Zackie Achmat

varying results, including personal gain at the public’s expense and vice versa. I argue that It’s My Life and Burchardt’s article “The self as capital in the narrative economy” illustrate the variability of this imperfect merger. It’s My Life details Zackie Achmat’s personal health sacrifices in his battle for the public’s benefit, whereas Burchardt’s piece shows how a narrative loses its validity to the public if the individual gathers too much wealth and status from storytelling. As visibility