AIDS and American Apocalypticism: The Cultural Semiotics of an EpidemicSince public discourse about AIDS began in 1981, it has characterized AIDS as an apocalyptic plague: a punishment for sin and a sign of the end of the world. Christian fundamentalists had already configured the gay male population most visibly affected by AIDS as apocalyptic signifiers or signs of the "end times." Their discourse grew out of a centuries-old American apocalypticism that included images of crisis, destruction, and ultimate renewal. In this book, Thomas L. Long examines the ways in which gay and AIDS activists, artists, writers, scientists, and journalists appropriated this apocalyptic rhetoric in order to mobilize attention to the medical crisis, prevent the spread of the disease, and treat the HIV infected. Using the analytical tools of literary analysis, cultural studies, performance theory, and social semiotics, AIDS and American Apocalypticism examines many kinds of discourse, including fiction, drama, performance art, demonstration graphics and brochures, biomedical publications, and journalism and shows that, while initially useful, the effects of apocalyptic rhetoric in the long term are dangerous. Among the important figures in AIDS activism and the arts discussed are David Drake, Tim Miller, Sarah Schulman, and Tony Kushner, as well as the organizations ACT UP and Lesbian Avengers. |
Contents
| 1 | |
In memory of Michael | 29 |
In memory of Ray | 63 |
In memory of Jack who always loved a man in uniform | 107 |
In memory of Tim | 141 |
Other editions - View all
AIDS and American Apocalypticism: The Cultural Semiotics of an Epidemic Thomas L. Long Limited preview - 2005 |
AIDS and American Apocalypticism: The Cultural Semiotics of an Epidemic Thomas L. Long Limited preview - 2005 |
AIDS and American Apocalypticism: The Cultural Semiotics of an Epidemic Thomas Lawrence Long No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
action AIDS activism AIDS activist AIDS epidemic American Angels in America Anita Bryant apocalyptic apocalyptic discourse apocalypticism artists asserted audience binary oppositions chapter characterized Christian City configured conflict constructed crisis critical critique culture David death defilement define demonizing disease Drake’s East Village erotic essay Faggots Fauci fiction figures film final find first gay and lesbian gay male Gay Men’s gender genocide GMHC homosexual identity ideology imagine jeremiad Jewish Kabbalah Kushner Larry Kramer later Lesbian and Gay Lesbian Avengers living McCourt’s means metaphors Mikey Millennial Millennium Miller Mormon mysticism National Neoplatonism Normal Heart novel performance play political postmodern produced prophetic Queer Body Rat Bohemia reflection religious resistance rhetoric ritual Robert Roy Cohn sacred Sadownick Sarah Schulman sexual significant Social Semiotics specific spiritual symbolic theater Tim Miller tion tradition tropes University Press utopian Village Voice writing York Native York’s