While many of us have coped with the last year in our own ways, there is a sense of universality that comes with surviving similar difficulties. Emily Manthei's essay, "Männer LOL," explores the horror and hilarity of online dating during these times, and will be available to read January 2021 in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Emily's pages penned penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
Although Berlin was not initially hit very hard, it is now one of the hotspots of Germany's second-wave. Restrictions have been tightening since the beginning of October.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evariso. The Dispossessed by Ursula LeGuin. Swing Time by Zadie Smith. Turn This World Inside Out: The Emergence of Nurturance Culture by Nora Samaran.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
I re-watched “Mad Men” and “The Americans” because I like to feed my anxiety with tense TV drama. Listening to "Hidden Brain" and "On Being" are my soothing balms, as well as reading the daily meditations from the Center for Action and Contemplation.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
I was doing a lot of journalism pre-pandemic, but that has proved too impossible during this time, so I've shifted more towards short stories and back to screenplays, so I can disappear into my own alternate versions of reality.
Are there any projects you are excited to keep working on? If so, can you give us any details (no spoilers please!) about your project?
I've been transforming a memoir I wrote about filmmaking in Bangladesh into a novel.
If you haven't been able to write, are there any projects you're hoping to work on next?
I really want to get back to film in some way - music videos, shorts, features. Writing is great. But I am missing the visual action of bringing those worlds to life on film.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
It's taught me that although writing is probably my best "skill," I'm not only a writer. I also seek visual artistic creation, and although I couldn't survive without carefully parsing out my thoughts on paper, I need to express them through actions and visualization, too. Maybe the pandemic has also helped me to write prose more like a screenwriter, too. Which means: action, visuals, exterior!
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
I've been pretty connected with my writer's group. We met online sometimes, and have met quite a lot in person, since the lockdowns have lifted. They've been a nice source of constancy and connection to the world.
If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?
Ed Harcourt has just released an instrumental album, "Monochrome To Colour," that I've been listening to a lot. His entire back catalogue sounds like it was written for the pandemic: "Loneliness," "Furnaces," "The World is On Fire," "Do As I Say Not As I Do," "Here Be Monsters"... I mean, it's really quite stunning how on the nose his music seems right now. And not in a bad way!
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
I'm looking forward to the end of the year.
ABOUT Emily Manthei
Emily Manthei is an American filmmaker and journalist based in Berlin. Her work focuses on culture, migration and subculture, from a real-world, humorous lens. It has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Daily Beast, Deutsche Welle, and Open Skies, among other publications. She's made short films in North and Central America, Europe and Asia, which have appeared in (and won) film festivals all over the world.
To learn more, follow Emily and her writing journey on her website, Medium, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thanks for chatting, Emily!
