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Names Project Aids Memorial Quilt: a Rhetorical Study of the Transformation of an Epidemic Through Social Movement

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Names Project Aids Memorial Quilt: a Rhetorical Study of the Transformation of an Epidemic Through Social Movement UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2003 Names Project Aids Memorial Quilt: A rhetorical study of the transformation of an epidemic through social movement Daniel C Hinkley University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Hinkley, Daniel C, "Names Project Aids Memorial Quilt: A rhetorical study of the transformation of an epidemic through social movement" (2003). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1551. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/p9ip-28tt This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. NAMES PROJECT AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT: A Rhetorical Study of the Transformation of an Epidemic Through Social Movement by Daniel Hinkley Master of Arts University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2003 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Communication Studies Hank Greenspun School of Communication Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 2003 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1416251 Copyright 2003 by Hinkley, Daniel 0. All rights reserved. UMI UMI Microform 1416251 Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas April 4, 03 -, 20. The Thesis prepared by Daniel C. Hinkley Entitled Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt: A Rhetorical Study of the Transformation of an Epidemic through Social Movement is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS COMMUNICATION Examination Committee Ctiair Dean^ihe ijraduaieCollege Examination Committee Member xaminat/fon Committee Member Graduate College/Faculty Representative ^ PR/1017-53/1-00 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt: A Rhetorical Study of the Transformation of an Epidemic through Social Movement by Daniel Hinkley Dr. Richard Jensen, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Communication University of Nevada, Las Vegas This study looks at the Names Project: AIDS Memorial Quilt as a rhetorical artifact and centerpiece of the current AIDS movement. The methodology for this study is an ethnographic and auto-ethnographic design, utilizing interviews with four Quilt volunteers and staffers, including my observations as a person living with AIDS. This study looks at the Quilt using social movement, rhetorical, and dramatist theories to prove that the Quilt is the rhetorical centerpiece of the AIDS Movement. Social movement theories explain how the Quilt mobilized thousands of people to fight AIDS Rhetorical theories explain how the Quilt transformed the belief that AIDS was just killing “gay perverts” to an honest understanding that AIDS does not discriminate. Dramatist theories explain the emotionalism at work within the Quilt. Finally this study looks at the future use of the Quilt as an information tool to be used in the prevention of the spread of AIDS. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS When I began my masters program at UNLV, my determination was to just get through a course or two to see if I was up the task of being a mature graduate student. After several classes this thesis was born and it has proved to be a labor of love and commitment to new tomorrows that look different than my yesterdays. To complete this thesis took many hours of research and study of the contributions of many communication scholars and this study could not have been completed without their scholarly offerings. I would also like to express my appreciation for the contributions of my interviewed subjects who graciously gave their time for this study. Especially I would like to acknowledge Cleve Jones, the AIDS Quilt founder, for without his early activism and recognition of the need for a special communicaton tool that turned out to be the Names Project AIDS Quilt, this study would not have been possible. I would like to thank my communications professors who supported my study unconditionally. Professors Jensen, Ferri, Chapel, Engstrom, Dillman, Traudt, and Halstuk all provided a scholarly classroom environment that fostered many hours of learning. Professor Richard Jensen, my thesis committee chair has contributed much while overseeing this study through multiple gab sessions, edits, and rewrites and I could not have completed this study with out his support. And I would like to thank my thesis committee. Professors Jensen, Ferri, Mullin, and Langston for waiting an additional year for this study to be completed. IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. And finally, I would like to acknowledge my life partner Ronald Lawrence, without whose inspiration this study could not have been completed. From the beginning he has offered encouragement and support that has been instrumental to my completion of my masters program and this thesis. Thank you to all. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................................ iv CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................1 Purpose...................................................................................................................................... 3 Justification..............................................................................................................................4 Review of Literature ............................................................................................................... 7 Methodology..........................................................................................................................11 CHAPTER 2 THE AIDS QUILT GOES TO WASHINGTON......................................... 17 Movement Theory.................................................................................................................17 Rhetorical Theory..................................................................................................................24 Dramatist Theory...................................................................................................................31 CHAPTER 3 HOMOPHOBIA AND AIDS IN THE 80’s ..................................................41 Fighting for Equality!...........................................................................................................43 Late Out Of The Gate? .........................................................................................................53 Help Yourself or Die!...........................................................................................................54 Politics and Public Health!...................................................................................................57 What to Fear: Sec or Homosexuals? ..................................................................................60 What Did We Learn?............................................................................................................62 CHAPTER 4 AIDS - MY COMMUNITY - AND M E ..................................................... 65 My Community.....................................................................................................................69 Cleve Jones - Names Project Founder.............................................................................. 70 Kay Valerdo - Las Vegas Names Project Chapter Organizer........................................75 Gert McMullin - Names Project Production Co-ordinator............................................ 80 Matt Kaminski - Names Project Office Receptionist..................................................... 83 Dan Hinkley - Person with AIDS - Personal Memoirs..................................................85 CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS............ 92 APPENDIX 1 ............................................................................................................................ 102 Interview Questions...........................................................................................................
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