Resource Guide for the Classroom: "Rock Out with Your Schnoz Out: The COVID Play"

Analysis of "Masc for Mask"

The scene "Masc for Mask" was written by Seth Knievel. The scene is set over a phone call between two men who are discussing their first in-person date which is supposed to be taking place later this evening. As the phone call continues, the two begin to engage in phone sex. As the phone sex continues, it becomes obvious that there is a third party involved: COVID-19. 

The main inspiration for the scene was the similarities between the recommendations for safe sex made during the AIDS crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, abstinence was recommended in order to avoid the transmission of the virus. The recommendation of abstinence in order to lessen the risk of infection is essentially the same advice given to queer men at the beginning of the AIDS crisis. However, as the pandemic wore on, recommendations for "COVID safe sex" were released. According to a release by the New York City Health Department, these recommendations included having sex virtually, using condoms and dental dams, and even wearing a mask while having sex. The major similarity between sex during the beginning of the AIDS crisis and sex during the COVID-19 pandemic is something called "risk management." During both time periods, having sex was something that put you at risk of contracting a virus. Thus, before engaging in sex, people had to determine what actions they were willing to take in order to minimize their risk of infection. For some, this involved carrying on with their sex life as normal. And for others, this involved completely abstaining from sex. A study by Stephenson et al. found that while the majority of queer men didn't find the need to reduce the number of sexual partners that they had during COVID-19, many only expressed a "moderate willingness" to have sex during the pandemic. These attitudes can be seen within "Masc for Mask," as the character Bert is trying to figure out how much he is willing to risk in order to get laid after discovering that his planned hook-up has COVID-19. While Ernie, Bert's partner with COVID-19, tries to convince Bert that risking a case of COVID-19 is worth it. Both characters have different approaches to risk management and sex during the pandemic. 

The scene also reflects dating during the pandemic as a whole. During isolation, online dating and digital intimacy became extremely popular. However, many felt that phone sex was no replacement for the real thing. Physical touch was yet another basic hallmark of human existence that, for many, was lost during the pandemic.