Play in a Covid Frame: Everyday Pandemic Creativity in a Time of Isolation - cover image

Copyright

Anna Beresin; Julia Bishop;

ISBN

Paperback978-1-80064-891-3
Hardback978-1-80064-892-0
PDF978-1-80064-893-7
HTML978-1-80064-897-5
XML978-1-80064-896-8
EPUB978-1-80064-894-4
AZW3978-1-80064-895-1

Language

  • English

Dimensions

Paperback156 x 234 mm (6.14" x 9.21")
Hardback156 x 234 mm (6.14" x 9.21")

BIC

  • JF
  • JHB
  • JHBS
  • JNC
  • MBNH
  • JMC
  • JHMC

BISAC

  • SOC026040
  • SOC002010
  • SOC047000
  • PSY012000
  • PSY034000
  • PSY004000
  • PSY002000

    Play in a Covid Frame

    Everyday Pandemic Creativity in a Time of Isolation

    • Anna Beresin (editor)
    • Julia Bishop (editor)
    FORTHCOMING
    During the international coronavirus lockdowns of 2020–2021, millions of children, youth, and adults found their usual play areas out of bounds and their friends out of reach. How did the pandemic restrict everyday play and how did the pandemic offer new spaces and new content? This unique collection of essays documents the ways in which communities around the world harnessed play within the limiting frame of Covid-19.

    Folklorists Anna Beresin and Julia Bishop adopt a multidisciplinary approach to this phenomenon, bringing together the insights of a geographically and demographically diverse range of scholars, practitioners, and community activists. The book begins with a focus on social and physical landscapes before moving onto more intimate portraits of play among the old and young, including coronavirus-themed games and novel toy inventions. Finally, the co-authors explore the creative shifts observed in frames of play, ranging from Zoom screens to street walls.

    This singular chronicle of coronavirus play will be of interest to researchers and students of developmental psychology, childhood studies, education, playwork, sociology, anthropology and folklore, as well as to toy, museum, and landscape designers. This book will also be of help to parents, professional organizations, educators, and urban planners, with a postscript of concrete suggestions advocating for the essential role of play in a post-pandemic world.

    Endorsements

    This inspiring book gives insight into the strength of the human spirit when faced with extreme adversity, and especially our determination to play. Indeed, it may be that we have an instinctive drive to play in order to avoid descending into despair. The book highlights the creativity and resilience of children and adults throughout the Covid pandemic, not only as a mechanism for maintaining their psycho-social equilibrium, but also as a response to the shocking socio-cultural environment. With contributions from around the world, we see further confirmation that play is often a representation of how we see our immediate reality. There is strong evidence within these pages that when the wider world is beyond our understanding, we use play and creativity to take back control of our immediate surroundings. Read and enjoy.

    Fraser Brown

    Emeritus Professor, Childhood Development and Playwork Team, Leeds Beckett University

    Contributors