Performing Dramaturgies of Care in Quarantine: Aging, Inclusivity, and Aesthetics in a Virtual World

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights long-standing cultural ageism. Older adults are at highest risk of developing coronavirus and make up the majority of deaths worldwide. In Canada, those over 60 account for over 90% of COVID-19 deaths. The pandemic heightens marginalization, isolation, and loneliness of older citizens. However, pandemic restrictions also presented new opportunities for convening in a safe way, inspiring new aesthetics and care practices in a virtual world. For some older adults, the pandemic brought new opportunities for digital learning, prompting the creation of virtual performances that promoted social engagement while physically distancing.