A quarantine doesn’t have to stop us from staying in touch with the arts, culture, and personal growth, in fact, you might even be opened to new worlds and interests for the time being.
As the community quarantine carries on to help flatten the curve of the Coronavirus pandemic, the isolation can get us detached from our sense of life being cooped up in our homes for days on end. Luckily, there are ways to keep our sanity and keep us connected to reality through culture and art. Many of which are accessible online for us to enjoy. From listening to health experts on a podcast to viewing exhibits from across the world, here are ways to stay in touch with the rest of humanity whether it be through art or through words.
Also read: How To Aid Filipino Healthcare Workers And Front Liners During The COVID-19 Pandemic
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Podcasts:
The news at this state can be a source of anxiety, there’s comfort to find solace in some calming and informational podcasts about an array of topics that entertain, educate, and enlighten our minds during this outbreak.
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Nutrition Facts with Dr. Greger
This weekly podcast deals with the topic of nutrition and diets from a scientific lens and how it relates to health conditions such as blood pressure, weight loss, and overall wellness. Hosted by Michael Greger, MD FACLM, founder of NutritionFacts.org and the author of the bestselling book, How Not to Die. The podcast deals with a certain aspect of nutrition such as a diet or a specific ingredient in food and Dr. Greger provides evidence-based nutrition on the topic.
Nutrition Facts with Dr. Greger is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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This Podcast Will Kill You
Ever wanted to learn more about diseases such as viruses and bacteria but in a fun and light-hearted tone? This Podcast Will Kill You provides all the information you need all the while enjoying the company and chit-chat of hosts, Erin Welsh, PhD and Erin Allmann Updyke, PhD. A disease ecologist and epidemiologist, respectively, the infectious duo provides history and facts behind a known disease every episode that will surely provide a playful perspective on these illnesses.
This Podcast will Kill You is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik
Fast-paced and direct to the point, Jim Kwik provides helpful tools and exercises that can aid you in memory and hasten mental processes such as reading, memorization, and other mental exercises. A helpful and fun podcast that takes 20 minutes per episode—which is a good break in your day to stretch out your brain and stimulate your mental muscle.
Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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Books:
A good book always provides a nice escape from the rush of things. During this time, it’s good to have some self-reflection and seek inspiration. Here are some reads that can uplift, inspire, and intrigue.
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Becoming by Michelle Obama
The former First Lady of the United States has been a strong figure for women across the world, this memoir is a deeply personal account of her life dealing with her roots and how she found her voice. The book chronicles her early life as a child in Chicago and culminating with her life in the White House with all the highlights in between.
Becoming is available on Audible and Amazon.
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Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino
This essay collection deals with the self-reflection of a woman in modern times. Consisting of nine essays that delve into topics such as internet culture, “scammer culture,” and contemporary feminism. Jia Tolentino provides a humorous and gripping contemplation on self-delusion.
Trick Mirror is available on Audible and Amazon.
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Also read: Filipino Figures That Have Taken Positive Action During The COVID-19 Outbreak
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Art:
Basking in art can be a calming experience or maybe even a riveting one if faced with the right work. Being in the physical presence of such exhibits is an immersive event that is rare to replicate, but with staying true to social distancing, many museums have given access to their collections to the general viewing public from the comfort of our own homes.
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Google Arts & Culture
With a catalog of virtual tours ranging from the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, Google Arts & Culture provides a synthetic yet compelling experience into these museums’ expansive collections of fine art. The website also provides detailed images of renowned paintings such as those by Vermeer, Monet, and Rembrandt, allowing you to zoom into their masterpieces to appreciate all the intricate details.
Check out Google Arts & Culture here.
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The Met
Specifically their YouTube channel, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City provides in depth videos into their vast pieces in exhibit—past and present. Many of their videos also show the process behind managing and conserving their precious items. From how they conserve a Michelangelo to going into detail on their Picasso piece, something in their channel will surely pique your interest.
Check out The Met’s Youtube channel here.
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Theater:
There’s nothing like a good musical to get your shoes tapping and songs stuck in your head for weeks, or maybe a play with characters and stories that capture your awe, or if you want, an opera with songs that tug at your heartstrings. Surely, the theatre is one cultural institution that is deeply missed during this pandemic. But many theatrical companies have taken to digital alternatives so that people still have access to their shows, as well as streaming services that provide a multitude of shows for your viewing pleasure.
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BroadwayHD
BroadwayHD is a streaming service that provides professionally shot stage performances from the Great White Way. From musical hits like The Sound of Music and Kinky Boots to Shakespearean classics such as Macbeth and King Lear, the site features some West End productions as well. You can avail their catalog for a price of $8.99 a month but you can try it for a week for free, an option made available specifically in reaction to the quarantine.
Check out BroadwayHD here.
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The Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera in New York has found a digital alternative in showcasing its shows during the quarantine. The company has made one of its shows available for stream every day on their website, rotating the show to a different one every single day so you’re delighted to a different treat with each daily visit. Announcements on which show will stream is posted on their Instagram page. Some shows they’ve featured so far include Verdi’s La Traviata and Puccini’s La Boheme.
Check out the Metropolitan Opera website here.
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Featured image from Gustav-Klimt.com and Met Opera
