Hi,
It's a shame that Foucault died before his time is up. I keep asking myself,
what would Foucault
say about AIDS educations if he were still alive? What would he say about the
politicizing of this
pandemic, and the problematizing of specific target groups around the globe in
name of
"educating the people"? What would his response be, when the homosexual
communities suddenly
are subjected to "discipline" of authorities, and become target of AIDS
discourses?
I think it is fair to say that one of the major keys in combating and
controlling AIDS is to educate.
But can there be education without "coercing docility"? Is it possible to
have power relationship
between authorities and "risk groups" without dominations? Can you create a
set of language to
talk about AIDS without politicizing the disease? Can you combat the disease
(the problem itself)
without combating the people (the people who engage in "risk practices")?
Lastly ... not wanting to reignite the notorious debate over Foucault's
intension to spread the
virus... but Miller's book seems to hint that Foucault at least purposely
expose himself to the risk,
despite family and friend's warnings. Miller then compared Foucault's death
with Raymond
Roussel's suicide, and suggested that Foucault's contraction of the virus is
perhaps a
planned, deliberate, slow form of suicide. Any comments?
-Cordelia
It's a shame that Foucault died before his time is up. I keep asking myself,
what would Foucault
say about AIDS educations if he were still alive? What would he say about the
politicizing of this
pandemic, and the problematizing of specific target groups around the globe in
name of
"educating the people"? What would his response be, when the homosexual
communities suddenly
are subjected to "discipline" of authorities, and become target of AIDS
discourses?
I think it is fair to say that one of the major keys in combating and
controlling AIDS is to educate.
But can there be education without "coercing docility"? Is it possible to
have power relationship
between authorities and "risk groups" without dominations? Can you create a
set of language to
talk about AIDS without politicizing the disease? Can you combat the disease
(the problem itself)
without combating the people (the people who engage in "risk practices")?
Lastly ... not wanting to reignite the notorious debate over Foucault's
intension to spread the
virus... but Miller's book seems to hint that Foucault at least purposely
expose himself to the risk,
despite family and friend's warnings. Miller then compared Foucault's death
with Raymond
Roussel's suicide, and suggested that Foucault's contraction of the virus is
perhaps a
planned, deliberate, slow form of suicide. Any comments?
-Cordelia