Eleventh Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Our Mellon funded project, Creativity in the Time of COVID-19: Art as a Tool for Combating Inequity and Injustice, explores how populations are using creative outlets to foster healing and begin to push back against the systemic inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gathering stories of how individuals turned to creativity to get through the pandemic, this project culminates in digital and in-person exhibits exploring how the shared space of collective artworks (and memories) may pave a path towards envisioning a more just future. We display pandemic artwork alongside the narratives of their creation, helping us preserve the everyday stories of COVID-19 in the global cultural memory and highlight the diverse experiences of the pandemic. Creativity in the Time of COVID-19 also has a particular emphasis on accessibility and disability culture, setting new standards for multisensory engagement in exhibition spaces. Our paper provides an overview of the project, outlines the research potential of the archive, and provides future directions of our work as global populations become increasingly willing to leave memories of the pandemic in the past. We share how past and upcoming events foster conversation around global inequities in access to healthcare and technology, and encourage cross-disciplinary conversation around health and mental wellness.

Presenters

Soohyun Cho
Postdoctoral Fellow, Michigan State University, United States

Natalie Phillips
Associate Professor of English, Affiliated Faculty in Cog Sci, Department of English , Michigan State University, Michigan, United States

Sydney Logsdon
Student, English, Environmental Studies and Sustainability, Michigan State University, United States