The Body Issue is a Meducator-run peer-reviewed Medical Illustration Zine project aimed at reshaping the narratives within healthcare and, more specifically, the representation of marginalized and racialized bodies within Medical Education.
WHY?
A 2021 study found that only 4.5% of the images in medical textbooks feature darker skin tones (Kaundinya & Kundu, 2021). The representation of black and brown bodies, disabled bodies, queer and trans bodies—especially within underserved communities—is foundational in tackling the systemic oppression that prevents marginalized individuals from getting accurate and fast diagnoses. The Body Issue is envisioned as a platform for undergraduate students to challenge these notions, develop their critical artistic skills, engage with career professionals, and bring awareness to these social issues.
HOW?
The Body Issue sets out to challenge the gaps within our traditional understandings of what health and medicine look like on different bodies. By leveraging the medium of medical illustration, artists contribute to a semester-long project which will allow them to critically interact with struggles within healthcare and work alongside a licensed Medical Illustrator to complete an anatomically accurate and visually engaging piece in the zine to be published and printed at the end of each semester.
Schedule:
FAQs
WHAT IS A ZINE?
“Zine” is derived from “magazine”. A zine is a collection of self-published, original work comprised of text and images. As the Printed Zine Project describes, “Zines have a long history of acting as a medium that frames social and political conversation.”
what is THE BODY ISSUE?
The Body Issue will be a printed compilation of medical illustration works from McMaster undergraduate artists, accompanied by a caption associated with each image.
DO I NEED MEDical ILLUSTration EXPERIENCE TO APPLY?
No! We welcome all skill levels and hope to support artists through the illustrative process. However, a portfolio that reflects your grasp of the human figure will be advantageous to your application.
How is the zine “peer-reviewed?”
Similar to the academic rigour of The Meducator journal issues, The Body Issue will connect to licensed Medical Illustrators to provide feedback to our artists, supporting anatomical accuracy.
WHERE CAN I FIND THE ZINE ONCE PUBLISHED?
The zine will be available on The Meducator website, Issuu, and wherever The Meducator journal copies are available on the McMaster campus.
HOW CAN I APPLY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ZINE?
Zine contribution will be application-based. Applicants will submit a portfolio of 3-5 illustrative works. Successful applicants will pitch a zine spread and work to create a submission in accordance with the above schedule.