Encounterism The Neglected Joys Of Being In Person Andy Field by Andy Field 9781324036586, 1324036583 instant download after payment.

“From the history of the haircut to the mystery of The Jetsons, Andy Field is the freshest, most down-to-earth, most constantly surprising (and endearing) explorer of urban life I’ve read in a while. He seems to know everything, but he carries himself lightly. And whether he’s guiding us into mass snowball fights on the streets of London or the meaning of holding hands, this unmet stranger cheerfully reminds us all of the value of touch & the virtue of trying to see the world anew.” — Pico Iyer, author of Autumn Light 

A playful, analytical, informed, & poetic exploration of the delight & transformative power of real-life encounters.

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." Will we ever again shake hands without a thought?

In this deeply rewarding book, Andy Field brings together history, science, psychology, queer theory, & pop culture with his love of urban life and his own experiences—both as a city-dweller & as a performance artist—to forge creative connections: walking hand-in-hand with strangers, knocking on doors, staging encounters in parked cars. In considering twelve different kinds of encounters, from car rides to video calls to dog-walker chats in the park, Field argues “that in the spontaneity & joy of our meetings with each other, we might find the faint outline of a better future.”

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Andy Field is an artist, writer, & curator based in London whose performances around the world create encounters between strangers. He is codirector of the award-winning Forest Fringe, & a regular contributor to publications including the Guardian.