Topic: Material Culture
Source: I have been using Neosporin on a scrape I have on my leg from falling on the cement last week. I visited the Neosporin website for information on their products and advertisement (link below).
Relation: This past week we have been discussing illness and inequality as well as development and its effect on different cultural societies. For this entry I decided to analyze Neosporin antibiotics as material culture and how it represents the access to medical treatments we have in our society and what that might
Description: The product Neosporin is made by Johnson & Johnson. It is a widely used, over the counter, first aid antibiotic that is most known for its fast acting care for everyday scrapes, wounds and scars. We have three types of this product in just my apartment, the ointment, the antiseptic cleanser, and the “NEO To Go!” mini dispenser. Last week while walking, being the clumsy person that I am, I tripped and fell on the sidewalk resulting in a large gash on my knee cap. My response to this was (after a few indecent curse words) to rinse out the abrasion and coat it with the household favorite antibiotic cream-Neosporin. It was this quick, almost instinctive, medical response to a somewhat relatively insignificant wound that made me realize that is more culture wrapped up in the popular Neosporin reputation than meets the eye.
Commentary/Analysis:
In the United States we have access to an overwhelming amount of over the counter medicine and antibiotics. When it comes to low key infections, colds, headaches, scrapes: we have relatively easy access to immediate relief. In my household, Neosporin is a favorite for anything that needs topical treatment, and with 4 active girls that means it’s used pretty much on the daily. We each have our standard ratio of Neosporin application to Band-Aid coverage as a response to most ordinary cut or wound after years of using the medical ointment. Meanwhile others in the world lack access to some of the most of these basic modernized medical treatments. This some what obsessive use of such a simple medical treatment I feel supports a correlation between inequality and illness present in our world. Those of use with access to almost any medical treatment, even those that are new and somewhat understudied, take it for granted While those who live in intense poverty and face severe illness without preventative care. And then to consider the basic medical care and health insurance that so many people, and their families, lack the access to… it seems there is an imbalance in our medical priorities. The use of antibiotic wound treatments also makes me wonder if there is a hidden side to the vanity that is often present in our society. What is this need to immediately eradicate any sized scar or blemish? Is this instant solution something we are hardwired to seek?
http://www.neosporinfirstaid.com/
