Policing Desire: Pornography, AIDS and the Media (Volume 1)

by Simon Watney

An updated edition of this essential work. Since its initial publication, Policing Desire has proved to be an unparalleled analysis of "the cacophony of voices which sounds through every institution of our society on the subject of AIDS". For the third edition Simon Watney has provided a new preface, a compelling new concluding essay, and a directory for AIDS information that includes electronic resources. "A far-reaching analysis of images of AIDS and homosexuality in the media.... In Policing Desire, Simon Watney called the media on its own game, and the media actually changed its coverage of AIDS and queer issues". Voice Literary Supplement "Simon Watney's Policing Desire is essential reading for anyone who wants to press the question of how the media represents AIDS ... it will stand as a great work of criticism written from the trenches". New York Native "A landmark work in AIDS analysis because of the combination of emotional urgency and analytical insight that it manifests". American Book Review

Genres: LGBT, Nonfiction, Sexuality, Theory, Queer, Politics

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1986

Reviews

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic analysis of the discourse of HIV and AIDS and the mass media's irresponsible control of it. Though it was written in the late 80's during the AIDS epidemic, it accurately describes how mass media continues to treat controversial subjects today.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primarily representation based and argues for the unleashing of radical queer desire as a political project against AIDS. Useful? Yes. For those rigorous dialectic critiques of identity politics and its adherents.

[Meghan Cornely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Mass Media Ethics, how I loved thee. No, really, between my Comm major and (yet unbeknownst to me)my Philo minor, this book was the best of my worlds junior year.