Day: February 20, 2018

This poster is relevant to our class because the HIV/AIDS crisis was originally thought to only infect gay men, and during that time the LGBTQ+ community endured many injustices and buried many of our own.  When HIV/AIDS first emerged, it was called GRID: Gay-Related Immune Deficiency.  To examine the history of the LGBTQ+ community in the United States, I think it is important to do research and learn about the HIV/AIDS crisis and the death and pain that this disease caused.  Also, the U.S. government, particularly President Ronald Reagan, has long been criticized for their reluctance to provide any funds or resources to research this disease until it eventually became apparent that “GRID” affected the white heterosexual population, and not just the gay population.

I find this poster interesting because of the irony of the playful words above, in comparison to the morbid second meaning brought forth by the text underneath.  This poster sends the message that HIV/AIDS is not something to be taken lightly, and that if you do not use a condom, you are risking death.

-RF

This poster relates to our class in that it is calling attention to how critical education is. In the text down the side of the poster, it asks a question, directing the audience to read and wonder, which is an effective educational strategy. I find it interesting because it is entirely true. Education is a vital part of life; we are lucky enough to live in a place, and to attend a university, that so highly values education. There is an element of timeliness and insistence that the audience listen to the poster’s message because lives are dependent upon an understanding of a deadly illness. The poster elicits parents and families to pay attention, by declaring that education starts at home.

Source: University of Rochester River Campus Libraries Rare Books and Special Collections AIDS Education Posters http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/40820

-MF

This poster really struck me, especially with the “Famous Last Words” in the red text at the bottom. It made me think about how many people died as a result of contracting AIDS from choosing to have unprotected sex, when they could have prevented the disease by wearing a condom. This poster points out the potentially tragic effects of AIDS, which was similar to the issues touched on by the AIDS Memorial Quilt- The Names Project we saw at the special collections. It is saddening to think about how many lives could have been saved by wearing a condom, which is what the poster is advocating.

“I don’t need to wear one of those.” | River Campus Libraries. (n.d.). Retrieved February 20, 2018, from http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/40841

-ML

I found this poster interesting because you wouldn’t know what it is for unless you took a closer look at it. It also relates back to the topics of intersectionality that we have been discussing in class as it is aimed specifically at Native Americans. The poster, which is presented by the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board has the following quote written in the small text: “The greatest risk of AIDS spreading to Native Americans  isn’t sex, IV drugs or alcohol abuse.  It’s from silence.” This quote proves how important it is for people to talk about AIDS and to be knowledgeable about AIDS so that they can better protect themselves and prevent the spread of AIDS.

Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board. “Shhhh!”. 1989. New Mexico, USA. http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/40905. Accessed 20 February 2018.

The general behavior of the “Christian” Right during the worst years of AIDS crisis was simply deplorable. Hiding behind a twisted interpretation of the Bible and God’s Word, the so-called  “Moral Majority” worked to against many effective and humane treatments for AIDS and measures to prevent the spread of HIV.  These right-wing evangelicals pushed an abstinence-only prevention agenda, and attempted to shame many of those living with HIV/AIDS, especially LGBT people and intravenous drug users. This poster says, yes, abstinence may lower your risk of contracting the virus, but you should not be shamed into it. Just because a bunch of bigots say marriage outside of “monogamous heterosexual marriage” is sinful doesn’t give them the right to dictate your choices. I like this poster because it acknowledges one of the possible ways to lessen the risk of contracting AIDS while also pushing against an unfortunately prevalent and misguided religious/political philosophy.

This poster struck me as relevant and interesting with respect to the stigma of AIDS. This is clearly reflected in the paragraph entirely dedicated to conveying that the confidentiality and anonymity of anyone who calls will be maintained. Even the headline of the poster, implying that it wouldn’t be right for a child to learn about AIDS from anyone but their parent, perpetuates this stigma. I believe this relates to the idea that sex—especially LGBTQ+ sex, more strongly associated with AIDS—is something to be kept fully separated from the public domain, as discussed by Berlant and Warner and resonated throughout U.S. history.

Sources:

• Pennsylvania Department of Health. If Anybody Tells My Kid About AIDS, It’s Going To Be Me! 1989. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA. http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/40852
• Lauren Berlant and Michael Warner, “Sex in Public,” Critical Inquiry 24, No. 2 (Winter, 1998): 547-566.

This poster, by Charles Papavoine, was titled “Concept.” I was intrigued that it did not use any words, and instead just displayed 24 condoms hanging from a clothesline. I can imagine the intention was to normalize talk about condoms; by displaying all sorts of different-looking condoms, their existence becomes more recognized and talked-about, and possibly more accepted. It seems to send a message that we need to stop silencing discussions about HIV/AIDS, condoms, safe sex, and sex in general. The idea of silence and speaking seems to be a recurring theme in our class—after all, many of us said we were taking the class because people refused to talk about queer people, history, and issues in school and the rest of society.

Papavoine, Charles. Concept. 1987, University of Rochester, Rochester. AIDS Education Posters, River Campus Libraries Rare Books and Special Collections, http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/40938. Accessed 20 February 2018.

SB

I find this particular poster about HIV and AIDS awareness interesting because there were two versions made, one with all white males and the one shown above. I think that it is extremely effective to show this type of representation within the awareness posters because it shows that HIV and AIDS does not just effect white middle class people but has effective a large number of individuals of multiple backgrounds, races, sexes, and classes. This allows the individuals to connect with the image more seeing themselves represented within the ad itself. It also gets the message across that using protection is sexy rather than just an extra step that “ruins the moment”.

Gay Mens Health Crisis. “He Plays Hard… And He Always Uses Condoms.” New York, 1992. Retrieved from http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/40831

I chose this poster specifically because I felt a sense of resistance in its context. Much like what we have learned in class, the LGBTQ+ community has focused on fighting for exposure and equality, and this poster emulates that fervor. I researched a bit about this poster, and it was created during Rudy Giuliani’s mayoral term of NYC. The first poster translates to “Zero cuts to “Single Room Only” housing”, and S.R.O.’s were significantly reduced in funding under Mayor Giuliani where the conditions were repulsive and there was a lack in social workers from the government. Overall, Mayor Giuliani attempted to abolish the presence of the Department of AIDS Services and made numerous budget cuts to government services. I have detailed more information about the resistance that ensued and the condition of S.R.O.’s below.

Resistance

https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/act-activists-resist-new-york-city-mayor-rudy-giuliani-s-aids-policies-1994-95

S.R.O. Cuts & Deficiencies

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/12/nyregion/neighborhood-report-upper-west-side-aids-patients-sro-s-two-west-siders-debate.html

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/10/nyregion/neighborhood-report-new-york-up-close-aids-patients-sro-s-need-site-caseworkers.html

Poster

http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/48970