For some time now the media have been bombarding us with statistics about the seemingly unstoppable spread of infections. In some weeks, I fear, the focus of attention will shift to the economic consequences of this historic pandemic. I wonder when the powers that be will sit down and analyze the social impact of the present situation.
As far as the English language is concerned, we should be ready to talk about it with some precision. That conversation requires that we handle a number of different topics most of which are dealt with in our textbooks. Close-Up tackles the topics of health (unit 3) and modern living (unit 10). Outcomes discusses relationships (unit 2) and health issues (unit 9). And guess what? You will need all that input to do the writing exercise I'll ask you to submit before April 3.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Today I would like to write a few lines about our unusual situation. Don't worry. It will give you some background for your essay.
As you know, my oft-repeated mantra is that the advanced level is all about having options (so we can express different shades of meaning). We should therefore know that a recluse is a person who leads a secluded or solitary life whereas a shut-in is a someone who is confined to a home or a room often due to a disease. So both recluses and shut-ins are home but for different reasons. An inmate remains indoors because they are not allowed to get out. Just like us. Sort of. Kind of... The question is: what are we now? Well, most of us are locked in. We are all staying at home but the term stay-at-home is linked to a well-established labels (e.g. stay-at-home moms/dads) so I don't think we can use it to refer to our particular predicament. We can then contemplate the case of people that voluntarily choose to stay at home and I'm not talking about hermits (who are recluses for different reasons) but people who have found reasons to stay away from social interaction. Now, where do you find those individuals? The truth is you can find them in any society. That said, there is something peculiar about the fact that the Japanese language offers so many social labels describing types and subtypes of loners.
Bizarrely enough, Japan boasts the highest life expectancy in the world, followed by Spain (which is expected to overtake Japan by 2040). These two countries also top the lists of the noisiest in the world. I don't know how to feel about this. Does it mean that noise is healthy? All joking aside, longevity appears to be the result of a combination of multiple factors. I guess that the eating habits play a major role in this matter. And it is true that the Mediterranean diet and the traditional Japanese cuisine have some common characteristics in spite of which I think it is safe to say that, in terms of social life, Japan and Spain are poles apart. In Spain we tend to be more touchy-feely. We pride ourselves on being open, warm and friendly. We are also emotional in a way that, by Japanese standards, may be brash and even offensive. And, while that may be true, I must admit that I often miss the kind of introspection that brought about such beautiful Japanese expressions as mono no aware, wabi-sabi, komorebi, kintsugi etc. Feel free to look them up. You won't regret it.
I'm writing about all this because, in anticipation of the aforementioned debate, I have spent some time pondering the psychological impact of this nationwide lockdown and how it is affecting different societies. In a certain way, the debate has already started. At least on my cellphone. I have received quite a few memes pointing out how little social distancing is affecting Finland (the old stereotype being that Finns like to keep a distance). I have also observed that many an obsessive gamer has already posted in the comment section of YouTube that this confinement has hardly changed their everyday life. But time and again I've found myself thinking about a specific Japanese word: otaku.
What does it mean? Essentially, an otaku is a hardcore geek. Some of them can become quite reclusive and exhibit questionable social skills. However, there is a far more severe form of seclusion: the one practiced by hikikomori, who lead extreme often self-destructive lives. I have chosen this disturbing topic so you can appreciate the benefits of our lifestyle and consider our own culture from a different angle. If you think about it, it feels weird that two countries that share similar results (longevity and noise) should promote dramatically different lifestyles. At any rate, I believe that considering the ends of this particular spectrum may help you discover all the proverbial shades of grey and prepare for the writing assignments that you can find at the bottom of this post.
As for the dangers of social isolation, you can watch this video and later do your own research into this dark aspect of urban Japan. In the process you might come across the fascinating concept of ikigai, which may or may not partially explain the legendary longevity of the Japanese. Trust me. It's worth exploring.
Writing assignments for C1.1 and C1.2.
A 300-word essay on the topic of modern living. In light of the current circumstances, consider one of these two questions: Have we humans found a way to reconcile technological progress with a fulfilling way of life? How are lifestyles in the 21st century different from earlier models?
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