In what ways does AIDS effect a radical shift turn in gay representations?

[unregistered]

in the 1980-90s? How does AIDS influence the emergence of Queer Theory?

[spreadeagle]

A portion of your post seems to be missing. Do you mean representations OF gay people or BY gay people?

As I understand it much of the grist to the mill of Queer Theory lies in texts that predate the arrival of AIDS. While AIDS has been subject matter or motif in much subsequent gay writing or other creative output I don't know that it has caused any particular shift in gay representation. The same stereotypes are still observable.

It may be that the mainstreaming of gay themes, especially in theatre, has made them more available and applicable to audiences in general.