AIDS and... Hitler?

Last semester, I took a class called Discourse of Disease. It sounds broad, and the topics covered in the class even broader. We discussed everything from 28 Days Later to Chinese novels to AIDS campaigns. Mostly importantly, we talked about the language of disease and how the linguistic and artistic expressions affect the way we think about disease and its power through symbolism.

I came across one AIDS campaign in class that depicted a man/women having sex with insects and posted about it on my class discussion board. I'll relink the image I found here and here (they are French AIDS campaigns).

There are a couple others, but it's interesting to understand the visual/metaphorical connotations and whether the ads are effective. One of the main debates is whether the ads are depicting AIDS the disease OR the people with AIDS as filthy (or both). Do we see people with AIDS as victims or perpetrators? Of course there is no right or wrong answer, but asking these questions are important.

In the same vein, a provocative AIDS awareness campgian that is about to launch in Germany featuring a woman having sex with men notorious figures such as Hitler and Stalin. Check out the video here and an article about it from the Guardian here.

Note: I post this because the ad is related to Germany, but also because these types of compaigns would NEVER be allowed in America. This idea of America and our culture as being too "politically correct" has come up on several occasions in my stay abroad so far. Is it wrong to say toilet because adults are supposed to be refined? The Germans don't think so. These AIDS awareness campaigns make me think about what is acceptable not only from a visual/linguistic discourse but also from a cultural discourse. I'd be interested in seeing what others have to say.

thoughts, spring 2009

-i need to befriend my retainer again. if not, i will revert to crooked teeth, death cab style.
-i vow to wake up to lykke li for the rest of the year. she makes my heart sing.
-don't consume so many fermented beverages. spending the next day recovering is the worst idea ever. and i might get cancer. determine cost-benefit analysis of drinking before drinking (this is for jordan: three drink max)
-i need to start finding friends my own age or i'll be lonely by 21.
-neo-mullet haircuts can actually work.
-sleep is great for the body.
-stress is not.
-avoid perkins at all costs next next semester.
-cat videos are the best things to happen to me. kittens...inspired by, kittens!
-i survived after winterbreak's little surprise! and am stronger than i thought.
-being in the moment is a struggle; looking forward to the future is exciting, but don't forget to stop and enjoy the burger you're eating; the shower you're going to take; the friends you call for coffee breaks; people watching on the quad; the great weather (as of late); the mistakes and lessons to be learned; the battle scars that only make you better (and more badass); the realization that you're only twenty once in your life, so make it worthwhile.
-college goes by too fast to grasp onto anything significant, but too slow for it to be fun sometimes... it's up to me to find the happy medium.