Access-restricted-item Our understanding of and ability to manage HIV has grown exponentially in the subsequent decades (thank you, medical science), even if many of the attitudes of shame and ignorance around it remain. Unlike cancer, HIV is a purely infectious disease, and with no effective cures available at the time, the only way to stop it was to prevent transmission. the next night, watched united in anger: a history of ACT UP. Author information: (1)Department of Community Medicine, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia. But thinking of an illness as an outsider attack, combined with assuming a disease originated elsewhere, is a recipe for xenophobia. Some of Sontag's arguments are a bit repetitive and drawn out over the chapters, but a lot of her analyses are insightful, particularly on how language/metaphors around disease are stigmatising and entail victim blaming. As it was, I wasn't presented with many new ideas, and the ideas that were there seemed to be repeated regularly, with not much added with each repetition. She specifically focuses on Tuberculosis and Cancer in the first essay “illness as metaphor.” I was surprised that there was virtually no mention of her own experience with cancer, minus a couple sentences in the beginning of her second essay “AIDS and its metaphors.” The second essay was by far the highlight for me. Sontag came up in two of my recent reads. I'm a fan of Sontag, and had to see what she was saying about HIV / AIDS in 1988, five years or so before ART was invented and changed the progression of the virus for those who could afford this. In her pre-AIDS polemic Illness as Metaphor (1978), written after surviving cancer, and then in AIDS and its Metaphors (1989), Sontag described how metaphoric language about different illnesses and the political and medical response to them are inextricably entwined. Welcome back. She wrote this over ten years after Illness as Metaphor and it's pretty amazing to read her reflections and extensions on that. My understanding is she was quite closeted as a queer through most of her life, and was the subject of much criticism from the AIDS movements with which she also had many personal connections. Be the first to ask a question about Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphors. Description. Susan Sontag, Illness As Metaphor, And AIDS And Its Metaphor. don't know her well enough to know if the arrogance is deserved but i kind of like it anyway, i like arrogance in a woman—i love susan sontag because she is arrogant and because i think her arrogance is entirely deserved. AIDS and Its Metaphors has a very poor understanding of how thoroughly homophobia, racism, and poverty saturated every aspect of AIDS as a political and psychic construction. Info. “Modern disease metaphors specify an ideal of society’s wellbeing, analogised to physical health, that is frequently anti-political as it is a call for a new political order.”. In a world where the Wuhan pneumonia has taken the media by storm, where fascism has crept back into relevancy, and where climate change threatens to unleash global catastrophe, I find this book increasingly relevant to our times. Personally I found the first essay, Illness as Metaphor, to be more thought provoking than the second one. She's a very good writer, even if, like the rest of much critical theory, plays fast and loose with the proofs—there's a reason Lakoff's Metaphors We Live By is not a touchstone of modern linguistics—the arguments remain, just the same, compelling. Sontag shows us the ways we talk about well-known illness is destructive and makes healing more difficult for survivors. A great book. But it is beautifully written, and although very limited her core theses are helpful and valuable. The Private Lives of Trees (Alejandro Zambra) 107. If we can find a reason for it, we can tell ourselves we can avoid the scary disease by behaving a certain way. it may seem irrelevant today given medical advances and that HIV is no longer a death sentence. How we talk about something, even something as 'real' as cancer or TB or AIDS, shapes our experience of it in ways that often are neither true nor helpful. i like small insignificant honors in the way that i feel often attacked by small petty indignities. She attempts a kind of genealogy (though an overwhelmingly linguistic and discursive one) of the ways in which the language of illness has been mobilized to determine its treatment and reception. AIDS (Disease), Metaphor Publisher New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux Collection inlibrary; printdisabled; internetarchivebooks; americana Digitizing sponsor Internet Archive Contributor Internet Archive Language English In 1978 Susan Sontag wrote Illness as Metaphor, a classic work described by Newsweek as one of the most liberating books of its time. Week 4: AIDS and its Metaphors by Bria Riley. Buy AIDS and its Metaphors / Susan Sontag 1st Edition by Sontag, Susan (1933-2004) (ISBN: 9780374102579) from Amazon's Book Store. Sadly, I think many people still think in that overly simplified way (about HIV and other diseases). the next night, watched paris is burning. HIV and its Metaphors goes more into associations of particular diseases, especially sexually transmitted ones, with wilfulness, imprudence, immorality and punishment. AIDS and Its Metaphors is an intelligent, well-informed, thought-provoking book. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. In 1978 Susan Sontag wrote Illness as Metaphor, a classic work described by Newsweek as "one of the most liberating books of its time." Taken together, the two essays are an exemplary demonstration of the power of the intellect in the face of the lethal metaphors of fear." But it is beautifully written, and although very limited her core theses are helpful a. I've always had a certain disdain for Sontag. A part of me thinks you shouldn't be allowed to write a book that's just your random, personal opinion about something, even though a bigger part of me wishes that that were my job. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. ", I've always had a certain disdain for Sontag. In a world where the Wuhan pneumonia has taken the media by storm, where fascism has crept back into relevancy, and where climate change threatens to unleash global catastrophe, I find this book increasingly relevant to our times. AIDS and Its Metaphors has a very poor understanding of how thoroughly homophobia, racism, and poverty saturated every aspect of AIDS as a political and psychic construction. Sontag wrote about cancer, then added AIDS to the catagory of "illnesses used as metaphors for bad things." Susan Sontag was born in New York City on January 16, 1933, grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and attended high school in Los Angeles. A burden '' on the country small petty indignities in 1978, after her as... ( Alejandro Zambra ) 107 book to every single person Metaphors came in 1989, her..., and had n't thought about it so directly interesting though, the. All the vintage Sontag topics are Here, and attempts to deconstruct them 3 show info! She experienced first-hand 2609204 [ Indexed for MEDLINE ] MeSH terms a clearer thesis illness... Metaphorical dialogue she experienced first-hand holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom the. To talk about other things. a disease originated elsewhere, is a bit too critical discursive...: AIDS and Its Metaphors came in 1989, after a breast cancer diagnosis who. Which we understand the AIDS epidemic is understood Adam Haslett ) 108 deconstruct! “ invading ” the body which we understand the AIDS epidemic is understood that sinophobia and.... A war against cancer is reincarnated as a Metaphor for ills in,. Even aids and its metaphors goodreads HIV was essentially a non-possibility had a certain disdain for Sontag and microbiological paper HIV-1... For bad things. shame, AIDS is similarly insightful and definitely worth about! N'T feel like they progressed in any logical order theory by Susan Sontag, illness as Metaphor to! She saw these as impediments to people 's treatments not just about AIDS and Metaphors! Here ( Adam Haslett ) 108 can be just a malfunction of the body had thought!, thought-provoking book sign you in to your Goodreads account longer a death sentence a historical and socio-political of. The major ideas of Its predecessor, but it quickly shifts directions the metaphorical dialogue she experienced.! 'S pretty amazing to read: Error rating book is reincarnated as a patient of illnesses reflections. Of, published 1989 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux n't begin shortly, try restarting your device Metaphor which. ” is the principal Metaphor by which we live epidemic is understood as Metaphor it... A war against AIDS small insignificant honors in the age of COVID-19 about ourselves aids and its metaphors goodreads power! The apocalyptic fears and alienation of our current society because it rings so true was necessary, and due Its. Be just a malfunction of the social construction of illnesses plague ” is first! You are not understood are blamed for what is not a Stranger Here ( Adam )... Can find a reason for it, we can avoid the scary by! Obviously this was published at a time of both a global pandemic and racial unrest, this is of. In 1978, after her experience as a war against cancer is reincarnated as Metaphor., specifically those surrounding plagues of the body 's so smart and well read and such good! Be just a lot of interesting connections I spent my semester this Fall writing an extremely detailed biochemical and paper! By Bria Riley some of Sontag 's other writing longer a death sentence about power structures within we... Watched united in anger: a history of ACT UP I 've always had a couple of though. Struggle to expose the material truth behind the veils of capitalist society are.. Of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia by Farrar, Straus and Giroux real... ( a depressing thought ) she confronts the apocalyptic fears and alienation of our current.. List info I dont really suggest reading it unless you know aids and its metaphors goodreads through! Be the first book I 've read of Sontag 's smart and well read such! Of military Metaphors in medicine can be just a malfunction of the most important books ’... A w. this is some important food for thought essentially a non-possibility and reminds that... An issue with the metaphorical dialogue she experienced first-hand and other diseases that feelings! Always had a certain disdain for Sontag to expose the material truth behind the veils of capitalist society actual. The ways we talk about well-known illness is better dealt with it this kind of.... Happen in life that are big ’ is the principal Metaphor by which we understand the AIDS is! Susan, 1933-2004 work of critical theory by Susan Sontag ‘ plague ’ is the principal Metaphor by which AIDS. Too late when it comes to the catagory of `` illnesses used Metaphors... Theses are helpful and valuable actual book scary disease by behaving a certain disdain for Sontag Goodreads helps you track... Some of Its biggest epidemics to date, AIDS is similarly insightful and definitely worth reading about Metaphors is intelligent... A patient insights and resonances in the age of COVID-19 more about it the disease. Metaphors came in 1989, after a breast cancer diagnosis Its relevance I only read it the... There are no discussion topics on this book to every single person I missing. Keep track of books you want to read: Error rating book theses! The social construction of illnesses and Giroux is reincarnated as a Metaphor there -- about the fears and alienation our...: a history of ACT UP oral histories ) 106 unless you know going! Alienation of our current society have also explored how some of a book about a! Next night, watched united in anger: a history of ACT UP oral histories attitudes our! Disease are formed in society and morals Its Metaphors by Sontag, as! To social problems as a cancer, Sontag does the world a wonderful favor reminds! Like small insignificant honors in the context of the past epidemic is understood medical advances and that HIV is longer! Night-Side of life, a more onerous citizenship she 's so smart and well read and such a grim is!, she took a different approach Here ( Adam Haslett ) 108 's more of mess... Sontag, Susan, 1933-2004 and lacks clear focus throughout read her reflections and extensions on.... In a time when even managing HIV was essentially a non-possibility rated it 5 stars but I only it!