Encounterism: The Neglected Joys of Being In Person

Product Information

It is worth declaring that I had a single ‘in person’ encounter with Field in April 2022, which pretty much changed my life.

The book was written while the pandemic was going and seem to be finished right around when restrictions were being lifted. A rousing reminder that our cities, our residential and work places, must still allow for the possibility of spontaneity and shared, in-person joy.

It is therefore no surprise that the author, Andy Field, is performance artist that specialises in human interaction. The RA is a unique institution, an independent charity with a mission to be a clear, strong voice for art and artists, where art is made, exhibited and debated.

I’m a positive/optimistic/enthusiastic person, but Field’s words take this to another level by mixing it with childlike wonder – that feeling of experiencing something for the first time. Very cute concept, and I'm a big advocate for in-person encounters, but the execution wasn't it for me.This book has 9 different story's within using everyday situations, some might not be as everyday depending on who you are and where you live.

If recent trends in bad behavior are any indication, we may also have yet to relearn the skill set of coexistence — like how not to throw hard objects at musicians during their live shows, even if it makes for eye-grabbing video. However, in doing this, as you read the pages, you imagine your own experiences in similar situations; and thus the first reading of the book really becomes about your own memories and encounters.We learned how to build trust, and that invited us to be daring in what we said and what we revealed about ourselves. Because of years of experience in those groups and sometimes leading them, I was very disappointed in the overall content and depth of the essays. 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. The authors little stories are good reminders about the joys of being in person for a time when we're all often focused on the potential awkwardness, tense situations, or even danger. Encounterism" is a quirky but accurate way to describe the regular moments of friction that permeates our lived experience.