As The Washington Post has reported, “at the heart of the dismal U.S. coronavirus response” is a “fraught relationship with masks.” In this series of commentaries — inspired by ideas from associate professor of literature Sandy Alexandre — MIT faculty explore the myriad historic, creative, and cultural meanings of masks. We hope these insights offer our fellow Americans more ways to appreciate and practice protective masking — a primary means for containing the Covid-19 pandemic. Professor Eric Klopfer is the head of MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing (CMS/W) and director of…
