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AIDS, being prevalent in our society has often been exaggerated and falsified. For instance, when Tom Hank’s character Andrew first meets with Joe after he’s diagnosed with the virus, Joe makes a great deal to stay out of contact with Andrew, for fear of “contracting” the virus. I liked this scene, because this is a common misconception many people make, even now when AIDS awareness is more widespread. It is stereotypes like these that need to be removed from our thinking.
Not only did the movie address the AIDS epidemic, but also homophobia, which is just as prevalent, in my opinion. The character Joe Miller, not only personifies the average mentality of the average American, but I feel that his character being African-American was a perfect personification of most African-American men and their stereotypes about homosexuals. Although I don’t expect this movie to procure a miracle and change the minds of millions, I thought it was wonderful that homophobia was an issue that was brought to light more than once in the movie.
Even though Denzel Washington’s character seemed to have gotten over his fear of contracting AIDS towards the end of the movie, I feel that his fear of homosexuals was never resolved. It was made clear however, that homosexuals are not always portrayed as effeminate and feeble to Denzel’s character. For instance, in the scene where Joe is at the drug store and encounters the very average looking, “straight” appearing man, only to find he was a homosexual who was sexually interested in him, for lack of a better term, showed that homosexuals can come in all forms, not just the one today’s media drives into our minds.
I feel that my perception of AIDS has changed significantly. As a homosexual, I take pride in my sexuality and therefore make sure to stay healthy and well-informed not only for myself, but also for my loved ones. Originally, I believed that AIDS was something that you contracted through promiscuous...