Boredom, Screens and Homesickness Amidst the Crisis

Abstract

The anxiety, fear and uncertainty of a global pandemic can also entail a great deal of boredom. Such an experience arises not only from the lack of activity that comes with staying at home for hours on end but also from an overabundance of stimulation with the use of technology that is also found at home. Through the lens of Henri Lefebvre's metaphilosophy, this chapter explores the experience of boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. In particular, the focus here is on the elevated use of screen technology in everyday life and the blurring of the line between work life and home life for white-collar workers and the boredom that results. Ultimately, it is argued that the experience of boredom is not simply a psychological curiosity but is a type of homesickness with the potential to change everyday life after the pandemic.

Citation

Gamsby, P. (2023), "Boredom, Screens and Homesickness Amidst the Crisis", Ward, P.R. and Foley, K. (Ed.) The Emerald Handbook of the Sociology of Emotions for a Post-Pandemic World, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 197-210. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-323-220231010