The following is an excerpt from an article in The Atlantic discussing how the usual soundtracks to our life may not harness the same power of connection during a pandemic:

Another disturbing element about this particular disaster is how it denies the cultural methods historically used to cope with crisis. The September 11 attacks were really the last terrifying shock that sent the entire country indoors for a bit, but vigils, rallies, and concerts provided comfort. HIV decimated many dance floors but also, survivors say, gave nightlife a new urgency. There is something akin to wartime in this huddle-and-wait moment, but during the blitz of London, hundreds of Britons lined up every day to see the pianist Myra Hess play in the basement of the National Gallery. Will live-streams of Coldplay give anything near the same succor?
Last Wednesday, just as the reality of social distancing was setting in, I spoke with Steve Waksman, a Smith College professor who is writing a book on the history of live music in America. He told me he feared the broader social effects of tours getting called off and venues shuttered. The psychological benefits of assembling in crowds is well demonstrated, and Waksman believes that gathering en masse with a shared purpose—whether to dance or sing or worship—helps build the bonds upon which a civilization rests. “Obviously there are a lot of things that make us feel like we’re part of that larger social collective, but live music is really integral to that,” he said. “If we lose it, we’re losing a really key part of the social fabric.”

Read the full piece here.

Visit The Atlantic main page here.

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