As the AIDS pandemic moves closer to its third decade, scholars, activists, and NGOs are (re)evaluating the ways that individuals and communities are affected by the disease. Women of color are now posited as one of the groups most at risk for contracting HIV, yet cultural representations of this population are rare and rarely heralded. This session seeks to interrogate why there is such a dearth of representation of AIDS as it impacts women of color across the world. Given the conference’s theme of “fame/infamy,” can this lack of representation be read through this lens, or is it more in line with silencing and marginalization? Participants may speak to literary and/or filmic treatments, media representations, stage plays, oral histories, etc.

Abstracts of no more than 200 words to Chris Bell, cbell@towson.edu. Inquiries welcomed.

All presenters must be members of the Midwest MLA and remit registration fees by 1 June 2008. For more information, visit www.uiowa.edu~mmla.