Encounterism: The Neglected Joys of Being In Person

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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. Andy Field guides us through a series of perfectly ordinary situations (going to the cinema, dancing in a club, walking in a park) and invites us to reflect on the hidden wonders of each moment shared with friends, family and even strangers. To me, the word "encounter" brings back the groups in that I participated back in the 1970s, we spent a couple of hours each time sitting on bean bags in a circle. 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 and the virtue of trying to see the world anew. The chapter also showcases his strong attention to detail such as the Steve James "City so Real" documentary.

A great mix of social commentary, experience of the self and some thoughtful insights into our ancestral past.To him, our most ordinary sidewalk interactions can be imbued with “friction and possibility … anxiety and joy. Encounterism is a joyous immersion into the everyday pleasure and shared humanity we stand to lose in an increasingly digital world. He uses it when describing the strange but familiar comfort provided by a barber when our jugular is exposed. We learned how to build trust, and that invited us to be daring in what we said and what we revealed about ourselves. Snatches of ideas drifted in and out during his discussion but it had a meandering feel I was happy when the chapter ended.

We must not lose sight of working with people we love working with… Therefore, meet in person, share those experiences, get hungry together, get hot/cold together, share in each other’s pains, radiate, share in joy, confidence, awkwardness, nervousness, and everything else that defines what it is to exist on this planet – together. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. However I found myself skimming toward the end of each section as it felt like a repeat of what he just said, like he was trying to reach a certain word count. Andy Field – along with his partner Beckie Darlington – have an international programme of projects which is really helping forge the next generation of architects, planners, urban designers and flaneurs, by asking them what they want from their cities.The author highlights how our simple interactions with people can help to shift our focus, and others', toward a more insightful understanding of the world and our place within it. Haughty nightclubs, community parks, backs of car seats and movie theaters give us physical space to relate differently, and be different. 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.