Ideas for Research Topics

On Tuesday, February 9, we generated general ideas that students could research for their final, extended essay. My goal for this exercise was to get everyone thinking about what general area they might like to explore for the research paper. As I said in class, I think each student needs to think about the things they enjoy reading, studying, and thinking about, and then see that area as an entry point into research on AIDS. I would contend that each person could find a way that HIV/AIDS issues intersects with most areas of general interest. Listed below are the general categories that the majority of students wrote about in their Daily Writing Assignment for that day as general areas they might want to explore for this essay. I have tried to list texts, people, or places that involve connections between that category and HIV/AIDS. This list is a starting place, and anyone inside or outside of the class can feel free to email me about possible ideas to include on this list. I hope to revise this and add to it often.

Art/Photography

The Art of AIDS; From Stigma to Conscience by Rob Baker
Don't Leave Me This Way: Art in the Age of AIDS by Ted Gott (Editor)
Fluid Exchanges: Artists and Critics in the AIDS Crisis by James Miller (Editor)
From Media to Metaphor: Art About AIDS by Robert Atkins, Tom Sokolowski
A Leap in the Dark: AIDS, Art and Contemporary Cultures by Allan Klusacek and Ken Morrison (Editors)
Life Sentences: Writers, Artists, and AIDS by Thomas Avena (Editor)
Painting Moments: Art, AIDS and Nick Palazzo by Mary Melfi (Editor)
Strip AIDS U.S.A.: A Collection of Cartoon Art to Benefit People With AIDS by Trina Robbins, Bill Triptow, Robert Sienkiewicz
Witness: The Artist's Vision in the Face of AIDS by Jackie Kirk, Barbara Swift Brauer

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Dogs

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Movies

Amazing Grace
And the Band Played On
Blue
Boys on the Side
Bright Eyes
DiAna's Hair Ego: AIDS Info Up Front
Doctors, Liars, and Women
An Early Frost
Fast Trip, Long Drop
Gia
Heart of the Matter
Jeffrey
Kids
The Living End
Longtime Companion
Parting Glances
Philadelphia
Poison
Silverlake Life: The View from Here
Together Alone
Tongues Untied
Zero Patience

Be aware that some of these films are sexually explicit; read about a film before you decide to view it
For a great resource on most films, check The Internet Movie Database

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Music

Red Hot and Blue (this organization has several albums in several styles of music, all designed to raise money and teach about HIV/AIDS
"Let's Talk about Sex" by Salt and Pepa
"Too Hot" by Coolio
"His Name was John" by Reba McEntire
"Waterfalls" by TLC

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Poetry

Anesthesia: Poems by Kenny Fries
Atlantis: Poems by Mark Doty
Brother to Brother: New Writings by Black Gay Men by Essex Hemphill (Editor)
Catch Our Breath; Writing from the Heart of AIDS by Joan Logghe (Editor)
The Death Cycle Machine: Poems by Charlotte Mayerson
Don't Hang Up: An Anthology of Poems about AIDS by Andrew Miller (Editor)
Ghost Letters: Poems by Richard J. McCann
The Healing Notebooks by Kenny Fries
How Can You Write a Poem When You're Dying of AIDS by John Harold (Editor)
John by Ron Schreiber
Love Alone by Paul Monette
The Man with Night Sweats by Thom Gunn
My Alexandria: Poems by Mark Doty,
Poets for Life: Seventy-Six Poets Respond to AIDS by Michael Klein (Editor)
These Waves of Dying Friends by Michael Lynch
Things Shaped in Passing: More 'Poets for Life' Writing from the AIDS Pandemic by Michael Klein and Richard McCann (Editor)
Unending Dialogue by Rachel Hadas (Editor)
What Silence Equals: Poems by Tory Dent
Wishing for Wings: Poems by Assoto Saint

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Sports

Arthur Ashe
Bill Goldsworthy
Jim Howley
Magic Johnson
Greg Louganis
Tommy Morrison

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Summer Camps

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Television Shows

Designing Women
ER
The Golden Girls
Grace Under Fire
Life Goes On
Midnight Caller
Mr. Belvedere
St. Elsewhere

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Created by Nels P. Highberg (nhighb1@uic.edu)