Lockdown dreams
During lockdown, many people reported experiencing more vivid dreams. Thandi Burgess shares her dream, and the insight she gained from it. She jotted it down in her dream journal and recalled it a few weeks later. I included an ambient sound of a singing bowl to create a feeling of immersion, and give the piece a dream-like quality.
Dinner Table Conversations
Dinner Table Conversations is an audio series that wishes to shed light on the discussions South African families have had during the Covid-19 pandemic. These conversations were centred on the experience of being with or without family during lockdown, the notion of re-evaluation and our psychological wellbeing within the past few months.
This project was conceived as an experimental piece of journalism that wished to speak to the valuable information conveyed through relational dynamics and conversations. Family meetings can present as organic spaces for the exchange of insight; I wanted to explore this idea.
For the most part, I wanted my presence within the project to be merely facilitative, and given the regulations of lockdown, I was not present at most of the dinner tables. However, for the families who lived in my neighbourhood, I did take part in their conversations.
Many people found themselves within the family unit during lockdown. The family segment therefore considers South Africans' experiences of lockdown both with, and without their families. This is the first segment of Dinner Table Conversations, and refers to some of the thinking behind the project.
In response to this unprecedented time, many people have begun to reflect and re-valuate their lives - where they foster their meaning and how they conceptualise their futures. This is the second segment of Dinner Table Conversations.
In this segment, families speak of their psychological experience of lockdown. They also point to some of the coping mechanisms they have used in moments of difficulty. This is the third and final segment of Dinner Table Conversations.
The Families
and their reflections
Houston: Larissa-Jane Houston
Lily Houston
Derek Houston
Soundiades:
Nicole Soundiades
Peter Soundiades
Petrus Soundiades
Mabaso:
Vutomi Mabaso
Singita Mabaso
Michael Mabaso
Stewart: Ian Stewart
Sally Stewart
Beatie and Richie:
Karyn Beatie
Chantel Richie
De la Porte:
Jackie de la Porte
Guy de la Porte
Luc de la Porte
Wendie Cheek
Roi Cheek
Student Digs:
Chloe Walls
Belinda Campbell
Robyn Anderson
Djumas:
Chloe Djuma
"When I think back actually, two emotions really came to the surface - pride and relief. I think I do remember sitting there feeling comforted by the fact that my family seemed to be doing okay, and everyone was fine and coping" - Jackie de la Porte
"It was a good opportunity for us to not only reflect about Covid, but to reflect about being at home and being with family and what that means in a time of a global pandemic." - LJ Houston
"And being in that situation and being given this Dinner Table Conversations project to participate in was awesome because it kind of forced us to examine the situation as a whole and made us sit and think and talk about it."
"And through that process we learnt how Covid has affected each other personally... and I ended up talking about this project to other people, and got their input. And it was just interesting because it really opened up different doors to society, and helped us realise what we were all facing." - Nicole Soundiades
"When I saw [your post], it really resonated with me, because lockdown has been a period of growth, that is for sure ... and so just having those guided questions just to unpick thoughts that are there that I just haven't acknowledged or haven't had the time, or given the space to come to to light ... also a very cathartic way to acknowledge my experience and acknowledge the lockdown ... so it was very much a piece of closure for this year that was very much appreciated." - Chloe Walls