Comments Off on Wholesome Memes for Isolated Teens
During the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the fabric of civil society disintegrated. Misinformation about the virus created a cli- mate of generalised suspicion that eroded community bonds. Sick families starved to death because neighbours were too scared to bring them food. Corpses were left on the footpath, while children bet on who would die next. People lived in fear and isolation.
Having closely followed the news of the COVID-19 outbreak and the isolation measures imposed by the Government, I initially wondered whether Australia was destined for a similar fate: a society spiralling into discord and mistrust. Racism prompted by the ‘Chinese Virus’. Health care workers abused on the street. Brawls over toilet paper in Woolworths. However, as a classic Gen Zer who spends approximately 14 hours a day on the internet, I have seen that social distance does not mean social dis- cord. Although some community behaviour has been reprehensible (stop panic buying!), the internet offers a social adhesive: memes.
In a time of isolation and uncertainty, memes have brought a significant portion of Australian society together. From videos of people socialising with their plants, to memes about Animal Crossing, binge watch- ing Tiger King and offensive quarantine haircuts, there is comfort in knowing others are adopting the same (maybe slightly unhealthy) coping mechanisms. By framing frustrations with the virus and its ripple effects (like long Centrelink wait times and missing the homies) in a humorous light, we can acknowledge how difficult this pandemic is while remaining positive. Such memes have created a strong sense of community that will persist in the future. Indeed, I am already excited to attend the Facebook Event ‘Sydney’s Biggest Ever Group Hug’ with 3000 others in October.
Meme culture has also encouraged compliance with the Government’s social distancing measures. It is now trendy to watch ‘Quentin Quarantino’ films with friends online, or drink ‘Quarantinis’ via webcam. People compete to have the funniest Zoom backgrounds, party in virtual nightclubs, participate in Instagram challenges and make Tik Toks with family members. ‘Bin Isolation Outing’ is a particularly popular Facebook group where households dress up and film themselves taking out their wheelie bin, given the bins now ‘go out’ more often than their owners. Such trends promote social distancing, with individuals granted access to this vibrant online community only when they create and upload content from home.
Unlike during the Spanish flu period, we now have the internet to keep us connected. The outbreak of COVID-19 has seen meme culture evolve from that of trivial humour to a powerful force that facilitates both social distancing and social cohesion. Although COVID-19 news is often bleak, memes allow us to relate to and connect with one another during this unprecedented period. To quote Camus’ The Plague, “What we learn in a time of pestilence [is] that there are more things to admire in men than to despise.” The unwavering human spirit, expressed through memes, is definitely something to admire.
CONTENT WARNING: Mental Health
On 26 March, The Australian National University published the following statement: “If you live on campus and can go home, now is the time to go”. It was a belated acknowledgement of what was fast becoming reality. Our campus is a diaspora. Already, many students had gone back to their geographical homes. Their families await- ed them with open arms. For this reward, they had gladly traded in the freedom that comes with moving out for the mundane stability of home.
But for others, the decision wasn’t a simple equation. It was a grim calculus; a negative-sum game between one’s own mental health and the wellbeing of the population at large. This rings particularly true for undergraduates such as Zach*. “I grew up in Sydney,” He starts. “My house there is my home, but it isn’t at the same time”.
Zach was one of the few people who decided to stay on campus. The decision made him feel “pretty awful”. Going back to Sydney would have been an unsolicited blow to Zach’s mental health. “To that end, I’m not sure if I have a proper place I’d be able to truly call home”, he writes. But in the same vein, stringent – almost oppressive – social distancing measures made living on-cam- pus an equally depressing prospect.
There are many reasons why people may have chosen to move to the Australian National University. Although Canberra may be lacking in the type of cosmopolitanism found in Sydney in Melbourne, it presents a certain kind of appeal. Primarily, the university is the most academically dominant in the nation. But on a secondary and equally potent level, it provides a premature opportunity to leave home. Another student I spoke to, Melissa, described this as “liberating”.
For this reason, the de facto closure of residential halls was reason enough for many to leave. The mass exodus of students during the period of uncertainty regarding the future of the university speaks for itself. In The Plague, Albert Camus describes the citizens of a pandemic-afflicted town as being swept by a fear, descending “dewlike, from the greyly shining sky”. So too did our students grow troubled as their fate became increasingly clear; an abrupt isolation from everything they had grown to love about Canberra’s own bleak panoramas. Without the sociable environment of campus life, there was nothing. So, they left.
Even for self-proclaimed introverts like Melissa, positive social interactions bring about a nonpareil sense of contentment. “I was just getting used to a lot more of a positive community and support network that’s a real family rather than a draining one”, she wrote. Melissa tried to stay on campus for as long as she could. Like Zach, she did not want to go back to her family because of the negative impact they had on her mental health. In this sense, the home she was being encouraged to go back to was a far unhealthier alternative to the rapidly empty- ing college she found herself in.
To the university’s credit, they have tried to support the wellbeing of their students as best as they can. At all opportunities they have encouraged us to access emotional and financial support. Nevertheless, the ugly truth remains. A large proportion of students have been forced to return to places they were desperately trying to escape.
During the interview process, Melissa confides something in me. We barely know each other – we share a few classes but have never spoken. “I’ve had a lot of thoughts that I thought were over”, she writes. This is an all-too familiar feeling. It is scary how insignificant years and years of self-growth can seem in such uncertain times. It took me weeks before I could shake the feeling that I was being tumbled around in rough water, breathless, unsure which way was up.
Is a house a home? Our place of belonging could be far away from what we know. We may not even have found it yet; for all we know, our home is a knockdown in a foreign country. Looks won’t matter, it will be loved for its intrinsic value as a sanctuary from the flux around us. A place where we can be truly liberated.
Like most of us, Melissa went back to her family home. As she carried the boxes to her family’s car, she could “practically feel the drainage”. I, too, left with a heavy heart and a half-empty bag. I barely packed enough for a week away, let alone a semester. Most of my textbooks are still on my desk and ah! I just remembered, my indoor plant is probably dead by now.
I may not be certain about much but there is one thing I know for sure. And that is that every year – without fail – under the wharf at Manly, the same huddle of penguins appears. From under the waves, they emerge. The birds will come back home in May. That much is true. That much is certain.
今、コロナウイルスのせいでいろいろ大変で すね。いつも手を洗わなければなりないこと を忘れずに！今、オーストラリア国立大学に行 けなくなったからこのエッセイを私の部屋で 書きます。コロナウイルスについて初めて聞 いたのは日本にいた時です。去年の１１月か ら、今年の２月まで、金沢と京都で日本語を勉 強していました。まず、金沢で一ヶ月間のホー ムステイをしました。毎日、もちろん、お母さん と日本語で話したので、私の日本語が上手に なりました。しかし、まだ、日本語をもっと勉強 しなければなりません！
金沢でホームステイをした後、私は上海に行 きました。その時、私の友達は上海で学んで いましたので、会いたいと思っていました。た くさん美味しい中華料理を食べたり、お寺を 見たりしました。もちろん、ディズニーランドに も友達と一緒に行きました。その後、私は一人 で韓国に行きました。私はKポップが大好き だから、韓国に行きたかったです。韓国に一人 でクリスマスを過ごしてしまいました。でも、 韓国はとても面白くて、綺麗な国なので、私は 大丈夫でした。次、日本へ戻りました。神戸で もう一人友達に会いました。四日間、一緒に神 戸や大阪や奈良を探検しました。素晴らしい 友達がたくさんいるのは幸運です。
つぎには、京都の立命館大学に行って、日本 語をもっと勉強しました。オーストラリア帰国 の1ヶ月前のことでした。立命館は本当に楽し かったです。たくさん日本語を学んだし、たく さんの日本人友達が出来たし、色々な伝統的 な活動をしました。
帰国3週間ぐらい前に、コロナウイルスが世界 の話題になっていきました。毎日、だれもが、 いつもコロナウイルスについて話していまし た。先生やオーストラリアの友達や日本の友 達や店員や私の家族です。皆さま！今でも、も ちろん、全世界は話しています。今、ちょっと怖い時期ですね。京都にいた時も、少し怖かっ たです。毎日、マスクを着用しなければなりま せんでした。大学、コンビニ、寮、どこへ行って も、マスクを着ました。そして、大学のスタッフ が何回も私達の体温をチェクしました。私は 帰国したとき、とても安心になりました。私の 両親も、とても安心しました。
旅行中、私は私について多くのことを学びま した。まず、一人旅が好きじゃないです。外国 で私は旅行するとき、友達と経験や思い出を 作りたいです。今回の韓国の旅には一人でし た。面白くて、楽しかったが、少し寂しかった です。次の旅、断然友達と一緒に旅行します。 上海と神戸で友達に会ったのはすばらしかっ た。友達と一緒だったからたっぷり楽しめまし た。たくさん素敵な友達がいるのは幸運です。
家族と自分の家がどれだけ大好きかについて も学びました。コロナウイルスが広がり始め た時、帰国したかったです。日本が大好きだ が、コロナウイルスは怖くてまごつくことがあ りました。けれども、京都で皆は気をつけてく れました。それで安心できました。 皆さんが気をつけたら、間もなく世界は大 丈夫になります。皆さん、よく手を洗って、「 social distancing 」 をしましょう！
Due to coronavirus, the world is a pretty tough place to be right now. As we all know, always remember to wash your hands! I’m currently writing this in my bedroom, as I cannot physically go to university. The first time I heard about coronavirus, I was actually in Japan. I was studying Japanese in Kanazawa and Kyoto from last November to this February. I was lucky enough to get to live with a Japanese family in a homestay in Kanazawa for the first month. Every day, of course, I had to speak to my host mother in Japanese, so my Japanese improved significantly. However, my Japanese is still not amazing, so I need to continue studying!
After my homestay in Kanazawa, I went to Shanghai. I wanted to go meet a friend of mine who was studying in Shanghai. We ate a lot of delicious Chinese food and visited some beautiful Chinese temples. We also went to Disneyland together! After Shanghai, I went to Korea by myself. I wanted to go to Korea because I love K-pop. Due to the timing of my trip, I ended up spending Christmas alone in Korea. That sounds a bit depressing, but Korea is an amazing and beautiful country, so I was fine! After Korea, I returned to Japan. I then met another friend in Kobe! We spent four days together, exploring Kobe, Osaka and Nara together. I’m so lucky to have so many fantastic friends.
The last place I went to was Kyoto, to study more Japanese for one month at Ritsumeikan University, after which I returned home to Australia. Ritsumeikan was really fun! I learned a lot of Japanese, made so many Japanese friends, and was lucky enough to be able to participate in various traditional activities.
About three weeks before I returned home, coronavirus became a global topic. Every day, it was all anyone could talk about. My teachers, Australian friends back home, Japanese friends, my family, and even shop staff. Literally everyone! Even now, the whole world is still talking about it and nothing else. Which, honestly, is a bit terrifying. While I was in Kyoto I started to get more and more nervous and scared from all the talk. Every day I had to wear a mask. We wore masks at university, in convenience stores, in the dormitory, everywhere. Also, the university staff checked our body temperature many times, to make sure none of us had fallen sick. Finally, when I returned home, I was unbelievably relieved. My parents, of course, were also quite relieved to have me back in Australia, at home with them.
While travelling, I learnt many things about myself. First, it turns out that I don’t really like traveling alone. When I’m traveling abroad, I really want to be able to share my amazing experiences and memories with friends. As I mentioned, I was alone in Korea during this trip. Korea, of course, is amazing and fun, but being by myself was a little lonely. The next trip I take, I will definitely travel with friends. Being able to meet my friends in Shanghai and Kobe was amazing. I probably enjoyed those places the most, not only because they were fantastic cities, but because I was with my friends. I’m incredibly lucky to have so many wonderful friends.
I also learned how much I love my family and my home. When the coronavirus crisis escalated, I really wanted to return home. Being in a foreign country during the pandemic was scary and confusing, so I just wanted to be safe in my home country. That being said, everyone was so careful in Kyo- to to not spread germs, which I found really comforting.
In these times, everyone must always wash their hands and do social distancing — if everyone is careful about spreading germs, the world will be okay soon!
Si può sentire l’impatto di COVID-19 in tutto il mondo. Ogni giorno, le persone stanno morendo. Ogni giorno, i dottori e le infermiere stanno mettendo le loro vite in pericolo per aiutare i malati di sopravvivere. La vita quotidiana di oggi è incomprensibile per una persona di sei mesi fa. L’Italia è un paese in cui questa differenza si può vedere davvero. Mentre scrivo, ci sono stati più di 156,000 casi di coronavirus in Italia e più di 20,000 persone hanno perso la vita. Quotidianamente, ogni dottore, ogni infermiera ed anche ogni politico deve fare delle scelte impossibili — scelte che potrebbero diventare la causa della morte di tantissime persone. Chi si sceglie di salvare dalla morte, e chi no? Ci sarà mai una scelta davvero giusta?
La vita sembra davvero un universo della distopia. La gente si sta accumulando la carta igienica. La gente si sta accumulando anche la pasta, la carne congelata, i fagioli in scatola. Le fosse comuni sono state scavate in alcuni paesi, perché non c’è più spazio negli obitori. Tante persone hanno perso il posto di lavoro. Non posso parlare per tutta la gente di questo mondo, ma ho paura. Ho paura di che cosa succederà domani, di che cosa leggerò nei giornali, della possibilità che forse mi arriverà una telefonata in cui scoprirò che qualcuno della mia famiglia è morto. Ho paura anche perché mi sento come se ho perso il controllo della mia vita. A causa del fatto che ogni giorno arrivano così tante nuove informazioni e regole nuove, questa pandemia mi ha fatto apprezzare il mondo che ho dato per scontato, soprattutto le cose piccole — per esempio, prendere un caffè al bar, andare ad una festa, ed anche sol- amente il potere di studiare in biblioteca. Però, questo non è un momento da perder- si nel panico e l’ansia. In qualche modo, la vita — con tutte le sue difficoltà — continua sempre.
Nel mondo di oggi, dobbiamo per forza mantenere il contatto (virtuale) con i nostri amici e parenti. Condividendo le nostre esperienze, e facendo il nostro meglio di comunicare, potrà aiutare noi tutti a sentirci un po’ meno soli, un po’ meno indifesi. Per tutto quanto che possa sembrare sdolcinato, dobbiamo contare gli uni sugli altri durante questi tempi, e ricordare che stiamo vivendo questa cosa tutti insieme. Nello spirito di questo, una studentessa Italiana ha dato il suo punto di vista riguarda il COVID-19, e l’impatto sulla sua vita:
“Sono Arianna, una studentessa universitaria di 19 anni e vivo nel nord Italia, ad ora una delle zone più colpite dal COVID-19 . Tutta questa situazione per la maggior parte di noi è stata una cosa improvvisa che nessuno si sarebbe immaginato arrivasse a questo punto. Arrivato il virus tutto è cambiato in maniera molto rapida ma con gravi conseguenza economiche e sanitarie, soprattutto per gli ospedali. Dopo aver dichiarato la quarantena non ci è stato possibile uscire di casa se non per esigenze lavorative, alimentari o sanitarie (farmacia). Parlando da studentessa non ci sono stati gravi problemi riguardo alle lezione perché fortunatamente sin da subito le università si sono attrezzate per poterci far seguire le lezioni online. Vivendo in una piccola cittadina non ci sono state grandi complicazioni, i supermercati fortunatamente non sono stati assaltati e abbiamo tutto il necessario per vivere, non posso dire lo stesso per le città più grandi. Personalmente sono abbastanza preoccupata per la situazione, soprattutto per tutte le persone più anziane ma so che la nostra sanità è molto buona e riuscirà a superare anche questa situazione.” — Arianna Bonelli (L’Università di Verona)
Questa pandemia ha unito la gente in tutto il mondo come nessun’altra cosa. Abbiamo tutti le stesse esperienze, e tutte le nostre vite sono state completamente cambiate. Per la salute e la sicurezza di tutti noi, dobbiamo stare attenti e fare la nostra parte, e soprattutto dobbiamo rispettare le regole attuali per quanto riguarda il distanziamento sociale. Forse ora non si riesce a capire l’impatto delle proprie azioni, ma ogni cosa che si fa conta davvero tantissimo. Durante i giorni come questi, è molto facile pensare che non si può fare niente per aiutare. Ma c’è una cosa che possiamo fare: restare a casa.
The impact of COVID-19 has been felt around the world. Every day, people are dying. Every day, doctors and nurses are putting their lives on the line in an effort to help the ill survive. The realities of today would be incomprehensible for a person six months ago. A country where this is hauntingly evident is Italy. As I write this, there have been over 156,000 cases of COVID-19 in Italy and over 20,000 deaths. On a daily basis, every doctor, every nurse, and every politician are making impossible decisions — decisions that could potentially cause the death of thousands of people. How does one decide who to save? Is there ever a right choice?
Life really does seem to feel like a dystopian universe. People are hoarding toilet paper. They are stockpiling pasta, frozen meat and canned beans. Mass graves are being dug in some countries, as morgues are at capacity. People are losing their jobs, en masse. I can’t speak for everybody in this world, but I’m scared. I’m scared for what tomorrow will bring, of what I’ll hear on the news, of getting the dreaded phone-call that someone in my family has died. I’m also scared because it feels like I’ve lost control over my own life. Being inundated with new information and new restrictions every day, this pandemic has caused me to appreciate the world that I took for granted, especially the little things — like going out for a coffee or to a party or just studying in the library. However, we must not give in to feelings of panic and anxiety. After all, life, with all its difficulties, always continues somehow.
Right now, it is more important than ever to keep in (virtual) contact with our friends and family around the world. Sharing our experiences, and doing our best to keep communicating, has the potential to help all of us to feel a little less alone, a little less helpless. As cheesy as it sounds, we are all in this together. In the spirit of this, an Italian university student gave a statement on COVID-19, and its effect on her life:
“I’m Arianna, a 19 year-old university student from the north of Italy, currently one of the zones that’s been hit the hardest by COVID-19. For the most part, this entire situation was a sudden thing that nobody could’ve imagined would get to this point. As a result of the virus, everything has changed in a rapid fashion and with dire economic and health consequences, especially within hospitals. After the declaration of the quarantine, it was not possible for us to leave the house except for work, to buy food, or for medical/health needs. Speaking as a student, there have not been major problems regarding classes as fortunately the universities were equipped and ready for us to use online classes. Living in a small town there have not been major issues, the supermarkets are fortunately still operating and we have everything we need to live, but I can’t say the same for the larger cities. Personally, I am quite worried about the situation, especially for all the elderly people in our population, but I know that our health services are very good and will be able to survive even this situation.” — Arianna Bonelli (University of Verona)
This pandemic has united people all over the world like nothing else. We are all experiencing similar things, and our lives have changed completely. For the sake of the health and safety of everyone, we must all do our part and uphold the current social distancing regulations. It might not feel like you’re making an impact, but every choice you make counts. In times like these, it’s easy to feel helpless. But there’s one thing that we can do to help: stay home.
CONTENT WARNING: Mental Health, Death
It feels as though society has entered an alternate universe. With people stocking up rations, toilet paper causing turf wars and insulation from the outside world, we seem to have landed in the first episode of Season 6 of Black Mirror. It is shocking to consider, however, that the new format of life most of us must become accustomed to is an everyday reality for those who live in Australia’s remote and regional communities. Arguably, for the first time we are all experiencing the same social isolation and housebound boredom experienced by those living way past whoop-whoop. In the Australian outback, distance education is the norm. When we go to the shops, we buy enough food to fill the three fridges we have at home. When we get lonely, we feel as though there is no one else in the world (at least to three hours in each direction). Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted people’s lives across the world, for some nothing has changed, and I think that this time spent in isolation makes Australians more empathetic towards those who face social isolation everyday.
When I went home before the borders shut, I knew exactly what to expect. No cafes, no clubs and no friends for months. This is normal in a town with a population of fewer than 900 people, with almost nothing hav- ing changed during the COVID-19 crisis. In Australia, approximately 29 per cent of the population live in remote and regional communities. Remote communities are home to one quarter of Australia’s Indigenous population, and thus the challenges faced in remote areas have a disproportionate impact on Indigenous Australians. Youths in regional Australia are less likely to aspire to higher education, with many turned away from acquiring a higher education when their only (expensive) opportunity is to move to city centres. The mental health of young adults in regional communities is another concerning aspect, especially now as much of the population begins to under- stand the emotional implications of being isolated from personal social interactions.
The feeling that you are standing still whilst the world moves on must be common across the globe currently. Our innate fear of missing out programs humans to seek company and interaction, something that’s hard to come by whilst we remain bound to our homes. Based on research within Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, the risk of premature death associated with social isolation is similar to the risk of pre-mature death associated with risk factors such as obesity. Caused by a disconnect from personal, social communities, one in 10 Australians aged 15 and over report lacking social support, with isolation considered a significant health and wellbeing issue disproportionately impacting those in remote communities. Mental health awareness within regional communities has received arguably insufficient attention over the last decades, as their lifestyles are different from the majority of Australians. However, with COVID-19 barring us from the outside world, the work of advocacy groups within regional communities has begun to resonate with the nation in lockdown. Spreading the message of mental health awareness programs, such as the Blue Tree Project, is key to supporting Australians living in isolation.
“To reach the top of the tree, you would lift me up on your shoulders and I would try to get the last bit of the tree whilst blue paint was dripping from the brush into your hair.”
Within my local community and the surrounding shires, I’m soothed by the sight of blue trees aligning the roads. Though each tree is unique, they represent a movement from regional Australians to recognise and tackle poor mental health from social isolation and get the resources our communities need. It was in Mukinbudin, a small Western Australian country town almost four hours east of Perth, that the Blue Tree Project began. Breaking down the stigma around mental health in regional communities, the Blue Tree Project aims to spread paint and the message that it’s okay to not be okay. With over 400 tree counts across Australia, and even in the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand, programs like the Blue Tree Project get people talking about why there is a lack of resources within regional communities and how this can be rectified to alleviate a national welfare issue. After making its way to NSW and the Eastern states, what started as a country-kid prank has come to represent a voice from the bush asking for help and support. While I’m not advocating for us to ignore the advice of health professionals and the government, I am asking that the time and compassion we cultivate considers the experiences of Australians who are always isolated, and to support local advocacy groups to ensure that all Australians can remain connected.
Comments Off on Has Covid-19 Impacted Your Life? Tell us how
Woroni is seeking submissions on the impact Covid-19. We are putting together a podcast investigating Covid-19 and its impact on the ANU Community. To be involved make a voice recording of maximum 2 and half minutes giving your experience, opinions, concerns etc. If you don’t want to record your voice you can add a written submission too. We have some questions that you can answer below. Submissions can be anonymous.
Experience of Covid-19
We’re seeking student experiences on the impacts in their life that Covid-19 has had
NameEmail
Please select if you fall into one or more of these categories*Graduating this semester/yearFirst yearYear 12 applying for ANUInternational StudentResident at a residential hall or collegeExams or assessment tasks impacted by Proctorio or other changes to assessmentsOtherPlease upload your recording here
Drop files here or
If the file is too large upload it to google drive and pop the link hereWritten submissions can be inserted here:Do you have any further comments to make? Let us know here if you'd like to be anonymous
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QUESTIONS:
Feel free to pick and choose questions to respond to. If it looks like we’ve missed something important let us know in your recording. Added:
Seeking submissions on the impact Covid-19 for new podcast
Students graduating this semester/year
o What’s your name and degree?
o How do you feel about graduating this year/semester?
o Was your graduation ceremony cancelled? How do you feel about it
o What is your future going to look like after graduating and how has covid-19 affected it?
o What do you think about ANU’s response and how its supporting students graduating this semester/year
First years and general uni students
o What’s your name and degree?
o What was your first-year uni experience like before covid-19?
o How has your first-year (or uni year) changed since covid-19? Were new friendships interrupted, whats your perception of uni work and how its changed with remote classes?
o What’s hard about the transition to remote uni?
o What are you missing about uni?
o What do you think about ANUs response so far to covid-19?
Year 12s applying for ANU
o What’s your name and the degree you’ve applied for at ANU?
o you’ve applied for at ANU
o How was year 12 going before covid-19, whats it like after covid-19?
o Do you feel like covid-19 will affect how prepared you are for university? How so?
o Do you think ANU would do a good job doing bridging classes
o How do you feel about having the school year extended to next year? What were your plans for the end of the year, schoolies?
International students
o What’s your name and degree?
o What’s your home country?
o Are you currently in Australia or somewhere else? Where would you rather be right now?
o What are your opinions on the ANU’s response to Covid-19 and do you find they are adequately support international students like yourself?
o How are you finding the Australian Government’s response to your home country Government’s response?
Residential halls response Added: Woroni Editor
o What’s your name and degree?
o What hall are you from?
o What is the current hall position on covid-19?
o What was it like when covid-19 was just getting started at your hall?
o What has the hall’s leadership response been like
o What wasn’t addressed or had been addressed badly?
o Did you feel safe at your residential hall during the covid-19?
Opinions on Online invigilation
o What’s your name and degree?
o Are you concerned about subjects you take and the way that they will be examined?
o What are your opinions on ANU’s current online invigilation measures its proposed?
o What would you prefer ANU to do for online exams?
Seeking submissions on the impact Covid-19 for a new podcast
Comments Off on Pandemics and the Plight of the Arts
It’s a situation that I never thought I would have to prepare for. As the COVID-19 pandemic takes over the world we are seeing concerts, performances and arts events cancelled left, right and centre. It feels like almost every day there is another cancellation announcement. To date these have included large scale yearly festivals like Tassie festival Dark Mofo and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, small scale independent theatre projects like Red Line Productions and the plight of student theatre at ANU (my heart goes out to all the budding thespians whose shows have been cancelled for Semester 1).
There’s a sense of doom pervading the arts industry. As of Thursday 12 March, Broadway theatres have gone dark for the first time since 2007. Theatres were shut for 19 days as the result of a stagehand strike.
There are, of course, so many other issues within our current paradigm. Let us not forget the recent trauma of the summer bushfires and the inaction currently being taken on climate change. But I wanted to put pen to paper to examine the impact of the pandemic upon arts organisations and small ways that we can effectively petition for governmental assistance to assist arts organisations to ensure their survival. I think we can all agree that it would be heartbreaking to live in a world without the arts.
Having worked within a range of different arts organisations, there is one thing I can say with absolute certainty: there is never enough money. Arts organisations are typically funded by the goodwill of sponsors and through ticket revenue. Government sponsorship was already down at the start of the year, with the merge between arts and infrastructure increasing the already overpopulated field of competition for resources and reducing the likelihood of local arts groups to receive survival-ensuring funds. Due to the pandemic, we are seeing borders closing worldwide, and the government has advised cancelling ‘events larger than 100 people’. People are scared, and with good reason, and so with travel and tourism at an all-time low the money from ticket revenue has reduced to a slim trickle.
I study the digital humanities (honestly, just look it up, I’m over explaining it, but yes, it is a real degree). It is heartening to see art organisations like museums and art galleries digitising their collections and livestreaming gallery visits and artist talks. Content is rapidly finding itself in an online format to increase public access to information from cultural institutions with the threat of shutdowns imminent. I argue that creative logistical problem solving and utilising social media in a way that is effective in engaging audience members trapped at home is exceedingly valuable. I also agree that this is not a feasible option for all arts organisations. Do we think that your underfunded, under-resourced local art gallery, museum or theatre body is able to achieve this without some external assistance? No.
Evelyn Richardson, from the industry body Live Performance Australia is petitioning the government for assistance, highlighting that:
“Cancellation of live performance events, they need to…urgently develop a targeted relief package to keep businesses operating…there are companies that will not have the balance sheet strength to withstand the combined impacts of box office failure and contract obligations, and some larger event cancellations may cause irreparable damage”
The arts have long seen a culture of neglect within politics. I don’t think I have ever (and probably never will) seen the arts be a priority, or even a feasible player in the field within public policy. Now more than ever the arts need governmental support. And it’s not just the arts organisations that are suffering. The arts sector has an exceptionally high rate of casual employment, and performers are out of work. Artists, along with, I’m sure, a large number of the student population, are still waiting on a viable social security payment in light of a loss of reliable income due to a sector shut down. $750 – get a grip. No show = no income. There’s a plan for the tourism industry: why not the arts, which is so integrally linked?
Things you can do to help:
Don’t ask for a ticket refund
Look, I get it. This option probably isn’t viable for students who don’t have surplus cash just hanging around. But consider turning your ticket into a donation, and don’t ask for a refund.
Engage with cultural institutions digitally
Museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions around the world can be seen moving towards digital platforms. Check them out, take a digital tour and enjoy culture via digital interaction.
Petition for funding
Write a letter to your local MP explaining the importance of the government’s financial support towards a struggling arts industry.
Theatre and performance are reliant upon bums on seats. Without ticket revenue, the arts cannot be expected to support itself. So, what are our elected politicians doing about it?
There’s a sense of doom pervading the arts industry.