This program is impressive for its depth and range in approaching HIV/AIDS issues. Occasional facts and figures are dropped in by the narrator but his main role is to guide the listener from one very personal story to another. A South African nurse's gentle "God bless" to a patient speaks volumes; the American teens living with HIV are inspiring; and a young mother's letters to the son she will not see grow up - simply heartbreaking. The breaks of music, poetry and theater add to the polish of the production which avoids sentimentality with its honesty. This program cannot be recommended too highly - especially for anyone who has an hour to spare around World AIDS Day on December 1. But it could be broadcast at any time, any where - and should be.
HearingVoices specials’ feel like themed Harper’s Magazines for radio to me. Their culling of fine new or archival material is always beautifully paced and produced. This special is no exception. The narrator offers a few significant statistics, but the power is in the people’s voices, from South Africa’s exquisitely human nurse Sister Agnes, to North America’s excrutiatingly human HIV+ mother Jackie. In between are powerful excerpts from poem, essay, theatrical production, and the poignant audio diaries of spirited, philosophical teens living positively in more ways than one. This heart-moving hour needs to be heard.
Comments for HV Special: Portrait of a Plague (AIDS Awareness)
This piece belongs to the series "Hearing Voices"
Produced by HearingVoices.com
Other pieces by Hearing Voices
Rating Summary
2 comments
David Swatling
Posted on November 13, 2004 at 01:56 AM | Permalink
Review of PORTRAIT OF A PLAGUE- AIDS Awareness Special
This program is impressive for its depth and range in approaching HIV/AIDS issues. Occasional facts and figures are dropped in by the narrator but his main role is to guide the listener from one very personal story to another. A South African nurse's gentle "God bless" to a patient speaks volumes; the American teens living with HIV are inspiring; and a young mother's letters to the son she will not see grow up - simply heartbreaking. The breaks of music, poetry and theater add to the polish of the production which avoids sentimentality with its honesty. This program cannot be recommended too highly - especially for anyone who has an hour to spare around World AIDS Day on December 1. But it could be broadcast at any time, any where - and should be.
Sydney Lewis
Posted on November 12, 2004 at 07:13 AM | Permalink
Review of PORTRAIT OF A PLAGUE- AIDS Awareness Special
HearingVoices specials’ feel like themed Harper’s Magazines for radio to me. Their culling of fine new or archival material is always beautifully paced and produced. This special is no exception. The narrator offers a few significant statistics, but the power is in the people’s voices, from South Africa’s exquisitely human nurse Sister Agnes, to North America’s excrutiatingly human HIV+ mother Jackie. In between are powerful excerpts from poem, essay, theatrical production, and the poignant audio diaries of spirited, philosophical teens living positively in more ways than one. This heart-moving hour needs to be heard.