On Apathy

Issue 6.2

Letter from the Editor

9 APril 2022

The editorial board is very proud to share Issue 6.2 of Process, On Apathy. As we grapple with the staggering consequences of global problems such as COVID-19, climate change, and the escalation of Putin’s war on Ukraine, many have found themselves retreating into apathy, sometimes as a coping mechanism and sometimes as an effect of depression. The work you will find in this issue showcases the beauty of breaking free from apathy, the challenges of remaining present when deprived of human connection, and the temptations of isolation.

In “I Was A Statue,” Sam Downey interrogates the isolating and immobilizing effects of depression. Her poem uses the statue as a metaphor to evoke the speaker’s struggle with apathy and the difficulties of returning to daily routines as her mental health recovers after COVID-19. Yining Ma’s website, International Students at “The University of Zoom,” considers the unique challenges of studying remotely in a different time zone than a majority of one’s professors and classmates. Her blog posts use interviews, secondary research, and personal narrative to present the temporal and spatial isolation of international students at American universities during the 2020-21 academic year, as well as the beauty some found in the experience. Madelene Przybysz also highlights the potential for beauty in isolation in her poem, “Drowning in Bliss.” This poem explores the seduction of coping mechanisms that allow us to forget ourselves, asking whether they allow us an escape or instead leave us apathetic and alone.

Together, these pieces remind us of our capacity for recovery and growth after apathy, as well as the possibility of finding moments of beauty in our present circumstances. We hope that they will spark reflection and conversation, and we invite you to read the call for papers for our next issue, On Crisis. We look forward to your submissions!

Sincerely,

The Process Editors

I WAS a statue

Samantha Downey

In this poem, Sam Downey interrogates the isolating and immobilizing effects of depression. She uses the statue as a metaphor to evoke the speaker’s struggle with apathy and the difficulties of returning to daily routines as her mental health recovers after COVID-19.

Keywords: poetry, free verse, depression, mental health, recovery