wearing the mask

Article/Photo Link

Written by: Eleanor Cwik

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Hey folks!

So this week’s photos analysis is inspired by a personal experience...so before I dive into the analysis, I will give you some background.

Yesterday, my boyfriend and I were talking Fine, his dog- who likes me way more BTW- for a walk in the forest. Before we could get to the forest, though, we needed to walk along a couple of streets, so we thought it would be smart to bring our face masks along. Also keep in mind that starting on Monday (April 27th, 2020) it is required in Muenster to wear a facemask in public spaces. We know this doesn’t necessarily mean the forest, especially if no one is there, but we wanted to be safe, responsible civilians, so we brought our masks.

We did in fact meet some people along the way, and we quickly put our masks on, but after we had greeted our fellow walkers, we honestly forget to take the mask off. So we kept on walking, and as we reached the forest edge, we passed by an older gentleman. He knew Fine, petted her, and looked up at us. He seemed disappointed, almost frustrated, but could be that he is just an old grumpy dude, so we said hello, and started walking into the forest.

But before we went our different paths the man asked,

“Ist man verpflichtet im Wald eine Maske zu tragen..?”

(eng: does one have to wear a mask in the forest?)

We both looked at each other and I replied,

“Ne, glaube nicht”

(eng: no (I) don’t think so).

To which he replied,

“dann warum trägst du eine Maske”

(eng: then why are you wearing a mask?)

This is an easy answer for me: because I want to protect you and myself, and it doesn’t hurt, so why not? He did not like this answer; he shook his head and pursed his lips, and replied, “Well are you going to still talk to me if I don’t wear one?” To that I said, “Yes, but from a distance and while I am (wearing a mask).”

After that, we both walked away, but this sparked a conversation between my boyfriend and I. We talked about why he was so frustrated that we were wearing masks, why he wasn’t wearing one, and why a lot of people are against wearing the protective gear. We came to the conclusion that we cannot change anyone’s mind or alter their actions, but rather that we can be good role models.

Additionally, as young adults, if we set the precedent that we need to wear masks, or at least that we should, everyone is likely to follow. It is normal for parents (and adults alike) to be our example of what to do - and what not to do, but what if the kids became the role models? What if all the kids of the world showed the older folks how it should be done? Well, I think, they would all suddenly be on board. The mask wearing phenomenon is hard to explain, because it is already a norm amongst many, and required by law in some states or cities. However, this norm is not universally accepted, nor liked, but if adults who dislike this norm see that their children can get over this upset, in order to protect their communities, I believe the adults are likely to follow suit.

This was a long intro- I am sorry!! However, I do think it is important to mention, if you haven’t already gotten the message, WEAR A MASK!

Alright guys, let’s get on with this analysis…

First of all, I pulled this picture from a New York Times article titled, “The Mask”-- very good read, highly suggest it!

So let’s dive in! In the last weeks, I have been trying to really narrow in on what I am analyzing, and today I am choosing to focus in on the message. I think the general message is pretty clear and simple: wear a mask, you have to, but it doesn’t have to be ugly- look at all these people who are doing it! Just like my boyfriend and I, this picture is trying to normalize mask wearing.

There are a couple distinct ways in which this message is sent, the first being that it is a picture of diversity. I don’t mean like college brochures, but real-life diversity. These picture snippets, if you will, are all of different people, different locations, and even different time periods. This represents the diversity of people who are wearing masks, but also the variety of people COVID-19 is affecting. It is not only the Wuhan area, it is not only Americans, or Europeans, we are ALL affected by the monstrosity that is Corona. And since this is a worldwide pandemic, the people of the world need to be taking the proper measures.

This picture also represents the function of role models, if everyone can see that every sort of person is willing to wear a mask, they will be too! And if the everyday role model isn’t enough, this picture includes celebrities; such as Jaden Smith and Billie Eilish. These pop culture icons are setting good examples for their viewership and the world. Moreover, the message of “mask coolness” is portrayed by the various models who sexily wear the crap out of those masks. I want to keep this a bit shorter, because I know that this is probably pretty obvious stuff, but the last way this picture pushes its agenda is through making a not so universally accepted norm, become normal. This is done by showing the causality of mask wearing. You don’t need to be sick or someone special to wear a mask, you just need to start wearing one. You don’t need to think of it as anything more than what you should be doing, and by doing so you are protecting yourself and your neighbor.

So be a good civilian, and wear a goddamn mask!