Transcending power domination： self-technology and subjectivity construction in illness narratives
10.12026/j.issn.1001-8565.2025.06.09
- VernacularTitle:超越权力支配：疾痛叙事中的自我技术与主体性建构
- Author:
Chunyan XIE
1
Author Information
1. Shanghai Health Development Research Center/Shanghai Institute of Medical Science and Technology Information， Shanghai 201199， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
illness narrative;
power domination;
self-technology;
subjectivity
- From:
Chinese Medical Ethics
2025;38(6):739-744
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Illness narratives serve as an entry point that combines patients’ micro-level experiences with macro-level power structures in the medical field and are also an important aspect of medical ethics and narrative medicine research. Based on the existing meaning of illness narratives， the significant importance of focusing on the broader concept of illness narratives was emphasized. Drawing on Foucault’s theory of power， it was found that illness narratives， beyond reflecting the pain caused by the disease itself， should also focus on the dominant role of power structures in the modern medical field over illness narratives， and explore how to reduce the domination of power. Inspired by the concepts of ethics and survival aesthetics in Foucault’s late thought， this paper explored the possibility of transcending power domination and reconstructing subjectivity through self-technology reinforcement such as patient illness narratives in the medical field. Finally， from the perspectives of both medical service provision and patient needs， illness narratives and the practice of narrative medicine were reflected and summarized， hoping that narrative medicine can contribute to the return of individual subjectivity with a broad ethical meaning in the medical field.
