Paper short abstract:

In this paper I will argue that key theories of action like Maussian one of techniques of the body could help us to think about our pandemic experience, in particular in what concerns contamination.

Paper long abstract:

As an anthropologist who specializes in the theory of action, I have frequently questioned myself since the beginning of the pandemic. My questions regard how much some key anthropological concepts, such as Maussian techniques of the body, could play a key role not only in our daily lives in this pandemic. Also – more specifically – I think about how we could apply these concepts to contamination.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been encouraged to disassemble our embodied sequences of action. We had to create new separation from other people, both through physical distance and specific materiality (masks). We had to face a big challenge in disembodying old routines, such as hugging or shaking hands, insofar as not abiding by these new rules would open the way of contamination. Transgressing could invite the virus to pass through our bodies and contaminate ourselves and other people.

Rather than proposing a strictly ethnographic-based ongoing research, I will instead suggest a reflexive experience on these aspects of daily life during the pandemic. I will argue that key theories of action like Marcel Mauss, Jean-Pierre Warnier and Bruno Latour could help us to think about our pandemic experience, and maybe to prevent us from further contamination.