Seriously Fresh

Year: 1989
Running Time: 20 minutes

Speech Rate: 165 words/min

Large Words
Average: 0.4
Minimum/Maximum: 0/6

Purchase Price (VHS): $65
Rental Price: Not Available

Distributor:
Select Media
477 Broome Street
Suite 42
New York, NY 10013
(212) 431-8923

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Through a series of flashbacks, viewers learn that Ray shoots drugs and has had a confrontation with his older brother, who wants him to stop; that Billy learned about Kenny’s AIDS diagnosis several months earlier, and that he disclosed to Kenny that he has been having sex with men; and that James has successfully discussed condom use with his girlfriend and that they used condoms the previous night. In the various scenes, issues are explored surrounding risks posed by drug use and needle sharing, condom use during male-female and male-male sex, male-female negotiation of safer sex and condom use, the lethality of AIDS, and the stigma experienced by people with AIDS.

This video will be most effective as a tool for stimulating discussion about AIDS and risk reduction among African American male adolescents and young adults. Its primary effect may be to motivate viewers to seek more specific information about risk reduction and to establish norms of compassion for people with AIDS. It also may arouse fear to some extent through its portrayal of a character with AIDS; his appearance suggests weight loss and physical weakness, although he is not depicted as having advanced AIDS symptoms.

One strategy for negotiating condom use with a female partner is provided. The video portrays one character rehearsing his side of the negotiation in front of a mirror; the actual discussion with his partner is not included in the video. Explicit explanations are not provided for condom use and cleaning needles.

Issues of stigma are addressed when one member of the group wants to avoid their friend with AIDS; the other group members confront him about this. The need for condom use during homosexual behavior is briefly discussed by the character who says he has recently been having sexual relations with men. Because prevention strategies are addressed only briefly, the video should be used in conjunction with other sources (video, discussion) that will provide more detailed information.

Technically, the video is of high quality. The script and acting are generally believable and likely to hold viewers’ interest. Street language is used extensively (e.g., “jimmy cap” and “rubber” are used interchangeably with “condom”).

African Americans
Gay & Bisexual Men
Latinos
Women
 
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