Beyond the Spectacle: Rethinking Media Representations of HIV/AIDS and Social Suffering

This chapter presents an examination of the portrayal of HIV/AIDS as social suffering in media representations. It elucidates how cultural representations, social experiences, and political processes shape public perceptions of HIV/AIDS, often perpetuating stigma and influencing policy. The chapter critiques the commodification of suffering in the media and the resultant distortion of social realities. By appropriating the narratives of those living with HIV/AIDS, media narratives often construct a spectacle that divorces audiences from the authentic experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS. The chapter argues for a transformation in the representation of social suffering to counteract its trivialisation, advocating for more nuanced and empathetic portrayals that can inspire a collective responsibility and action towards addressing social suffering, particularly in the context of HIV/AIDS. It underscores the potential of media to redefine public engagement with social issues and to foster a global cosmopolitanism that recognises and responds to suffering beyond the spectacle.