Encounterism: The Neglected Joys of Being In Person

A playful, analytical, informed, and poetic exploration of the delight and transformative power of real-life encounters.

The light touch of a hairdresser’s hands on one’s scalp, the euphoric energy of a nightclub, huddling with strangers under a shelter in the rain, a spontaneous snowball fight in the street, a daily interaction with a homeless man—such mundane connections, when we closely inhabit the same space, and touch or are touched by others, were nearly lost to “social distancing.” Wi...