Becoming Ethnographers:

City College Students Document Digital Subcultures During the COVID-19 Shutdown.

Contributors: Isabel, Mystique, Avni, Leslie, Ilora, Claudine, Isaiah, Andy

Editors: Estelle, Eri, Manfrer, Karen, Reda, Isabel, David, Eduardo, Nathalie, Kirsten, Ari, Richard, Tyler, Sky, Ashley

Produced as a collaborative final project for Tim Dalton’s English 210, Writing for the Social Sciences at City College, Spring 2020.

All images are used under Creative Commons. All writing, unless otherwise noted, is student writing.

CONTENTS

COVID-19: WHERE DO FILIPINO-AMERICANS STAND? BY ISABEL        4

An Interview with Isabel (Conducted by David)        7

THE DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR BY MYSTIQUE        8

An Interview with Ethan, a Drag Performer (Conducted by Manfrer)        11

Drag Queen Story Hour: For Further Reading (Compiled by Kirsten)        12

PRESERVING AN ART FORM, AND A CULTURE BY AVNI        14

An Interview with Avni (Conducted by Reda)        16

JOY DANCE BY LESLY        18

THE GATEWAY THROUGH OUR VIRUS BY ILORA        21

FAITH DURING A PANDEMIC BY CLAUDINE        25

WHERE THE INTROVERTS ARE BY ISAIAH        28

TRADITIONAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT DOES MORE THAN SELL FOOD BY ANDY        31

OTHER WRITING: LETTERS AND FREE WRITES        38

AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR CUOMO        39

“WHAT MAKES AN ‘ACADEMIC’ SPACE?” EXCERPTS FROM ONE FREEWRITE        41

Introducing Isabel: First and foremost, I would like to give props to Isabel for such a well written and organized ethnography. The work really showed that time and effort was put into it. Isabel’s ethnography is titled “Covid 19: Where do Fillipino- Americans stand?” Her writing dives into the impact that coronavirus has on Asian Americans, especially Fillipino Americans who make up a large portion of American healthcare workers. This is honestly something that I didn’t know before and her paper gave me such a broad understanding on why and how the Fillipino population in the United States is a large part of the nation’s healthcare system. Isabel also talked about “site subtle asian traits”, a digital site that she observed. This site is basically a way for people, especially the asian community to communicate, encourage each other and share each other's highs and lows through these uncertain times. Isabel’s anthology is so heartfelt and I can’t for all of you to read it for yourselves. (Written by Estelle)

COVID-19: WHERE DO FILIPINO-AMERICANS STAND? BY ISABEL

Introduction

In times of fear and chaos, one of the few aspects of life that gives people a sense of security are the communities they are part of. Whether it be families, friend groups, local neighborhoods, clubs, or even online groups and threads, people tend to look to each other in times of crisis. I identify as a Filipino-American woman, and one core aspect of my culture that characterizes our people is the value of pakikisama, or in the most basic sense, “getting along with others”. In an excerpt from an article titled “Pakikisama: A Filipino Trait” found on the webpage of the Philippine branch of the multinational financial services corporation Visa, they wrote that “Pakikisama entails a genuine intrinsic appreciation of togetherness. Group harmony and unity is valued. If progress is achieved, it is for the entire group and no one should be left behind.” This shows how ethnographers and big-time multinational corporations alike agree that individuals should take the necessary steps to be there to help one another, which is especially relevant in our world today. In the year 2020, the world population has experienced hell and back; from the bushfires of Australia to the looming threat of war, people have now come face to face with an issue more pertinent than ever: COVID-19. In a perfect society, global pandemic would not typically be at the forefront of everyone’s immediate concerns. However, the world today exists at a point quite far outside the line of perfection--which is why the importance of community and togetherness is so immense, now more than ever.

What is COVID-19?

Having initially been identified in December of 2019 in Wuhan, China, the COVID-19, colloquially known as the coronavirus, has rampantly spread across international borders and tucked itself away into every corner of the world. The disease is a highly infectious respiratory illness with symptoms similar to that of the flu, like fever and cough. Unlike other coronaviruses, the COVID-19 is a new strain that has not previously been identified in humans; therefore, there is no cure for it at the moment. As of the end of April of 2020, there have been more than three million cases identified globally. Of those cases, over one million come from the United States, with about 400,000 coming from the New York and New Jersey area alone. It has consumed society in every aspect-- socially, financially, and especially in terms of health & wellness.

Because of the dire circumstances surrounding the disease and the threat it proves to be, everyday life has shifted dramatically and citizens have been forced to adjust to the substantial changes. Most areas of the world have heavy-handedly urged their citizens to quarantine themselves within their homes, asking individuals to practice “social distancing”, that is, deliberately maintaining physical distance between the individuals and other people outside their home in order to prevent the spread of disease. Due to the unforeseeable length of this quarantine, many people have either been instructed to work remotely, been put on leave, or been led to file for unemployment; however, these sentiments do not apply to “essential” workers. The work of grocery store employees, sanitation workers, and especially nurses and doctors, is vital in securing critical infrastructure. During these trying times, this is where the value of pakikisama again shows itself: these workers are expected to show up on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19 everyday, risking exposure for the sake of others. It is a noble yet heartbreaking duty, but the resilience they display on a day-to-day basis cannot go unnoticed. For the most part, the ordeal has proven to be an incredibly physically and mentally taxing effort for everyone, impacting people of all backgrounds and walks of life.

The Impact on Filipino-Americans

As a Filipino-American college student, I and other Filipino-Americans alike are no exception to the effects that come with the spread of the virus. For this research project, I chose to observe a digital site entitled “subtle asian traits”, an Asian-American populated group that lives on popular social networking platform Facebook. Originated online, the site serves as a space for more than 1.7 million Asian-Americans of all cultures to congregate and express their odd, funny, heartbreaking, and gratifying experiences that have occurred due to their ethnicities. After observing the site, the far-reaching impact of COVID-19 has come to light, seeing as many Asian-Americans are part of and have family members within the healthcare field—especially Filipinos.

First, it is important to understand where this far-reaching effect is rooted from. Along with pakikisama, Filipino culture is rooted in the value of hard work and education as well. There is a demand for quality care and service in the U.S that Filipinos strive to meet. After becoming a U.S. colony in the early 1900s, “the U.S. set up nursing schools in the Philippines that taught an American curriculum in an effort to “civilize” the Philippines” (Brice, 2019). The employment of these nurses in the U.S. was therefore made easier due to this colonial relationship. This has followed many Filipinos into society today, as around one-third of all foreign-born healthcare workers in the U.S are Filipino. A strong majority of my Filipino peers have parents involved in the medical field, whether it be as nurses, surgeons, dentists, or the likes, with even my mother having served as a registered nurse for the past twenty years. These same workers, along with a fresher batch of more nurses and doctors, are experiencing the deep impact of COVID-19 in various ways. Likewise, within the Facebook group, members have shared just how deeply the virus has impacted them, through pictures, memes, and appreciation posts in regards to their lives in the context of the virus.

Upon logging on to the site, I was immediately bombarded with an influx of relatable posts. As mentioned previously, some of them were funny, like one user’s video of her trying to teach her Filipino grandma some American slang, and some were cute, like another user’s post of a silly story about her dad. As I began to dig deeper through the threads, however, the tougher reality of the virus shined through. I read through posts about the tough jobs of nurses and the fear of loved ones, but the quality of these posts that had taken me aback the most was the amount of positivity characterizing them. Two posts that clearly exemplified this were about a young man whose medical school fast-tracked graduation for all final year students so that they could begin work on the front line earlier, and another on a father’s appreciation for his daughter, a bedside nurse. For example, in the latter of the two, the post detailed the heartbreaking realities that hospital workers must go through, from facilitating phone calls between patients and loved ones to staying with patients 12 hours/shift. It stated, “If there’s one stereotype we should be proud of right now, it’s that many Asians are in the field of saving lives”. Most of the comments in regards to this sentiment were supportive and in agreeance, as thousands of people expressed their well wishes for both the workers and their pursuits.

I had the opportunity to interview a member of this group named Jamie Dabu, a Filipino-American freshman student studying Accounting at Drexel University. In our interview, we addressed topics relating to her mental, educational, and financial wellbeing, her mother’s work as a medical assistant, and her thoughts on “subtle asian traits”. In the interview, she actually said,

I love going onto ‘subtle asian traits’ because it helps me feel like I’m a part of something greater. Despite the coronavirus, everyone manages to make each other somehow laugh AND cry, and I always know that I can reach out to someone there if I ever needed something. It is so hard to see my mom go out everyday to help people and it terrifies me everytime she steps out the door, but I’ve actually talked about it with some people in the group and they’ve made me feel better about it. It’s so open.

From the previously mentioned stories along with the views expressed by a member such as Dabu, it is clear that the admins of the group have managed to cultivate a poignant atmosphere of camaraderie. Albeit that there is no panacea for both the physical and emotional consequences of the issue, the digital site grants its members the opportunity to share in this unexpected situation together, allowing them to lend a hand when necessary or simply bond through the chaos.

Conclusion

Ultimately, during quarantine, technology has proven itself to be a beneficial, almost necessary resource in combating people’s fears, boredom, and every feeling in between. Through chilling times like this, communities like “subtle asian traits” are so powerful, as they serve as one of the few comforts for many uneasy individuals scattered across the nation. To put it best, one member talked about the positive impact the group has had on her and her cousin who passed away due to COVID-19 at the age of 25, saying thank you for “the high quality meme content that [her] cousin and [her] were able to bond over for the past few years.” Posts like this showcase how the online community beneficially affects its members. In addition, the perspective of Asian-Americans, despite playing such a hefty role in this situation, is sometimes overlooked, and “subtle asian traits” has given these individuals a voice. It has given my people a voice. Though the future of the world is indefinite at this moment, one can only hope that respecting proper social distancing rules, donating to/supporting fast-tracked cure research, and following the value of pakikisama will improve the conditions society is currently immersed in. All in all, as the world continues to progress alongside the virus, people need to continue creating, sharing, and posting--because at this point, it is the only thing keeping the world sane.

Works Cited

1. Brice, Anne. “Why Are There so Many Filipino Nurses in the U.S.?” Berkeley News, UC Regents, 30 May 2019.
2. Saito, Isamu. “Pakikisama: A Filipino Trait.” Visa, 2010.

* * *

An Interview with Isabel (Conducted by David)

D: What were you able to learn during your research?

I: I learned a little bit more about the history of Filipino American culture and its impact in today’s society. Also, observing the digital site allowed me a better sense of the different ways the Asian American community is significantly affected by the virus and showing how they’re dealing with it.

D: What impact did hearing the story of others such as Jamie, who you interviewed, have on you?

I: It made me feel sad, angry, proud, and grateful all at the same time. Hearing their stories and experiences hurt me because I know a lot of them are so scared since everyday is uncertain. At the same time, I was proud and grateful that they have a platform and group to share their thoughts and feelings with.

D: How would you describe the process of finding this site? And if you never knew about it before the research, what reaction did you initially have?

I: I found the group a year or two ago when my sister sent me a post from the page. I started looking through the other posts and was instantly hooked. I was able to easily relate to a lot of the things mentioned by other members, so I thought it was pretty cool since I didn’t grow up surrounded by that many other Asians.

D: Lastly, what is one thing you would like the audience to know when reading your ethnography?

I: I want the audience to get a better grasp of the importance of community and togetherness during these trying times. We need to unite to get through this efficiently and safely, and that starts online.

Introducing Mystique: Mystique Davis shows interest in the ballroom culture legacy, drag. Mystique’s piece “The Drag Queen Story Hour” is a look into how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting these artists and how they overcome obstacles to put a smile on every child’s face. Mystique explains the sensational event and what it means to all the individuals involved. As an ally of the LGBTQ+ community she gives insight on the good and bad of taking these passions to the digital world.

THE DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR BY MYSTIQUE

Today, many of our lives have changed to work around Covid-19. Many of us have either lost our jobs or have been fortunate enough to work from home. Areas which once were a meeting place for fun such as movie theaters or beaches have been shut down. To keep connected many people have been using the blessing of modern technology. People are now hosting birthdays, holidays, even parties online to make up for the lost times outside. Instagram live has now become a platform of entertainment and battles between our favorite artists. One organization that refuses to let Coronavirus stop its flow would be a nonprofit organization named Drag Queen Story Time. This organization consisted of drag queens reading to children in schools and libraries in full drag makeup. These interactions ensured that children can be exposed to nontraditional roles of people and normalize the untraditional. The Drag Community has now adapted to the Coronavirus and has found a way to keep connected to the children of NYC.  

Facebook has become the platform where NYC Drag Queens are connecting to their little followers. To keep the readings going the organization first makes sure to post meeting times on their original site. When you go to the Facebook page, there are tons of videos of drag queens in full drag with megawatt smiles. The drag queens still read in full drag makeup and clothes as if they were still going to physically see the kids. For my observation, I watched a story time by Angel Elektra, a New York native and an active participant of drag queen story hour. Elektra really makes the environment feel just as welcoming through the screen as she would in person. Elektra greets the people present in the stream with a large smile and full drag makeup and clothes. Elektra went as far to create a full set up behind here in preparation of the story reading. When the story times were still public there was always a poster of the organization. Electra took it upon herself to add the same poster with streamers to decorate and keep the celebrational aura of story time. To also keep the energy of being in person Electra asked for everyone to give their names and gave hers as well to break the virtual ice. Even though the meeting was not in person she made sure to make the children feel included and noticed by asking.  

Before the pandemic, drag queens put their best foot forward in appearances when meeting the children. They wore beautiful makeup and outfits that were outstanding and at times self-made.  Before the pandemic an article was published to the New York Times by Una Lamarche. She observed a Drag Queen Story Hour with Harmonica Sunbeam as the narrator. The story hour took place in Hudson Park, a branch of the New York Public Library in Greenwich Village. She met the children in stilettos, a purple tutu, neon camouflage bodysuit with big fuchsia hair. This exaggerated style makes drag queens memorable especially to children. When Sunshine came in the children were described to go wild.  “With the elation typically reserved for a “Frozen” character, one toddler screamed “Yay!” and clapped furiously, squirming in his mother’s lap.” This type of excitement is easy to display in person and the same joy was felt through computer screens for Elektra. The parents were expressive typing both their child and their own love and enjoyment from seeing each other. The parents helped the interaction by typing their children's reactions and what they were saying. One mother commented “My daughter and I are so impressed that you made your hat/outfit.” These types of interactions make the distance seem vague, momentarily helping everyone to forget reality.  

When going to a real story reading there is lots of interaction between the reader and the children. This helps to keep the children engaged and reassure the storyteller that their audience is engaged. Electra read a total of three books and had 5-6-minute intervals between each. During these intervals Electra made sure to ask her viewers questions about songs they wanted her to sing so they could sing along. When Sunshine did her public reading, she sang a song called “This Land is Your Land” and Elektra used a similar method. But Elektra added a little twist to the sing along, singing a song that fit the current political state of society that would benefit children whether they knew or not. She used the song “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” as a reference and included lyrics about washing your hands. Elektra made sure to use hand motions to demonstrate the lyrics in the song to show the children how they should be cleaning their hands. Parents typed their happiness of her shedding some light on the pandemic in a fun way, one even commenting “Love! Love! Love!”. Because of the pandemic health experts have been pushing the necessity of washing your hands. In New York this tip has been thoroughly used being that we all use public transportation. Simply changing the song lyrics to describe the pandemic was an excellent touch to teach kids safety from the pandemic.  

For many drag queens, they make their livelihood by doing drag. They typically perform at bars or gay clubs and are paid for their appearance. For many, the salary of being a drag queen does not pay much until you are established in your career. As a result, many drag queens are forced to have a second job to support their career in drag as well as support their everyday life. With the threat of Coronavirus most gay clubs and bars have closed indefinitely. This has left many drag queens without a paycheck to support themselves and pay for their drag supplies. To help with this drag queen story time has been sponsoring drag queens to read to their followers. This type of support during this pandemic has been appreciated by many of the drag queens. Electra mentioned multiple times her gratitude in the organization for doing so.

There will always be people who disagree or oppose anything that they think is abnormal. For some it is unimaginable for a drag queen to exist let alone be interacting with children. A man named Vicki Kraft is a person who believes this to be true. He feels that these readings “gender confusion, which is damaging to young children” and that “it's taking advantage of young minds.” To gain a deeper insight on the community I asked an associate of mine, Gabe, how he feels about it. I asked him about why he thought people reacted this way. Although it was through text, he made it clear that this was not an uncommon occurrence. “You see things like this all the time, people being against what they do not think is normal. I honestly think it comes from a place of fear and ignorance. There are still people who are believers in sexuality being a choice and having traditional roles. There is no harm in children being read a book by a drag queen. It’s a reach for reading to cause ‘gender confusion’, when the children haven’t even learned about sexuality yet. This exposure is needed in order for it to become easier for those who are untraditional to become a normality.” Watching the interaction between Elektra and the children even online it showed how sexuality does not matter. While children are impressionable, they are also innocent. No adult should be pushing their own judgements on a child based on how they feel.  

As I was watching the story hour, I didn’t notice how much time had passed. But before long the reading was coming to an end. To wrap things up Elektra invited the kids to do some arts and crafts by making a bookmark. She invited the children to have their parents take pictures of their crafts and post them, tagging her so that she could see and comment on them. The reading was fantastic, and Elektra was able to be just as theatrical as a narrator would be if the kids were in the room with her. Coronavirus has canceled many things for us, including the summer of 2020, but it won’t cancel the exhilarating readings of Drag Queen Story Hour.  

Works Cited  

1. "At Drag Queen Story Hour, Children 'just See The Love'." Columbian [Vancouver, WA], 28 Oct. 2019, p. NA. Gale OneFile: News, https://link-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A604016210/STND?u=cuny_ccny&sid=STND&xid=94ea1d56. Accessed 27 Apr. 2020. 

2. Lamarche, Una. “Drag Queen Story Hour Puts the Rainbow in Reading.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 19 May 2017,

www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/style/drag-queen-story-hour-puts-the-rainbow-in-reading.html?searchResultPosition=1. 

Image Credits 

Image 1: Drag Queen Story Hour has revitalized many public library’s programming.  Feel the rainbow, taste the rainbow. "Drag Queen Story Hour/Washoe County Library System Team Shot 2" by jdscott50 is licensed under CC PDM 1.0

Image 2: This is a drag queen known as Dina Martina performing drag at a nightclub."DINA MARTINA!" by greenshock is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0  

* * *

An Interview with Ethan, a Drag Performer (Conducted by Manfrer)

When I asked Ethan, a drag performer and makeup artist who is only 19 years old and attends college, if I could interview him for my final paper, he smiled from ear to ear and said, “I feel like I’m beginning to get famous, this is all I have ever wanted”. I reassured him that no fame would come from this except being utilized as an interview subject for my paper however, he was still ecstatic to have been on a stage. Ethan wanted to prove to me his abilities to do makeup meanwhile, talking to me about his life and the effects COVID-19. What began as an interview, quickly became a candid conversation about the drag community and how COVID-19 has impacted the community as I watched Ethan (in awe) do what he’s best at, makeup.

I began the interview by asking about his mental health as these times can be troubling for many. Although, for Ethan this is a time to enjoy his family and improve his skills as a makeup artist, “Yesss actually, I use to do my drag makeup like once a week cause I was always so tired from work but now that I have this time off I’ve really been passionate to do my makeup and grow as a makeup artist”. This seems to be a common trend amongst drag performers as they utilize this time to hone their craft and interact with their audience more closely. Not only are they seeking to improve their skills, they’re also using it as an escape from this hellish nightmare of a pandemic, “Drag has been helping me during this quarantine by also giving me an escape to the serious pandemic we are experiencing right now”. Drag is the light in a world that may seem to be engulfed by darkness for Ethan. It’s allowing him to stay strong, and hopeful for a better, brighter, more colorful future, similar to his makeup style. The bold reds or the neon green that glimmers from a far demonstrates his expertise and his mindset in regard to the future.

After discussing the impact of COVID-19 on his personal life, I wanted a glimpse into how the drag community continues to endure amidst a global pandemic. He began by explaining the aid of social media during COVID-19, “Performers have started going on [Instagram] live to do lipsyncs and they leave their Venmo’s in the caption so that the viewers can tip them”. For many drag performers, drag isn’t a hobby or a performance, it’s their careers, and their only form of financial support. At first glance, one may think the drag community would diverge and become “distant” as result of social distancing however, Ethan discusses how the opposite has resulted, “Other super successful drag queens have started a campaign to make money to also give to local performers. There is a famous drag show called werk the world where they are all making money to also support local drag performers who [are] struggling with COVID-19”.

It appears as if the drag community is connected now more than ever, the pandemic has allowed them to reach out to each other and assist one another in ways that one might have never thought of before. When the world seems to be falling apart, humans of all communities look to each other for support and stability. This is when the world comes together similar to how drag queens put together an outfit. At first it's scattered, you have the makeup, the clothes, the wig, however, an idea (or a pandemic) is needed to bring these pieces together and form a performance. COVID-19 was what many drag queens thought would end their careers either through financial ruin or social isolation although the community has proved resilient and will continue to endure because COVID-19 has simply highlighted how much we all need each other.

Finally, here are Ethan’s social media handles as I wanted to thank him for participating in this interview, follow him if you can and support his journey in becoming a drag performer:

Instagram- @3txan_

Snapchat - @etxan1

Drag Queen Story Hour: For Further Reading (Compiled by Kirsten)

Fashioning Lives by Eric Darnell Pritchard

Author Eric Darnell Pritchard gives readers a personal take on life as a member of the black LGBTQ+ community. Pritchard uses literature, archival documents, and film to tell the history of black queerness and its effect on both the black community and LGBTQ+ community today. Pritchard dives into the alienation formal literacy has on black and brown communities, many feel the literacy realm is uninviting, so they repurpose literature through performances of all kinds. Pritchard classifies this phenomenon as "Restorative Literacies."

Time: “RuPaul’s Drag Race and What People Get Wrong About the History of Drag”

Time magazine interviews Joe E. Jeffreys, a drag historian and videographer who teaches theater studies at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, about the history of drag. They get into mainstream drag and what its impact is on pop culture as well as big names in the drag community. RuPaul is one of the most well-known drag queens of all time but has said some controversial things about the LGBTQ plus community that the article touches on. Drag is a complex form of art that you shouldn't just pick up as a hobby if you don't respect its history and culture.

Drag Official: The Queens Have Spoken: The Definition of Drag

This blog opens up it's doors to many performers in the drag scene to discuss what drag means to them and how it has changed their lives. It's an art form, a lifestyle, a culture, and so much more to these creative performers. A persona is beyond what their characters mean to them. It is a showcase of talent, skill, and expertise that takes years to perfect and gain income from. You have to love the game to be in it and these individuals are committed.

Related Film:

Paris is Burning (1990)

Introducing Avni: From A child to present day Kathak, a classical dance form practiced primarily in northern India played a part in shaping Avni. Avnis Paper “Preserving an Art Form, And A Culture” was a paper that touched on all aspects of Kathak’s history and how it has changed from its start to the present day. Avni really showed through other sources and examples that this dance did a complete change expanding from a strictly Indian dance form to one accessible to the rest of the world. Avni also touches on how this  spread of COVID-19 has affected the way that Kathak classes are being taught. She shows examples and speaks on her observations on how government lockdown and social distancing has led many schools to close down temporarily leading instructors to move their in-person classes to online ones. Avni spoke passionately and detailed on this dance form that holds a special place in her culture. (Written by Erianka)

PRESERVING AN ART FORM, AND A CULTURE BY AVNI

The country of India has a rich history, and this includes a wide range of artistic forms, such as classical dances, which vary by geographic region and have existed for tens of thousands of years. Each style has its own unique techniques, facial expressions, musical accompaniments, etc., which all have ties to complex spiritual and cultural stories, kept alive through each dance form over many generations. As a child, I started learning Kathak, a classical dance form practiced primarily in northern India, as a way to explore my interest in more artistic areas as well to become more connected with a heritage that I had been growing more and more distant from as I grew older. With each new lesson, I grew more well-acquainted with the ancient myths that some dances were based on, with the relationship between teachers and students that has been heavily emphasized in my culture, and with the evolution of Kathak dance styles and techniques which relates to India’s own historical evolution over a time frame of several centuries. As a result, my interest was sparked by the idea of how Kathak dance has adapted as a result of today’s globalized society. Furthermore, it was crucial to look into how communities of Kathak dancers today are working to advance their learning during the present COVID-19 pandemic, in which our day-to-day environment is stressful and uncertain.

It can be argued that Kathak’s survival into the present day can be attributed to its ability to adapt to changing times. In a paper written in 2010, titled “Intergenerational Adaptation in North Indian Kathak Dance,” it is stated that Kathak’s first big change occurred around the sixteenth century during the rise of the Mughal empire, resulting in a combining of Hindu and Muslim influences. For the next two-hundred years, Kathak dance was practiced frequently in the Mughal court system by courtesans as an aesthetic and elegant performance. When India was turned into a British colony in the eighteen-hundreds, Kathak nearly went out of existence, as it was deemed too “seductive” of a dance form by conservative Victorian society. However, it re-emerged during India’s independence movement in the twentieth century, and was performed as a symbol of India’s national pride, and gradually changed from being a wealthy luxury for the elite to a dance form which was for the general public of the country (Morelli, 2010). While the article provided some insightful historical context into this dance form, it also revealed a certain ability of Kathak to adapt based on the times, which can still be seen in the present day. Through my examination of various digital sources as well as my own personal experience as a student of Kathak dance, I have found that it has adopted characteristics of several other world dance forms, slowly but surely expanding from a strictly Indian dance form to one accessible to the rest of the world.

For one of the digital sources I examined relating to this subculture, I chose a YouTube channel titled “IndianRaga” which showcases Indian classical dance performances from many different regions, such as Kathak from northern India and Bharatanatyam from southern India. What drew me to this source was the strange way it combined classical dance styles with modern genres like pop and trap music. It struck me as odd that in the ten years I had been learning Kathak, I had only seen it being performed to classical Indian music, and so this was a very unique twist on that. One video I came across was a Kathak performance titled “Tabla Trap Padhant Dance Cover.” This dance is performed by five individuals, dressed in traditional Kathak dance outfits, consisting of a long, flowy tunic (presumably for the purpose of flaring out during spins or other fast movements), long, dangling jewelry, colorful sashes contrasting with their white outfits, and a string of bells called ghungroos wrapped around the ankle, which jingle and call attention to the performance’s complicated footwork routines.

At first, this appears to be a typical classical-style Kathak performance. The dance moves, characterized by fast spins and flowy hand and wrist movements, don’t seem to be modernized and are very similar to the moves I had picked up from my own lessons. One can hear sounds of vocal percussion in the background, which mimics the sound of drums and is very common in Kathak performances. However, this is where the classical aspect of the dance ends. Within the first ten seconds of the start of the video, I noticed that the music played in combination with the dance had a more electronic sound similar to that of a synthesizer in modern pop music. Furthermore, it can be observed that the background percussion sounds like the snare drums often used in trap music, and the dancer's footwork matches each drum beat with precision, giving the feel of a pop music performance (“IndianRaga” 2019). There are nearly a hundred comments under this video, from places ranging from India to the Caribbean. These comments include both praise (common phrases included “beautiful” and “graceful”) and constructive criticism on the choreography (such as adding more dance formations), with some commenters expressing a desire to learn this dance form, displaying how Kathak as a dance form has garnered a more worldwide appeal as a result of its ability to be combined with other styles.

Unfortunately, the rapid spread of COVID-19 cases in the past few months has significantly disrupted the way that Kathak classes are being taught. Worldwide lockdowns and social distancing has led many schools to close down temporarily. However, instructors are now taking steps to move their in-person classes to online ones, in an attempt to maintain some normalcy during this time. In order to observe the similarities and differences between physical and online class, I found a YouTube video titled simply, “Zoom Kathak Class: Introduction to Jhaptaal.” This class, instructed by Shambhavi Dandekar, focused on a specific form of footwork called Jhaptaal. It began with a lesson on the kind of vocal percussion, or theka, which usually accompanies the footwork, and then transitioned into the footwork routine itself (“SISK Shambhavi Dandekar” 2020) I observed here that the dancers were all dressed in traditional Indian clothing to the online class, which is quite interesting as a contrast to the casual way I’ve seen people dress to academic-related online lectures. Each of them is standing in their respective living rooms/bedrooms, with all of the furniture moved to the sides in order to make space for the class. Similar to an in-person class, each student remained standing straight for the entire class, with their right palm placed on top of the left in a traditional footwork stance (from my personal experience as a student, it is strongly frowned upon to sit or lose that position at any point during the class, and so it was not surprising to see this here as well.) From a glance, it appears that one main change in class due to the COVID-19 pandemic is that it has lost the in-depth, one-on-one quality that a physical lesson brings, and has become a lot more lecture-based. However, it is still an efficient way to allow students to retain dance moves and pieces of choreography which they may have otherwise forgotten over a period of time, and so can still grow as Kathak students.

 Works Cited

1. Kathak | Pandit Rajendra Gangani Rasraj Trivat | Padhant | Best of Indian Classical Dance. (2019, June 21). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDbRj-dw__s

2. Morelli, Sarah. (2010) “Intergenerational Adaptation in North Indian Kathak Dance.” Anthropological Notebooks, https://web-b-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=50cb740f-3283-45c0-a2dc-2c793f99fe37%40pdc-v-sessmgr03

3. Zoom Kathak Class : Introduction to Jhaptaal. (2020, March 19). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCRSHo-vWxk

* * *

An Interview with Avni (Conducted by Reda)

R: So, it seems to me that the Kathak dance has quite the history. It's been through a lot from the Mughals, the British, western influence and music too now the COVID-19 Pandemic. As you have stated in the ethnography, some people are now teaching the Kathak over Zoom and other online based platforms, Do you think that this has been a successful transition as it seems to me that the Kathak seems to need to have multiple people to fully perform?

A: So, like any other activity that’s been transferred over to online, this one has its pros and cons. For instance, issues such as availability to the technology and Internet access needed makes it difficult for everyone to take online classes. However, it is overall a fairly effective way for students to review and refresh material that they have learned in person during a physical class and is also a good way to maintain normalcy during the pandemic, in my opinion.

R: I do have a question as to the dance lessons prior to the Pandemic, I would guess that they took place in a studio of some sort, with some open space, would the loss of said open space affect the dance in any way? Since as you may know living space in New York is an extremely rare and expensive commodity.

A: That’s a good point. It’s obviously a lot more difficult to completely recreate the same space that one would have in a professional dance studio. From what I observed from an online Kathak class (streamed over Zoom) students try their best to move things around in their bedrooms/living rooms in order to make space for their class. However, I can see how it wouldn’t be an ideal long-term situation.  

R: Well you answered my next question in the end there, I was going to ask you if you think that now that the digital infrastructure for online Kathak classes are in place, if you see this (online Kathak classes) as becoming the norm post the pandemic, but yeah the space issue seems pretty daunting. That said, what do you think of more modern Kathak Dance, as in the ones set to Trap music and the like, do you think the dance will continue to evolve?

A: Oh definitely. Kathak, in my opinion, shares a lot of similarities with other forms like tap dance and contemporary dance, and I’m positive that it’s because of that versatility that Kathak can adapt and be combined with more modern styles of music and dance.

Also, to add on to the first part of your question, I personally don’t think that online classes will necessarily replace physical lessons in the future, because of the limitations involved. That being said, I think it can be considered a good complement to existing in-person classes to help students grow as Kathak dancers.

R: On that note I agree with you. I think that the new online  based lessons may continue but won't truly replace more traditional dance studios. I also see Kathak surviving Covid-19 quite easily as any dance that lasted multiple centuries and even made a resurgence after being banned whilst still innovating to this day will not fade after a few months of quarantine. Thanks for the interview, Avni.  

A: It was my pleasure :)

Introducing Lesly:  Through her writing, she points out the misconceptions and portrayal of dancers by society, as well as the passion that dancers possess which is affected more with the current pandemic. She gives a very nice detailed explanation through her interviews on how institutions like JOY Dance help support communities and dancers through social media. She also does an amazing description of the different methods and platforms used to support, motivate, and better the situation for many dancers.  (Written by Nathalie)

JOY DANCE BY LESLY

Originally, choosing dance as a subculture, I presumed it would be more interactive. Dance is physically moving rhythmically to music, but to every dancer it is something more powerful than that. Dance is, not only the physical movement, but it’s the expression of emotions, artistic talent, and to many, it’s a passion. This has all changed in recent weeks, with the outbreak of the Pandemic COVID-19. Dancers are at home, with no educational or dance classes, for the safety of everyone. Of course, this is also a big change for many dancers. JOY Dance students have transitioned from attending hours of dance instruction in person to no instruction, but JOY Dance instructors, like all of us, are doing their best to make us feel connected, via social media, throughout these horrible and very impactful circumstances.

Dance is often misconstrued as an easy thing, and often it’s not even acknowledged as a sport. Dance requires muscle and technique, something not everyone can master so easily. As a dancer failing is part of the lifestyle, but so is getting up and improving after every failure. Regardless of the amount of failures, they are all trying to depict a story, and dance with their hearts. “‘The approach in this project was to combine elements of pre-professional dance training and performance with the broader interests of dance research, connecting the two through their common interests in the connection between dance and ‘stories,”’ (Ferro). In this study that integrates culture with dance by having student dancers meet with longtime community members, to not only learn about this community, but to tell its story. In this study, we see storytelling through dance. Similarly, in recital performances dancers tell a story to their audience through their dancing. For younger children this story might not always be as powerful, but throughout their dance experience they learn how to express themselves and when given the spotlight, they shine and tell a powerful story. This is the beauty of dance, it’s speaking without talking.

This has been taken away from most dancers in the recent weeks. With the outbreak of COVID-19, schedules have been disrupted and all social gatherings have been put on pause. Technology is currently our biggest advantage in our fight against the virus. In the past, technology has always seemed to be a distraction, but in times like these it is something everyone seems to be taking advantage of to keep communities united, including dancers. In an interview with Natalie Lopez, 9 year old dancer at JOY Dance, she says;

“Yeah so homework, we have some. They post something new on Instagram for us to do and post back. Last time, we had to make a video of us stretching and wearing our dance shirts. I think it’s nice because quarantine is really boring.”

In order to help stop the spread of this pandemic, JOY and many other places are shutting down to help keep people at home. This means a lot of people are bored with nothing to do and nowhere to go. To help their students remain active, involved, and connected, JOY Dance is assigning fun and entertaining  “To-Do Tasks” for their dance students. Natalie, and all her peers, have been staying connected via platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Participating in these tasks allows kids to have some fun and make a bitter situation a little sweet. They’ve shared memories of students holding hands, laughing, and enjoying time dancing in the studio. Along with kind words and memories shared, they are getting kids involved in their spirit week by having them post pictures to stay involved. Of course, for these nine year old dancers figuring out Instagram is probably difficult, here is where the dance moms step in. In an interview with Natalie’s mom, she says;

“The dance posts are easy, I can navigate it pretty well, thanks to all of Natalie’s older sisters. But, it’s not the same. Sure, it saves me a drive three times a week, but it keeps Natalie home for hours, that was not the point of getting her involved. Of course, this is what needs to happen for everyone's safety, but it definitely isn’t the full JOY Dance experience.”

Dancers have had their worlds turned upside down, but so have dance moms. They now not only have to be incharge of their children's educational classes, but have to ensure the participation of their kids in dance as well, this isn't so easy either.

JOY Dance instructors, Tori and Michelle, have been very active on social media, sending kind words and pictures to keep the community's spirits up. When asked about social media, Natalie responded with, “Tik Tok makes me feel like a professional dancer. Me, my sister, and my friend, Genesis, like to spend hours learning new dances and sharing them with Miss Michelle.” Tik Tok is a platform where users can share videos of themselves following different dance trends and even skits. While staying at home, Natalie has had time to keep herself active, still dancing, but instead to 15 second dance trends. These 15 second dance bits are actually much harder to learn. Because these videos are very short, the dancing is also pretty quick. Although some trends may be hard to learn, it’s all about having fun and being creative. Natalie, like many other students, dancers, and people from many different subcultures, is getting involved and making staying at home fun. Along with our everyday society doing their part to stop the spread, there are Tik Tok stars like, Charlie Demelio, who started something called the “Distance Dance” that has been trending and is encouraging social distancing. The company she has partnered with is donating cleaning supplies for those most in need, all depending on the amount of time this dance trend gets remade and shared. This makes dancing a fun way to spend our quarantine, but also is keeping everyone united and focused on the bigger picture. Though we have many people doing their part to help make sure everyone stays home to flatten the curve, we also have many people not taking these circumstances as seriously as they should.

JOY Dance families, including Natalie’s and her friend, Genesis’, are part of the Long Island community as well and have reported seeing too many New Yorkers fleeing to our home. Beaches have been crowded, ironic since we  are supposed to be social distancing, and stores are either empty or filled with people when restocked.

Pictures of Manhattanites stuffing their cars with toilet paper and cereal are being posted online and stories of bad behavior proliferate, such as the NYC woman complaining that she couldn't find a Hamptons caterer for her 100-person quarantine party, (Levitt).

This dance subculture is part of a bigger community as well, and this community is dealing with a huge amount of people fleeing to their home and not following social distancing guidelines. With everyone trying to help slow the spread of this virus, people have lost jobs or are being forced to stop working. There is a need for not only money, but grocery stores are empty. Because JOY Dance is part of this community, they’re doing their best to help their dancers cope with such a huge influx of people and very low supplies accessible. To help with the supply of food to low income families, JOY is supplying families with drop off lunches in cars, three times a week during lunch hours.

Since the start of this pandemic of COVID-19, many of us have gone crazy wondering, how will this play out? When will it be over? The truth is these questions aren’t so easy to answer, but all communities must stick together to help each other in times of crisis like these. Dance, before all these scary headlines, has always been a means of expression and a connection between the dancer and the audience, and even the story being told. Family parties, school parties, and even office parties usually hold some form of a dance party because it’s a great way to connect with people and stay united, something we really need right now. With everything being thrown at us, dance stars like Charlie Demelio, the JOY Dance Community, and a lot more communities have been doing their best to help out families and dancers. Through trending dances, students, children, and even adults, are helping not only the donations of supplies, but also helping keep everyone’s spirits up. Tori and Michelle, JOY Dance instructors, have done a great job of keeping their dance students involved and united, they’ve even gone out of their way to help out dance families who have not been so fortunate to even get groceries. Although, since the start of these circumstances a lot has changed for the dance community, both students and instructors are all doing their best to let their passion for dance keep them united, as well as staying active and sharing it with their friends.

Works Cited

1. Carter, C. S. (n.d.). Effects of Formal Dance Training and Education on Student Performance, Perceived Wellness, and Self-Concept in High School, Retrieved from https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UFE0006669/00001
2. ByteDance, TikTok (2016). V15.2.0. Apple App Store. www.apple.com
3. Feidelson, L. (2017, December 21). Inside the High-Drama World of Youth Competition Dance. Retrieved from  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/21/magazine/inside-the-high-drama-world-of-youth-competition-dance.html 
4. Ferro, Simone, & Watts, Meredith W. (2012). Dance performance: Giving voice to the community. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 18(2), 62-71.
5. Mercado, C. (2018, November 28). An inside look at the life of a dancer. Retrieved March 20, 2020, from https://info.umkc.edu/unews/an-inside-look-at-the-life-of-a-dancer/ 

Introducing Ilora: Ilora and her family are Hindus, and they’re proud of it! The family is split up: Some live in the United States, and some in Bangladesh. Nevertheless, all of them are caught up in the world pandemic we are still facing now. Ilora talks about the effect of the COVID-19 on her life, as well as her family’s lives, and how their lives have changed in order to cope with the virus outbreak. Being far from each other physically, Ilora and her family use Facebook to communicate with each other, pray, and resume life to the best of their abilities. (Written by Karen)

THE GATEWAY THROUGH OUR VIRUS BY ILORA

The portal which 1.62 million people use, founded by Mark Zuckerberg, a whole new phenomena opening the gates far beyond communication, is introduced as Facebook. This digital platform is far more than a forum to chat with someone, or post statuses. This is the beginning of friendships, marriages, and education. The swift proliferation of the COVID-19 epidemic from its origins in China, making it’s expansion towards the United States and all around the globe, unlocked solicitousness and panic. Affecting thousands of people, the terrific reliance on the internet was at an outburst. Hereby, I present the influence that Facebook has on Hinduism.

COVID-19, molded to also be named coronavirus, hastily took it’s position in becoming a severe disease which woefully caused more than 80,000 deaths worldwide, and is continuing it’s distribution while you read this.With bearing the news of my friend’s relatives dying to the recent corruption of this virus in animals (Goldstein 2020), the configuration of daily tasks became intricate and painful. Grateful for the advances in technology, my time with loved ones had been available, as well as access to crucial news and tips on how to stay safe, of course with accuracy given by doctors or someone with direct contamination to coronavirus. This is where Facebook’s purpose comes into contact.

Hinduism is a religion, more notably my religion, the third largest one where I pray to a myriad of Gods, and practice this faith exclusively with my family. I will continue to be a confident and proud Hindu all throughout the rest of my life, but it’s vital to recognize the type of power this morbid virus has had on those of my people that practice this religion. This is specifically within Bangladesh, where a chunk of my culture lies. It would be a bit tough with my attempts to disclose how much of my ancestry stays in Bangladesh. With my understanding, Facebook is a mainstream network that most people have. Besides coming across the heap of profiles that are of my family, this popular site nevertheless has fruitfully made its mark into households, all of society, and most of Bangladesh.

There’s no astonishment when it’s told that my parents and I frequently interact with our relatives miles upon miles away from us. With a series of emotions, usually time is forgotten with our moments so deeply invested in how simply everyone is doing, to learning about new discoveries in the family. We, Hindus, do not have the ability to go to our temples anymore or any Hindu gatherings. This functionality took over via Facebook Livestream. With our main priest giving mantras and reciting prayers, we are able to follow along and connect with others through comments. On a Thursday morning as I’m getting work done for class, I overhear a livestream my mom is watching on her phone, that’s in the kitchen as she begins cooking the most important meal of the day, breakfast. Another observance that was peculiarly captivating to say the least, had been again on my moms phone when I noticed an array of more than 8-10 squares on her screen, made up of the pleasing faces of my family, and as they spoke, their joy kept growing as I’ve seen this exact effect on my mother. Now of course there are countless amounts of free apps performing the same capabilities. Yet, not all of them are accessible, preferred, or spark up the identical magic as Facebook’s messenger inhabits, given that cultural symbolism (Sujon 2018). The magic of a notification giving an alert that my Hindu brothers and sisters began a video call, “ah yes I can see what everyone is up too and if they’ve had their dinner already of bhaat and dhaal^[1] or mach” is what I think to myself. It’s an easier alternative to getting together with family and diving into those wondrous dialogs. When I sat down to talk to my grandmother via video call on Messenger, thanks to the help of the set up of my older cousin, I noticed the melancholic look in her eyes as she wishes and prays for mine and everyone’s health, and misses us so dearly. Feeling just as equally as she did, I took this initiative to ask her a few questions on the break of coronavirus. Sharper than any photograph I’ve seen, I’ve noticed my grandma, sipping her little white cup of chai and placing it down on the table in front of her as she was preparing to tell me her account, which looked like the following. “From resting, I heard your uncle shouting to someone on the phone. At first, I couldn’t understand why, then as he began to cool down, he explained the information on the disease and how our lives were going to start looking tougher”. Not being able to manage my feelings in that current second, I let out a flow of tears as my grandmother is someone I love incredibly, and to consider how rugged her life will now be, placed me in the greatest glumness which is the present state of our world. This upset me primarily because everyone in my home is protected, with the needed supplies, but over in Bangladesh, with much family still working and living with my grandma (Saleh 20), this became a hazard to her health and wellbeing. According to World Bank Data^[2], only 15% of Bangladesh’s population, makes more than 500 taka^[3] a day (Saleh 2020). This statistic proves inequalities with those who are struggling, in order to have ends meet. Furthermore, it wasn’t until our later discussion that she told me about every sort of precaution everyone was taking to guarantee their defense from Covid-19. Pulling myself from any more crying, I stood there, eyeing my short and skinny grandma with her gray hair in a small ponytail, asking her if she would like to continue with this interview. Surprised I would even ask, she retorts how I can give any question or any remark I have about everything. Continuing our endless messenger video call, I’ve gripped an image from how her day to day life has transformed. My grandma is someone who spends most of her time sleeping, and when she’s not, she’s usually highly attentive to what’s going on in the household. She describes how anxious my little cousins were feeling, from seeing them consume their lunch quietly without any normal chatter granted around the dining table, to having trouble sleeping. Their minds congested with how they would react if hearing any of their friends got sick, and when Bangladesh possibly can be one of those countries to have been cleared from the virus. Suddenly, our conversation was being modified as I saw my lovely aunt in the background, as proud as a person who’s just graduated, to see me lively and most importantly, in fine health. She then gives me her honest vision on how differently she’s lived her customary life. Explaining how she set aside more time to sanitize every product coming from the outside world, and not concentrating as hard when she’s involved with prayer as her head is centered on the health of the rest of my family, as well as the atmosphere around her. This idea is what many are now relating to as I have my personal terrors that are imposed on my schoolwork and tasks in reference to my profession. Moreover, I commented on the paranoia my family and I were having with deliveries. Some of these purchases were also our way to safeguard our wellness as we got more facemasks, mainly for any necessary trips made beyond the doors of our home. There are other products I had been expecting to arrive, as well as a large grocery order which gave my family time to consider the most astute way to let these items enter our home, without any direct contact. Shifting from our conversation on resources, my grandma and aunt were determined to know how my brother and I engaged in school now. Giving me my potential to shine, I accentuated the influence of digital sites and how this thereby caused my screen time to rise strikingly. Racking on hours to fulfil obligations for my job in comparison to denying phone utilization at work, dramatized my exigency for my electronics.

Coming together on the last accounts which Facebook has had within the context of coronavirus, allowed me to treasure my loved ones far more, as well as the life I had on the exterior of this infection. I’ve cherished the use of Messenger and my other forms of media to interact with friends and “quarantine” with them on the Web. “Hey, how are you? Are you and your family stocked up on groceries?” said to my best friend in New York, versus, “Kēmon aso! Ki koro tumi? Sabā'i kē khuba misa kari”^[4], spoken in Bengali over to the family in my country. Greatly admiring Facebook’s community allowed my gratitude for this outlet to prosper, as my access to the Hindu class still let me secure that relationship with my caste. Amid all of the dismay and worriness which society has turned to, it’s the closest ones around you who care for one another and fray against this noxious condition. Closure of that interview and confabulating with my grandma and those in Bangladesh, left me with a final sentiment that existence on Earth is never one to be taken as poorly valued. Ultimately, COVID-19 will one day be marked by its absence, but the time which our credence was heavily committed to our online nature will everlastingly come to remembrance.

                                                 Works Cited

1. Goldstein, Joseph. “Bronx Zoo Tiger Is Sick With the Coronavirus.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 Apr. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/nyregion/bronx-zoo-tiger-coronavirus.html.

2. Sujon, Z., Viney, L., & Toker-Turnalar, E. (2018). Domesticating Facebook: The Shift From Compulsive Connection to Personal Service Platform. Social Media Society, 4(4),  Social Media Society, October 2018, Vol.4(4).

3. Saleh, Asif, and Brac. “Why Bangladesh Is Especially Vulnerable to the Coronavirus.”            World Economic Forum, 6 Apr. 2020,      www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/in-bangladesh-covid-19-could-cause-a-humanitarian-crisis/.

                                 Image Credit:

"Dhaka" by bruno vanbesien is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 

"pride" by Magalie L'Abbé is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 

Introducing Claudine:  Claudine is a brilliant City College of New York student and a devout Christian. In this time of unprecedented crisis, she observed and recorded the actions and changes Sunday worship goers were forced to undertake, to retain safe social distancing whilst practicing their faith. Her observation of The Narrow Door Hispanic Pentecostal church, speaks well of her faith, her keen observation skills and the importance of faith, and by extent hope and community, during this pandemic. (Written by Reda)

FAITH DURING A PANDEMIC BY CLAUDINE

The church is a place for any person who feels like going on a weekend. However, after every citizen of the United States was mandated to maintain social-distancing and self-quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic people cannot just walk-in to any building especially churches. The site that I am going to be observing can gather up to three hundred people, so it was one of the first places to migrate to digital and live stream services to slow the spread of the coronavirus. This is because the seats are so close together that one can easily touch the other's shoulders when sitting. At the end of the service you can see people going from one place to another to say hi and hug their friends even the pastor stayed so that people can go say hi to him.

 This fieldwork will be based on a church called The Narrow Door which is a Hispanic Pentecostal church located in Inwood, Manhattan. Their services are both in English and Spanish because in many parts of this neighborhood there are Spanish-Speaking people and they can feel welcome and receive the word of God in a language that they understand. I got the chance to visit the church before the COVID-19 pandemic happened and after observing a few Sunday services in person, I can say that it is not different seeing the amount of people that attend this church than seeing it on a Facebook Livestream. On a regular Sunday, you can easily encounter a hundred people, and it is amazing how through the live videos many people are joining as well. While checking their Facebook page and seeing all the views after they migrated to a digital platform, I got to see that 782 people joined the service online. I started asking myself if they get all those views because a pandemic is going on and people are looking for divine answers on what is going on since doctors cannot explain it very well. Or if they get all those people to see them because they have been live-streaming their services for a long time ago and they have a good reputation. So, I started to look at the views on past live-streamed services and interestingly enough, their live services get more views now than what they used to in the past. I saw that on February 9th, before the coronavirus, they got 446 views, while on April 12 they got 785 views (LPE NYC).

While observing the church’s services I noticed several interesting things. One of the things I observed was that at the beginning of most services there is one person singing praise songs and right after there is a prayer session. The person is always a female and sings two or three songs. That is interesting because they used to do that on a normal Sunday before the pandemic exploded in the whole world. I think they keep on doing that so the feeling is not lost, the only difference is that when they got together in the building there were usually four or five people singing, which are women too, with instruments. Whereas in the live video it is acapella. Also, after they sing and pray, the pastor or the preacher of the day joins the video and shares the gospel or the word of the day. When it comes to communication and sharing, the church members are constantly commenting and sending emojis through the comment section in the live-stream. I noticed that they do that when they hear something that they like, when they feel the excitement, or when a joke is told by the preacher. That is a behavior that I observed when they are physically congregated as well, but the only difference is that people clapped when the preacher said something that triggered any kind of emotion. Another important observation in this digital platform is that all the recorded services stay on the Facebook page and the Youtube Channel. In case a person missed it, or wants to go back and see it again they can do that.

Even though the members of this community cannot gather in person anymore due to COVID-19, they still get to practice their faith through a screen. #ChurchFromHome is a hashtag used on Instagram and Twitter used by those who get to see their church’s services through a screen. These services are shared by Facebook and Youtube live-streams and Zoom meetings. I, for example, join my church’s Youth Bible Study through Zoom every Friday at 7:30 PM. It is good to still have those things that I and my community appreciate and that are part of our lives. For some this transition to digital platforms has a significant impact on their lives. My interviewee Joshua Martinez Perez, who attends The Narrow Door Church shared his opinion about the live-streamed services and his Youth Bible and Baptism classes. I asked him what effect Church Online has on him? How does he feel when watching the preaching through a screen and being part of his classes? He said that “Church Online is great but sometimes it is good to wake up on Sundays to go to church. It is good to see the services from my house, but I can get distracted from the message that the pastor is trying to convey. I think that the concentration that I can reach in the church is not the same that I get at home. When it comes to the classes I take I feel more compelled to participate in the class because I tend to be shy in person. However, I think both classes are more effective digitally because the teacher gets to explain the content broadly because everybody is basically muted when in person you cannot really mute anybody so that gives the teacher a place to talk.”

Another person who took part in this fieldwork was Smill Alix, also a member of  The Narrow Door Church, she has been a member of the church for more than 6 years. I asked her if she thinks that preaching and worship have the same impact as if she was physically in the congregation. She said that “It does not have the same impact, but it is certainly better. Now that we are doing church online I get to attend multiple churches on Sunday and listen to multiple pastors preach and it is helpful. Worship is not about the people who are in front of you, it is a moment of you being with God. I believe preaching has the same message because if you are really paying attention to the word of God it will reach you no matter what.”

Certainly, COVID-19 has impacted everybody does not matter where they live. Now that New York has become the center of the pandemic having more cases than any other country, people are going out less, avoiding gatherings, and self quarantining. In all churches, some old people are not so used to dealing with the internet and this is a hard time for them as well, being part of the most vulnerable to the virus. As McLaughlin states in his article “Church From Home”, “Many faith traditions are going online, often forcing un-tech-savvy clerics into uncharted water” (McLaughlin, 2020). This shows that this pandemic has affected everybody, but everybody is doing their part to spread the word of God, too. From un-tech-savvy clerics to random people on the internet who share the live-streamed videos. “A global pandemic is laying bare what the church has long confessed: all people are inextricably connected, like branches on a vine” (Christianity Century, 2020). This is one thing Joshua and Smill agreed on when I interviewed them. They both said that this time is an opportunity to share the gospel through social media and in their houses since they both live with people who are not Christians.

As it says in the article “Being the Church without being together”, this time cannot be mistaken as a vacation from religion (Christianity Century, 2020). Even though people cannot gather physically in the same building, their faith, their God, and their beliefs are still there.

Works Cited 

1. Being the church without being together. (2020). Christian Century, 137(8), 7. Retrieved from https://web-b-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=27&sid=85594328-a9e9-4d41-a710-d8138ae42300%40pdc-v-sessmgr03&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=142352368

2. McLAUGHLIN, D. (2020). Church From Home. National Review, 72(7), 31–32.  Retrieved from https://web-b-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=0c6001b1-2c4a-4fdd-9a3a-8bcd5a0f6ae2%40pdc-v-sessmgr01&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=142529686&db=a9h.

3. LPE NYC. (2020, March 26) Facebook Page. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/LPENYC/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Introducing Isaiah: Isaiah’s ethnography  “Where the Introverts Are” grasps the different impacts that the coronavirus has had on both the introverted and extroverted communities. The paper gives an insight on what it’s like being introverted while social distancing. He explored a digital site named Reddit, which is known for introverted people's way of communication. “One user, u/casserole poop, writes "I'm finding all these zoom calls suffocating Zooooom, stop following me everywhere! Seems like every damn day I'm on a zoom call, usually with multiple ppl. Somehow it's more taxing to be on zoom all the time than to be in person. Just wanna quarantine in peace!!!" This line really speaks for the entire ethnography that Isaiah wrote. (Written by Estelle).

WHERE THE INTROVERTS ARE BY ISAIAH

The coming of the COVID - 19 outbreak resonated in a shock that made the entire world shudder. Places that are usually home to engulfing crowds of people are now empty and hollow shells of what used to inhabit these spaces. Everyone is staying home and utilizing the remote online services of platforms like ZOOM, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, and Google Classroom. Social media has become a very popular tool for staying connected with friends, family, or fans. Social distancing does a good job of reducing the spreading of the coronavirus, but everyone is dealing with the initiative differently. Two groups of people, introverts and extroverts, are definitely experiencing the social distancing protocol differently. Extroverts, according to Vantage point, a public website on behavioral health and trauma, “love to explore new friendships and engage strangers, amass connections and enjoy going to parties to spend their free time.” (2019) Introverts on the other hand are typically reserved and quiet, valuing activities that require independence and little to no social interaction. During this merciless pandemic, extroverts are certainly struggling with social distancing, but for introverts are loving the distance part of social distancing.

For a long time introverts have found many ways to avoid too much social interaction. Though this is true, that does not mean that they are not affected by the COVID - 19 outbreak. Finding introverts can be hard, but not impossible. Many introverts result in communicating through online communities to voice their opinions and experiences with introversion.  Reddit forums are just one of the many places introverts go to speak their minds without actually having to speak to anyone in a physical space. The average person may believe that online communication is less intimate and personal. The digital meeting place for these introverts is structured similar to that of Twitter. A person posts an image or text with whatever content they want, creating a thread that other members in the Reddit community can comment on. Most of the threads are related to specific events or moments that members have experienced that correlate with introversion, like attending zoom meetings that require you to be on video chat for hours on end. Many people will comment on the threads agreeing with what is posted and sharing how they can relate to the individual who started the thread. Reddit shows that there are over 198,000 thousand members that are a part of the online group forum. Next to that statistic is how many members are online at any given time. I logged on to this forum from my laptop, but it looks completely different on my phone. There isn't as much information displayed on my phone screen as on my laptop. As I was scrolling I noticed that even though introverts are not supposed to be too social there is much social interaction on this forum between individuals. This made me realize that maybe the stereotypes about introverts being extremely distant and unsociable are wrong.

Some of the topics discussed on the forum were widely related to the COVID -19 pandemic and how things are going for introverts. One user, u/casserole poop, writes "I'm finding all these zoom calls suffocating Zooooom, stop following me everywhere! Seems like every damn day I'm on a zoom call, usually with multiple ppl. Somehow it's more taxing to be on zoom all the time than to be in person. Just wanna quarantine in peace!!!" (2020). Zoom calls for classes and meetings have become unavoidable, unlike in person classes, interactions, and meetings that can sometimes be avoided. Introverts on Reddit made it clear that they want to take advantage of social distancing and get in as much alone time that they’re not used to. Reddit there are these things called upvotes, which basically shows how much people agree and support or relate to what you've posted. U/kasserolepoop got 99% upvoted on his post. Adding on to this, the post got many comments from other Reddit introverts agreeing with the statement with comments like “felt this” and “tbvh (to be very honest)”.

Upon my exploration of the comments of U/kasserolepoop's post I noticed that there was an underlying issue that the introverts unconscionably knew about but did not address directly. Consistent communication with friends and family members seems to be more of a work task that introverts like myself find to be awkward and demanding. The real issue here is communication of all kinds, Introverts are not learning healthy communication skills that are needed to maneuver throughout today's society. According to Katherine Diggory, a freelance journalist that wrote an article on the importance of social interaction, "Social contact helps us to cope with stress and major life changes like a divorce, redundancy and moving house. And knowing that we are valued by others is an important psychological factor in helping us to forget the negative aspects of our lives, and thinking more positively about our environment" (Diggory, 2018).

This Reddit forum is a place where these introverts feel comfortable enough to share their experiences without being questioned. In many ways I would argue that by joining these online communities they are developing good communication skills. In their own way they are fulfilling what many psychologists, professors, and doctors would argue is essential to a human's well being. Admittedly psychologist Vivian Zayas would still argue that, "As much as self-isolation can be conducive to honing your internal monologue and pastimes, introverts also need to figure out how to maintain relationships and connections,...If we only have one side, I think then it’s sort of problematic, . . . It’s sort of like if you think about physical health — yeah, you’re going to focus on the diet, but you also want to focus on physical activity and mental health.” (Rogers, 2020) What psychologists like Vivian Zayas don't understand is that there isn't much help given to introverts to create and maintain healthy relationships.  Moreover introversion isn't something that introverts should have to feel bad about just because they are okay with having minimal social interaction. After all, today's world is becoming so technologically advanced no one is getting much physical social interaction. Introverts deserve to feel comfortable with themselves.

Works Cited

1. Diggory, Katherine. “The Importance of Human Interaction and Relationships.” Explore Life, Explore Life, 10 Dec. 2018,

www.explore-life.com/en/articles/the-importance-of-human-interaction-and-relationships

2. Is Introversion A Mental Disorder? (2019, February 5). Retrieved April 1, 2020, from https://vantagepointrecovery.com/introversion-not-disease/

3. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/introvert/comments/g05kdb/im_finding_all_these_zoom_calls_suffocating/

4. Rogers, K. (2020, March 23). Social Distancing For Introverts. Retrieved April 1, 2020, from https://cwatlanta.cbslocal.com/2020/03/23/social-distancing-for-introverts/

Image Credit:

"face/hand action" by thefuturistics is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Introducing Andy: Andy’s ethnography “Traditional Mexican Restaurant Does More than Selling Food”  informs readers on different ways that a restaurant, an immigrant one in particular, can help the community other than just serving food. In his case he chose La Morada, a Mexican restaurant that is popular in the South Bronx. La Morada is known for their good food but they’re also known for fighting for things in which they believe are unjust. Andy mentions in his ethnography, some political topics they support are anti-deportation, gentrifying the South Bronx, and boycotting Fresh Direct. As a Mexican with parents who are immigrants, Andy understands what the people at La Morada are doing and feels that it could help build the economy in the United States back up during this pandemic going on. (Written by Eduardo)

TRADITIONAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT DOES MORE THAN SELL FOOD BY ANDY

I and many people that have Mexican parents know why they decided to migrate to the United States. Along with that there were so many sacrifices they had made, including leaving everything behind in their home country, including their family. Many immigrants that arrive to the United States have opened businesses in this country that have helped the economy and diversify the country more. Many people may not be comfortable trying new things, however, Mexican runned businesses in NYC are important and need to be supported like any other. Mexican-run businesses bring a connection to any neighborhood. They give the experience of their home country and offer economic benefits

La Moroda is a very known restaurant in the South Bronx and a place that I go to whether it's for take out or eating with my family. The environment in the restaurant is so comfortable and inviting with a friendly staff. When you first walk up to the restaurant you’re introduced to the drawings and posters outside that support many political topics. From anti-deportation, not gentrifying the South Bronx, and boycotting Fresh Direct. Represents a sense of humbleness that I feel because it tells customers the restaurant wants to do more than selling food. They want to make a statement in the neighborhood they are here to help with the issues the people in the area are going through. The molcajete that has the guacamole makes the restaurant more authentic than what it is already. Reminds many Mexicans how they used to eat back home, something that they might not experience as much after they moved to the United States. Additionally, the clay brown plates where the food is served on with flower drawings makes the presentation of the authentic Mexican plate more beautiful. Serving people in the area what it’s like to eat true Oaxacan Mexican for those who want to remember the experience or explore something new. The multiple experiences that I had in the restaurant isn’t just me that enjoyed it, but multiple family members and friends have a similar reaction to mine. La Morada is supported by the residents because they realize the positive impact they have made to the neighborhood. Giving it a reason as to why businesses owned by Mexicas deserve all of the support needed.

The restaurant has received high recognition from major newspaper outlets showing and proving the impact the restaurant does in the South Bronx. The New York Times has written a couple of articles about the restaurant from a simple food review to highlighting the movements the business owners have taken part off. Ligaya Mishan wrote one of the articles that give a briefing about the restaurant and just how amazing her experience was. She writes, “In the back is a lending library stocked with Plutarch, Orwell, and Plath. There are ideas in the air, along with the scent of corn from tortillas growing pliant on the comal (Mishan, 2015).” What the line from the article can tell her readers how clear describing the restaurant was. She highlights what stood out to her in the setting by giving a sense of the amazing smell and a visual of its origin. Amelia Nierenberg, writer for A Mexican Restaurant in the Bronx Prepares for an Asylum Case, highlights the movements the restaurant has placed itself in. “Through La Morada, open since 2009, the family has fought gentrification, deportations and what they see as unjustified arrests. On its website, La Morada described itself as “undocumented-family owned (Niernburg, 2019).” What people can also learn from this article. Although Marco, a fellow employee, and son of the owners, is fighting bravely and confidently in his asylum case. Especially through everything the writer points out for what they have advocated for the people in their area and themselves by not being documented. The importance of these businesses is highlighted by the two New York Times writers bringing an unbelievable experience to the residents of the area. Additionally, giving backbone support to the community by giving publicity through the issue they are going through in order to bring hope to the area.

People are still skeptical and still can be after hearing the support of a local run business run by immigrants can give to a community. Bringing up that these businesses should be supported because it can bring economic benefit as well. Davila and Mora's book Hispanic Entrepreneurs in the 2000s: An Economic Profile and Policy Implications points out, “Among many of the consequences of this population growth is the significant increase in the number of Hispanic business owners during this time (Mora, p. xi, 2013).” People can gain knowledge about how Mexicans who are also Hispanics are growing by numbers and becoming important figures. Having new businesses throughout the country brings new opportunities that include jobs. The continues providing information how the support through education is needed, “For example, if the stake-holders of Hispanic entrepreneurs deem U.S. education to be of higher quality than foreign education, then native Hispanic entrepreneurs are likely to be more successful, as stakeholders might be willing to give them more busi-ness or easier access to credit (Mora, p. 62, 2013).” The information provided from the book highlights the importance of giving support to aspiring business owners because of how they are more likely to succeed. The importance of new businesses from big or small are important for the nation giving more opportunities to people. Especially in a time where the country would have to recover after the pandemic of COVID - 19. There would have to be a huge amount of support and help from both public and private industries would be essential to rebuild the country economically. The education and support would be needed for Mexicans who aspire to be business owners because there would be more healing done to the country rather than harm.

On Monday 20th, I got in contact with Lisa Dunn (graduate from Columbia University in Public Assistance/Labor Marketing) who at the moment is acting as the business secretary. The COVID 19 pandemic has hit the business pretty hard and at the moment are closed. Dunn in the interview mentioned, “She knew that the business was not going to be able to handle the pandemic and decided to open a GoFundMe page.” What is seen from the scenario is how the pandemic impacted the business because of the support they are obtaining. Lisa Dunn is not even a resident of the South Bronx but this shows how important the restaurant is. People going to the local business to try its amazing food, resulting in people helping the business overcome the crisis taking place in the world. Additionally, Dunn talks about the actions La Morada is taking; she points out how they are still cooking to help the underprivileged. What makes this relevant is although the family-owned business is going through hard times and would struggle to obtain help by being undocumented. It doesn’t stop them from helping the neighborhood that has accepted them and supported them by eating there. Motivating them to help people which I learned further into the interview was for a homeless shelter in the city. The conversation helped me obtain a viewpoint for why this business and others that are owned by Mexicans deserve all the support they can get. There is nothing to lose from supporting people that want to open a business for the worst than can happen they aren’t successful. However, if they are up and running they would be able to bring back the positive impact like what La Morada has done for the South Bronx and the city.  

There would always be a risk when opening or helping someone open a business. However Mexican businesses deserve all of the support that they can get for they offer an amazing experience with their products. Additionally, the business brings support to a neighborhood and helps the economy. A nation that was built on immigrants is the reason why recent immigrants who come in should be helped. Like the first immigrants that arrived that help build that nation and immigrants would still help keep the country strong. Maybe one day you would see yourself in Lisa Dunn’s helping a local business that doesn’t have to be specifically Mexican but you know it is valuable to keep open.

Works Cited

1. Mishan, L. (2015, February 26). Opening Oaxaca to the World. Retrieved March 28, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/dining/hungry-city-la-morada-in-the-south-bronx.html 

2. Nierenberg, A. (2019, November 6). A Mexican Restaurant in the Bronx Prepares for an Asylum Case. Retrieved March 28, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/dining/la-morada-immigration.html?auth=login-email&login=email.

3. Dávila, A. E., & Mora, M. T. (2013). Hispanic Entrepreneurs in the 2000s : An Economic Profile and Policy Implications. Stanford Economics and Finance.

WHAT MAKES AN “ACADEMIC” SPACE?:

EXCERPTS FROM ONE IN-CLASS WRITING PROMPT

For some of you, “the clothes make the student”; for others, it’s the classroom and the distance from home that travelling to campus provides that makes school “academic.” There were some nice word choices and some really sharp, clear sentences. A few paragraphs developed especially nicely. A number of you thought about the way frames of the visual gaze (of our virtual space) informed what we saw. A number of others looked at cultural artifacts. Keep up all this great work--and keep refining your word choices, sentences, and paragraphs to interrogate and analyze everything you’ve observed, experienced, and felt while doing your digital ethnographic research in this wild time. The definitions of “academic” acts, practices, mindsets, and spaces is something that might really help us as we turn to the self-assessment. Let’s look at a few excerpts and try to find these aspects of writing here.

“Our homes are a place where we can get away from classes. A place where we are not expected to listen to our teachers talk for an hour and fifteen minutes. Yes we work on papers and projects at home, but those things can be done at our own time and our own pace as long as we get them in by the given due date. Having to “go to class” either makes our environment a less comfortable space to get away from classwork, or a more comfortable setting that makes us not want to log in at all because of our strict boundaries between class and home.” ~Tyler

“The thought of other people seeing certain belongings, and even hearing things in the background while attending classes, could be a nerve-wrecking thing to begin with.  Some people want to separate their home life with their school life, because of personal reasons, and the compulsory video calling makes it harder for them to adjust...The idea of being surrounded by other students while you work and contribute into the class session still feels like an academic space.” ~Sky

Several commented on the concrete object and Cultural artifact of clothing under our newly pixelated spatial gaze.  Pajamas and passivity came up a few times: “A change in fashion that I have seen time after time is the increased use of pajamas. Since most people are stuck at home people just wear pajamas all day rather than regular clothing,” wrote Ashley. I wonder about this, nosy so-and-so that I am -- what kind of pajamas? But also, what does this artifact in this moment mean? “Sometimes i’ll just watch class from bed. Sometimes, I won’t even get changed,” wrote Lesly.  What can pajamas do in a crisis that a suit or a cocktail dress can’t? Mystique also makes the point about how the clothes, in a sense, make the student:

“This pandemic has caused a new level of vulnerability to be broken down between friends and family. People now answer calls in bed with bonnets and durags, unbrushed teeth, and unwashed face.This has semi surprised me because I feel that with society and social media there is this constant need to be perfect and look put together. My generation has been one of the most invested in always looking instagram ready. So to see everyone just become, in the best way, slobs who aren’t always worried about appearance is quite interesting. Because our class is now online it sometimes lacks the feeling of an academic environment. I never realized how much a setting could change your mindset until students were forced to take virtual classes. Before the pandemic, I relied heavily on the classroom to get me in an academic mindset. Going to school got me ready to set down, be focused, and get productive with classwork. Because I am home I must now set this environment myself.”

This is so interesting, and I think it shows that when you find a great cultural artifact, describe it and interrogate it. Great questions get generated: Are pajamas the same as passivity?  

But our attention wasn’t just on the clothes we wear. It was on the video screens that are (or aren’t) showing them to the world. Avni talked about the changes happening at the most personal level because of the spatial gazes cast in her direction. She wrote: “I find that my way of talking has become quieter as to not be disruptive to the rest of my family while I am on a call with someone (which is now much more often than it was before). Furthermore, I have been learning to make my background space more neat and presentable as opposed to the disaster zone it was before.” And of course, the space isn’t always visible, when students choose to turn off video--which has all kinds of good reasons behind it. On that note, Kirsten noted that although the text option “feels anxiety inducing trying to get all your words out quick before the professor moves on,” it helps her meet an obligation she never expected to associate probably with a college class: “I can’t disrupt my sister’s sleeping.”

There were a number of interesting moments of reflection -- I'd love to hear more about that: Andy wrote: “I didn’t realize how much I used to learn in a traditional classroom.” That’s a great clear sentence -- subject, verb, predicate phrase. It could be nicely developed with more details. As you draft, look for moments of such clarity and build around them. And think about what you didn’t know then that you do know now.

Some of the clearest sentences were reflective in this way. Kirsten notes with the clarity that many of you had: “Nothing about this feels academic.” (Something to investigate: given the line that follows -- “I often find myself going back and reviewing the lesson all over again.” -- is a “recursive” intellectual act like the kind described on our syllabus, and like the kind we’re embarking on in our self-assessment “Letters to a Future Student Ethnographer,” can something not feel academic yet still be...academic? What do we even mean by that term?)

A few other interesting abstract word choices: “decent” -- Claudine used this to describe backgrounds. How does this abstract word change depending on whether we’re talking to one’s boss, one’s aunt, one’s crush, or one’s minister? She also wrote about the shift in environment to home “makes me feel that classes are optional when they are not.” I’m curious about this -- what have we observed in our conversations and work that make this environment continue to be academic? What requires physical presence? The removal of one’s physical self from home to a school?  Some of you wrote that clothes as a cultural artifact that make class seem more 'academic'. Why do you think that is? David wrote that: “Everyone is at home...so why would they want to change their looks just for a class. I guess seeing others dressed like this might seem as not academic at all.”

On the way pandemic and online learning has transformed spaces we never thought of as “academic,” Eri had a great topic sentence, with a great first word: “Forced video calls definitely changed how I think about my space and even others' space.” She described both space and the interactions in it nicely here:

“I learned to appreciate spaces that I didn’t appreciate much like my kitchen. I usually don’t spend much time there when it comes to doing my homework now with the video calls. That's the most relaxing space so it allowed me to appreciate it more. ...I know me personally when my parents come around or brother I tend to get more shy and quiet because I don’t want them judging me on what I’m discussing. I know certain other students may not be as lucky to be home when classes occur they may be at another family  members home or at work as a essential worker like me when I have to video call at Walgreens because they call me in so they aren’t able to participate or converse because the audience surrounding them. I think the dial in feature is very appealing because you won’t have to show your face. Nobody will see your surroundings and judge or see how you may look without dressing up for class as usual. I think many people see they aren’t in front of a teacher and feel they are free to have music in the background or be cooking or watching tv at least in my other classes which shows a lot how less of an academic space this feels like. The freedom of being home free to do anything and  the less interaction between students due to digital  just makes it feel more like this is just for a grade more than I’m actually  learning and enjoying it space. I think the fact we get work makes it feel academic and the fact teachers are still creating their lessons and handouts.”

So many details here offer details into what is happening at the other end of the screen. What resonated with you guys? What makes it into the “frame” of Eri’s description?

Ilora also had some nice thoughts on what’s revealed in “frame” of our backgrounds:

“Since we are in our homes or confined to any sort of space outside of school, this gives our location a large meaning simply because it’s a part of our personal lives. For instance, if a Professor saw the background from my video call, they may notice my interest in Art, which they wouldn’t have known otherwise had we not been in this situation. Also, the privacy of our phone does have a factor enhanced as not everyone shows themselves or turns on the mic. For me, when I do have my video on, I like to focus on concealing a part of my identity by picking a blank canvas or bland background which makes it hard for the viewer to assume anything about me, where I live, or what I’m hiding. This also depends majorly on the caller where I won’t mind leaving my bed undone on facetime with my best friend, whereas no one would even know how the bed looks as the angle which my camera is set up, would be attentive towards another gaze. One way, however, where this online class makes it feel like an academic space, is with the various categories set up to give it that “school” feeling, such as this Classwork Doc. With YouTube videos of my Professor talking, to other documents labeled, “Blackboard”, it brings back that persona of us in an institution rather than the comfort of our own homes.”

Isabel also did some great things with paragraph development. See how and where this paragraph shifts, moving in one direction, then another:

“The video calling feature on our devices can definitely be yielded as both a weapon and a tool during these trying times. Generally speaking, it’s awesome! One would think: how can you go wrong with something that allows you to connect with other people when you can’t physically be together? However, it’s definitely proven to be a bit more complicated than that—especially in terms of how students’ education is structured. Because there is nowhere to go and nothing else to do during the quarantine, there is less of an excuse to not be fully present and participate in class. However, it becomes difficult to focus when people are in the luxury of their own spaces. On a typical day, a person values going home to rest in their bed, but on a typical day in quarantine, a person may get sick of being confined to his/her room. Yet, I find it interesting that many people—at least, my friends—still choose to get physically ready in the morning, as if they were still leaving for school, so they feel more ready to take on the day and get work done. Because of things like this, I’ve discovered that our lives now are fully reliant on our mindset. By keeping a positive attitude and carrying out tasks that may stimulate our brains, like making our bed, cleaning our rooms, or getting dressed in the morning, we feel more able to move forward with our days productively, while the opposite may reign true for not doing so.”

Overall guys, there are so many interesting thoughts here. These thoughts, taken together, help us start to reflect on the work we’ve done, despite its interruption. We’re also showing a lot of the skills of “seeing” that you’ve learned over the semester--looking at details, balancing concrete and abstract language, and developing an idea in various ways over the course of a paragraph.

OTHER WRITING: LETTERS AND FREE WRITES

Throughout the semester, students wrote in other forms and genres in preparation for the ethnographies you just read. One form we returned to continually was the letter form. Our first formal assignment was a letter of introduction (an email, actually). A later assignment is a research proposal in the form of a job application. A final self-assessment took the form of a letter to a future student. One alternate assignment I gave students for the essay due just after our shift to online instruction was to write, instead of a job application, a letter of petition or praise to an elected official. Below is one example. Note a number of signatures below it, indicating that Karen’s observations about material reality and concrete impacts of the stressful uncertainty on students spoke for many.

Since freewriting was also an important part of our work together, it seemed fitting to end with a collection of responses to one freewrite that had particular resonance. This document was originally a handout in class; any student work is quoted, and the rest of the writing is my own. The excerpts from work by some writers not featured elsewhere in this anthology, includingTyler, Sky, Ashley, Eri, and David.

AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR CUOMO

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of New York State

New York State Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224

RE: Actions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic

Dear Governor Cuomo:

My name is Karen, and I’m a resident of New York City. Your recent actions have completely caught the attention of many all around the nation, and I was no exception. This isn’t a common occurrence, as I don’t usually pay attention to political issues, although I probably should. After seeing your rapid and decisive actions during the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit us harder than others, the feelings of gratitude, and also a little bit of comfort and security has arisen from within me. I am thankful, as I feel many others can say, about your decision to shut down the public school system which includes all CUNYs, as well as all other decisions that you have made during these difficult times for our state, the epicenter for COVID-19 cases in the country now.

I live in Queens, and attend the City College of New York (also known as CCNY), which is situated in Harlem, Manhattan. I am also a US Marine reservist. I am currently undertaking a writing course in CCNY, called Writing for the Social Sciences 21002. The class ultimately builds up to the students being able to complete their own subculture project, which is a big part of the overall course grade. My subculture project is related to Marines and social media. Being in a state that was hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak- the project was far from my mind, but as all coursework does, it eventually came back to worry and stress me out.

When COVID-19 cases started to pop up in the United States, it was during the midterm period. Being a student of the CUNY system, I didn’t know what to expect. Would the schools be shut down because we were a public system, and not privately owned? Would they not be shut down, because we as a CUNY had less funds and couldn’t afford to do that? What about midterms? Would our grades be affected negatively? Our Mayor during these times told us to distance ourselves from large groups and namely the MTA. He told us to reduce density, that we could just wait for the next train. However, the majority of CUNY students are not the most financially well off. We live in New York City- owning a car is costly due to having to worry about parking in addition to the cost of the car, car insurance, petrol, etc. Even the MTA can be costly for us- but it’s the cheapest option, and we didn’t have a choice. To get to school, to get to work, to get anywhere further than walking distance- it was the only option we had. Wait for the next train? It could be equally as packed. Or we would be late for class. The MTA isn’t the most punctual of public transit systems, albeit its progress to punctuality throughout the years. The COVID-19 made taking the MTA a risk we had to take as students.

In addition to all these worries about transport, we also had to worry about the college courses itself. When taking the 7 train to school, we pass by Columbia University, which is a mere 2 stops away from CCNY. We watched the news as private colleges, one after another, closed their campuses due to the health danger it poses to their students. Not rarely did the topic of CUNYs not shutting down become a topic among us college students. There were those who thought that since we were poor, the government wouldn’t care anyhow. There were those who were willing to bet that CUNY would never shut down. A petition to shut down CUNY schools was made online. There were many who thought it was simply an excuse to get time off, and that this was not that serious to the extent of closing down CUNYs. On March 11, it was announced that a student from John Jay College of Criminal Justice tested positive for the COVID-19. What we feared had come true, and yet, it was announced that only that college would be closed for one day. However, amidst the chaos, you made the decision to shut down SUNYs and CUNYs. Despite your earlier reluctance, you were willing to do what seemed right and go back on what you said before. Actions speak louder than words, and in this case, your actions speak heaps.

When things started getting worse, our Mayor contemplated a Shelter in Place order, which you dismissed. You said you couldn’t see it happening in New York due to the way New Yorkers were good at getting around the law- but you made it happen anyway. A willingness to admit your mistakes set you apart from other leadership political figures who are also in the limelight. It goes without saying that your hard work behind the scenes seems like endless work and meetings. We, the general public, are not able to see every little thing you do for us. However, the results definitely show us how much you care. Constant efforts to get more funds, masks and equipment to cope with the COVID-19 outbreak- what we have wouldn’t have happened if not for your and your team’s efforts.

Reservist Marines are required to attend drill once or twice a month, in addition to our annual events. While attending drill only twice a month, I also juggle taking college courses and my part time job. Most, if not all Marines in the reserves would probably be able to relate to this. Drill was cancelled amid all these issues happening, to protect our health.  As of such, some reservist Marines had one less thing to worry about. The majority of reservist Marines I know are New Yorkers due to our base being in New York. Many of them are also college students in the CUNY system. Some have children in the public education system. All of us, in one way or another, were affected by your decisions.

To keep in touch with the outside world, I video call with my reservist friends. One of them told me about his new daily routine. He would wake up late- around 12- and eat lunch (or breakfast) before waiting to tune in to your daily briefing. It was a grim situation we’re all in, he was aware, but watching this everyday made him feel a little reassured. Someone who knew what they were doing was in charge. Someone who would feed us straight facts with equal part encouragement and with a tone of empathy. It has become part of his daily routine now. Before that call, I wasn’t aware of these briefings. I became curious, and tuned in one day. I understood why he felt reassured. You presented us facts in a split screen – allowing us to see the screen that showed us data. You showed you weren’t manipulating the data, and if there were ups and downs in a trend, you acknowledged it while saying that it was a general up trend. It’s clear to us that you did your research. The fact that you seem calm and composed also helps in building your credibility in our eyes.

The subjects involved in my subculture studies whom I was planning on interviewing are New Yorkers. We are all pushed into the hard decision you had to make- a stay at home order. While it is hard to feel connected, your decisive decisions make us put trust in you. You present us facts and give us back a sense of control in this unencountered situation.

I believe I’m not alone in my sentiments when I say thank you, Governor Cuomo, for all your efforts, and please stay safe. Your health comes first and foremost. Without a healthy Governor, we may lose all sense of direction. We are grateful, and we wish you the best health. I am hopeful that you know that we will stand behind you in support of what you do for us, the people.

Sincerely,

Karen

Queens, NY

      Co-signed by: Maimuna, New York City; Tyler, Harlem; Reda, Brooklyn; Estelle, Bronx

“WHAT MAKES AN ‘ACADEMIC’ SPACE?” EXCERPTS FROM ONE FREEWRITE

For some of you, “the clothes make the student”; for others, it’s the classroom and the distance from home that travelling to campus provides that makes school “academic.” There were some nice word choices and some really sharp, clear sentences. A few paragraphs developed especially nicely. A number of you thought about the way frames of the visual gaze (of our virtual space) informed what we saw. A number of others looked at cultural artifacts. Keep up all this great work--and keep refining your word choices, sentences, and paragraphs to interrogate and analyze everything you’ve observed, experienced, and felt while doing your digital ethnographic research in this wild time. The definitions of “academic” acts, practices, mindsets, and spaces is something that might really help us as we turn to the self-assessment. Let’s look at a few excerpts and try to find these aspects of writing here.

“Our homes are a place where we can get away from classes. A place where we are not expected to listen to our teachers talk for an hour and fifteen minutes. Yes we work on papers and projects at home, but those things can be done at our own time and our own pace as long as we get them in by the given due date. Having to “go to class” either makes our environment a less comfortable space to get away from classwork, or a more comfortable setting that makes us not want to log in at all because of our strict boundaries between class and home.” ~Tyler

“The thought of other people seeing certain belongings, and even hearing things in the background while attending classes, could be a nerve-wrecking thing to begin with.  Some people want to separate their home life with their school life, because of personal reasons, and the compulsory video calling makes it harder for them to adjust...The idea of being surrounded by other students while you work and contribute into the class session still feels like an academic space.” ~Sky

Several commented on the concrete object and Cultural artifact of clothing under our newly pixelated spatial gaze.  Pajamas and passivity came up a few times: “A change in fashion that I have seen time after time is the increased use of pajamas. Since most people are stuck at home people just wear pajamas all day rather than regular clothing,” wrote Ashley. I wonder about this, nosy so-and-so that I am -- what kind of pajamas? But also, what does this artifact in this moment mean? “Sometimes i’ll just watch class from bed. Sometimes, I won’t even get changed,” wrote Lesly.  What can pajamas do in a crisis that a suit or a cocktail dress can’t? Mystique also makes the point about how the clothes, in a sense, make the student:

“This pandemic has caused a new level of vulnerability to be broken down between friends and family. People now answer calls in bed with bonnets and durags, unbrushed teeth, and unwashed face.This has semi surprised me because I feel that with society and social media there is this constant need to be perfect and look put together. My generation has been one of the most invested in always looking instagram ready. So to see everyone just become, in the best way, slobs who aren’t always worried about appearance is quite interesting. Because our class is now online it sometimes lacks the feeling of an academic environment. I never realized how much a setting could change your mindset until students were forced to take virtual classes. Before the pandemic, I relied heavily on the classroom to get me in an academic mindset. Going to school got me ready to set down, be focused, and get productive with classwork. Because I am home I must now set this environment myself.”

This is so interesting, and I think it shows that when you find a great cultural artifact, describe it and interrogate it. Great questions get generated: Are pajamas the same as passivity?  

But our attention wasn’t just on the clothes we wear. It was on the video screens that are (or aren’t) showing them to the world. Avni talked about the changes happening at the most personal level because of the spatial gazes cast in her direction. She wrote: “I find that my way of talking has become quieter as to not be disruptive to the rest of my family while I am on a call with someone (which is now much more often than it was before). Furthermore, I have been learning to make my background space more neat and presentable as opposed to the disaster zone it was before.” And of course, the space isn’t always visible, when students choose to turn off video--which has all kinds of good reasons behind it. On that note, Kirsten noted that although the text option “feels anxiety inducing trying to get all your words out quick before the professor moves on,” it helps her meet an obligation she never expected to associate probably with a college class: “I can’t disrupt my sister’s sleeping.”

There were a number of interesting moments of reflection -- I'd love to hear more about that: Andy wrote: “I didn’t realize how much I used to learn in a traditional classroom.” That’s a great clear sentence -- subject, verb, predicate phrase. It could be nicely developed with more details. As you draft, look for moments of such clarity and build around them. And think about what you didn’t know then that you do know now.

Some of the clearest sentences were reflective in this way. Kirsten notes with the clarity that many of you had: “Nothing about this feels academic.” (Something to investigate: given the line that follows -- “I often find myself going back and reviewing the lesson all over again.” -- is a “recursive” intellectual act like the kind described on our syllabus, and like the kind we’re embarking on in our self-assessment “Letters to a Future Student Ethnographer,” can something not feel academic yet still be...academic? What do we even mean by that term?)

A few other interesting abstract word choices: “decent” -- Claudine used this to describe backgrounds. How does this abstract word change depending on whether we’re talking to one’s boss, one’s aunt, one’s crush, or one’s minister? She also wrote about the shift in environment to home “makes me feel that classes are optional when they are not.” I’m curious about this -- what have we observed in our conversations and work that make this environment continue to be academic? What requires physical presence? The removal of one’s physical self from home to a school?  Some of you wrote that clothes as a cultural artifact that make class seem more 'academic'. Why do you think that is? David wrote that: “Everyone is at home...so why would they want to change their looks just for a class. I guess seeing others dressed like this might seem as not academic at all.”

On the way pandemic and online learning has transformed spaces we never thought of as “academic,” Eri had a great topic sentence, with a great first word: “Forced video calls definitely changed how I think about my space and even others' space.” She also described both space and the interactions in it nicely here:

“I learned to appreciate spaces that I didn’t appreciate much like my kitchen. I usually don’t spend much time there when it comes to doing my homework now with the video calls. That's the most relaxing space so it allowed me to appreciate it more. ...I know me personally when my parents come around or brother I tend to get more shy and quiet because I don’t want them judging me on what I’m discussing. I know certain other students may not be as lucky to be home when classes occur they may be at another family  members home or at work as a essential worker like me when I have to video call at Walgreens because they call me in so they aren’t able to participate or converse because the audience surrounding them. I think the dial in feature is very appealing because you won’t have to show your face. Nobody will see your surroundings and judge or see how you may look without dressing up for class as usual. I think many people see they aren’t in front of a teacher and feel they are free to have music in the background or be cooking or watching tv at least in my other classes which shows a lot how less of an academic space this feels like. The freedom of being home free to do anything and  the less interaction between students due to digital  just makes it feel more like this is just for a grade more than I’m actually  learning and enjoying it space. I think the fact we get work makes it feel academic and the fact teachers are still creating their lessons and handouts.”

So many details here offer details into what is happening at the other end of the screen. What resonated with you guys? What makes it into the “frame” of Eri’s description?

Ilora also had some nice thoughts on what’s revealed in “frame” of our backgrounds:

“Since we are in our homes or confined to any sort of space outside of school, this gives our location a large meaning simply because it’s a part of our personal lives. For instance, if a Professor saw the background from my video call, they may notice my interest in Art, which they wouldn’t have known otherwise had we not been in this situation. Also, the privacy of our phone does have a factor enhanced as not everyone shows themselves or turns on the mic. For me, when I do have my video on, I like to focus on concealing a part of my identity by picking a blank canvas or bland background which makes it hard for the viewer to assume anything about me, where I live, or what I’m hiding. This also depends majorly on the caller where I won’t mind leaving my bed undone on facetime with my best friend, whereas no one would even know how the bed looks as the angle which my camera is set up, would be attentive towards another gaze. One way, however, where this online class makes it feel like an academic space, is with the various categories set up to give it that “school” feeling, such as this Classwork Doc. With YouTube videos of my Professor talking, to other documents labeled, “Blackboard”, it brings back that persona of us in an institution rather than the comfort of our own homes.”

Isabel also did some great things with paragraph development. See how and where this paragraph shifts, moving in one direction, then another:

“The video calling feature on our devices can definitely be yielded as both a weapon and a tool during these trying times. Generally speaking, it’s awesome! One would think: how can you go wrong with something that allows you to connect with other people when you can’t physically be together? However, it’s definitely proven to be a bit more complicated than that—especially in terms of how students’ education is structured. Because there is nowhere to go and nothing else to do during the quarantine, there is less of an excuse to not be fully present and participate in class. However, it becomes difficult to focus when people are in the luxury of their own spaces. On a typical day, a person values going home to rest in their bed, but on a typical day in quarantine, a person may get sick of being confined to his/her room. Yet, I find it interesting that many people—at least, my friends—still choose to get physically ready in the morning, as if they were still leaving for school, so they feel more ready to take on the day and get work done. Because of things like this, I’ve discovered that our lives now are fully reliant on our mindset. By keeping a positive attitude and carrying out tasks that may stimulate our brains, like making our bed, cleaning our rooms, or getting dressed in the morning, we feel more able to move forward with our days productively, while the opposite may reign true for not doing so.”

Overall guys, there are so many interesting thoughts here. These thoughts, taken together, help us start to reflect on the work we’ve done, despite its interruption. We’re also showing a lot of the skills of “seeing” that you’ve learned over the semester--looking at details, balancing concrete and abstract language, and developing an idea in various ways over the course of a paragraph.

About the Cover: The cover art was inspired by an assignment given by the art teacher at my older child’s elementary school. His first-grade class was asked to draw the view of their block out of their window. We did a freewrite--some of the words that came out of it are in the word cloud below--but composition is a multimodal effort these days. So I said, “Now draw it, too.”

And just like most everything else from the semester, my writers tried. The results are impressive, but more than that is what they went through to get them.  Bravo, folks. A big 7pm clap to the lot of you.