Throughout this course we have discussed ethnography, and now it is time for you to do one of your own. For this assignment, I would like you to consider the cultural experience and context of this pandemic. Interview five people/organizations/companies over the phone or in another manner practicing social distancing, and ask the following two questions:
1) How has the virus impacted daily life in their communities, and how have they been forced to adapt? Look for answers that extend beyond economic and health concerns. For instance, consider changes in food safety, such as those advertised in recent Little Caesar’s commercials that offer “no contact” food preparation and delivery, or an increased reliance on grocery delivery and curbside pickup, or standing on marked spots on the floor 6-feet apart at Starbucks and Vons. Or, changes in the ways people communicate with each other.
2) What lasting impacts do they expect this pandemic to have on their own behavior moving forward? For instance, perhaps people will be more inclined to wear masks on a daily basis (e.g., a new fashion trend?), refrain from typically courteous practices like handshaking and hugging, or maybe there will be a greater shift to online business, schooling, religious gatherings, and other forms of interactions.
Finally, compare your interview data to that in news media or other research (e.g., medical anthropology journals), using at least two sources (cite using AAA style). Summarize your findings in a three-page paper, double-spaced, Times New Roman font.
