2020: The Year Everything Changed with Eric Klinenberg
Feb 13, 2024
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Eric Klinenberg, a sociologist, discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevailing sentiment of loneliness and distrust in America. He explores the challenges faced by individuals in New York City, including increased crime rates and the lack of support from the government. Klinenberg also examines the effects of COVID-19 on communities, such as school closures and the radicalization of a bar owner. Through his book, '2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed,' Klinenberg offers a comprehensive analysis of the events of 2020 and their social implications.
Americans felt a strong sense of being on their own in 2020, leading to increased defensiveness and self-protection.
The concept of long COVID highlights the lasting social impact of the pandemic, including intensified societal divisions and neglected essential workers.
Examining the crises of 2020 allows for a comprehensive understanding of societal changes, emphasizing the importance of personal narratives and intimate experiences.
Deep dives
The Social Impact of 2020
The podcast episode explores the social impact of the year 2020, highlighting the trauma and chaos experienced by Americans. It discusses the loneliness epidemic and crisis of connection, which the speaker questions as being the real issue. Instead, the speaker argues that Americans felt they were on their own during this time of vulnerability and uncertainty. The episode draws parallels between the Super Bowl matchup in 2020 and the potential 2024 presidential matchup, emphasizing that 2020 is often blocked out and not adequately acknowledged. The importance of understanding the social meaning and effects of 2020 is emphasized as a means of healing and comprehending current societal issues.
The Long-Term Effects of the Pandemic
The podcast episode delves into the concept of long COVID, not only as a medical condition but also as a social disease. It suggests that the trauma and repression experienced during the pandemic have left a lasting impact on society. The speaker discusses the intensification of daily life, the surge in societal divisions, and the prevailing sense of being on one's own rather than lonely. The concept of essential workers and their neglect and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement are highlighted as examples of social consequences stemming from the pandemic. The episode argues that the effects of 2020, both the trauma and aftermath, shape various aspects of society, including trust, violence, and economic perceptions.
The Role of Crisis in Understanding Society
The podcast episode explores the lens of crisis as a means to understand societal dynamics and identify social conditions. The speaker discusses the sociological concept of crisis as a tool that allows us to observe and analyze societal aspects that are otherwise invisible or obscured. By studying crises, one can uncover deeper insights into societal values, inequalities, and responses. The episode emphasizes the need to examine the multiple crises that occurred in 2020, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protests, and the U.S. election, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the societal impact and changes. It highlights the importance of focusing on personal narratives and intimate experiences to truly comprehend the effects of crisis on individuals and communities.
Americans feeling on their own in 2020
In the podcast episode, it is highlighted that Americans felt a strong sense of being on their own in 2020, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government was perceived as lacking a coherent plan or support. This feeling of being on their own led to increased defensiveness, self-protection, and even nihilism. Americans felt a lack of trust in the government and a sense of having to manage the situation independently. This sense of individualism and self-reliance was also reflected in the public's behavior, with examples mentioned in the podcast including increased division and discord, especially on the roads.
Contrasting COVID responses: Australia vs. the United States
The podcast explores the contrasting responses to COVID-19 in Australia and the United States. Despite both countries experiencing significant challenges, Australia was able to effectively manage the pandemic and maintain high levels of public trust. The Australian government took proactive measures, such as closing borders, providing subsidies for masks and testing equipment, and establishing a task force with bipartisan representation and health experts. This approach resulted in successful control of the virus, fewer deaths, and increased trust in government and fellow citizens. In contrast, the United States failed to take COVID-19 seriously, with mixed messaging and a lack of cohesive action. This led to low levels of trust, politicization of the pandemic, and a divided response among the population.
2020 was undoubtedly one of the most consequential years in history. The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with other cascading crises, can still be felt in almost every facet of our lives. Our guest this week points out that in order to heal, we must take time to reckon with what we lived through. Eric Klinenberg is a sociologist, the Helen Gould Shepard Professor of Social Science at NYU and the author of “2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed.” Klinenberg is also the director at NYU's Institute for Public Knowledge. He joins WITHpod to discuss stories of people he profiled in the book, the importance of grappling with what we experienced, the increasing pressures of daily life and more.
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