The AIDS epidemic had a significant impact on art not only with its content but how it shaped art into a sociopolitical form of protest that sought to convey emotion and also to educate and empower. In the face of constant dehumanization and systematic inequality by an oppressive government, queer artists punctured twisted ideological and political narratives to highlight the reality of the disease as well as the communities of care that grew from it.

 

The bright morning of Oct. 2 sharply contrasted junior Jarrah Crites’ dark mood as she drove into Sonic. She had woken up that day with a massive headache and decided to take her boyfriend's advice to...