After Silence : A History of AIDS Through Its Images

Early in the 1980s AIDS epidemic, six gay activists created one of the most iconic and lasting images that would come to symbolize a movement: a protest poster of a pink triangle with the words “Silence = Death.” The graphic and the slogan still resonate today, often used—and misused—to brand the entire movement. Cofounder of the collective Silence = Death and member of the art collective Gran Fury, Avram Finkelstein tells the story of how his work and other protest artwork associated with the early years of the pandemic were created. In writing about art and AIDS activism, the formation of collectives, and the political process, Finkelstein reveals a different side of the traditional HIV/AIDS history, told twenty-five years later, and offers a creative toolbox for those who want to learn how to save lives through activism and making art. Avram Finkelstein is a founding member of the Silence = Death and Gran Fury collectives. His work is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, the New Museum, and the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. Early In The 1980s Aids Epidemic, Six Gay Activists Created One Of The Most Iconic And Lasting Images That Would Come To Symbolize A Movement: A Protest Poster Of A Pink Triangle With The Words Silence [equal To] Death. The Graphic And The Slogan Still Resonate Widely Today, The Latter An Anthem For Aids Activism, And Are Often Used--and Misused--to Brand The Entire Movement, Appearing In A Variety Of Ubiquitous Manifestations. Cofounder Of The Collective Silence [equal To] Death And Member Of The Art Collective Gran Fury, Avram Finkelstein Tells The Story Of How His Work And Other Protest Artworks Associated With The Early Years Of The Pandemic Were Created. In His Writing About Art And Aids Activism, The Formation Of Collectives, And The Political Process, Finkelstein Exposes Us To A Different Side Of The Traditional Hiv/aids History Told Twenty-five Years Later And Offers A Creative Toolbox For Those Who Want To Learn How Art And Activism Save Lives--provided By Publisher. Introduction : Aids 2.0 -- Silence = Death -- Gran Fury -- Affinity -- Epilogue : Notstalgia. Avram Finkelstein. Includes Index. Early in the 1980s AIDS epidemic, six gay activists created one of the most iconic and lasting images that would come to symbolize a movement: a protest poster of a pink triangle with the words “Silence = Death.” The graphic and the slogan still resonate today, often used—and misused—to brand the entire movement. Cofounder of the collective Silence = Death and member of the art collective Gran Fury, Avram Finkelstein tells the story of how his work and other protest artwork associated with the early years of the pandemic were created. In writing about art and AIDS activism, the formation of collectives, and the political process, Finkelstein reveals a different side of the traditional HIV/AIDS history, told twenty-five years later, and offers a creative toolbox for those who want to learn how to save lives through activism and making art. List of Illustrations vii Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii Author’s Note xvi Introduction: AIDS 2.0 1 PART I. SILENCE = DEATH 1. The Immigrant 15 2. The Political Poster 27 3. War 59 PART II. GRAN FURY 4 . Read My Lips 85 5. Kissing Doesn’t Kill 107 6. Art Is Not Enough 127 PART III. AFFINITY 7. Men: Use Condoms or Beat It 153 8. Women Don’t Get AIDS, They Just Die from It 171 9. The Four Questions, Part 1: The Viral Divide 183 10. The Four Questions, Part 2: Intergenerationality 201 Epilogue: Notstalgia 219 Index 223