Communication Failures From the 15th Century Epidemic Are Still Happening Today

Policy Punchline

Melissa Reynolds is Perkins-Cotsen Postdoctoral Fellow in the Society of Fellows at Princeton University. A historian and humanist, Dr. Reynolds recently published an op-ed in Washington Post comparing the coronavirus epidemic to “the sweat” outbreaks in 15th century Europe. She suggests that, despite the obvious advances in modern medicine since the 15th century, there are similarities between the two epidemics, most notably the failure of government to communicate adequately with the public. In this interview, Dr. Reynolds explains why the public can so easily fall into misguided conceptions about a pandemic regardless of one's education level; how the government can step in to provide a clear and coherent voice about the pandemic while not being the only authority dictating public opinion; why media follows unique "cultural scripts" that end up posing a potent threat to the health of our socio-political discourse; and many other fascinating historical comparisons between today and the 15th century. Dr. Reynolds is a historian of medieval and early modern England whose research focuses on practices of reading, writing, and knowledge-making at the moment of transition from manuscript to print. At Princeton, she is working on her first book, tentatively titled, “How To: Practical Books and the Making of Early Modern English Culture,” which examines the circulation of practical knowledge in late medieval manuscripts and early printed books.