How to Survive a Plague is a documentary that largely focuses on the work of a group of Greenwich Village based AIDS activists, most associated with ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), from 1987 to 1996, which was arguably the height of the AIDS epidemic in terms of fatalities.
New York City was considered the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic during this time. The activists highlighted in the film were mostly individuals living with AIDS, fighting for survival in an era where an AIDS diagnosis was often seen as a death sentence.
They faced significant challenges in a landscape of inaction, fear, excessive protocol, and apathy towards AIDS, which primarily affected a marginalized population, gay men. The documentary places blame on front line workers, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, non-government organizations, and politicians, including three Presidents and North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms.
The Roman Catholic Church also posed obstacles to finding a solution to the health crisis, as they believed the use of condoms was immoral despite evidence showing it reduced the risk of virus transmission.
The focus of the documentary is on the activists' fight for access to potentially life-saving drugs that were not legally available in the US. Due to inaction, the activists had to become experts in the field, surpassing many professionals dealing with the issue.
ACT UP faced internal issues, leading to fractures within the organization in the early 1990s. The documentary also includes an epilogue where surviving activists and those who passed away during the epidemic reflect on the changes that occurred in 1996 and how their lives were impacted thereafter.
Play | Title | Artist |
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How to Survive a Plague
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That's Us/Wild Combination
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Arthur Russell:
Writer
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Come To Life
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Answer Me
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The Dap-Kings:
Performer
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I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You
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Soon To Be Innocent Fun/Let's See
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Happiness
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Jon Thor Birgisson:
Performer
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Keeping Up
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Arthur Russell:
Writer
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