by associate professor of English literature, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar, from the College of Arts and Sciences. Attendees included AUK faculty and students, including academicians and guests.  

Dr. Muzaffar shared her views on the link between medicine and literature, explaining that as English majors, students are used to the interdisciplinary nature of study, reading literature that encompasses a wide array of fields such as philosophy, science, art, politics, and medicine. 

“In trying to understand today’s generation, we often see them as distinct by their awareness of and struggles with health—mental and physical, in addition to the outspoken manner in which they address these issues, to our detriment as parents and educators at times. Putting them in conversation with works of literature, characters and writers who also have illnesses as part of their lives forces students to situate themselves as part of a bigger world, and to reassess their own relation to illness, to normalize it as part of life, and to allow for a better acceptance of it,” she stated. 

Dr. Muzaffar emphasized the importance of students being the producers of meaning in her classes. She also gave examples of her own students’ reactions to the theme of illness by reading a few samples from their papers. 

The event concluded with an open discussion and Q&A session with the audience.  
 
The Faculty Speaker Series is a platform that enables faculty members to showcase their research and scholarly accomplishments. The event also allows AUK to make a difference in the community both in Kuwait and beyond by spreading knowledge and awareness about various topics while offering an opportunity to the general public to take part in the AUK experience.  
 

 

Associate professor of English literature, Dr. Hanan Muzaffar, from the College of Arts and Sciences
  

Dr. Hanan Muzaffar giving her presentation