“Cinematic Prophylaxis offers a very sophisticated and original interpretation of a fascinating topic: the emergence of the logic of contagion in world health ‘education’ practices and in U. S. mainstream cinema. Kirsten Ostherr links the discourse of contagion and public health with the development of cinema and the rise of visuality, problems of modernity, and the logic of conspiracy, ultimately tying all of these to the problem of globalization. Her argument is utterly original; I haven’t seen anything else like it.”—Melani McAlister, author of Epic Encounters: Culture, Media, and U. S. Interests in the Middle East since 1945 “My copy of Cinematic Prophylaxis will quickly be well worn with use in teaching and research consultation. It is a valuable and much-needed contribution to the intersecting histories of U.S. cinema and public health.”—Lisa Cartwright, author of Screening the Body: Tracing Medicine’s Visual Culture “Cinematic Prophylaxis is a powerful and very timely exploration of new and familiar forms of media. . . .[A]n exciting and useful addition to syllabi in a variety of advanced undergraduate and graduate courses including those in medical anthropology, visual anthropology, film studies, history of medicine, science and technology studies, and critical public health.”
Summer Wood
Visual Anthropology Review