Objects of the Covid-19 pandemic

This book explores the Covid-19 pandemic through the objects that have marked our daily lives, such as masks, hand sanitizer, tests, vaccines, and tracing apps. By examining the use of these objects, this work sheds light on the social, economic, and political tensions they have revealed. The pandemic exposed social vulnerabilities and inequalities, while highlighting global interdependence and fears related to the Other. These objects have become symbols of health responses but also of controversies, innovations, and resistances. The study of objects allows us to understand complex social phenomena and to question their place in collective memory: are they 'treasures' of learning or 'rubbish' to forget? This book invites reflection on the material and symbolic impact of the health crisis in our societies.