In times of darkness, the essence of community goes beyond mere physical proximity to fellow beings. It’s not simply about living side by side with others of our kind, but deeply recognizing and internalizing the interconnectedness we share with one another. The true meaning of community is not determined by the mere presence of those around us. Instead, it’s about a profound understanding and acknowledgment of our shared bonds and the relationships we maintain, even when we find ourselves in solitude.
The necessity of building and maintaining community during challenging times cannot be overemphasized. As beings, we are inherently relational, seeking connection, understanding, and a sense of belonging. In times of adversity, these connections act as anchors, offering support and a reminder that we are part of something greater. By fostering a sense of community, we not only find solace in others but also in the reflections of ourselves that they mirror back, in the echoes of our past, and even in the resonance of sound that reverberates our shared experiences.
In essence, community is about finding pieces of ourselves in others, in the lingering ghosts, and in the harmonious vibration that is to face one another. By remembering and cherishing our interconnectedness, we can draw from a reservoir of strength and hope, making the journey through dark times less scary and more filled with the warmth of shared understanding.
The diaspora remains a place for intimacies in opacity, undesirable for the outsider, willingly open, and messy to losing control of transmissions not limited to the written word but resonates in a multitude of practices. Thus tracing different sonic strategies across times and spaces, approaching sound as a sphere of empowering and analyzing, mobilizing individually and collectively, with the concept of diaspora, which is also about making and maintaining connections. Messing-up mission reverberates in the kinds of queer scholarship that focus on the recognition and centering of underrecognized practices, stances, and situations that deviate from, resist, or run counter to the workings of normality. Far from romanticizing deviance and oppositionality, it intends to locate discomfort, dissonance, and disorder as necessary and grounded experiences in everyday life.
In a world echoing with troubled times, find solace in whispered beauty. Draw close the inspirations that dance on the periphery, and let connections weave tales of understanding. Consider documenting your present, for this act can dispel the shadows of uncertainty. Amidst the chaos, seek the quiet cadences of change, one note at a time. Let humor be the unexpected melody, and to yourself, be a gentle breeze; to those close to you, a kind touch.
