AIDS and its Metaphors

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Analysis of Susan Sontag's piece

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Susan Sontag : 

Susan Sontag AIDS and its Metaphor  Danielle Reynolds & Katrina Ryback

Introduction : 

Introduction Sontag sheds light upon common metaphors associated with Aids during the 1980s.  The metaphorical packaging of AIDS, increases the suffering of the afflicted while creating unneeded anxiety among the population at large.

Cancer vs. Aids : 

Cancer vs. Aids

Dual Metaphoric Genealogy : 

Dual Metaphoric Genealogy Micro-process “Invasion” Transmission “Pollution” Focus:  Botanical/Zoological Metaphors (Stages) Military Metaphors Plague

Single cause : 

Single cause Since little was known about aids, its cause was understood to be punishment for “indulgence” and “perversity.” (p. 111)

Staged : 

Staged Temporal sequence of stages (AIDS, syphilis) versus “spatial notion” of illness (cancer) HIV-infected ARC AIDS Botanical/Zoological Metaphor; “budding” “decay”

Military metaphors : 

Military metaphors AIDS develops further the theme (seen earlier in cancer) of disease as invader: the enemy invades and destroys you from within. (p. 103) AIDS vs. cancer (cause): External vs. internal HIV vs. AIDS Under assault vs. final, all out attack

Plague metaphor : 

Plague metaphor Essentially, she rejects labeling aids as a plague. This limited understanding of aids facilitated the plague metaphor, which Sontag rejects.

Face / body : 

Face / body Polio and heart attack appropriate, unmetaphorical reaction >separation face and body If face deformed (mutations, rot) underlying aesthetic judgments because dissolution of person is reflected Dehumanization  adds psychological pain

AIDS as a metaphor : 

AIDS as a metaphor Distinctive use because of latency Has been used as a metaphor for “political evil” PC virus

Conclusion : 

Conclusion The metaphor she is most anxious to see eliminated is the military metaphor, both on an illness level (illness invades the person) and a societal level (social problems invade society).

Discussion : 

Discussion AIDS has been described as being a latent disease which progresses through a temporal process that consists of stages (HIV-infected ARC AIDS). Due to this process botanical/zoological metaphors have arisen. Do you agree/disagree with using these metaphors? What are the consequences of using these?