Progression Through a Pandemic
You must try to enjoy the life you have as it will not last long.
Gilgamesh Retold p. 107
THIS IS MY CAT, FELIX. I TOOK THIS PHOTO ON THE DAY THAT I LEFT TO COME TO TEMPLE. HE WAS laying ON THE BACK OF THE COUCH, JUST SADLY STARING OUT THE WINDOW. IT KIND OF FELT LIKE HE KNEW I WAS LEAVING. I FEEL LIKE THIS PHOTO ENCAPSULATES HOW A LOT OF US HAVE FELT THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC. ON ONE HAND, WE’RE LITERALLY STARING OUT OF THE WINDOW WHILE INSIDE OF OUR HOMES. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE’RE ALSO METAPHORICALLY STARING OUT THE WINDOW, LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR FUTURE AND BACK TO OUR PAST. WE’RE NOT ONLY FANTASIZING ABOUT THE BETTER DAYS THAT ARE TO COME BUT ALSO REFLECTING ON ALL THE THINGS WE TOOK FOR GRANTED.
This gallery represents my personal progression through the pandemic. At the very beginning, we were just coming into spring, when all of the flowers were blooming, the temperature was warming, and everyone was happy to be coming out of a bleak winter. Although the world was beginning to fall apart, we were all happy to have a bit of time to relax at home with our families. But, as time dragged on, we all became more disheartened. My own turning point began when Temple announced classes would transition to an online format for the semester. I had been so happy to be on campus, but ended up taking advantage of the refund option and came home. The gradual graying of the previously over-saturated pictures represents the emotional transition of this time. The photos lose more and more color until they are finally just black and white. Now, a year later, we’re all just tired of the constant sickness and death. Perhaps as the situation begins to improve, we’ll see the vibrance return to our lives.