This presentation combines research on HIV/AIDS disclosures by celebrities and highlights the necessity for further exploration into their influence. By examining how celebrities can drive social and policy change, it underscores the potential to utilize their reach for broader societal benefits. Continued research is crucial for unlocking insights into leveraging celebrity influence effectively for issues like HIV/AIDS awareness and policy reform.
Below is the initial prep-work for the presentation and research proposal, including the three moves and annotated bibliography (Submitted as HW Post 11)
- Identify a research topic that interests you.
The Effects of Celebrity AIDS Disclosures on Mortality and Healthcare Policy in the U.S
- Use CUNY’s Database (only) to search for a research paper on your research topic/problem. The paper must be in Independent Research and Development (IMRAD) format, meaning it is a research study containing an Introduction, Methods, and Discussion/Results section.
Clarke, J. N. (2006). Homophobia out of the closet in the media portrayal of HIV/AIDS 1991,
1996 and 2001: Celebrity, heterosexism and the silent victims. Critical Public Health, 16(4), 317–330.
https://doi-org.central.ezproxy.cuny.edu/10.1080/09581590601091620
- Read through the abstracts to identify the article(s) that best suit your research interest.
AIDS, HIV and the cultural construction of reality; Treichler, P. A. The Time of AIDS); 1992, Newbury Park : Sage Publications, p65-97, 33p. Edited by: Herdt, G.; Lindenbaum, S.. Document Type: book
Kitzinger, J. Sociology of Health and Illness); 1990 Vol. 12 Issue 3, 17p. Document Type: article;
- Once you have identified a research paper/study, carefully read the Introduction and Methods sections. Identify Move 1, Move 2, and Move 3 of the Introduction section to help you understand the research problem, gap in research being addressed, and the research outcome(s).
Move 1: Topic Significance – HIV/AIDS remains one of the most significant global health challenges despite innovations in healthcare and policy. Since its emergence as an epidemic in the early 1980s, there have been large shifts in public perception, the construct of public health, and understanding of epidemiology. Understanding how HIV/AIDS is portrayed in mass media is crucial in uncovering underlying ideologies and the factors that ultimately impact healthcare policies and practices.
Move 2: Need for Present Research – There remains a gap in understanding how the disease is portrayed in high-circulating mass print magazines. Other previous studies have explored HIV/AIDS presentation in mass media, but not specifically how mainstream media such as mass print magazines, which were the most common at the time, impacted epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and its impact on diverse communities.
Move 3: Introduce the Present Research – The paper addresses the portrayal of HIV/AIDS in the 20 highest circulating mass print magazines in Canada between 1991 and 2001. The objective of the research is to uncover the factors that influenced the portrayal of HIV/AIDS in mainstream media and explore how heterosexist and homophobic discourses have changed over time.
- Carefully read through the Methods section to identify an area in the study that has not been explored, or that has been ignored, or that needs to be extended. This is considered your niche, that area of research you will propose further research for your research proposal. The Methods section might also include graphs and charts you should study that might also reveal your “niche.”
As society often glorifies celebrities and refers to them for inspiration, there is a need for more research into the impact they can have on government policy for things such as healthcare and research. By delving into the influence of celebrity narratives on public perception and behavior, we can establish trends between the intersectionality of stigma, laws, and healthcare.
- Once you have identified your “niche,” you must start finding other research articles, position papers, or literary reviews that justify and support a need for research in your selected area of interest.
Francis, D. P. (2012). Commentary: Deadly AIDS policy failure by the highest levels of the US government: A personal look back 30 years later for lessons to respond better to future epidemics. Journal of Public Health Policy, 33(3), 290–300. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23253449
Purcell, D. W. (2021). Forty Years of HIV: The Intersection of Laws, Stigma, and Sexual Behavior and Identity. American Journal of Public Health, 111(7), 1231–1233. https://doi-org.central.ezproxy.cuny.edu/10.2105/ajph.2021.306335
- This assignment requires a total of 5 sources: Your first source is the research study for which you have identified your niche (area of research to be explored). The other four articles are used to justify/support this area in research that needs to be explored.
- You must write an annotated bibliography for each source: A short summary of the article and why and how it supports your research proposal.
Annotated Bibliography
Cardazzi, A., Martin, J. C., & Rodriguez, Z. (2023). Information shocks and celebrity exposure: The effect of “Magic” Johnson on AIDS diagnoses and mortality in the U.S. Health Economics, 32(9), 2047–2079. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4712
This study explores the impact of celebrity exposure on public health outcomes, particularly the case of Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s HIV diagnosis and its subsequent effect on AIDS diagnoses and mortality rates in the U.S. The article addresses the phenomenon of “information shocks”, which is when high-profile individuals influence public behavior. This research is particularly useful as it uses statistical methods to establish a correlation between Johnson’s public announcement in 1991 and a significant increase in AIDS diagnoses and a decrease in mortality in following years. However, the source is holistic in that it addresses the limitations in long-term effectiveness of such information shocks.
Clarke, G., Dutka, E., & Kraft, B. (1985). Rock: A Courageous Disclosure. TIME Magazine, 126(5), 51.
This source is an article published in TIME Magazine in 1985, which discusses the public disclosure of Rock Hudson’s AIDS diagnosis. As an American household name, Rock Hudson was seen as the epitome of a masculine man aside from his closeted homosexuality. The authors argue that his disclosure brought an unprecedented attention and sympathy to the disease, which ultimately prompted increased funding for research due to his close relationship with President Ronald Reagan. This article is very valuable for understanding the cultural context of the AIDS epidemic in the mid-1980s
Clarke, J. N. (2006). Homophobia out of the closet in the media portrayal of HIV/AIDS 1991,
1996 and 2001: Celebrity, heterosexism and the silent victims. Critical Public Health, 16(4), 317–330.
https://doi-org.central.ezproxy.cuny.edu/10.1080/09581590601091620
In this article, the authors examine the media portrayal of HIV/AIDS in Canadian mainstream media between 1991 and 2001. They focus on the role of celebrity and the often-overlooked victims of AIDS, with a particular emphasis on heterosexual celebrities while neglecting the LGTBQ+ community and other marginalized groups. The source is particularly useful in quantifying the intersection of media, celebrity culture, and public health while simultaneously providing insight into the societal attitudes surrounding HIV/AIDS. However, this may be limited in that the article was published in 2006, as the media landscape has evolved significantly since.
Kalichman, S. C., & Hunter, T. L. (1992). The Disclosure of Celebrity HIV Infection: Its Effects on Public Attitudes. American Journal of Public Health, 82(10), 1374–1376.
https://doi-org.central.ezproxy.cuny.edu/10.2105/AJPH.82.10.1374
This article investigates the impact and societal response to high profile HIV disclosures, such as those of Magic Johnson and Rock Hudson. The study reveals that these disclosures significantly influenced public perceptions and quantifies to the increased awareness and understanding of the disease, made evident by how much more AIDS and concern for it came up in conversation. The authors argue that celebrity disclosures serve as powerful tools for public health education and advocacy, however, also caution that the celebrity-focused narrative may also overshadow the experiences of non-celebrity individuals living with AIDS.
Waxman, O. B. (2018). Freddie Mercury Didn’t Want to Be a “Poster Boy” for AIDS — But He and Other Celebrities Played a Key Role in Its History. Time.Com, N.PAG.
This article addresses another high-profile celebrity whose AIDS disclosure had a major impact on societal attitudes and public health. Freddie Mercury, despite his reluctance to become a “poster boy” for the disease, brought much-needed attention to the epidemic. Him and other celebrities used their platforms to challenge stigmas and advocate for research funding, which was also able to sway global public health policy to invest in treatments and preventative education for HIV/AIDS. His death in 1991 coincided with Magic Johnson’s disclosure which combined for a snowballing effect to mobilize support for research and treatment methods.
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