Television misrepresents spread of
disease
Campus Times
September 13, 1996
by Melissa A. Collett
Photography Editor
It is Wednesday night, 8 o'clock at University of La Verne, 91750. Seven
floors of the residence halls tuned their television sets to Fox TV, Channel
11, and I do not know how many other students are sitting mesmerized in
front of their television sets watching Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) from
Beverly Hills, 90210 deal with an AIDS crisis.
There are currently 90,000 reported AIDS cases in California alone. I wonder
how many of these individuals were watching that same show?
What may come as a shock, or scare, to the viewers of 90210, as they fear
along with Kelly, is that in reality, for more than an estimated 14 million
people who are living with the AIDS virus worldwide.
In 1993, Melrose Place had one episode dealing with AIDS that put Jake Hanson's
(Grant Show) character in a bind. His ex-lover Perry told him she contracted
the HIV virus. Jake gets scared and is tested along with his live-in lover
at the time, Jo Reynolds (Daphne Zuniga). Both tested negative.
I do not know this from memory. I have not watched either of these shows
religiously, nor do I plan to do so in the future. Find me on a Monday or
Wednesday night, and I will be anywhere but in front of the television.
I have never found either of these shows to be beneficial to my personal
life, or emotional stability.
Why, in four seasons, has Melrose Place only had one incident dealing with
AIDS? Is it that the writers' are unaware that the city of Los Angeles ranks
second in diagnosed AIDS cases nationwide.
Or is it that most middle/upper class white heterosexual people are not
the norm in contracting AIDS or even HIV. Not even Friends has touched the
AIDS subject.
Maybe it is because show writers are too busy plotting the next scandal
to raise their ratings, than to worry that the city of Los Angeles is ranked
second nation wide in diagnosed AIDS cases.
Three in approximately every 1,000 people in California, are living with
AIDS.
AIDS, including the HIV virus, sees no color, gender or ethnic background.
It does see carelessness, unprotected sex, and sharing needles.
Why, in a soap opera-like world, where over half the cast of 90210, and
Melrose Place, has slept with more than three partners each on the shows,
does the most recent show dealing with AIDS on 90210 not concern the fact
that the most common way of getting AIDS is through sexual intercourse?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 75 percent of individuals
infected with HIV contracted it through heterosexual intercourse.
It is true, that this is only television. It is true, that the lives of
these characters are fictional, and separate from the average person's lives.
These shows may deal with 'real life' issues, but in their own fairy tale
world, everything turns out OK.
What about the less fortunate? Fifty four percent of American kids surveyed
last spring said they think they will contract AIDS in the future.
In a May 1995 survey done by the Campus Times, 36.9 percent of 155 students
poled said they practice safe sex most of the time.
Twenty eight point four percent said they have had between three and five
sexual partners. Sixty five and a half percent said they do not feel at
risk for contracting a sexual disease. Only 25.7 percent said they have
been tested for HIV, while 44.3 percent said they do not plan to be tested
for the disease.
Maybe if these shows promoted safe sex and other issues on a more consistent
basis instead of just special episodes, viewers may not be so caught in
scandals and realize how big the numbers are.
Melissa A. Collett, a junior journalism major, is photography
editor of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at collettm@ulvacs.ulaverne.edu.