Makenzie's Corporeal Marker Journal & Experience Outline

Makenzie McGuire

Geography Corporeal Marker Journal

Group

When we wore the mask as a group;

At crowded places on campus.

•   I think people were confused when they saw us.
•   Minimal eye-contact (Even when I would try pursuing eye-contact purposefully)
•  Reminded me of the AIDS movement/ pandemic from the 80’s and made me wonder if observers were thinking about what disease we could be carrying and how it could affect them.
•  Did the mask invoke fear because of that? Pity?
• Did they see us as lesser human beings because of our assumed “ailment”?
•  Similar to physical disability.
• They barely wanted to make eye-contact let alone talk to us.

Individual

When I wore the mask individually; 

On my walks to and from class.

• I don’t think it had as big of an impact as when we were all together as a group.
•  It’s more out of the norm to see a group of people that aren’t fitting into proper societal roles/ dress than a single person.
• People didn’t hide their curiosity as much I felt.
• They want to ignore the group completely but are curious about the individual.
•   I had more eye-contact as a ‘marked’ individual but still felt very out of place and excluded.
•   Maybe they felt that a single person is more approachable (safer) than a group and didn’t keep their guard up as high – curiosity or concern? Maybe.