Without reading the text in these posters, designed by T. Charles Erickson for the New Haven Women's AIDS Coalition of the Mayor's Task Force on AIDS in 1988, the viewer would likely have no reason to suspect that these images are designed to personalize decisions about condom use. The image of this anonymous young man personalizes the textual message that using a condom is a responsible choice and a reflection of the feelings about your partner. The message--to be serious about love is to be serious about disease prevention--links romance with sensible, responsible behavior. Rather than utilize strategies of condemnation or fear, this poster, taken at face value, only offers the views and choices of one young man. The central message--condom use--is simply highlighted in red.
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