Portfolio HIV/AIDS social abjection

Portfolio

To what extent is social abjection towards HIV-positive people evident in society, culture and the arts?

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Introduction

“HIV does not make people dangerous to know, so you can shake their hands and give them a hug: Heaven knows they need it.” – Princess Diana. "It is bad enough that people are dying of Aids, but no one should die of ignorance.” – Elizabeth Taylor.

How has HIV/AIDS impacted the homosexual community?

History

1980-1985

1985-1890

1990-1995

1995-2000

Pose (tv show) by Ryan Murphy, brad falchuk, steven canals (2018-2021)

"balls are a gathering of people who are not welcome to gather everywherelse"

Pose is an American drama series that explores the ball culture of New York City during the epidemy of HIV/AIDS, focusing on the LGBTQ subculture within the African-American and Latino communities during the 1980s and 1990s. The show follows dancers and models who compete for trophies and recognition in this vibrant underground scene, while also highlighting the supportive, chosen families known as "Houses" that provide emotional and social bonds for its members.

In this series, most of the characters are HIV positive. Therefore, it shows the social abjection from the rest of the world, but it focuses on the support of "chosen family". The fact that it shed the light on the main hiv positive character is really new and shows that they are common individuals with struggles and joys just like everyone else. It shows how people could be ostracized from society and makes their difference a strength as it is shown with the "vogue" movement.

line of beauty by alan hollinghurst in 2004

"The deep connection between them was so secret that at times it was hard to believe it existed." - ALan hollinghurst

plot of the book

this book is set in three time periods across the 1980s, as Nick Guest tries to navigate both london and his own sexuality in a period of condemnation and abjection

1983

1986

1987

This novel provides a commentary on what Britain was like to live in as a gay man in London under Thatcher. It demonstrates the restrictions, boundaries and ultimately the heartbreak that someone can go through simply due to social stigma and attitudes at the time. Through placing Nick in a liminal place, as a guest of the Feddens House, Hollinghurst shows the reader how his sexuality allows him only ever to be an outsider in the constraints of a conservative, upper class society. Nick is in a position in which he could never succeed, and ultimately establishes him to be destroyed, which results in the novels bleak and pessimistic ending.

Rent (Musical) by Chris Columbus (2005)

“In these dangerous times, where it seems that the world is ripping apart at the seams, we all can learn how to survive from those who stare death squarely in the face every day and [we] should reach out to each other and bond as a community, rather than hide from the terrors of life at the end of the millennium.”

Rent is a 2005 American musical drama directed by Chris Columbus, based on Jonathan Larson's 1996 Broadway musical of the same name. The film, which stars six of the original Broadway cast members in their iconic roles, follows a group of bohemians living in New York City's East Village during 1989-1990. It explores their personal struggles with issues like sexuality, substance abuse, financial hardship, and life amidst the AIDS crisis.

In *Rent*, HIV/AIDS is a central theme, reflecting the struggles of the 1980s and 1990s, particularly within New York City's LGBTQ+ community. Characters like Roger and Angel are directly impacted by the virus, and the film explores how HIV/AIDS shapes their relationships, identities, and lives. The emotional toll of the disease is seen through moments of loss, such as Angel's death, but the film also highlights resilience, hope, and the importance of community. By portraying these issues with depth and humanity, *Rent* offers a more personal, empowering representation of HIV/AIDS, emphasizing living fully in the face of adversity.

Bohemian Rhapsody (biopic) by Bryan Singer, Dexter fletcher (2018)

we're four misfits who don't belong together, we're playing for the other misfits. They're the outcasts, right at the back of the room. We're pretty sure they don't belong either. We belong to them.

Bohemian Rhapsody is a 2018 biographical musical drama film that focuses on the life of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the British rock band Queen, from the formation of the band in 1970 to their 1985 Live Aid performance at the original Wembley Stadium. It was directed by Bryan Singer

Bohemian Rhapsody touches on Freddie Mercury’s HIV diagnosis toward the end of the film, but it doesn’t deeply explore the broader impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The movie focuses more on Mercury's personal struggles, relationships, and his career with Queen, rather than the social, political, and cultural context of AIDS in the 1980s. While his health issues are portrayed, the film doesn’t delve into the stigma, activism, or public response surrounding the disease. This has led some critics to feel the portrayal of HIV/AIDS is underdeveloped, with Mercury's illness framed more as a personal tragedy rather than a broader societal issue.

I will survive (song) by Glora Gaynor (1978)

"I will survive, as Long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive, I've got my life to live, And all my love to give and I will survive"

"I Will Survive" is a song by American singer Gloria Gaynor, released in October 1978 as the second single from her sixth album *Love Tracks* (1978) through Polydor Records. The song was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris.

The song has long been linked with the LGBT community as an anthem, it echoed the growing awareness of the various struggles the community faced especially during the AIDS crisis. Afterwards, the song began to take a new sense. "I Will Survive" has resonated beyond the gay community, becoming a global anthem for anyone who has experienced political oppression, physical challenges, or marginalization in society.

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1986

He then meets Wani, who is closeted, and the son of a rich Lebanese businessman. Wani has a female fiancee to act as his cover up. Nick experiences a very indulgent time with Wani, with sex and drugs, while Wani spoils him with money and gifts. Nick finds out Gerald is having an affair with his assistant, while Catherine finds out about Nick and Wani.

How HIV/AIDS, and homosexuality was socially abjected

Law: Section 28 in 1988, outlawed the promotion of homosexuality. Sexual Offences Act 1967: decriminalised men over the age of 21 engaging in sex. 1994, Age of consent for homosexual acts lowered to 18 (two years above the age for heterosexual couples)

Attitudes: Margaret Thatcher at war with the LGBT community. Harmful stereotypes across all media. Thoroughly negative views surrounding HIV/AIDS diagnosis, reported very negatively by the media

Government devolution and cases increase...

By 1997, 30 million people were infected with HIV in the world. Death rates fall due to the clinical trial’s new treatment. The Human Rights Act of 1998 allowed people with HIV to invoke their rights in court. This allowed for a fight back against degrading or inhuman treatment and denial of medical attention. In 1999, there were more heterosexual people with HIV than gay or bisexual men in the UK. AIDS was listed as the fourth biggest killer worldwide. At the end of the ‘90s, the devolution of the government was underway, allowing Scotland and Wales to make their own decisions of matters within their jurisdictions.

https://eachother.org.uk/a-history-of-hiv-and-human-rights-in-the-uk/

The discovery of AIDS

In 1981, the “Gay-Related Immune Deficiency” (GRID) was identified in the United States, later to be known as HIV. In the following year, Terry Higgins, a 37-year-old man collapsed on the floor of the nightclub, Heaven, in London. He later died in hospital, being one of the first deaths from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. In 1983, the Terrence Higgins Trust began educating homosexual people on the risks of HIV/AIDS, while 3,000 cases were reported in the US, 1,000 of which resulted in death. By the end of 1984, the UK recorded 108 cases and 46 deaths. In 1985, the Department of Health published its first literature on the topic.

https://eachother.org.uk/a-history-of-hiv-and-human-rights-in-the-uk/

Nick is visited by Leo's sister at the Ogee office where he learns that Leo died a few weeks before of AIDS and his sister is trying to warn all his former lovers. Wani arrives late to lunch, wasting away due to AIDS. He warns Nick that Gerald’s scandal is about to break. On Nick’s way home the scandal breaks, and Catherine asks to be driven to find Gerald with Penny (his assistant). Gerald resigns as MP, after Cat exposes them and Rachel blames Nick for not taking care of Catherine properly (he didn’t think it was his responsibility.) Gerald uses Nick as a scapegoat and accuses him of attaching himself to the family and then wrecking them because of his homosexuality. Nick gathers his things from the Feddens’ house and as he leaves he thinks about the HIV test the next day, which will probably be positive.

1987

Section 28 and abjection

In 1986, Princess Diana opened the first specialised ward dedicated to treating those with AIDS. In 1987, an advert showed an apocalyptic scene of a volcano and a grave showing ‘AIDS’ on it, for a campaign against the spread of AIDS. A leaflet titled ‘AIDS: Don’t Die of Ignorance’ was sent out nationwide. Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 outlawed the promotion of homosexuality in schools. Insurance companies would send a HIV test for men seeking cover over £50,000. In 1990, the red ribbon became the international symbol of AIDS awareness which led to backlash and protests.

https://eachother.org.uk/a-history-of-hiv-and-human-rights-in-the-uk/

Nick Guest is the central protagonist who finds himself living with an affluent family in Notting Hill. He moves in with his best friend, and secret crush, Toby Fedden. The Feddens’ house gives Nick a liminal space in which to navigate London, in particular, the gay community. Although very conservative, Gerald (MP of Barwick) and Rachel (of a very wealthy family) the family speak very little of Nick’s sexuality at the start and their daughter Catherine is very supportive of it. Catherine is later diagnosed with bipolar disorder and takes lithium to calm her down. Nick dates Leo, a black man from Willesden. Leo has a religious mother and they end up having sex in the private gardens of the Feddens home. Their relationship is entirely outdoors due to the restrictions on both houses they reside at.

1983

The early-90s

The UK National Audit office declared in 1991 that Health authorities ‘misspent’ funds dealing with AIDS. In 1993, the Coalition of People living with HIV and AIDS was launched in London. However, Virginia Bottomley (UK health secretary) diminished funding to the Terrence Higgins Trust by two-thirds. By 1994, all funding was cut to multiple organisations and a two million pound campaign for safe sex was blocked. In 1995, twenty-five thousand people were living with AIDS in the UK. A clinical trial combined drugs in order to treat it better, while the ‘It’s Not Over’ campaign was launched.

https://eachother.org.uk/a-history-of-hiv-and-human-rights-in-the-uk/

sources

Youtube Wikipedia IMDb Goodreads NPR (https://eachother.org.uk/a-history-of-hiv-and-human-rights-in-the-uk/)