Today’s activity will involve reflection on how bodies are navigating public space and choreographing their movements during a pandemic. Take a 20-30 minute walk in public space, possibly including somewhere indoors. Notice how yourself and others are using your bodies to navigate your “coronaspheres” and “breath bodies,” or not.
Below are some questions/prompts to consider while walking and that you can use to guide your 1paragraph reflection:
What rituals do you engage in before leaving or entering the house (taking a mask, handwashing, hand sanitizing, taking off shoes before re-entry, etc.)? How do these rituals involve attention to your body?
What are the bodily sensations of walking in public space during a pandemic?
The feeling of wearing your mask? At the beginning of the walk? At the end? Only indoors? When you take it off?
Stepping off the curb to avoid coming too close to someone?
Holding your breath while in a store if someone is not wearing a mask?
Perhaps none of these. If not, what sensations do you experience walking in public space during a pandemic?
What are the social norms of walking public space during a pandemic? Are there consistent social norms? How and when do they differ?
How many people on the streets or indoors are wearing masks where you are walking? Some? Most? A few?
What do you notice about the ways in which others are navigating public space with their bodies during a pandemic?
How are your interactions affected when wearing a mask in public spaces? How do you communicate with others when facial expressions are literally masked?
Do you avoid eye contact?
Do you ever wave to strangers to signal a friendly interaction?
Are you tempted to “smize” over your mask? Does this communicate intention to others?
Do you experience “caution fatigue,” acting differently now in public space than earlier in the pandemic, when the infection rates at their peak and rising? Do you notice what seems to be “caution fatigue” in the behavior of others?