Participation - Pedro and Me Page 26 Panel

The panel on page 26 which is a splash full page panel shows the stereotypical aids patient at the end stages of AIDS, based on the initial perceptions of Judd. We know this from the words written, the hospital gown, and obvious long coated doctor standing next to the patient. It shows his fear and trepidations of living with a person who has AIDS or HIV. This sets the opening of the future of the novel so that we understand where he stands in the beginning as opposed to how his education and perception changes later in the book. The panel is very white, pale and sterile. Most of the darkness of the image is set within the infections and blotches on the patient, which symbolizes the dark nature of his perception of AIDS. Due to the medias inaccurate portrayal of what AIDS and HIV are. The words are not as much of the focus as the picture. This picture seems to be meant to be more visually stimulating, however the word AIDS is bold. And the quote “Oh, My God” is centralized, as if to explain the entire picture. This also makes clear how repulsed he is by the thought and feeling of someone with AIDS or HIV. The dark blotches, unshaven, and thin nature of the patient really drives home how sickly and dark AIDS is perceived. Especially in contrast to the overweight clean shaven, smooth skinned comparison to the doctor standing next to him. This is all Symbolic to the image as well showing the stature of his mental state to AIDS and HIV as in uninformed person.

Palee XiongNick SampsonAndrew LorJessica Matel