Episode 1: Can the past indicate our future? 1918 Spanish Flu and Theatres
With events cancelled across the world, industry professionals are looking to each other and news articles to find some indication of how our industry will be impacted once these restrictions are lifted.
With the news that events in Germany have been cancelled until at least October 2020 and events with capacities over 5000 are banned in Ireland until the end of August, industry professionals are looking to each other and news articles to find some indication of how our industry will be impacted once these restrictions are lifted. Just as our flying experience changed post 9/11 when we were unable to pack liquids over 100ml into hand luggage, events will change, but how?
Starting with academic articles, I’m looking into research on the societal impact on human lives after previous pandemics. I want to understand if there is any evidence of how places of mass gatherings changed, if at all, afterwards. I have just begun and came across newspaper articles on film theatres in the US during the pandemic.
Some of what I read struck me and I share this with you now as it may be of interest.