Gefühle am Ende der Welt

Being close to each other is a precondition for any non-violent human interaction. For us to help and transform one another, we have to come closer, move into proximity, where we feel, at best, warm and safe, sometimes too close and stuffy, and in any case always at risk. Distance and proximity seem to have swapped roles in peculiar ways during the pandemic years. While distance was now a sign of showing solidarity and carefulness, proximity has become a potential threat. So how do we make the way back to closeness? How have the spaces fared in which we used to experience closeness? How do we do partying, kissing and rides on the tube after the social distancing imperative? Are there particular media and languages that might replace close contact or compensate for its absence? It’s about time we talked about closeness, and how to establish or forfeit it these days. Is there a chance for proximity to prevent people in complex relationships, political environments and cultural realities from becoming strangers to one another?