The Doctor as Culture Hero

The Routinization of Charisma

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2497973
AutoresBarbara Myerhoff, Barbara G Myerhoff (University of Southern California), William R Larson (University of Southern California), William Larson
Año1965
Volumen24
Número3
Páginas188-191
Fecha de publicación1965-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHuman Organization (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0018-7259 • E-ISSN: 1938-3517
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.17730/humo.24.3.vj3277j388710w66
OpenAlexW1990627497
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas14

Culture heroes have arisen in many areas and have been made known in many ways. At present, one of the most important sources of creating and perpetuating culture heroes is that of mass media, and of these, television in its scope and influence eclipses all others. Of the assorted social types presented as dramatic heroes on television programs, one has recently gained more and more attention—the doctor. From his previous status as an old standby, the doctor has become in the past few years a figure vying in popularity with the ubiquitous cowboy. At present in the United States there are seven regularly scheduled television dramas devoted to the exploits of the doctor. It is the purpose of this paper to examine the nature and function of two kinds of popular heroes, cultural and charismatic, and then to suggest that while the physician as currently depicted in mass media has attributes of both, he appears to be losing his charisma and becoming a culture hero. Finally, some implications of these changes for the practice of modern medicine will be explored

Advertising · Aesthetics · Art · Business · Charisma · HERO · Literature · Mass media · Media studies · Political science · Popular culture · Popularity · Public relations · Sociology · Empathy and Medical Education · History · Law · Leadership, Courage, and Heroism Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology