How is mental disorder and mental illness discussed and constructed in literature, language and media? And how has mental illness been constructed throughout cultural history?

These are some of the questions addressed in a new Master's Course in Scandinavian Languages and Literature. The topic is explored from media, linguistic, and literary perspectives, providing the course with breadth and various humanistic approaches to mental illness. The course also covers specific themes such as illness narratives, patient communities, psychiatric communication and the ‘speaking body.’ Individuals with direct experience of psychiatry will also be involved in the teaching.

PhD student Karen Schriver conducts research and teaches on the subject and believes the issue is highly topical.

“Mental illness is timeless and ubiquitous. However, in recent years, psychiatry has been under particular pressure—and in a way, that pressure reflects our time. As one of my wise colleagues recently said, psychiatry shows us what society marginalizes and struggles to accommodate,” explains Karen Schriver, continuing:

“In this way, literature, language, and media related to psychiatry also provide a snapshot of the times—a ‘negative’ of the norms and discourses that dominate society. That is why it is particularly relevant now, but perhaps always, to research and teach the connections between culture, text, psychiatry, and mental illness.”

Working with the Intangible

By researching texts and conversations about mental illness, scholars can ask more culturally analytical and historical questions—questions that psychiatry and the healthcare system do not always have the time to address, according to Karen Schriver:

“In certain healthcare contexts, there is sometimes a more black-and-white way of thinking: Does it work? Yes or no? Does it harm? Yes or no? And of course, this type of thinking can be necessary in institutions where people’s lives and health are at risk.”

As humanists, we can instead focus on the cultural aspects of mental illness.

“We can contribute by focusing on meaning, complexity, and historical context. But we can also help uncover the underlying ideas and discourses that influence both psychiatry and our understanding of what constitutes a good or bad, healthy or unhealthy life,” says Karen Schriver.

The course will also be available in the Autumn Semester 2026.

Read more about the course here

Contact:

Karen Schriver, PhD student
Department of Scandinavian Studies and Experience Economy 
Department of Communication and Culture
Aarhus University
Email: kns@cc.au.dk