ItemArticle

Frames of Isolation: A Reading Through HIV/AIDS Documentaries

Title
Frames of Isolation: A Reading Through HIV/AIDS Documentaries
Creator
Alexander, Aneetta; Sharon, J.
Description
The question is: how can a documentary create social impact on its audience and, in turn, on society? Film critics and social scientists have considered this question since the inception of documentary filmmaking. Moreover, in the context of disseminating knowledge about infectious diseases, particularly during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, documentaries played a significant role in educating the public about the disease. Following the epidemic, documentaries were used to understand the disease and to witness the lives of people living with the virus. This article further extends the discourse of documentary studies by critically analysing two specific HIV/AIDS documentaries, 5B (2018) and Desert Migration (2015). This analysis provides insight into how the frames of the moving image capture the isolated spaces occupied by people with HIV/AIDS. For this study, Edward Branigans concept of frames is adopted to explore the essence of isolation. This is achieved by examining frames captured by the filmmakers through the camera lens, with a focus on the immediate surroundings of the person being interviewed. The article terms these frames Frames of Isolation, as the images reflect the spatial and emotional isolation associated with the virus. 2025 House of the Book of Science. All rights reserved.
Source
Cultural Intertexts;Volume;15;pp.20-33
Date
01-01-2025
Publisher
House of the Book of Science
Subject
documentary text; HIV/AIDS; isolation; medical imagery; theory of frame
Coverage
Alexander A.; Sharon J., Department of English and Cultural Studies, Christ University, Bengaluru, India
Rights
All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Relation
ISSN: 23930624;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Alexander, Aneetta; Sharon, J., “Frames of Isolation: A Reading Through HIV/AIDS Documentaries,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/23550.

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