Monday, February 1, 2010
Cindy Patton and Simon Watney
In about 4-5 sentences (a short paragraph), summarize Patton's argument-- what is she attempting to prove? Do the same for Watney's essay. Then, how do they compare? How do they contrast? Finally, as an individual reader, what did you find most interesting about the two readings for Thursday? What did you find most important about thinking about AIDS?
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Basically, Patton’s argument consisted of her describing the differences and misconceptions of “African AIDS” and “American AIDS.” African AIDS is presumed to be predominately heterosexual and a result of promiscuity and lack of condom use. American AIDS is presumed to be predominately as a result of homosexual activity and intravenous drug use, with a few cases of heterosexual couples in the urban community being infected. She also touches on the family infected with AIDS in the suburban American community. I think the point of this essay was to bridge the gap between the two, and help people see that AIDS in both countries is not just black and white, and should be dealt with in a different manner than it is currently being dealt with. Watney’s argument also dealt with the family issue, but he talked more about AIDS in relation to homosexual stereotypes than anything else. Calling it “the homosexual body,” he referred to the world’s panic at the AIDS epidemic and it being considered almost an entirely homosexual epidemic. He talked about the media’s misinterpretation of the actual facts of the disease that played a part in the mass hysteria of the world in regards to AIDS, and about common notions of how a family should be are being “threatened” by the homosexual community. The two essays are similar in their references to how misinformed the general public is in regards to HIV and AIDS infection, and just who is infected and how they became that way. They are different in that Patton’s essay focused on both sides of misinterpretation and a more worldly view, while Watney focused more on the homosexual aspect of misconception and how it affected families and morals. I thought both were equally important when thinking about AIDS, because misinformation is a big reason why AIDS is so rampant today. When people stigmatize and stereotype things that they do not understand, that is when something truly becomes dangerous, as it is unknown and no one cares to know if they believe it won’t affect them.
ReplyDeletePatton’s argument seems to point into the direction that the way we distinct AIDs among the Africans and in the West is unjust and unfounded. She points to the fact that we consider African AIDs to be in a way the heterosexual version of the disease, while in the West it is the homosexual version. She talks about how people claim that the spread of AIDs in Africa is due to their different sexual practices and lack of condom use. And also how in the West people say that the main people who have AIDs are homosexuals and among pockets of inner cities, particularly among the lower class. She connects these two ideas and how through the West’s mass media and promotions we are trying, in the simplest way to describe it, to teach people that it’s only through monogamy and following the norms of our society to protect ourselves.
ReplyDeleteWatney’s article is more focused on the aspects of society’s perception regarding homosexual men involving AIDs. He speaks about how people relate AIDs as the gay disease, and how people blame the homosexuals for bringing it into the West. Watney also speaks about how through our mass media we perceive someone who gets HIV/AIDs as morally impaired and lacking self restraint, and how people compare this to homosexuals. And how people take this view and compare it to family values, condemning homosexuals in their eyes as immoral and believing that homosexuals stand against society’s standards for a nuclear family.
The two articles, though speaking about different overall topics, one focusing on African AIDs and the other on homosexual men, compare in many themes. They both speak about how through what one could say is propaganda; people relate that the morally righteous and those who follow social norms are the safest from HIV/AIDs. I found both articles to be very important, and they speak about information we get though the media and how this changes our perception without much true evidence.
I agree with Brittany.
ReplyDeleteBasically, Patton was giving a history overview of what the misconceptions were of AIDS and the beginnings of AIDS in the United States. This essay was an explanation of how AIDS in African countries tied to AIDS in the United States, despite the differences in sexual classification. Patton showed how AIDS can affect even what people would consider an average American family. Although AIDS in the United States is widely spread by drug use and homosexuality versus AIDS being spread via lack of sanitation in heterosexual relations, Patton really did show the similarities and differences in a way of great understanding.
Watney’s essay was geared more towards homosexuality, mainly the epidemic sweeping heterosexuals into madness when it was first stated that homosexuals were the cause of AIDS. He went greatly into the media’s role in the portrayal of AIDS as, well, a death monster. He described the disease and the virus that causes it to help ease confusion caused by this media storm.
The two essays gave me further insight, once again, on homosexual persecution and AIDS. Although by the later 80s and AIDS was more well known, homosexuals were still to blame and it was not caused by only homosexual relations.
I think in Cindy Patton's article, she talks about the different types of AIDS she sees throughout the world. She argues about people's perspective of a heterosexual and homosexual AIDS. African AIDS is mainly heterosexual, rather than the American homosexual AIDS. Many Westerners believe that African AIDS is a terrible disease and is different from that of our AIDS. She points out the fact that Africa is a poorer country, and that the people there are not as safe when it comes to sex. Our AIDS is mainly spread by homosexuals and those people who also like the African AIDS, don't use protection or share needles. She points out that homosexuality is extremely rare in Africa. Many people in poor countries are born with AIDS and spread it throughout their lifetimes by not using safe sex.
ReplyDeleteIn Simon Watney's article, he centers on AIDS in the family aspect. He says, unlike the reading by Patton, that AIDS stems from homosexuals and most people think that they are a disgrace to infect people with this disease. He talks about the misunderstanding of society and how people want to put blame on the gays saying that they are the cause of this disease. He mentions a "gay plague" also known as AIDS, which people cannot explain and mistake to be only a gay disease. I love the line... "the male homosexual becomes an impossible object, a monster that can only be engendered by a process of corruption through seduction..." This shows that people just want to blame others for the problems in the world, yet no one wants to help do anything about it.
These two articles are similar in stating that people are very misconstrued when it comes to the AIDS virus and how it came about. They both mention homosexuals being one of the main causes of the disease and how Americans try and pin it on the gays. Many people think even today that if they are heterosexual they are immune to the disease, and these articles prove that theory wrong.
Patton is pointing out the distinctions made about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the context of the relations of the West (North- and Euro-America) and Africa. She basically says that in order to protect the Western ideals about family, sexuality, and disease North- and Euro-American have tried to compartmentalize the same disease into categories that leave their foundations unaffected. In cultures of the West AIDS is characterized as affecting homosexual populations and drug users, in Africa where the disease affects people with heterosexual orientations some other explanation must be made. This explanation is found by describing the abnormal sex practices of the Africans and by using almost archetypal characters familiar in the West (prostitute, trucker, etc.) as the carriers of the disease, the harbingers of catastrophe. She makes the case that ethocentricism is hurting any progress of halting the disease in Africa.
ReplyDeleteWatney is talking about the disease not only from a Western perspective, but also in a Western context. He’s describing the disease as it relates to the idea of the villainous outsider. This outsider is anyone or anything that does not conform to the standard model of family. In this way the disease helps to put a face and a consequence on abnormality. He argues that using this kind of biologically imperative argument (making AIDS synonymous with gayness) the powers of the state will be able to break down the distinction between private and public life.
Both articles try to emphasize that making the conversational about the disease one-sided, or rather making it the problem of one segment of society will have disastrous results. By marginalizing those affected the-powers-that-be (for lack of a better phrase) deeply misconstrue public perception. I think what both articles are trying to say is that this is everyone’s problem. The major difference in both of the articles was the tone used. Patton seems to me to be speaking from an informed, serious and rational perspective. Watney who is speaking just as seriously seems to be almost on the verge of conspiracy.
Reading these articles I reminded of a quote which says “The victors write the history books,” or something like that. While this isn’t exactly the cases it reminds me that in many cases when someone is writing about the AIDS epidemic in Africa or among gay men it may not be anyone from these groups writing the news.
In Patton's article, she talks about the views and misconceptions about AIDS in America and in Africa. When the AIDS panic began in the 80s, so many fingers were pointed on homosexuals and drug addicts, and still are today. However, in Africa, the AIDS epidemic is not being blamed on homosexuals so much. Although when I was researching the Uganda Anti-Homosexual bill, I found that many Ugandans blamed Uganda's strict enforcement of anti-homosexuality on a reason why they are considered a successful African country in its AIDS prevention. I really appreciated that she touched on straight suburban middle-class families being affected by AIDS, because that is something that is largely ignored in America.
ReplyDeleteIn Watney's article, he discussed the AIDS panic in America in the 80s, and how it evoked such genuine fear of homosexuals for suburban America. So many people since that point on are so frightened of homosexuals strictly because of this disease, and I believe this a big reason why so many people are uncomfortable around homosexuals, especially homosexual men.
While both articles talked about AIDS (obviously), they were both very different. Watney was more about the misconceptions of homosexuals and AIDS, while Patton discussed the misconceptions between AIDS in America and AIDS in Africa. However, both articles were similar because they addressed how naive the public is about AIDS.
I personally really enjoyed reading both Watney's and Patton's articles. It always horrifies me when straight people are not concerned about AIDS (and consequently are not tested) because it's a disease that they believe is reserved for gay men and Africans. Americans (especially people from Baton Rouge...#2 in new AIDS cases! Go BR!) need to be tested. So many people flat out refuse to be tested, because like I mentioned before, they simply believe straights can't be HIV positive.
Cindy Patton’s article discusses the misconceptions that circulate globally about AIDS. She distinguishes the characteristics between what the world views as “African AIDS” and AIDS in Western societies and how these “separate” diseases are spread. For example, Africans supposed bizarre sexual practices make the spread of AIDS uncontrollable while in Western societies you can only get AIDS if you’re a homosexual. While opinions differ between countries and ethnic groups, a common factor is that education is not as prevalent as it should be. Patton states that “ “containment” through the promotion of racist and heterophobic conceptions of “safe sex” ” is the only real way to control the epidemic. Homosexuals and singles are not the only way AIDS is spread, and that the emphasis on building family units will not dissolve the disease.
ReplyDeleteSimon Watney’s article details the way societies reacted to the AIDS epidemic, and more so, how they reacted to homosexuals. While AIDS is spread largely through the homosexual population, heterosexuals can obtain the disease just as easily; however, gaps in statistical data and information available for the general public lead nations forward with ignorance. Homosexuals are blamed for introducing and deliberately multiplying the number of victims. He says at one point, “the entire subject continues to be framed by a cultural agenda that is as medically misinformed as it is socially misleading and politically motivated.” Watney discusses the morality struggle occurring in populations: AIDS is so badly portrayed that many people feel as though contracting AIDS is a moral blunder brought on by promiscuity and sinful sex. These absurd notions rally religious fanatics and give live to arguments that are unjustifiable and ignorant.
These articles highlight AIDS unawareness and try, in their own and different manners, to promote knowledge about the infection. Both bring up the point that even heterosexual couples can get AIDS and that no one who is sexually active is beyond needing to protect themselves.
After deciphering Patton’s essay, I agree with what Brittany said. I got the feeling Patton is taking a sarcastic approach to distinguishing for the reader the difference between “African AIDS” and “American AIDS”. Not to be judgmental, but I think she’s implying that people associate AIDS victims in native African villages with suffering a more raw, devastating disease than AIDS victims within a suburban American town. Just because we have the ability to prolong the horrific effects of AIDS with our advanced medical facilities and treatments, does not make America immune to the disease’s wrath altogether. Patton believes we are only ignoring the problem in our country and perhaps focusing too much on exterminating the African continent of HIV, and simultaneously ignoring the fact that the problem is already on our home soil. Not to say we shouldn’t try to help the people of Africa if we have the ability, more so, we should emphasize the importance of safe sex to everyone, i.e. the use of condoms, as well as do our part in meeting other nations halfway to help eradicate these devastating epidemics in their countries. People in Africa die every day from AIDS, but look at the American casualties like Freddie Mercury and Arthur Ashe?
ReplyDeleteWatney focuses on the predicament of our sheltered society conveying the dangers of contracting HIV to kids in school without really exposing them to the possibility of being homosexual or ways homosexual partners can protect themselves. Already manipulating public school curriculums to brainwash future generations into accepting the heterosexual family as the ideal family unit, the problem they now face, Watney claims, is the fact that they don’t want to let their guard down and allow kids to believe it is okay to be gay or lesbian. Basically kids are brought up being told that gay is wrong, so they suppress the urge, until it comes out as a rebellious act against the “constant domestic surveillance and the strict regulation of identity through mechanisms of sexual guilt, sibling rivalries, parental favoritism, embarrassment…” and they do not know how to protect themselves, due to the emphasis on hetero safe sex techniques in sex education class… eventually leading the contraction of AIDS and HIV.
I think Patton and Watney take completely different approaches to voicing concerns over the need for emphasis on the dangers of AIDS in America. Watney’s choice of simple words and factual tone make for an easy, informative read while Patton’s sarcastic attitude and passionate, forceful words make the reader sympathize with her urge to see change in her own country when so much is being done for others halfway around the world.
As a reader I found it interesting to see how emotional Patton’s writing was, as opposed to Watney’s. I don’t know if it’s because they were targeting different audiences, like we discussed with the manifestos, but I got the impression that Patton may be talking to women more so than men in her writing. On the other hand, the vibe I got from Watney’s was very straightforward and almost sounded like a set of well-laid out facts ready to be presented to the government in an appeal for a change in sexual education standards in American schools. As with every weeks reading, this week reaffirmed the fact that our society is close minded and needs to stop living in the past and hear out people like Patton and Watney, because being gay isn’t a disease. Our government is attempting to make it appear as one.
*Also, I saw this and thought it may tie in with this week and last week about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Sorry for the novel, but if someone would respond with a remedy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that would be awesome! j/k =]
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/02/01/senators-clash-over-dont-ask-dont-tell-as-pentagon-readies-ann/
--Taylor Gardiner
Patton’s argument is used to show you how AIDS is not the gay man disease as some believe. In Africa AIDS affect heterosexual people. There aren’t that many homosexual cultures. Well I should say that it’s not allowed. In Africa there are families that have AIDS. Condom use is rare, which I can understand because they really use sex for reproduction purposes. It’s funny to me how many different theories of AIDS they have associated with Africa. Like how is African AIDS different from regular AIDS?
ReplyDeleteIn Britain according to Watney, many believe AIDS is a gay man disease. It kind of reminds you of here in America. They speak of them as they don’t care about their lives. Gay men must of spread the disease all thru the country. How silly of them to think this. Its shows you how much gay man are hated by some people. If you’re gay there they just associate you with death.
They compare by show us the stereotype associated with aids. They differ by one focus on gay people in Britain and the other focus on straight people in Africa. What’s important to me about the subject matter is how ignorant people are about the topic. My mother had HIV but she didn’t get it from sex, she got it from a blood transfusion while have a hysterectomy. People just need to learn more and stop putting everything in a little box because that’s not the real world.
In Patton’s article, she talks about AIDS in Africa and also in the West. In Africa, she states that people get AIDS easily because of their different practices in sex and also the fact that condoms are lacking in Africa; not only that, but there is also a lack of education in Africa where many people do not know the causes of AIDS. She also talks about AIDS in the West saying that it is mostly homosexuals, lower class communities, and drug users have AIDS.
ReplyDeleteWatney’s article, however, talks mostly about how the West population believes that homosexuals caused AIDS and how it was them that brought AIDS to the West in the first place, and it is no wonder why society is thinking this. He talks about how society gets this belief about homosexuals through media. Plus, just to add, not many people in society know much about AIDS and how it is caused.
Well obviously, both of the articles touch on the subject of AIDS in different parts of the world. However, Patton’s article talked mainly about the AIDS in Africa and it being on the more heterosexual side. Watney’s article talked mainly about the AIDS in the West and it being on the more homosexual side. What I found most interesting in the articles is that they are very true. Many people, in both Africa and in the West, are very misinformed about the topic of AIDS. The only way to protect people from this terrible disease is to educate them and not fill their heads with lies.
Patton pretty much talked about AIDS in America and Africa and what people believe the differences of them are. She talks about how in Africa its thought that people get the disease from having multiple partners and not using proper protection while in America it's belived that the disease is contracted from homosexual acts. But the truth is it is depicted that way so that we as Americans can protect our image.
ReplyDeleteWatney talked about homosexuals being thought of as like the root of AIDS. Also, how we blame thim for the terrible epidemic that is going on. He then goes on to say how believing that is what really caused the spread of AIDS because people werent taught how to properly protect themselves.
They were both different and similar in the way that they both were about AIDS and how people have the wrong idea of the disease. As Brandy said I think they were both written to point out the "unawareness" of the issue. They both touch on the media and how peoples views are formed by wat it says. They were different because Pattons is more of a comparative essay, where she compares the idea of AIDS in America vs AIDS in Africa. While Watney talked more about homosexuality and how heterosexual people believe that ecause the are straight they are untouchable, and dont really consider the seriousness of the issue.
In Patton’s article, she speaks about the misconceptions of “African AIDS” and “American AIDS.” She perceives the world’s view of these “very different” diseases. In Africa, Aids is assumed to be blamed on heterosexuals and lewd behavior. In America, everybody just knows Aids started with homosexuals and needle bearing drug addicts. I agree with Taylor on Patton’s facetious approach.
ReplyDeleteWatney’s article is centered on the protection of children from Aids, and the “root” of Aids. He claims that by brainwashing children into thinking gay is bad, we are actually setting them up. They will eventually try to repress the urge, rebel, and due to a lack of knowledge and protection contract HIV/AIDS. He states that AIDS originated from homosexuals, and how society plays the blame game and points their fingers at gays for causing the disease.
Although Patton’s article talks about African AIDS and Watney’s article talks about homosexual men and children, they are both still very similar. Both articles show people’s lack of knowledge when it comes to the subject of AIDS. They also point out people’s misconception of homosexuals and their “creation” of AIDS.
I found both the articles to be very informative. They speak heavily on society’s misconceptions of AIDS. I was never one to believe that heterosexuals were immune to the disease, but I’m surprised that others do. Both these articles are equally important in my opinion. I strongly agree with Brandy. If you’re sexually active, you’re prone to any- and everything.
I’m not really sure about what she is trying to prove but I think she is basically differentiating the AIDS in America and the AIDS in Africa. She said AIDS is a heterosexual disease in Africa and AIDS in America is a homosexual disease. In Africa, AIDS is spreading mainly through heterosexual intercourse, but homosexual intercourse and drug injections are the primary means of transmission in the U.S. One reason she gave for the widespread of the disease in Africa is the absence of safe sex, in other words, using condoms. While in America, we were taught to practice safe sex even though some people do not abide. Homosexuality and heterosexuality does not really determine the spread of the AIDS disease, but it can be avoid just by following safety precautions. Patton discuss that AIDS can also be an family disease and are not only dispersed by sexual intercourse; “the father who infected his wife before he knew he was himself infected, and she in turn gave birth to an infected son.” Simon Watney discusses the statistics of infected people in different countries and continents but also sees HIV and AIDS as a homosexual disease and as a disease mostly carried and spread by men. He also says that a heterosexual family is the ideal family unit. Like Patton, Watney uses the word family but very differently and also sees safe sex and an emancipatory and life-saving protectorate. I enjoy reading Patton’s essay a little bit more than Watney, but they both inscribed very interesting information.
ReplyDelete