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Poet and policymaker Aaron Maniam describes how the language we use to explain COVID-19 shapes the way we think about it — whether it’s as a “war,” a “journey” or, as he suggests, an “ecology.” He encourages us to explore a range of imaginative, interlocking metaphors to gain a deeper understanding of the pandemic — and shows how this can help us to envision a better, more inclusive future. (This virtual conversation, hosted by TED’s head of curation Helen Walters and arts and design curator Chee Pearlman, was recorded June 10, 2020.)

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