https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3566-1311
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Kristin Fitzsimmons, Imagine Other Worlds, Communication, Culture and Critique, Volume 14, Issue 2, June 2021, Pages 336–338, https://doi.org/10.1093/ccc/tcab011
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When I log onto Zoom for a meeting with other graduate students and someone asks, “how are you?” I reply, “I’m glad it’s Friday,” to which the person responds, “but how are you distinguishing time?” It’s not an outlandish question these days. We can’t populate offices or cafes per COVID-19 protocols, and the line between work, school, and leisure has blurred. I wake up when my two-year-old toddler does. If I’m feeling particularly professional, I’ll put on a bra and maybe pants with a zipper. The day passes in units, much like many of us organize our syllabi. Instead of thematic or theoretical divisions, my units are built around sleeping, eating, and attempts at physical recreation. Each day is the same, but emotionally, each day is different. I can blame the toddler for part, but not all, of this feeling. One thing that brings me joy is that each week, I log onto Zoom and get to be another person. Her name is Genesis Blackthorne, and she’s way cooler than I am. This transformation is made possible by the fantasy role playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). At a time when I have felt heightened anxiety, D&D has become a space of needed reflection and play.
