Culture of the “new normal” - terminological meaning(s) and use(s)

Abstract

This paper discusses the different meanings and uses of the term ?new normal? by taking into account the historical perspective and contemporary use of the term which has reemerged as a consequence of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors focus on the processes that through this term define everyday life in pandemic circumstances, determined by the need for adjusting and for (re)negotiating and (re)positioning of diverse actors in positions of power. The unpredictable outcome of the still-ongoing pandemic additionally gives importance to the study of these new circumstances within social sciences and humanities, to which this special issue is dedicated to.