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The Moral Tapestry of AIDS: Negotiations of Innocence and Blame in Danish Media NarrativesThis article explores the cultural construction of AIDS victims in Danish media from 1981 to 1996, focusing on how media narratives of innocence and blame shaped public perceptions and responses to the epidemic. Through an extensive archive of approximately 2,500 articles, the study examines the portrayal of various groups affected by AIDS, including gay men, haemophiliacs, heterosexual women, children, sex workers, immigrants, and drug users. The analysis reveals a dichotomy between “particularly innocent” victims, who to a larger degree received public empathy and recognition, and those deemed “morally blameworthy,” who faced stigma and vilification. Utilizing Judith Butler’s concept of grievability, the article argues that media representations reinforced societal biases around sexuality, morality, and race, influencing both public attitudes and policy responses. The article highlights the role of media in constructing social hierarchies and calls for a deeper examination of how narratives of innocence and blame shape societal responses to an epidemic.
Camilla Bruun Eriksen (Tue,) studied this question.