AEGiS-BKREV: Against Death: The Practice of Living with AIDS

(BKREV) Against Death: The Practice of Living with AIDS

Overseas Publishers Assoc., PO Box 200029 Riverfron Plaza Station, Newark, NJ 07102-0301. 219p., bibliog., index. (Theory and Practice in Medical Anthropology and International Health, v.5). ISBN 90-5699-563-4, 90-5699-564-2pbk. $49.00, $22.00pbk.
Gordon and Breach

This book is based on Robert M. Ariss' doctoral thesis, Against Death: The Sydney Gay Community Responds to AIDS, Department of Anthropology, University of Sydney, 1992. On May 9, 1994, Dr. Ariss died from AIDS-related complications, having all but completed the final draft of the book. Gary W. Dowsett finished editing the manuscript. The book "is a critical work, engaging experience through the rigorous deployment of social theory." It provides a significant analysis of the central period of Australia's experience with the HIV pandemic. Dr. Ariss was very active in the Sydney gay community, being "keenly aware of the pitfalls of activism, the experiences that sharpen perception, the passions that cloud judgment, the courage of collective struggle."

The first part provides "The Anthropology of AIDS" including the governing of AIDS, the interventionist state, and biomedicine and homosexuality. The second part, "The Tactics of Health and Illness," delves into the social process of HIV-antibody testing, managing an HIV-antibody positive status, the aspects of medical "Creole," alternative therapies for treating HIV, and reinventing death. The last part, "Discursive Strategies of Resistance," looks at the genealogy of a new identity--People Living With AIDS, Inc.," the emergence of a new treatment activism, therapeutic truth games, and anger as an emotional expression as strategic intent.

This is an excellent, thought-provoking book that looks at a snapshot in the history of AIDS in Australia. It provides some insights on how government and science have responded to the activists. For those doing research in the social aspects of AIDS, this is an important book to be read. It is unfortunate that Dr. Ariss cannot be with us today to see what changes have taken place since he wrote his dissertation. A recommended book for all academic and medical libraries.

Keywords: Patients; Australia; Treatment)

Copyright (c) 1999 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Book reviews may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, redistribution, or translation, address requests to H. Robert Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680 or electronically to hrm@uic.edu.
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Copyright © 1999 - The University of Illinois at Chicago. All materials in the journal are subject to copyright by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, redistribution, or translation, address requests to H. Robert Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680 or electronically to hrm@uic.edu.

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