Viral stories: SARS coverage as a cultural narrative

Infectious disease is far more than its biological components alone - it is experienced, often indirectly, through the meaning-making tools of our culture. Our mass-mediated communication about any given disease is thus profoundly shaped by a myriad of factors that may or may not be obvious to the consumer. This thesis explores one example of this cultural phenomenon through an analysis of news media coverage of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The SARS coverage resonates with historical narratives of emergent infectious disease, draws upon the cultural shifts that defined the modern era, and is shaped by collective anxieties specific to late-modern living. In examining these three areas of the SARS narrative, I offer a thorough analysis of the ways in which the mass media frames infectious disease for public consumption and the possible consequences this could have for our understanding and prioritizing of global health issues.