U.S. AIDS + HIV Activism in History, Theory, and Art

The class focuses on AIDS activism in the United States from the early 1980s to present day. We will look at mainstream media coverage of the epidemic and queer activist response in publishing, art, film, photography, comics, poetry, and street action. This class is framed by three key themes: history, theory as art/art as theory, and AIDS activism in Rhode Island and at Brown University. Students will learn a variety of skills– from analyzing primary sources and visual media to conducting archival research.