[-empyre-] Thank you Week 3 guests

[Renate Ferro]

Dear -empyre-

As we bring our Week 3 discussion to an end on -empyre- I have been reflecting on the fact that since March 14th, the day our Cornell students were excused from classes, our life here in Ithaca has been divided in two very distinct zones.  There is the one that surrounds us in our physical environment:  the upstate New York rolling hills and the fox family living to the front of the house, the deer who have feed on the side yard and wooded area above, and the rabbits, chipmunks, birds, rabbits, racoons who entertain us as we are sealed in the human seclusion of our rambling upstate farmhouse.  How lucky we are to be able to order groceries in, cook great meals together, and relish in the time to do our work between our teaching virtually.  We think of so many who are suffering all over the world because of the pandemic we find ourselves in.

Tim, Junting, and I are most thankful for our network of friends and colleagues like all of you on -empyre-.  You have given us varied and richly intellectual insight this week into such topics as biological modeling, viral delirium and the death of the social and the eclipse of politics, thinking through the slavery and the revolution in communication technologies.  Also, finding the invisible, epidemic mediation, the mental health effects of frugality and the fear of economic collapse, the fight for values, and viruses of social consciousness/awareness.  To our special guests Paul Vanouse, Arthur Kroker, Premesh Lalu, Bishnupriya Ghosh, Stewart Auyash, Maurice Benayoun, and Constanza Salazar as well as our subscribers who joined in we thank you.  

As Paul quoted Gloria Kim from last week, "One of the most notable parts of quarantine/self-iso. is the loss/fear of touch”.  On the contrary, you have all "touched" us with incredible posts on not only your intellectual research and covid reflections but the warmth of the virtual touch of your thoughts.  We are thankful.  Stay safe and in touch. 
Renate  

Renate Ferro
Visiting Associate Professor
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Art
Tjaden Hall 306
rferro at cornell.edu