Guggenheim Museum: “Fever in the Archive”

AIDS Activist Video Retrospective, 2000.

AIDS activist video remains one of the most significant cultural developments of the AIDS crisis. The tapes grew out of a diverse and large-scale, unorganized, yet concerted effort by activists and videomakers to respond to the epidemic. They resulted from the widespread availability of high-quality, relatively inexpensive consumer video and a desperate need to convey life-saving information.

Many of these tapes, although made solely as timely responses to the crisis, retain an extraordinary vitality. The videomakers clearly positioned themselves in opposition to an unresponsive and often antagonistic government and mainstream media. They eschewed the authoritative voice-over, the removed, dispassionate expert, and the media’s tendencey to scapegoat, while embracing a vibrant sexuality and righteous anger.

Go to: https://actupny.org/divatv/guggenheim.html

Topics: Activist Media |  AIDS |