(Adrian Apollo)Food for Thought: How to Survive a Plague Documentary

 

Watching this documentary really helped me conceptualize how I wish to structure my final project for this class. The Name Project Quilt was briefly discussed, and while I think the endeavor of producing the quilt is interesting, I found that I was largely neglecting a moment to reflect upon the AIDS crisis itself. This documentary gave me a first hand and intimate perspective of both the AIDS crisis and how it affected the lives of patients and those they loved. 

    I think that the true strength of this film was portrayed in the moments where secondary footage is utilized. We discussed how David France was able to contact those involved in the AIDS activist movement and receive footage they had personally taken. The footage shows us crucial moments of ACT UP meetings along with other opportunities where change was advocated for and achieved, but it also displayed to us the lives of those involved with the movement. Individual lives were lost as a result of the government not responding with support and efficiency to end the AIDS epidemic or provide treatment for it. Video footage of friends and fellow activists walking in marches together or to the primary location of protest, video footage of people's loved ones dying in hospitals of AIDS, footage of people celebrating the achievements of AIDS activism, all of these moments capture the true weight of the epidemic. Vibrant young lives were sacrificed in the name of cis-hetero social standards and comfort. These snippets of video footage are similar to the quilt, they bring to light those that have been lost at the hands of government negligence. 

    This documentary made me reflect upon avid means of protest. What is the best way to protest something that is detrimental to the health and well being of others? What is the most effective way of protesting a government that is failing you, how do you insight them to change their ways for the better? What does change look like? What does success look like? Is there a limit to how far a protest should go? 

    I think that through the footage shown in this documentary of ACT UP meetings, protests, and gatherings, the organization had several successful protests. Their key objectives were always very clear, and they found effective speakers to highlight their movement. I believe that one who is protesting against an oppressive system should be prepared to lay their life on the line for a cause, and I recognize that this is not something that everyone is willing to do. However, I think that ACT UP was so successful due to the sheer amount of people who were willing to do just that. In order for the cause to gain attention and a catalyst for change to be accumulated, people have to submit their bodies to the will of the oppressive system at hand and demand their cause be heard and fulfilled. Our bodies must be accessible to this institution in order for them to display to the world their true intentions. If they have no plans of engaging with the cause, then let their actions be displayed for the whole world to witness. ACT UP did this multiple times in their protests, the world witnessing police and higher forces meeting them with violence and further oppression instead of hearing the cause. 

    I think that the formulation of things such as the Treatment and Data committee as well as the numerous drug trials and studies that came out of this movement are great examples of queer design. ACT UP and other AIDS activists fought to help those struggling with AIDS and create a healthcare system that was better equipped to assist those in their treatment. Without these medical advances, more people would have died from AIDS and other complications of AIDS. By protesting against drug companies and the FDA, ACT UP was able to help put drugs on the US market that would help to treat AIDS and HIV. 

    Without watching this documentary, I would not know as much as I do now about this time period. I think it gave me further insight on my area of interest for our final project. I am excited to apply this information to my exhibition and celebrate the work that was done by all the activists and victims of the AIDS epidemic.