Brumberg Contagion And Convergence Summary
In Brumberg's article, she explains how anorexia nervosa is a “contagious” and “communicable” disease due to “its cultural availability, [and] its visibility” (Brumberg, 1). She states that anorexia nervosa has become a contagious disease because of how widely it is discussed and how well-known it has become making information easily accessible. It puts the idea in people’s heads leaving them to make their own decisions pertaining to the illness. Brumberg claims that its popularization has shown an increase in the occurrence of the disease and made it more common among people, specifically adolescent females. The concepts of contagion and convergence, which are discussed in Brumberg’s article, are examples of how easily the disease can spread
from one person to the next. Similar to this is Morgellon’s disease discussed in “The Devil’s Bait”. Due to the increase in available information and increase in people believing they have Morgellon’s disease, it can also be considered “contagious”. The popularization of Morgellon’s disease is similar to anorexia because of how it has transformed into a more common and well-known disease. I had never heard of this disease before reading this article so found it very intriguing. The media greatly contributes to the spread of anorexia, Morgellon’s, and many other diseases. It brings attention and publicity to the illness and allows people quicker and easier access to the information. Brumberg’s article is an example of how media does not always help reduce to the possibility of a disease occurring because of the increase in anorexia after its exposure in magazines, books, and on television. “The Devil’s Bait” stated that “[Morgellon’s disease has] grown up alongside the Internet” (Jamison,12) giving another example of how media has contributed to the spread of a disease. After reading these articles I was reminded of how suicide can also be “contagious”. Similar to anorexia and the concept of a contagion, which is the “spread of affect or behavior from group member to group member in effect stimulating an imitative act by another” (Brumberg, 2), suicide it is an action that is often replicated when information is shared that someone has committed suicide.
from one person to the next. Similar to this is Morgellon’s disease discussed in “The Devil’s Bait”. Due to the increase in available information and increase in people believing they have Morgellon’s disease, it can also be considered “contagious”. The popularization of Morgellon’s disease is similar to anorexia because of how it has transformed into a more common and well-known disease. I had never heard of this disease before reading this article so found it very intriguing. The media greatly contributes to the spread of anorexia, Morgellon’s, and many other diseases. It brings attention and publicity to the illness and allows people quicker and easier access to the information. Brumberg’s article is an example of how media does not always help reduce to the possibility of a disease occurring because of the increase in anorexia after its exposure in magazines, books, and on television. “The Devil’s Bait” stated that “[Morgellon’s disease has] grown up alongside the Internet” (Jamison,12) giving another example of how media has contributed to the spread of a disease. After reading these articles I was reminded of how suicide can also be “contagious”. Similar to anorexia and the concept of a contagion, which is the “spread of affect or behavior from group member to group member in effect stimulating an imitative act by another” (Brumberg, 2), suicide it is an action that is often replicated when information is shared that someone has committed suicide.