Encounterism

May 22, 2023
Performance artist Field (Performance in an Age of Precarity) offers a spirited ode to in-person interactions. Blending science, history, and personal anecdotes, Field serves up loosely connected considerations of how such activities as going to the movies, clubbing, sharing meals, and walking pets provide opportunities for meaningful engagement with others. He laments that changing social norms have transformed public spaces from sites of social interaction into “transit routes,” recounting the discomfort he felt conducting interviews with strangers for an art project in Bedford, England, and noting that in the Middle Ages, the same thoroughfare would have been filled with throngs of people trading and socializing. However, opportunities for such encounters still abound. Going to a hairdresser, Field contends, is one such occasion: “Allowing your whole body to be under their control demands a kind of trust that in today’s world feels almost radical.” Elsewhere, Field describes a study that found moviegoers release chemicals detectable by smell during funny and suspenseful moments, creating a communal experience irreplicable at home. Field’s enthusiasm succeeds in “render the ordinary briefly strange” and makes for an enjoyable paean to small connections. This is a blast.

Starred review from April 15, 2023
According to this engaging book, building personal connections takes courage, but it's worth the effort. In the 21st century, many of us have forgotten how to forge meaningful relationships with those outside our inner circles. However, while we might be out of practice, we can rediscover how to do it. This is the underlying message of this book, a textured exploration of the myriad forms of human contact. Field, a performance artist based in London, has participated in events that have been surprising, comedic, and poignant, and he has drawn crucial lessons from his experiences. The author's essays cover a wide range of topics, from the intimacy of a haircut to the collective joy of a dance party to the importance of holding hands. Field believes that humans have a basic need for contact, and the isolation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic was psychologically damaging at both the social and personal levels. With the pandemic waning, it's the perfect time to reconsider our interactions, renew our relationships, and be open to the wider world. Field also shows how the move away from face-to-face interaction was underway before the pandemic. Though he appreciates the utility of smartphones and Zoom, he is clear that we should not let them take over our lives or replace the nuanced warmth of conversation. Deepening a friendship is something that enriches life, but the other ingredient is being willing to venture into the unknown by connecting with strangers. Field discusses how temporary communities suddenly form, such as when sheltering from a rainstorm or with a spontaneous snowball fight. He also looks at cinema audiences at a horror movie, showing how catharsis, like many things, is better when it's shared. In fact, the author recommends you give this book to a stranger after reading it--an appropriate conclusion for a quietly inspiring book. A poetic, insightful examination of human connections and unexpected intimacy.

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