This discussion centering around “covidian rhetoric” was extremely interesting and enjoyable to attend and take part in. Before the discussion, attendees were asked to read a scientific journal article written in the UK titled “‘We’re all in this together: Commodified notions of connection, care and community in brand responses to CVOID-19.” This article investigates the nature of brand rhetoric and how it details the notions of togetherness during the pandemic. As brands use phrases such as “we’re all in this together” and, as the article writes, “rely on an amorphous imagined ‘we,'” brands seem to avoid the responsibility of taking care of employees and people who are in great need. This assumption and projection that we are all impacted the same by the pandemic hold little truth to it. While we have all been impacted in a similar fashion, the extent of the damages and implications range greatly between people of different socioeconomic statuses. While some people are working at home and maintaining a steady income, others have lost their jobs and struggle to survive on unemployment. While some quarantine in mansions will private pools, others are crammed in small apartments struggling to take care of a family. The article points out that there is no true “we” as everyone is impacted very differently due to the resources at hand. In turn, companies are using this language to seemingly avoid the accountability to take care of employees or customers that are struggling more than others. Realistically, brands are trying to maintain profitability amid a difficult and tumultuous market.

During the discussion portion of this event, the main topic centered around “covidian rhetoric” and how it relates to the world at hand. This rhetoric includes the new words and phrases coined by society such as “masking,” “social distancing,” and “mask up or pack up.” This rhetoric has created a shared sense of meaning among people and has tried to reframe COVID in a more positive manner. I suggested that some of the unifying rhetoric used throughout the pandemic models historical war-time rhetoric such as how we are all together to “battle” covid and “win” the war. The speakers spoke about military metaphors being “abundant in discourses of plagues.” Additionally, we spoke about the fear appeals used to encourage people to abide by protective measures. Specifically, the speakers mentioned a scandal where the PM of Germany stated that it is always best to share the worst-case scenario so people will comply. A very interesting form of rhetoric that was brought up is making heroes of people in society and in this case chief doctors and epidemiologists. Throughout the world, these workers have been praised as superheroes keeping people safe. The speaker shared that children in Croatia have been shared in the media for drawing pictures of Croatian pandemic workers as superheroes. Lastly, the conversation shifted to memes and their use by people to lighten hard times. Memes continually reflect society and the speakers shared a variety of pandemic-related memes to share how people express thoughts and feelings of the change in lifestyle during the pandemic. One great example is of famous paintings adjusted for covid times such as “Girl With a Pearl Earring” changed to “Girl With a Purell Earring” or “The Last Supper” changed to a zoom format. As a whole, the conversation broadened my perspective about the notions of “we” and the unifying rhetoric used by companies around the globe during the pandemic.