User:Rubyfreeman/annotatedbibliography

Comic Book Therapy:
Al-Jawad, M. (2015). Comics are research: Graphic narratives as a new way of seeing clinical practice. Journal Of Medical Humanities, 36(4), 369-374. doi:10.1007/s10912-013-9205-0 King, A. J. (2017). Using comics to communicate about health: An introduction to the symposium on visual narratives and graphic medicine. Health Communication, 32(5), 523-524. doi:10.1080/10410236.2016.1211063 Green, M. J., Myers, K., Watson, K., Czerwiec, M., Shapiro, D., & Draus, S. (2016). Creativity in medical education: The value of having medical students make stuff. Journal Of Medical Humanities, 37(4), 475-483. doi:10.1007/s10912-016-9397-1 Schneider, T., Schonitzer, D. L., & Friedricks, S. (1981). Graphic family therapy: An affective alternative to structure and strategy. Journal Of Marital And Family Therapy, 7(1), 33-42. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.1981.tb01349.x Matthew J. Mulholland (2004) Comics as Art Therapy, Art Therapy, 21:1, 42-43, DOI: 10.1080/07421656.2004.10129317
 * Using a comic book medium, Muna Al-Jawad explains the usefulness of graphic medicine as a means of research.
 * "How do comics work as a psychosocial practitioner research method? Answer the question, dividing the analysis of comics into several different categories, including 'understanding', 'practice', and 'theory'.
 * The collaboration of images and text provide an added element of meaning and significance. Through drawings, an artist is able to more clearly relay information and a reader receives a comprehensive understanding of the narrative.
 * "Comics offer a new 'way of seeing' clinical practice"
 * "In comics, researchers have a social constructionist linking of theory and practice, a combination of analytic and affective interpretations, through multi-layered graphic narratives"
 * Comic books can acts a novel therapy to help convey narratives between patients and health practitioners. With the inclusion of images, photos, and illustrations, an author is more equipped to share their own personal stories comprehensively and thoughtfully.
 * These novel methods have the potential to reach a larger audience and can have a larger impact for those with little to no medical background
 * The definition of "graphic medicine" has been used as an umbrella term for this type of research method.
 * The topics of graphic medicine novels have ranged in topic and sensitivity. The potential for this field is vastly spread out as it has recently covered topics of cancer, mental health, HIV/AIDS, and other public health topics.
 * The way in which these stories are told are also quite diverse. While some are narratives detailing a patient's experience with a diagnosis or disease, others take the form of self-help books or 'tips to follow'. In all cases, however, it is clear that the use of this medium as a means of communication is beneficial.
 * The paper then summarizes the findings of four different articles, each focused on a different element of graphic medicine as a means of therapy within the medical setting. The four articles include discussions regarding the following topics: (1) information regarding cervical cancer prevention in women; (2) at-home-pain experiences for children and their caregivers; (3) healthy eating choices for middle school children; and (4) mitigating stressful situations for family members with loved ones in the military.
 * This paper argues for medical students (and other students striving to engage within the medical system) to engage in creative projects. One of the creative projects discussed within the paper is the development of a graphic medicine novel (or a comic book).
 * The paper itself is structured like an interview in which a panel of members from academia comment on the productivity that revolves around the development of a graphic novel.
 * One of the main arguments made throughout this paper revolves around the holistic approach to medicine that has become of recent focus. The authors of the paper argue that by encouraging medical students to think outside of the scientific box they have contained themselves in, the creative project would likely push them outside their comfort zone. By doing so, medical students can be learn the necessary tools they will use in uncomfortable situations in the medical field (i.e. new patients, new diagnoses, finding treatments, dealing with emergencies, etc.)
 * This is an older reference as it comes from the early 1980's. However, it can be useful in determining the initial thoughts that went into the development of graphic medicine and graphic therapy in general.
 * The paper discusses the usefulness of images and photographs in family therapy. According to the authors of this study, families are more likely to benefit from therapy each are actively involved in identifying the problem, creating a plan, and implementing this plan at home. Therefore, by engaging in creative therapy like that of comic books or imagery, family members have the potential to discover and identify surrounding issues more quickly.
 * The paper goes into describing and evaluating their newfound therapy - Graphic Family Therapy (GFT). The therapy itself is divided into four stages: (1) partnered examination of family patterns between the family and their therapist; (2) development of an emotional climate in which fluid conversations can take place in order to identify dysfunctional or maladaptive behaviors; (3) repeat; (4) evaluation;
 * The paper itself is a little confusing. It is likely its earlier publication date contributes to the lack of cohesion within the paper. In order to determine whether it can be used as a valid source, more research will be needed to be done.
 * What defines 'important art'? How has the idea of what makes art important changed over the years? In what ways can 'important art' influence the way in which we study medicine and the way in which we treat patients?
 * "Comic books became deep and complex works because their creators began to put their real life experiences into the books, as opposed to simply making up fantastic tales of far-from-realistic-beings"

Martin, E. (1997). The symbolic graphic life-line: Integrating the past and present through graphic imagery. Art Therapy, 14(4), 261-267. doi:10.1080/07421656.1987.10759295 Czerwiec, M. K., & Huang, M. N. (2017). Hospice comics: Representations of patient and family experience of illness and death in graphic novels. Journal Of Medical Humanities, 38(2), 95-113. doi:10.1007/s10912-014-9303-7 Lawson, E. (2013). Graphic medicine: humanity in cartoon rats. British Journal of Practical Medicine, 63(615), 541. DOI: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp13X673793 McMullin, J. (2016). Cancer and the Comics: Graphic Narratives and Biolegitimate Lives. Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 30(2), 149-167. DOI:10.1111/maq.12172 Warson, E. (2012). Healing pathways: art therapy for American Indian cancer survivors. Journal Of Cancer Education, 27S47-56. DOI:10.1007/s13187-012-0324-5
 * For authors, comic books can serve as a healthy way of retrospective thought. While writing a journal or a blog can function similarly, the inclusion of images and drawings only adds another dimension of thought and processing. Even moreover, this new element allows for readers to gain more insight into the intimate narrative that is being shared.
 * "As a medium, comic books provide their creators a wide variety of resources to aid their mental health. They allow for expression of self in terms of body image, verbal expression, physical action and emotion"
 * "Carrying no repercussions in the real world, situations can be resolved as the artists see fit. Through the conflicts and resolutions experienced by the characters, which may parallel those of the creators, clients may find comfort in having tangible representation of their triumphs and failures"
 * This study looked at the efficacy of an art therapy called "the symbolic graphic life-line". The symbolic graphic life-line is an art therapy task that manipulates lines to create a visual graph of sorts.
 * Patients reported the therapy allowed them to integrate both past and present thoughts regarding their parietal treatment. In doing so, they were able to uncover or untangle memories to rebuild events and milestones that had occurred.
 * Authors of this article investigate to what extent graphic medicine and art therapy work effectively. The discussion raises important questions regarding how to respect the patient, their story, and their emotions. Specifically, to what extent graphic medicine can be a medium that presents traumatic narratives with respect and concern.
 * The two authors of the study come from different backgrounds, providing a more holistic perspective on the subject. MKC is a hospice nurse and a graphic novelist. MNC is a family caregiver and a literary scholar. They do acknowledge the limitations of their perspectives, indicating neither have medical backgrounds in terms of physicians/practitioners.
 * "Comics have their own unique qualities and can portray a revealing medical narrative that is just as valid as any other literature or artwork. They are accessible, engaging, and the best examples offer rare insight into the human condition"
 * "At their simplest, cartoons can provide a wry look at our work and offer a moment of respite in a busy day. Yet when considered in the field of medical humanities, graphic medicine has much more to offer than a cheap gag"
 * "... the graphic form designs a space for visual metaphors of the authors' thoughts and experiences that are not as easily said in textual form" (McCloud 1993).
 * "Graphic narratives illustrate the ordinary. They are an ideal medium that visually situates people and things in relation to one another as objects that matter in sustaining life"
 * This study looks specifically at a population that is often overlooked in medical research - American Indians. The author of the study developed an art therapy protocol specific to the Native American culture. Highlighted topics included community, history, and environment. Additionally, the author noted the importance of context in the Native American culture and how that relates to day-to-day functioning.
 * The author acknowledges the limitations that exist in treating Native American communities; most dominantly, their reliance on holistic methods of treatment for severe illness or injury. She discuss the importance of "achieving balance and harmony through the reciprocal relationship between mind, body, spirit, and context"
 * To accommodate the needs of the Native American population, the author of this paper suggests instituting art therapy as a means of aiding cancer survivors through the coping process. This method of treatment will not only aid in cognitive and emotional processing, but will still maintain the holistic practices within the community as well.
 * "Art therapy is a mental health profession that incorporates art as a means for healing, personal growth, and an enhanced quality of life"

Karno, M., Brunon, J., Arch, M., & Waldron, P. (1977). Therapeutic use of generative graphics: I. Art Psychotherapy, 4, 79-88.
 * "Medical art therapy has demonstrated significant lower ratings of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms with breast cancer survivors"

Horowitz, M. J. (1971). The use of graphic images in psychotherapy. American Journal Of Art Therapy, 10(3), 153-162