Encounterism: The Neglected Joys of Being In Person

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What understanding of the world, and of each other, are we depriving ourselves of as we spend less and less time in proximity to all these strangers and their lives that are so very different from our own? 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. In a post-covid world where articles on loneliness and social media's distorted mirror proliferate, we still encounter difficulties or problems that are interruptions to our own desires (p. Into this precarious state of affairs steps “Encounterism: The Neglected Joys of Being in Person,” an argument by the British artist Andy Field for venturing out among the populace.

Field’s book takes you on a journey through his own everyday ‘encounters’ which have shaped his life. After that I moved out from my childhood home where I grew up with 4 generations/8-6 people to now live in apartment with my husband and cat in a neighborhood where we don't know anyone. If recent trends in bad behavior are any indication, we may also have yet to relearn the skill set of coexistence — like how not to throw hard objects at musicians during their live shows, even if it makes for eye-grabbing video. A joyful, thoughtful, poetic exploration of everyday human encounters, reframing these overlooked moments as the unique and beautiful encounters that they are.Conceived before the pandemic, Andy Field’s ode to sharing space in person glosses over the ways our everyday habits seem to have changed for good. Field is also about to turn 40 years old, and the reason that age is important, is that he is of the last generation that grew up in the pre-internet age of everything, all at once. To be clear, Field is not writing as some man-child, he is however an adult who hasn’t been worn down by the repetition and responsibilities of adulthood.

He uses it when describing the strange but familiar comfort provided by a barber when our jugular is exposed. Andy Field guides us through a series of perfectly ordinary situations (going to the cinema, dancing in a club, walking in a park) and invites us to reflect on the hidden wonders of each moment shared with friends, family and even strangers. I am particularly fond of the postscript which highlights ways to share this book with others; bringing them into the conversation. To him, our most ordinary sidewalk interactions can be imbued with “friction and possibility … anxiety and joy. Receiving no public funding, the RA depends on the continuing generosity of our supporters and Friends.However I found myself skimming toward the end of each section as it felt like a repeat of what he just said, like he was trying to reach a certain word count. Given Feld's theater background and openness to experience, I enjoyed imagining these experiences if they were crafted into scenes of improv and fringe theater. Snatches of ideas drifted in and out during his discussion but it had a meandering feel I was happy when the chapter ended. Encounterism is a joyous immersion into the everyday pleasure and shared humanity we stand to lose in an increasingly digital world. Ending the book, he lists some fun and hilarious ways to pay the book forward to a stranger, to ensure our own encounter, and asks that it be done with care.