Items

• 
  2023-12-14

  Aaron Danner Professor Clarke Comp II 13 Dec. 2023 COVID-19 Archive Entries

  During COVID, I unearthed some pre-existing online culture in certain spaces, like the larger Black online communities. With the pandemic especially disproportionately affecting communities of color, sometimes it could be fun to send photos back and forth, especially when there was nothing better to do. These entries into "A Journal of the Plague Year: The COVID-19 Archive" somewhat reflect my background (black, chronically online, good music enjoyer). Through careful consideration, the images above contribute to the COVID-19 Archive by centering on the Black online experience during the period. Entry 1: Photo - "I’ll take the seen bro" This photo, posted sometime in 2022, directly references group chat culture and highlights the isolation that such online social hubs sort of erased, to some degree, which provided an outlet from which experience further caused damaging effects. In the span of the 36-odd months between the start of covid 2020 and this time Fall of 2023, many things surrounding sociability changed. This entry envisions the underlying happy-sadness within the digital spaces at the time. We were thankful to have someone to share these posts with even if we couldn’t see them in real life. By the presumed “end” of COVID, many become “chronically online”, or at the least, the youth became even more enthralled with social media communities than before. Saying “I’ll take the seen” demonstrates a joking willingness to sacrifice one’s online profile (an exaggerated act) concerning group chat message viewing and response. Entry 2: Photo - Sosa in the Ukraine” Also from around 2022 (speculatively), entry #2 involves an enlarged edit of Chief Keef along over a cityscape with the caption “On the way to Ukraine 🚶💥🔫🏃‍♂️.” This edited image of Chief Keef (@chiefkeefsosa on Instagram) reflects on the early stages and meme culture of the COVID-19 period Ukraine conflict. The transcendent Chicago star posted this image as the conflict overseas began to heat up. During this time, the underlying danger of the war as well as the widespread long-term effects of the pandemic were still fresh on the internet. The post’s lighthearted attitude was quickly absorbed by the rest of the internet, where the image continued to circulate. Surely, future researchers will unearth photos like these in amazement at how simple memes assisted so many in pain during isolated periods. They helped maintain comedic and cultural connections despite physical distancing measures. Circulation and archival of images from the Black community, from the pandemic period, will provide a more complete record for the future.. The selected items offer a window into the complexities of the Black experience during the pandemic, shedding light on both the challenges faced and the enduring spirit of resilience and resistance that defines the Black community. Through these submissions, I invite a more comedic perspective of the socio-cultural impact of the pandemic, ensuring that this part of the COVID narrative won't be forgotten.
• 
  2023-03-19

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 150

  Final issue, a three year review
• 
  2023-02-27

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 149

  what is a trillion
• 
  2022-07-20

  Hermit HERALD, ISSUE 143

  Biden/Trump 2024?
• 
  2022-06-21

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 142

  We perceive what we want to perceive
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  2022-04-26

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 140

  Republican/ Democrat warfare
• 
  2022-04-14

  Biolabs

  This is an Instagram post by dehart_perks. This is a parody of the "I Stand with Ukraine" social media trend that became popular with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is making fun of people that follow the media narrative, whether it is for which side to support in a war, or getting vaccinated. The extra things that are added, are biolabs, which some believe are responsible for helping create COVID itself.
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  2022-04-15

  I Stand With Pfizer

  This is an Instagram post by covid_parent. This is a parody of "I Stand with Ukraine" posts that have become popular over social media since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Instead of saying that they stand with Ukraine, it is saying they stand with Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company. It is mocking the type of people that just follow any trend, whether it is vaccines, or which side to support in a war. The hashtags call the pandemic a "scamdemic" and references the "New World Order." These tags indicate the overall feeling that the pandemic is partly, or completely planned, in order to exert more control over people and limit their freedoms.
• 
  2022-03-03

  And just like that...COVID is over

  This is an Instagram post by roryzacher. This is a meme showing what they think about the virus. This is a popular meme of a guy looking back at a girl in red, with his angry girlfriend in blue to the side of him. This meme became popular in the mid-2010s and has retained its popularity. In this context, it means now that there is a war, the COVID narrative is gone. This is commonly used by pandemic skeptics since they believe many of the COVID restrictions were more political rather than for health reasons. The war this is referencing is the Russian invasion on Ukraine.
• 
  2022-03-31

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 139

  Putin's invasion of Ukraine analogous to "The Walrus and the Carpenter"
• 
  2022-04-07

  Global Shortages

  This is an Instagram post by leventerkan. This user brings up the problems with shortages of raw materials as a result of the pandemic. Due to these shortages, prices of items have also been rising, leading to more inflation. At the end, it talks about how the war between Russia and Ukraine is making the supply chain issues even worse, as it is freezing up some industry, which could delay any return to normal conditions.
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  2022-04-03

  The can-do vaccine spirit must be applied to refugees

  This is a news story written by The Sunday Times (cannot find author). The Sunday Times is a British paper and this is detailing the contrast between the generosity of the British citizens towards Ukrainian refugees, but the lack of care from the British federal government. It says that over 200,000 people and organizations have registered to sponsor refugees in the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The overall story is not about the vaccines themselves, but the author is wishing for the can-do attitude of distributing vaccines in the UK to be applied to the refugees. Of the visas applied by refugees, for families, 32,300 applied for a scholarship, but only 4,700 were issued. I think that during the pandemic, the author that wrote this got more used to the government being lenient in helping, but now when faced with a refugee crisis, lacks that same helpful spirit.
• 
  2022-03-26

  Russia spread anti-vax lies in Ukraine. Will it cause a COVID crisis for Europe?

  This is a news story from the Los Angeles Times by Melissa Healy and Emily Baumgaertner. The authors claim that even prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine that Russia has been working to undermine the confidence of Western vaccines. It says that these messages were encouraged by President Vladimir Putin and shown on Russian TV and social media. In Ukraine, only 35% of residents are fully vaccinated, some of the lowest in all of Europe. This makes the refugee crisis in Ukraine more dire, as people needing to leave will risk spreading COVID more places. The authors assert that with the low vaccination rates of Ukrainian refugees that it will cause another surge in COVID cases throughout Europe. The CDC has advised countries accepting refugees to offer them the vaccine upon entry. This article details that this is not the only vaccine that Ukrainians have not accepted as much compared to the rest of Europe. In 2021, only 53% of Ukrainian babies were vaccinated against polio. That number has now risen to 76% of infants being immunized against polio. Though, the likelihood of these diseases spreading as far as COVID are fairly low. The vaccine hesitancy, the authors say, is rooted in deep distrust of the government. In December 2020, only 14% of Ukrainians reported having trust in their government in a poll.
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  2022-03-05

  War and pestilence

  I saw this on facebook. In most people’s minds, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is just a continuation of the rolling crises marked by the pandemic.
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  2022-02-25

  Russian invasion of Ukraine Ruins Everything

  I (and many others) am feeling like disasters just keep compounding one another since March 2020. I know a lot of folks around my were anticipating a “return to normal” this summer but it feels really difficult to just celebrate “normal life” when innocent Ukrainians are suffering and the whole world is watching.
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  2022-02-25

  hermit HERALD, ISSUE 138

  Russia, more powerful than thought
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  2022-02-01

  hermit HERALD, ISSUE 137

  Putin vs NATO
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  2022-01-16

  hermit HERALD, ISSUE 136

  U.S. taking a knife to a gunfight
• 
  2021-01-24

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 95

  REPUBLICAN INTRAPARTY PROBLEMS
• 
  11/19/2020

  David McKenney Oral History, 2020/11/19

  David John McKenney lived in rural Michigan for most of his life. In this interview, David reflects upon the challenges that COVID-19 wrought on the rural school districts for which he works. He describes how he and his coworkers wrote code that helped transition students to remote learning and saved other districts countless hours of labor. David also touches upon his experience in Ukraine and the flu quarantine that occurred there seasonally. He contrasts this with the current American quarantine and highlights his concerns about freedoms of speech in reference to lockdowns. His concerns about freedoms of speech also extends to the future of Christianity and the church. He expresses his anger about the 2020 election season. In addition, David discusses his frustration with rioting in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. David remarks on the shift in real estate from urban areas to suburban areas and the rise in construction. Finally, David comments on his participation in pandemic trends (such as baking bread) and increased time spent with family.
• 
  2020-10-21

  Hermit Herald Vol 1 issue 71

  Herd immunity
• 2020-07-27

  Lockdown Clothing Project

  We are two London-based fashion scholars – Lorraine Smith (aka Lori) and Jana Melkumova-Reynolds – who have always been curious about how others dress, and how this relates to identity. Recent social changes (due to the coronavirus pandemic) have increased that curiosity. How are people dressing when in lockdown and isolation situations? How is this different to the way they dressed before? Has it affected their sense of self? This project aims to shine a light on those changes and reveal some of the many and varied personal stories relating to fashion and dress in 2020.
• 
  2020-05-21

  "Providing Hope" Feed My Starving Children

  An email sent to supporters of Feed My Starving Children describing how the pandemic is affecting those experiencing hunger. The email describes the experiences of one woman, Anya who gratefully received support from FMSC partner Mission Eurasia.
• 
  2020-04-26

  The disappointing year

  Hi, my name is Anastasiia. Today is the 46th day of quarantine, which has been introduced by Ukraine due to the world coronavirus pandemic. Self-isolation means restriction or even exception of social contacts to pause the virus spread. To my opinion, these precautions are logical, because humanity has no vaccine, and we will not have it at an early date. But, I need to say, that quarantine is just formality in my country. People go out to walk and drink alcohol in the yards, they throng in hypermarkets, they even make B-B-Q in parks. I’ve heard, that even some restaurants receive rich guests. Ok, we understand, that there is no quarantine for oligarchs and their escort. BUT, EASTER, APRIL 19! IT WAS FUCKING AWESOME. About 130 000 of believers rushed to churches and temples to lick pope’s hands and get some “saint water”. Bravo, guys. This entailed an extension of quarantine until May 11. And something tells me, this is not the end. Everybody understands that world wasn’t ready for this shitty disaster. Ukraine’s economy is beggar, so am I. I’ve worked about 6 years in the food service industry. And I realize, quarantine hit all of spheres of life, but restaurants/cafes/cinemas/shops/beauty salons suffer the most of all. So yeah, I’m 24 and I’m unemployed. Of course, there are a lot of vacancies on the remote, but, to be honest, I don’t wanna to masturbate on the camera or sale rubbish that nobody needs. My subjective opinion is this home imprisonment is a kind of free time to overestimate priorities. I’ll explain. As for me, I always chased money. I could work in two different cafes without weekends. I worked abroad hard for money only, and so on. AND NOW I HAVE NO JOB! I AM USELESS. I HAVE NO MONEY. I WILL DIE! No wonder I got depressed. I needed about 3 weeks, a couple of sessions with my psychotherapist and psychiatrist to understand what should I do to stay afloat. I must make great efforts to shift focus from money to spiritual values. It turns out I have friends. It turns out I can embroider, cycle a fixed-gear, cook delicious dishes. Shit, even my acne disappeared. I’m imprisoned with my boyfriend in the one-room apartment we’ve recently rented. AND GOD I HATE EVERY MILIMETER OF THIS FUCKING SMALL FLAT! Every your day is like Groundhog Day (like in the movie). Huh, smth about my boyfriend. The first self-isolation month was very hard. We argued every fucking day. Even if I have warm and bright feelings to this awesome guy, sometimes I just wanted TO KILL HIM WHY HE DIDN’T WASH THE DISHES OR WHY DIDN’T HE READ MY MIND TO UNDERSTAND THAT I WANT THE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM, NOT THE STRAWBERRY ONE!!! Do you understand? Yeah, I was really scared when he took his bike and ran away from me in the midst of our quarrel. In two days he came back, of course. But now I really realize when I should shut the fuck up. I know, there’re a lot of couples, who break up or get divorced in this period of quarantine. But yeah, we’re lucky with each other. We’re just trying to find a compromise. Now I’m not scared of virus. I’m afraid to stay unemployed and to starve to death. Oh yeah, I’ll die on the street, because we will be kicked out of the apartment for non-payment. Millions of Ukrainians are scared. By the way, about the work. I’ve decided to start the QA-engineering career, so I have to study during all the day. BUT, my laziness and anxious brain blocks every attempts to remember smth new, and I feel guilty. Multiply this guilt by the success cult we hear from every iron about – HELLO DEPRESSION !!! We all are tired and scared. All this is wrong. The world will not stay the same. Only those who can adapt to the quick changes will survive. So now I need to receive am I that adaptable person.
• 
  2020-04-26

  the view from Ukraine

  Описал за 20 минут мои ощущения об эпидемии и разместил их в архиве для будущего поколения. Такое маленькое поле для описание столь глобальной проблемы, как CORVID19-20. Пишу данный текст на русском, ибо нехватка знаний английского. Прочитавшие это славяни из будущего будут приятно удивлены. Мне 26 лет, без трёх дней 27. На моём веку происходило разное, сейчас же глобальная эпидемия. Попробую описать её влияние на меня. В связи с опасностью для здоровья мир вынужден сидеть на самоизоляции, делать покупки онлайн, кушать ресторанные блюда из коробочек и сушить свои руки спиртовыми антисептикаи. Последнее очень сушит кожу рук, так что кокосовое масло стоит на прикроватной тумбе, ещё томик Антона Чехова скрашивая мысли о великом иронией и колким словцом. Моя самоизоляция проходит за городом в кругу родных, благо у нас большой дом и пересекаться постоянно нет надобности. В это время я прочувствовал свою интровертность ещё лучше, мне хорошо одному, как бы современные учёные не говорили о важности коммуникации. Я человек своего времени, постоянное общение онлайн и тонны информации не дают мне оставаться наедине с собой. Отличное время: я учусь не спешить, работаю над самодисциплиной, много читаю (Чехова в частности). Время когда всё остановилось, когда у людей появились новые возможности, но и новые проблемы и чего больше пока не ясно. Территориально я в Украине, город Днепр. Небольшой город до миллиона жителе, с огромной еврейской общиной. Шаббат Шалом, ребята!) Кстати ведь можно провести параллель между этой традицией и происходящим сейчас, когда ты сидишь дома, ничего не делаешь и только молишься. Молитвами в данной ситуации думаю не поможешь. Ситуация в моей стране не критичная, смертей не много, люди ещё не обозлены, государство принимает минимальные меры, которых я думаю должно хватить для прекращения и старта привычного ритма жизни. Вопрос, будет ли эта жизнь привычной? Неизвестно. Мы же существа легко адаптируемые, если открыты и готовы принимать настоящие каким оно является. Да, читаю немного философии, что собственно и влияет на такие вопросы и мыли. Кстати, рекомендую Кришнамурти - это для вас из будущего. Он будет актуален и при вашем времени. Буду ли я в нём, непонятно. В целом ситуация не выбила меня из колеи, я её принял и стараюсь работать с ней, не скучать и унывать. Вдруг, это кто-то прочтёт, хочу сказать что мы такие же как и вы в вашем сейчас. Те же люди, ведь мы не меняемся уже тысячи лет. На просто становится больше. Сейчас чуть больше семи миллиардов. Интересно, если вас там меньше. :) В целом современный мир отлично справляется с эпидемией такого уровня, мы сильные и умные существа. И такая злая мысль, пусть это будет естественный отбор, в мире, которому и без нас хорошо - стало лучше в этом спокойствие. Животные размножаются, природа восстанавливается. Так что из страшного, это невозможность сходить в бар с друзьями, если у вас есть такие. Спасибо, если прочли. Обнял! Всем любви и улыбок. Двигайтесь, не забывайте об этом.