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This article touches on nostalgia and its relation to escapism during the pandemic. It effectively demonstrates peoples efforts to escape COVID's social stress by finding comfort in nostalgic media, like movies or music.

- Media can make people experiance a sense of nostalgia. Many users tend to consume nostalgia-inducing media in times of need.

- A cross-sectional study was conducted during lockdown in Germany around COVID's peak in April-May 2020.

- 534 participants were asked about their current levels of stress, fear of isolation, nostalgic media usage, and escapism.

- The findings demonstrate that nostalgic media usage was positively correlated with fear of isolation.

- Respondents typically used movies, songs, series, games, and personal photos to become nostalgic.

- The results indicate that people use nostalgic media to cope with the social stress of COVID and the impact it has had on our daily lives.

- Nostalgia was related to both functional/dysfunctional escapism.

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Research has shown that entertainment media can make people experience nostalgia, a mixed emotion triggered by fond memories, which can function as a resource for well-being in times of strain. Accordingly, people may be especially motivated to consume nostalgia-inducing media in times of crisis. One such crisis that has strongly affected the personal lives of most people around the world is the global COVID-19 pandemic. In our study, we investigate the role of nostalgic media use during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate whether nostalgic media use has increased during the early 2020 lockdown, what kinds of media people used to become nostalgic, and how nostalgic media use is associated with well-being and escapism. In a cross-sectional panel survey conducted during lockdown measures in Germany in April and May 2020, participants (N = 534) were asked about their current stress, fear of isolation, nostalgic media usage, and functional as well as dysfunctional escapism. Controlling for nostalgia proneness, our findings indicate that nostalgic media usage was positively associated with fear of isolation and that it was related to both functional and dysfunctional escapism. Respondents in our survey most commonly used music, movies, and series and also (audio-) books, videogames, and private photos and videos to become nostalgic. Overall, our findings indicate that media-induced nostalgia may function as a resource to cope with social stress ( fear of isolation) for some people during the lockdown measures and that this coping strategy may have both functional as well as dysfunctional components. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Public Policy Relevance Statement This research offers evidence that fear of isolation that many people experienced during the lockdown measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic is positively related to the consumption of media that elicits nostalgia. Moreover, nostalgia was positively related to both functional and dysfunctional escapism. These findings indicate that people may use nostalgia-inducing media as a coping mechanism to deal with fears related to social isolation during times of social distances. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

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Escaping the pandemic present: The relationship between nostalgic media use, escapism, and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic | Psychology of Popular Media;: No Pagination Specified, 2021. | APA PsycInfo

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Research has shown that entertainment media can make people experience nostalgia, a mixed emotion triggered by fond memories, which can function as a resource for well-being in times of strain. Accordingly, people may be especially motivated to consume nostalgia-inducing media in times of crisis.

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In the image above, the graph represents video game usage before and after lockdown. It is shown that there has been a significant increase in playing video games after COVID unleashed its damaging impact on society, keeping people in isolation and stress.

- 71.3% of people reported that the time they spend playing video games had changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

- The respondents’ demonstrate an obvious shift towards increased frequency of  gameplay habits before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

- Video games have become a source of escapism for many people through the pandemic. The ability to pursue diverse experiences and mindsets has been extremely valuable while being stuck inside.

- Some respondents' explain: "I would have really struggled without the distraction" (P79); "Provide a good distraction from everything going on" (P170); "Definitely had a positive impact. It’s allowed me to escape from reality for a time"(P197); "Games provide an escape from the world for a limited time. They create a distraction from everything and also it is good exercise for the brain" (P310)."

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This source provides information on escapism through science fiction while also showing us how sales of this genre have risen significantly during the pandemic. It mostly sheds light on science fiction's role in escapism and how it has become a tool for those who wish to escape reality.

- There has been a multitude of sales in science fiction literature (urban and supernatural fantasy are the strongest selling genre).

- These sales started rising post 9/11 and this continues to be true.

- Seale Ballenger, v-p of publicity fir Scholastic Trade Publishing, states that their has been a trend towards escapism.

- Science fiction enjoyers typically reach for books containing realistic world connections that mirror personal experiences.

- Some readers want to indulge in stories that depict inspiring tales of heroism.

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While some readers look for dark fiction to reflect dark times, others just want to get away from it all. This has led to strong sales on all sides of science fiction and fantasy, from pulpy escapist romps to grim dystopian parables. "In down times, escapism is more important and necessary than ever," says Diana Gill, executive editor of the Eos imprint at HarperCollins, "and genre sales reflect that. We saw this after 9/11, and it continues to be true now. Urban and supernatural fantasy are unquestionably the strongest sellers in the genre."

Seale Ballenger, group publicity director for Eos, concurs: "We are seeing the trend toward escapism across the board in all areas of publishing right now due to the faltering economy. People really want to focus on something other than the nonstop woes of the world. The escapist nature of SF and fantasy gives readers a doorway into a world very different from their own."

In contrast, says St. Martin's editor Michael Homler, some readers are looking for books that draw on today's dire news reports of global warming and economic collapse. "As a recession happens, there is a certain segment of the book population that likes to see it somehow mirrored in the entertainment that they buy," he says. "Paranormal, horror and especially apocalyptic-themed novels seem to draw a lot of attention. It hits home with some sort of psychological unease people have and also fits into our still-present fears of terrorism." How about fear of terrorist elves? Reagent Press concludes a seven-year project with a special illustrated edition of Robert Stanek's Kingdom Alliance, in which two dozen elves battle with their mortal enemy, man.

Small and large houses alike are seeing high demand for tales of doom and gloom. " Wastelands [an anthology of apocalyptic fiction] just went into a fifth printing," reports Jeremy Lassen, editor-in-chief of Night Shade Books, "and has sold more than 30,000 copies in just over one year, which is very significant for a reprint anthology by a relatively small house. The runaway success of The Living Dead (over 45,000 copies in six months) is another reflection of interest in apocalypse and dystopian futures. The zombie apocalypse is just a secular rapture, after all."

Various mainstream publishers are also beginning to pick up on the sales potential of escapism. Pulp crime publisher Hard Case Crime is getting in on the action with an adventure series featuring millionaire explorer Gabriel Hunt, beginning with Hunt at the Well of Eternity in May. "Though you might not think of Indiana Jones-style adventure as science fiction or fantasy, each Gabriel Hunt book has a fantasy element, such as the Fountain of Youth or the sphinx," says publisher Charles Ardai. "The pulps originally flourished during the (first) Great Depression, and I think there's an appetite now for the sort of pure fun people escaped to back then. The Hunt books are a delivery vehicle for that kind of fun."

The other traditional bestseller in hard times is romance, and romance publishers are finding that paranormal romance easily reaches readers who are hungry for magic, adventure and happy endings. Kensington, which launched a handful of urban fantasy trial balloons over the last few years, has seen a lot of success with them and plans to expand those offerings, says editor-in-chief John Scognamiglio. "This might be one reason why the success of urban fantasy is growing-it is an escape from readers' everyday lives, and it takes them completely away from the real world, especially as the news only seems to be getting worse and worse. Kensington's urban fiction titles are filled with characters that have very real problems, relatable struggles and humorous encounters, yet the backdrop is set in a different world, all elements that allow readers to have a great escape."

Those who are tired of seeing speculative fiction dismissed as fluff argue against this perspective. Robert Lewis, senior editor for Dalton Publishing, scoffs at both "purely escapist fare" and "gloom-and-doom dystopianism," saying, "The truly interesting emergent voices are those that respond to an uncertain world with vision and hope."

Jim Minz, senior editor at Baen Books, says the economy/escapism extrapolation is overly simplistic. "While it's easy to make the connection between the harsh, depressing headlines and a desire to escape to another world, a place where it's obvious who're the good guys and who're the bad, the reality is never that simple," he explains. "Whether you're talking about fantastic tales told around the campfire before recorded history or the latest embossed and foiled space opera adventure, these tales have always found their roots in our world. No matter how inventive the tale, how strange the creatures, how bizarre the alien society, their roots, reflections and inspirations are all around us, a part of the fabric of our world."

Readers of both fantasy and science fiction seem particularly drawn to books that connect with their real-world experiences. Postapocalyptic fiction has been selling well for years, says Ginjer Buchanan, editor-in-chief of Penguin's Ace and Roc imprints, and it's not because of the economy. "I'm not sure that the increasing market for apocalypse stories has much to do with the current state of the world," she says. "It's science fiction that's accessible to a wider readership. The singularity and nanotechnology can be hard to grasp, but people who have experienced a natural disaster or loss of electricity don't find it so hard to take the leap to thinking about the entire earth flooding, or about electricity not working anywhere."

Recognizable Worlds

Fantasy readers are also looking for down-to-earth titles that connect with their experiences, says Tim Holman, publisher of Hachette's Orbit imprint. "Readers seem to be responding more positively to characters and worlds that are more recognizable, and perhaps more believable," he says. "Urban fantasy, of course, which is currently dominating the fantasy bestseller charts, tends to be set in worlds even more recognizable as our own. Its characters, too-human or supernatural-are often people like us, and that's clearly part of the appeal."

Science fiction is an obvious venue for exploring issues such as global warming, increasingly sophisticated military technology and the conspicuous absence of many technological marvels that were predicted for the year 2000, but current events can just as easily inspire grim fantasy tales. "In Need for Magic, a forthcoming fantasy novel by Joe Swope, the archvillain is not a dragon, wizard or overlord, but a charismatic woman who knows what people need," says Dindy Robinson, publisher of Swimming Kangaroo Books. "By masterfully playing to everyone's need for approval and their need to feel important, she inspires fanatic devotion and gains the throne of a powerful nation. This was a theme we saw in the last presidential election."

Speculative fiction trends are often driven as much by the whims of writers as by the demands of readers, and in this case the two seem very much in sync. "We're certainly seeing more submissions of novels with apocalyptic themes-whether it's the general feel of the world in which it's set, or specifically related to an apocalyptic event," says Orbit's Holman "We're also noticing a definite trend toward fantasy that is more bloody, more brutal, and that doesn't end with a magical sword saving the day."

It's not all schadenfreude. Many readers who pick up tales of apocalypse and disaster are looking for inspiring tales of heroism, says Lassen at Night Shade. "When people are going through tough times, they either want total escapism or they want to see people who have it worse off than themselves," he explains. "This isn't just about wanting to see people suffering. It's about seeing a protagonist overcome seemingly overwhelming obstacles; in this case, the complete breakdown of the social order. When people are losing their jobs, and banks are failing, and they have no agency or control over their lives, the fantasies of simple problems with simple solutions and of protagonists with agency are very alluring, and apocalypse literature has them in spades." Minz concurs: "It does come down to a simple question," he says. "What would you rather read: yet another depressing article or book about our failing economy and failing foreign wars, or a dark, postmodern novel about a deeply flawed person in a deeply flawed world, or a rousing good tale with heroes you can root for?"

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While some readers look for dark fiction to reflect dark times, others just want to get away from it all. This has led to strong sales on all sides of science fiction and fantasy, from pulpy escapist romps to grim dystopian parables.

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My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris

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My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris

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- Coming of Age/Sci-Fi

- 1968 Chicago - centers around 10 year old Karen Reyes

- Karen's neighbor, Anka Silverberg is found dead in her bed. The death is ruled suicide, but Karen belives otherwise.

- Karen decided to take the case in her own hands. She listens to adult conversations, observes her neighbors, and uses her pre-existing knowledge to formulate clues.

- She is also being bullied at school for her interest in horror, as well as her diverse background.

- Many events take place during this time; MLK, Vietnam war, as well as memories from the Holocaust.

- Karen escapes her world using art and her love of horror.

- The graphic novel is made as if it were her journal, so the pages inspired my driving question. We get to see Karen's inner and outer thoughts while also witnessing her ability to almost disconnect from reality.

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The Joy of Escapism and the Challenge of Avoidance

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The Joy of Escapism and the Challenge of Avoidance

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In this article, we understand more about escapism while also learning about avoidance. Avoidance is the result of dangerous escapism and this source touches on its risks and how to steer clear from it

- Taking a step back from reality is a very effective way of coping with life’s hardships.

- Escapism can help to prevent burn out. It reduces  stress and can increase one's feelings of mental and psychological strength.

- Escapism is a big factor in how we take care of ourselves. However, we must be careful about how far escapism goes. When escapism goes too far it can be damaging to our  relationships, our mental health, and even our jobs.

- It’s important to note that escapism is used as a tool to help refuel rather than to persistently avoid life and stressors that need addressing

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No one right now needs to be reminded that life is full of challenges, because goodness knows 2020 was an extremely difficult year for Australians and people all around the world. And even outside of the context of the New Year's Eve bushfires, COVID and our experiences in lockdown, life is generally full of stress, heart break, mental health difficulties and challenging emotional experiences. Taking a step back from reality is a very effective way of experiencing a few moments of respite to help cope with life's hardships.

When escapism is helpful, it is when we take a moment to step out of our reality and experience a period of escape from the challenges of our lives. It can help to prevent burn out, can reduce our stress and can increase our feelings of hope, determination, courage and psychological strength. Television, books, movies, gaming, daydreaming, cooking and eating, sport, switching off social media, meditation and mindfulness are all very great ways to take a step back from life and experience some respite. There is no one way to escape as it is such a personal experience but everyone deserves to experience some escape so it's worth thinking about what works for you.

Escapism and fantasy is a really important part of how we take care of ourselves but we do need to be careful about how far escapism goes because our use of escapism can tip over into avoidance. When escapism goes too far it can be damaging to our studies, work, relationships and our mental health. It's important that escapism is used as a tool to help refuel rather than to persistently avoid life and stressors that need addressing. So how to tell the difference?

When we're engaged in escapism in a helpful way it's a form of self-care and we feel re-energised and replenished afterwards. Escapism is momentary and brief, reinvigorates us and helps us to return to reality with renewed strength to face our challenges. Avoidance however is when we're using escapism to consciously or unconsciously ignore a problem or feelings that we're uncomfortable experiencing. Avoidance can mean that we're engaging in escapism so often that it is having a negative impact on our responsibilities and our relationships and that over time our underlying problems are remaining unaddressed. Where escapism is momentary, avoidance can be a way of life.

If you feel as though escapism has started to feel like avoidance don't despair, because this something that most people experience at times in their life - avoidance is a very, very appealing coping mechanism even though it's inherently unhelpful. When it's time to return to reality, what to do?

· Consider what it is that you're trying to avoid and escape from and why, and practice sitting with the difficult feelings that confronting those challenges brings. Meditation, mindfulness and breathing techniques are wonderful ways of helping to stay connected with reality in these moments and face the challenges that you're experiencing.

· Think about when you are most likely to use escapism. Is there a particular situation, mood or sensation that triggers your desire to engage in escapism? Is this something that needs addressing?

· Think about how you feel after engaging in escapism. Does it leave you feeling refreshed and re-energised or do you perhaps feel agitated, irritable, disconnected or stressed?

· Set boundaries around your escapism. Read, watch, fantasise, play, create! But watch the time, watch for warning signs that you're over-using escapism (such as missing a deadline, saying no to seeing friends too often, not getting enough sleep, getting feedback from others that you seem distracted) and set limits around your use to help you stay better connected with reality, responsibilities and relationships.

· Avoid using drugs, alcohol and gambling as your means of escapism as while they can bring temporary relief they can lead to larger and more significant difficulties and addictions over time.

· Check in to see if you're using work as a means of escapism as many people bury themselves in work to avoid facing personal challenges like family, relationships, health and happiness.

· Consider managing the line between helpful escapism and avoidance by mindfully engaging in purposeful activities. You could try using the phrase "I choose...". For example "I choose to take some time out to watch a movie", "I'm choosing to watch some reality TV right now so I can have a laugh", "I'm choosing to go for a walk to clear my head".

If you need help managing the stressors of life or thinking through the aspects of life you're avoiding we're here to help. Contact our admin team on 9882 8874 or visit our website melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au
This blog was written and prepared by Dr Victoria Miller - Clinical Psychologist.

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The Joy of Escapism and the Challenge of Avoidance - Melbourne Wellbeing Group

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No one right now needs to be reminded that life is full of challenges, because goodness knows 2020 was an extremely difficult year for Australians and people all around the world.

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Essay: Impact of Covid-19 on Internet Usage

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Essay: Impact of Covid-19 on Internet Usage

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This essay highlights media usage and how people use the internet to escape reality. It offers us a study of an experiment conducted to see the amount of adolescences that used different forms of media.

- Procedure showed significant relationship between internet use, social media use, and gaming "addiction."

- Showed significant positively correlated scores of loneliness and depression.

- This compulsive usage of the internet is of cause of COVID-19, as many adolescents used media outlets to escape the depressive nature of the pandemic.

- Many people relied on maladaptive coping strategies to manage anxiety and depression.

- I connected this to my essential questions as, throughout the outbreak of the virus, people found solace in social media platforms.

- This was proven in the drastic increase of social media usage (around 50%).

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The attached article addresses the increase of science fiction sales during COVID, while also providing us statistical values.

- Sci-Fi books generated $590.2 million in the United States.

- Sci-Fi sales in comic books increased by 8.3% in 2021 compared to 2020.

- Sales in the United Kingdom were 23% higher in 2021 than in 2020.

- Science fiction and fantasy have the highest percentage of audiobook sales of any genre.

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Science Fiction Book Sales Statistics [2023]

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WordsRated is a non-commercial, international research data and analytics group. Through detailed research projects, we tackle the big issues concerning reading, books, authors, and the publishing industry to inform and entertain.