Critical Writing Index

Documents and Counter-Documents: AIDS Activist Video at the Crossroads

by Cynthia Chris

Afterimage, Nov. 1994, v. 22, no. 4, pp. 6-8

In "Documents and Counter-Documents: AIDS Activist Video at the Crossroads", Cynthia Chris reviews an accomplished filmmaker's first film Fast Trip, Long Drop by Gregg Bordowitz, and an artist's first videotape One Foot on a Banana Peel, the Other Foot in the Grave (Secrets from the Dolly Madison Room) by Juan Botas. While both artists focus on autobiographical material and suggest the crossroads at which AIDS activist video finds itself in 10 years since it first emerged as a genre, "their intentions and approaches to their subject matter could not be more contrasting." (6)

ITEM 1994.110 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

One Foot on a Banana Peel, the Other Foot in the Grave (Secrets from the Dolly Madison Room) – Juan Botas

Fast Trip, Long Drop – Gregg Bordowitz

Shared Lifestyle – Gregg Bordowitz

It Is What It Is – Gregg Bordowitz

Portraits of People Living with HIV – Gregg Bordowitz

The Safer Sex Shorts – Gregg Bordowitz and Jean Carlomusto

Living with AIDS – Gregg Bordowitz and Jean Carlomusto

Chuck Solomon: Coming of Age – Marc Huestis and Wendy Dallas

Chance of a Lifetime – John Lewis

Needle Talk – New York City Department of Health

Danny – Stashu Kybartas

Bright Eyes – Stuart Marshall

They Are Lost to Vision Altogether – Tom Kalin

The Pink Pimpernel – John Greyson

Like a Prayer – Damned Interfering Video Activists / DIVA-TV

DHPG Mon Amour – Tom Joslin and Peter Friedman

Silverlake Life – Tom Joslin and Peter Friedman