The BAAM Secretariat is still hunkering down at home this winter as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. We’ve taken advantage of so much time relaxing on the couch to dig into all sorts of malaria-related media. From a 1943 film by Walt Disney, to a podcast on the ways in which malaria influenced the building of the Panama Canal, there is something for everyone.
We’ve organized these resources by type, and have tried to estimate the amount of time they require to enjoy. We hope that you enjoy this tour of malaria cultural artifacts as much as we did!
Read:
The New Yorker’s “How Mosquitos Changed Everything” (20-minute read)
This 2019 article offers an impressive comprehensive cultural history of malaria. Drawing on Timothy Winegard’s book, The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator, the article attributes major global events--from the destruction of the dinosaurs, to fall of ancient Rome, and the ultimate unification of Great Britain—to the mosquito and malaria. Bold claims!
The Economist’s “History, written by vectors” (15-minute read)
Dr. Seuss on Malaria
More recently, in its Christmas Special edition, The Economist shows how malaria shaped human choices—for example, we learn that malaria was once widespread in Europe, one reason why ancient Rome was so hard to conquer. When Hannibal crossed the Alps in 218 BC, malaria cost him his right eye, his wife, his son and much of his army. At the time, Romans thought that the fevers people caught in the Empire were caused by noxious fumes, hence the name mal’aria, from “bad air”.
NPR’s “Dr. Seuss on Malaria” (3-minute read)
In 2012, NPR dug up a public health campaign on malaria commissioned by the U.S. Army. It was illustrated by none other than Theodor Geisel—better known by his nom de plume, “Dr. Seuss.”
Watch:
“The Winged Scourge” Showcases Bednets
Walt Disney’s “The Winged Scourge,” (9 min 45 sec)
In 1943, Walt Disney released a short educational film on malaria wherein Snow White’s seven dwarves fight “public enemy number 1: the anopheles malaria mosquito.” The animated film showcases bed-nets, IRS, and eliminating standing water, among other vector control techniques. The short is available to watch for free on YouTube.
Richard Curtis’s Mary and Martha (1 hr 34 min)
For those interested in a feature-length malaria film, Mary and Martha may fit the bill. This 90-minute movie, released in 2013, chronicles the experience of the fictitious Mary, an American, and Martha, a Brit, who have both lost sons to malaria during trips to South Africa and Mozambique, respectively. The Guardian calls the movie “a call to arms in the eminently winnable battle against malaria.” It is available for free on HBOMax, or as a $3.99 rental from Amazon.
Listen:
NPR’s Throughline Podcast’s “The Mosquito’s Impact on the Shaping of the U.S.” (7 minutes)
Timothy Winegard, of “How Mosquitos Changed Everything” fame, participated in 7-minute interview with NPR on the mosquito’s impact on the birth of America and the Revolutionary War. The interview is available to listen to for free from NPR.
Stuff You Missed In History Class’s “Malaria and the Panama Canal.” (15 minutes)
Another quick and interesting podcast on the huge cultural and historical significance of malaria comes from the fantastic “Stuff You Missed in History Class.” In 2009, the hosts dove into malaria’s impact on the construction of the Panama Canal. The 15-minute episode is free from iHeartRadio and is linked here.