CCGL9003

Contagions:
Global Histories of Disease
Dr. Robert Peckham
University of Hong Kong

Course Pack

(2016-2017)

CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

Contents

1. Welcome
2. Who We Are
3. Course Overview
4. Lecture Schedule
5. Tutorial Schedule
6. Course Syllabus
7. Course Structure
8. Assessment & Assignments
9. Note on Plagiarism
10. Important Dates
11. Consultation

CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

Welcome

Dear Students, welcome to Contagions: Global Histories of Disease (CCGL9003).

The Course Pack is intended as a practical course companion and contains useful
information about the teaching structure and coursework. It will explain what you can
expect to learn from the course and how the course will be assessed. Please make sure
you read the contents carefully. We will be using the Moodle system and all materials
will be available for download online.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I hope you enjoy the
course. Happy learning and all the best for the beginning of the 2016-2017 academic
year!

Robert Peckham

CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

Who We Are
Dr. Robert Peckham
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of History and coDirector of the Centre for the Humanities and Medicine, which is
a joint initiative of the Faculty of Arts and the Li Ka Shing
Faculty of Medicine at HKU. My interests are in the history of
medicine and health, particularly the history of infectious disease
and pandemic control. My recent book, Epidemics in Modern
Asia (2016), was inspired by this course. I graduated from Kings
College London and then went on to the Universities of
Cambridge and Oxford before moving to Hong Kong in 2008. I
am committed to teaching as a collaborative process and strive to create an interactive
environment; a space for free discussion, where together we can explore the big issues
and trace connections between the past and the present. Please do not hesitate to
contact me if you have any queries about the course. In the meantime, I look forward
to our class discussions!
Email: rpeckham@hku.hk

Dr. Carol Tsang

Hello everyone! I am Carol Tsang, your course tutor, and I
completed my PhD on womens medicine and diseases in Hong
Kong in the Department of History at HKU. In fact, I obtained
my BA and MPhil degrees at HKU and very much look forward
to sharing my passion for learning with you. Apart from seeing
you in the lectures, I will be leading your discussions in tutorials.
I am accessible to you all and welcome your questions and
comments. If you have any queries about studies and university
life, I would be happy to share my experiences with you.
Email: cctsang1@hku.hk

CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

Course Overview

What do vampires, financial crises, street crime and swine flu have in common?
Answer: theyre all spoken of as contagions. In this course, we discuss contagions as
biological and culture phenomena. We consider how epidemics have shaped our
collective histories and explore the role that human societies have played in producing
and driving disease.
Through discussions of documentaries, movies, novels, newspaper articles and art, we
investigate how infections have been understood in different places and at different
times: from the Black Death to the viral pandemics of an increasingly interconnected
world. And we discover what sci-fi can tell us about our fears for the coming plague.

Photo Credits:
AIDS awareness poster on a fence, Jimma, Ethiopia (2006) Sasha Andrews, Wellcome Library, London.
I am Legend (2008) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Protect yourself against malaria, colour lithograph after A. Games, 1941, Wellcome Library, London.

CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

Lecture Schedule
Semester One, Wednesdays, 2:30 PM - 4:20 PM (CPD-LG.08, Centennial Campus)

Lecture 01

7 September 2016

Making & Breaking the Global Village

Lecture 02

14 September 2016

Dangerous Circulations

Lecture 03

21 September 2016

Black Death: Sickness & Sin

Lecture 04

28 September 2016

New Worlds of Disease

Lecture 05

5 October 2016

Invasions: Parasitological Politics

Lecture 06

12 October 2016

Colonies & Cultures: Malaria

READING WEEK

17 - 21 October 2016 NO CLASS

Lecture 07

26 October 2016

War: Amplifying Infection

Lecture 08

2 November 2016

Sex, Plague & Moral Politics: AIDS

Lecture 09

9 November 2016

Emerging Infections

Lecture 10

16 November 2016

True Crime: Disease & Terror

Lecture 11

23 November 2016

Shock Therapy

Lecture 12

30 November 2016

Thinking in Time
(Showtime!)

Please Note: Suggested Readings have been assigned for each lecture and students should
consult the weekly Lecture Readings sheet (downloadable from the Moodle system).

CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

Tutorial Schedule
There will be 7 tutorials and time slots for the tutorials will be finalized by 22
September. All tutorials are mandatory and last 50 minutes. They are held on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (depending on your time slot). The
Moodle system will open for registration on Thursday 15 September at 10:00
AM with details of the time slots and venues and close on Thursday 22
September at 10:00 AM. Please note: students should come to tutorials well
prepared. Tutorial hand-outs with readings can be downloaded in advance through
the Moodle system.
Tutorial 01
26 or 28 or 29 September

Microbes in Our Lives

Tutorial 02
3 or 5 or 6 October

Picturing Contagion

Tutorial 03
24 or 26 or 27 October

Outbreak Narratives*

Tutorial 04
31 October or 2 or 3
November
Tutorial 05
7 or 9 or 10 November

Politics, Security, Disease

Tutorial 06
14 or 16 or 17 November

Pandemics in the Space Age

Tutorial 07
21 or 23 or 24 November

Course Project Discussion

Role Playing: Managing an Epidemic

Tutorial 03 will focus on the discussion of the movie Contagion (Warner Brothers;
directed by Steven Soderbergh, 2011).

CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

Course Syllabus
Course Description
How have epidemics shaped the modern world? In what ways has globalization
contributed to the spread of disease? And how can historical awareness help us meet
the challenges of the present and reconsider the relationship between the local and the
global? This course addresses these critical issues from a number of perspectives,
mapping the intertwined histories of globalization and infection from fifteenthcentury European conquests of the New World to the present. The course explores
the economic, political and social processes that have contributed to the rise of global
epidemics, including: early modern transoceanic exchanges, the slave trade to the
Western hemisphere, global conflicts and epidemics, imperial responses to contagion,
the rise of global health agencies after WWII, and emergent twenty-first-century
animal-to-human infections such as SARS and avian flu in Asia, Europe, the
Americas and Africa. Within this broad scope, the course engages with a number of
fundamental questions: How and under what conditions did the unification of the
world by disease come about? What challenges to global security does this infectious
interconnectedness pose? What potential might globalization offer in helping to
contain epidemics? And how, and with what consequences, has the past shaped the
way we think about contagious outbreaks today?
Learning and Outcomes
Contagions: Global Histories of Disease has been designed to go beyond the
acquisition of facts. The aim of the course is to cultivate independent thinking, skills
of analysis, and the creative imagination. Interactivity between lecturer, tutor and
students in group discussions is actively encouraged! Together, we will ask questions
as a first step towards searching for answers.
What will you learn?
Course Objectives
You will gain knowledge of the different political, social and cultural processes that
have shaped the ways that individuals and societies have experienced and understood
infectious disease through history. You will acquire an understanding of how the idea
of contagion developed, as well as the different conceptual frameworks within
which infectious diseases have been defined in an increasingly globalized
environment. You will also become familiar with key terms and concepts, such as
globalization, pandemic etc.
At the same time, the lectures and tutorials have been designed to hone your practical
skills and competencies. You will learn to evaluate problems analytically, develop the
ability to think laterally, and strengthen your communication skills. These skills and
competencies will be invaluable to you in whatever future career you choose to

CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

embark on, whether in science, medicine, engineering, administration, consultancy,

the world of business or the arts. In summary, you will:

Gain an understanding of the particular social, political and environmental

forces that have shaped our understanding and experience of infectious disease
Acquire a familiarity with critical concepts
Learn to think analytically and comparatively
Develop your writing, reading and presentational skills

Course Outcomes
By the end of the course you should be able to:
1. Analyze how epidemics have shaped the modern world
2. Demonstrate an awareness of globalizations role in facilitating the spread of
disease
3. Reflect upon and critically consider the value of historical knowledge in meeting
current global health challenges
4. Use a historically-informed approach to critically examine contemporary ideas
about contagion

CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

Course Structure
How is the course taught?
The course is taught in 12 double-slot lectures and 7 tutorials. If possible, we try to
include at least one guest talk, as well as organizing a field-trip, which we announce
during the course.
Lectures
The lectures take place on Wednesday afternoons between 2:30 - 4:20 in CPDLG.08 (Centennial Campus). It is essential that you attend the lectures to enable you
to meet the course requirements (see Assignments below). The lectures are designed
for YOU and our aim is to build a true learning community: we notice when you dont
attend! Lecture Notes will be provided after each lecture, outlining major topics and
issues. In addition, in every third lecture a summary sheet will be distributed,
providing a condensed overview of the contents of the preceding three lectures.
Remember: learning is not confined to the classroom. The guides provided during the
course are intended to encourage you to reflect on the broader context of the themes
introduced in class.
Tutorials
In addition to the lectures, you are required to attend 7 tutorials during the semester.
Tutorials last 50 minutes. We aim to keep the groups as small as possible (ideally 8 to
12 students in each class) to maximize the opportunities for discussion. Tutorials are
mandatory so please make sure you attend. You will be asked to sign up for a tutorial
group on either a Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday on a first come first served basis
through Moodle. Please check the times and venues before choosing a group. We will
do our best to accommodate your schedule but please be as flexible as possible. The
system will open on Thursday 15 September at 10:00 AM and close on Thursday
22 September at 10:00 AM. Once you have decided your slot, you are required to
stick with this group throughout the semester. Please bear in mind that once you have
registered you cannot change the group!
Tutorials provide an opportunity to focus in greater depth on particular course themes
and ideas. In advance of every seminar you will be provided with a tutorial hand-out
with material to think about before the meeting, including an outline of the main
issues we will be addressing and discussion points. This will form the basis of our
class discussion. Your participation in tutorials and associated activities (presentation,
role playing and quizz) accounts for 35% of your final grade (see allocation of grades
below). For the topics covered in the tutorials, see the Tutorial Schedule above.

CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

One-to-One Meetings
Towards the middle of the semester, we will organize one-to-one meetings so that all
students have an opportunity to discuss any issues and get feedback on their progress
from the Course Coordinator. Your feedback matters and we take it seriously. While
it is not compulsory for you to attend these one-to-one meetings, we do urge you to
take advantage of this opportunity. These meetings provide a useful forum for you to
take stock and identify areas for improvement (as well as receiving encouragement
and praise when you have performed well!).

Assessment
How will you be graded?
There is no final examination. The course is assessed exclusively on the basis of your
coursework, which consists of three components: Continual Assessment and Taskfocused Activities, an Online Portfolio (Review), and a Course Project. The
breakdown of grades is as follows:
Continual Assessment & Task-focused Activities 35%
Online Portfolio 15%
Course Project 50%

Continual
Assessment & Taskfocused Activities
Course Project

Online Portfolio

Assignments
We recognize that for many of you this is your first year at the University and you
may feel nervous about speaking up in class. Please rest assured: we encourage a
friendly, informal environment in which to exchange ideas. By registering for this
course you are entering into a contract with obligations to be courteous and
understanding of other viewpoints. The tutorials are a platform for students to gain
confidence in expressing their ideas and we try to make them fun so come
prepared, but please do not be shy!

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CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

Before each of the assignments you will be handed notes explaining exactly what is
required and if you have any queries you will be able to discuss the issues with the
teacher and course tutor (just email us and/or make an appointment to come and see
us).

Continual Assessment and Task-Focused Activities (35%)

i) Class participation & pop-up quizzes (15%)
You will be assigned short pop-up quizzes in the lectures. The quizzes will
be based on material presented in class.
ii) Class presentation on Contagion (10%)
Instructions for this tutorial assignment will be handed out in Lecture 06
(12 October).
iii) Role playing team activity (10%)
Instructions for this tutorial assignment will be handed out in Lecture 07
(26 October).
Online Portfolio on Moodle (Review) (15%)
You will be required to submit a review of the short documentary
In the Shadow of Ebola, directed by Sarita Siegel and Gregg
Mitman (2015) the story of a Liberian family kept apart by the
Ebola outbreak in a nation still reeling from the chaos of war. The
review should be no longer than 600 words. Again, please be
reassured, you will be provided with a guide for this assignment,
explaining what is expected, along with tips on how to complete the
assignment and a model review. An instruction sheet will be
handed out in Lecture 03 on 21 September.

Course Project (50%)

A written assignment of 2,500 words. You will be able to download a list of topics to
choose from on the Moodle system during Reading Week (17 - 21 October). The
topic questions will address a key theme explored in the course. Detailed instructions
with tips on how to produce the assignment will also be uploaded on Moodle. Tutorial
07 (21, 23 and 24 November depending on your time slot) will be devoted to
discussing the project and sharing ideas.

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CCGL9003 Contagions: Global Histories of Disease

Note on Plagiarism
It is important that you acknowledge the work of others and include a correct citation
system in all your assignments. Plagiarism (the appropriation of other peoples work
as your own) is taken extremely seriously at HKU. For further information about
plagiarism and how to avoid it, please see the pages on the Research Services website:
http://www.rss.hku.hk/plagiarism/page2s.htm. You may also consult the booklet
Plagiarism and How to Avoid It, produced by the Graduate School and the English
Centre. Please feel free to contact us if you need advice or have any concerns.

Important Dates
Apart from the Online Portfolio (Review), which should be submitted through the
Moodle system, all work should be handed in to Dr. Carol Tsang in B1052 (10F, Run
Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus) on the dates and times listed below. Please
make sure you keep checking the Moodle system for updates and materials to
download.
Online Portfolio (Review)

Contagion Presentation

Submitted online through Moodle with a

hardcopy version handed in to the Course
Tutor at Lecture 05 on Wednesday 5
October
Tutorial 03 (24, 26 and 27 October)

Role Playing Team Activity

Tutorial 05 (7, 9 and 10 November)

Course Project Discussion

Tutorial 07 (21, 23 and 24 November)

Project Submission

Wednesday 7 December before 4:00 PM

Consultation
You are welcome to contact either of us should you have any questions or queries
about the course. My office is in Room1045, 10F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial
Campus. You may email me at rpeckham@hku.hk to make an appointment. Dr. Carol
Tsang can be contacted at cctsang1@hku.hk
Your feedback is important to us and we want to ensure you get as much as possible
from the course. With this in mind, we encourage you to meet up to discuss progress
during the semester. And please join in the Contagions conversation on the courses
Facebook page. We want to hear your views. Express yourself!

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