Project Director

Robinson, Kira

Department Examiner

Simoni, Zachary

Department

Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

The Plague Doctor was once a historical figure who practiced medicine primarily on those infected with the bubonic plague. The plague doctor, as a historical figure and physician, has been transformed in modern culture and media. Originally perceived as a harbinger of both hope and death, the Plague Doctor has undergone a historical transformation from a masked physician to a more stylized character that appears in modern media, digital art, toys, costumes, video games, and popular culture. This thesis examines the evolution of the Plague Doctor from its historical role as a plague physician to its current iconography as a recognized media symbol, highlighting how collective fear has transformed the Plague Doctor into a malleable character in modern media. Through historical, literary, and cultural analysis, this work examines the dehumanization of the Plague Doctor and its transformation from a documented medical practitioner into a symbol of fear, disease, and mystery.

Degree

B. S.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Date

5-2026

Subject

Personal protective equipment--Social aspects; Breathing apparatus--History--Social aspects; Respiration--Social aspects; Masks--Health aspects; Masks--Social aspects; Medical instruments and apparatus--History

Keyword

Plague; Plague doctor; Dr. Beaky; pop culture; COVID-19; Archetype

Discipline

Medical Humanities

Document Type

Theses

Extent

v, 75 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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