Epidemic Barbara Reading Discussion 3

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Epidemic Barbara Reading Discussion 3

[NOTE: This discussion will remain open through Tuesday of Week 10, so you may include Week 10 reading here.]

First, I would like to commend all of you who participated in the thread begun by Enzie. The original post was thoughtful and is an excellent example of finding something interesting in a text, then remarking on it. I especially also liked the courteous, respectful way in which you all then commented on one another’s remarks when following up.

For those of you who have not yet commented on an assigned reading, here are some ideas for Weeks 8, 9, and even 10:

PROMPT ONE: As you interpret Hushka’s discussion, what are the chief characteristics of the art produced before the advent of effective HIV medications? How did the advent of antiretorival therapy in the mid-1990s begin to change the art produced? How did the art change even more recently with the advent of PrEP (say within the past 5-10 years)?

PROMPT TWO: Pick one of the following two passages from Barbara Pollack’s essay about retrospective shows assessing the impact of AIDS on art and explain why it makes sense that the person believes the statement to be true.

a) “’I see AIDS as having produced the first language of global art because it involved artists from all over the planet—Brazil, Japan, Russia, Kenya, Mali, India, South Africa.’” –attributed to curator Dan Cameron.

b) “Now artists and curators are willing to concede that great art did come out of the anger, sorrow, and bafflement in the face of an epidemic….” –Barbara Pollack

PROMPT FOUR:

The essay by Susan Noyes Platt (assigned for Week 10) offers a review of an exhibition at the Wing Luke museum called “Under My Skin.” Here are some possible reactions to it:

  • comment on one of the art pieces included in the article–discuss how that piece evokes something from your own experience of race/heritage/ethnicity in the 21st century.
  • comment on the theme of shifting racial identities and multi-racial identities that will become even more common in the near future
  • comment on why you believe race will continue to inspire artists working within American culture in the near future.

PROMPT FIVE: As always, feel free to comment on any aspect of any reading that you find interesting or comment on a lecture in the Visiting Artists Series that you happened to attend.