The Outbreak Narrative with Priscilla Wald

Episode 24 - August 23, 2020
A man sneezing

Priscilla Wald (Duke University) joins Merle and Lee to discuss the “outbreak narrative” she outlined in her influential book Contagious. After defining the outbreak narrative as a common way to understand infectious disease outbreaks, the conversation moves to examine where the outbreak narrative is used, and why has it been so popular for so long. Other topics covered include the relationship between zombie stories and the outbreak narrative, whether COVID fits the narrative, and why there are – perhaps – reasons for post-COVID optimism.

Our Guest

Priscilla Wald,

R. Florence Brinkley Distinguished Professor of English, Department of English, Duke University.

Priscilla Wald