HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus responsible for causing AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The virus leaves the human immune system weak and renders infected individuals vulnerable to other illnesses. HIV has been thought to have originated on the African continent and is becoming an increasing medical issue there. The documentary AIDS in Africa details the rise and impact of the rate of HIV infection and AIDS throughout the African continent. In the documentary, various medical professionals are interviewed for their perspective, and all express concern over the rising rates of infection and lack of resources for prevention in Africa. In addition to these doctors, inhabitants of the continent are also interviewed; these
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This fits the disastrous rhetoric, in which Africa is represented and seen as a land of devastation and disease (Myers 523). AIDS in Africa certainly contributes to this ongoing view. Throughout the documentary, the primary focus is the AIDS epidemic, and the majority of people interviewed either are medical professionals or are infected with the virus. Some of those with HIV are men while others are women, and they come from a variety of backgrounds. They are also not confined to one region of the continent, and the documentary shows many areas of the continent. In doing this, the film makes it seem as though the HIV virus or AIDS affects all peoples and areas of the continent. The audience is made to believe that no place and no person can escape the virus. Despite this portrayal, the documentary challenges its own presentation. It contains one scene dedicated to a small indigenous group in Central Africa. The documentary concedes that AIDS has not yet reached this group, hinting at the fact that the disease is not as prevalent as it appears to be. In addition, the film includes an African woman who engages in prostitution and has not yet been become infected with the virus. Her presence establishes that not everyone on the continent is affected by HIV, even those in high risk environments. The documentary provides a contradictory and complex representation of HIV in Africa. …show more content…
This imagery uses “helpless child victims and/or their mothers [to] stand for the plight of the continent as a whole” (Myers 523). The documentary emphasizes how mothers and children specifically are impacted by HIV. Mothers infected with the virus eventually die and leave their children alone. The children then do not have the primary caretaker that the mother once was, and they suffer in that way. There is an additional level to their suffering because the children of infected mothers have about a forty percent chance of being born with the virus or contracting it during infancy. These infected children usually display symptoms early in life, and they die very youth. While they are alive, they experience many illnesses as their immune system weakens. The documentary takes this information and the images accompanying it and makes them representative of the continent as a whole by integrating this representation with interviews and medical professionals’ outlooks on the spread of HIV in Africa. Individuals also comment on how HIV in children is impacting the next generation and possibly devastating the continent economically. As a result, the suffering is equated with the generalizations made by the professionals and, therefore, the situation in the entire African continent. However, the documentary makes sure to include the suffering of men and the fact that some women and children are healthy, demonstrating
This fits the disastrous rhetoric, in which Africa is represented and seen as a land of devastation and disease (Myers 523). AIDS in Africa certainly contributes to this ongoing view. Throughout the documentary, the primary focus is the AIDS epidemic, and the majority of people interviewed either are medical professionals or are infected with the virus. Some of those with HIV are men while others are women, and they come from a variety of backgrounds. They are also not confined to one region of the continent, and the documentary shows many areas of the continent. In doing this, the film makes it seem as though the HIV virus or AIDS affects all peoples and areas of the continent. The audience is made to believe that no place and no person can escape the virus. Despite this portrayal, the documentary challenges its own presentation. It contains one scene dedicated to a small indigenous group in Central Africa. The documentary concedes that AIDS has not yet reached this group, hinting at the fact that the disease is not as prevalent as it appears to be. In addition, the film includes an African woman who engages in prostitution and has not yet been become infected with the virus. Her presence establishes that not everyone on the continent is affected by HIV, even those in high risk environments. The documentary provides a contradictory and complex representation of HIV in Africa. …show more content…
This imagery uses “helpless child victims and/or their mothers [to] stand for the plight of the continent as a whole” (Myers 523). The documentary emphasizes how mothers and children specifically are impacted by HIV. Mothers infected with the virus eventually die and leave their children alone. The children then do not have the primary caretaker that the mother once was, and they suffer in that way. There is an additional level to their suffering because the children of infected mothers have about a forty percent chance of being born with the virus or contracting it during infancy. These infected children usually display symptoms early in life, and they die very youth. While they are alive, they experience many illnesses as their immune system weakens. The documentary takes this information and the images accompanying it and makes them representative of the continent as a whole by integrating this representation with interviews and medical professionals’ outlooks on the spread of HIV in Africa. Individuals also comment on how HIV in children is impacting the next generation and possibly devastating the continent economically. As a result, the suffering is equated with the generalizations made by the professionals and, therefore, the situation in the entire African continent. However, the documentary makes sure to include the suffering of men and the fact that some women and children are healthy, demonstrating