[Video Essay]Apartment: Slow City

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SCRIPT- VIDEO ESSAY

By

Shaurya Kang, U35812385

 

 

Hypothesis

The current COVID-19 situation in India is creating a fear psychosis and panic resulting in separating families living under the same roof in one Apartment, a phenomenon which may have a lasting impact on psyche of people.

 

Theme

The general perception is that COVID-19 effected ‘lock downs’ and the ‘work from home, culture, gave more opportunities for families to bond together and rekindle their relationships. While that may be true, but in countries most impacted by the pandemic, like India, due to a widespread ‘fear psychosis’ even the families staying together have started distancing themselves from each other, for the fear of contracting the dreaded virus. In my video I am attempting to capture how a family in India today is living in an apartment.

 

Description

 

India since Mar 2021 has witnessed a huge spread of COVID-19 infections, wherein almost 400,000 daily cases with over 4000 deaths are being reported every day. More, worrisome is the alarming mutation, the virus is undergoing with the hugely infectious India variant, B.1.617.2 spreading its tentacles in India. India on 14 May 2021, Saturday, reported 3,26,098 new Covid-19 cases and 3,890 fatalities in the past 24 hours.

Even though, there are 36,73,802 active cases and 2,04,32,898 patients have recovered from the disease so far, a fear psychosis has set in the general public. The country is witnessing mass funerals and cremations and many families have been wiped out due to the deadly virus entirely.

World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that the coronavirus situation in India is “hugely concerning” as several states were continuing to see a “worrying number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths”.

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram are all flooded with news and accounts of despair engulfing the families of those infected, shortage of hospital beds, oxygen and even cremation slots.

My video is about the lockdown imposed within the apartments by families, even as outside, there are state imposed lock downs. In apartments, I am showing the measures taken which include, strict isolation from the outside world like sanitising all purchases including milk and groceries, shoe discipline, ventilation of the apartments, earmarking. The family members are confining themselves to their earmarked spaces, which I am calling own spaces, wearing masks at all times and minimum physical interaction. They are using the technology to interact with each other. Hence, the use of Internet is not only for online education or for work from home, but even for work within homes!

Objectives and Reflections

Why this theme is important to me, is because I feel that home isolation and family lockdowns are bound to have a lasting impact on the psyche of Indians, especially the young children, who have been unfortunate to witness and undergo negative emotions of doom and despair.

In the long run, however, I feel the country and its people will emerge victorious against the virus and learn from the happenings of today, in order to not have a repeat of yesterday! Family bonds and love will prevail upon all misfortunes and ‘The Apartment’ will become a cosy place once again. Amen!

Shooting of Video

Due to lockdown restrictions this video was shot in near vicinity of my home, without any special effects, based on the experiences of my own family and friends.

Method of Research

  1. Internet.
  2. Media including newspapers, magazines, and television.
  3. Interaction with friends and family members.

 

 

Bibliography

 

Floor Plan

My Apartment:

STORYBOARD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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