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