"Soul Surfers Forced Into a Fragmented Exteriority" by Siti Balkish Roslan, Nor Atiah Ismail et al.
  •  
  •  
 

Abstract

This study explores the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on soul surfers, individuals for whom surfing transcends mere sport to embody a spiritual, psychological, and physical communion with the sea and ocean. The pandemic’s restrictions, which limited access to the sea, challenged the core of soul surfing practices, prompting surfers to seek alternative means to sustain their connection with the sea and ocean. Through qualitative research, employing phenomenological analysis, theories of affordance, symbolic interactionism, and interpretive interviews, the study examines the transition from a natural exterior to a built interior, adapting their living spaces to maintain their surfing identity, rituals, practices, and the re-creation of their sacred space that was once the sea and ocean. The study also examines the philosophical implications of identifying as a surfer when physical engagement with the sea is obstructed, highlighting the enduring nature of the soul surfer’s identity beyond the physical act of surfing. The findings reveal a shift towards an inward spiritual and psychological practice, where meditation, mindfulness, and physical training within the confines of their homes served as a bridge to the oceanic experience and a renewed sense of their interior affordances. This adaptation underscores the resilience and creativity of soul surfers in preserving their deeply rooted bond with the sea despite external disruptions. Conclusively, the study offers insights into the dynamic relationship between soul surfers and their sacred spaces, illustrating how the pandemic has reshaped their practices and, by extension, their identities.

Publication Date

1-29-2025

References

Bechara, A., Damasio, H., & Damasio, A. R. (2000). Emotion, decision making and the orbitofrontal cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 10(3), 295–307. https://doi.org/10.1093/CERCOR/10.3.295

Beek, P. J., & de Wit, A. P. (1993). Affordances en architectuur [Affordances and architecture]. In J. A. G. M. Rutten & J. Semah (Eds.), Third exile (pp. 29–44). Arti & Amicitae.

Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. University of California Press.

Bugni, V., & Smith, R. W. (2002). Designed physical environments as related to selves, symbols, and social reality: A proposal for a humanistic paradigm shift for architecture. Humanity & Society, 26(4), 293–311. https://doi.org/10.1177/016059760202600402

Conway, M. A. (2009). Episodic memories. Neuropsychologia, 47(11), 2305–2313. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA.2009.02.003

Costall, A. (2016). Socializing affordances. Theory and Psychology, 5(4), 467–481. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959354395054001

Critchley, S. (2009, June 15). Being and time, part 2: On 'mineness.' The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/jun/15/heidegger-being-time-philosophy

de Vignemont, F. (2017). Mind the body: An exploration of bodily self-awareness. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/OSO/9780198735885.001.0001

Denker, L., & Lagarde, C. (Directors) (2002). The heart of the sea: Kapolioka'ehukai [Video].

Dougherty, M. (2018). How the Balinese see the sea: Interpretations of oceanic power. Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection.

Droit-Volet, S., Gil, S., Martinelli, N., Andant, N., Clinchamps, M., Parreira, L., Rouffiac, K., Dambrun, M., Huguet, P., Dubuis, B., Pereira, B., Bouillon, J.-B., & Dutheil, F. (2020). Time and Covid-19 stress in the lockdown situation: Time free «Dying» of boredom and sadness. PLOS ONE, 15(8), Article e0236465. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236465

Eiseman, F. B. (1985). Bali: Sekala & niskala. Tuttle Publishing.

Finney, B. R. (1959). Surfing in ancient Hawaii. The Journal of the Polynesian Society, 68(4), 327–347.

Gärling, T., & Evans, G. W. (Eds.). (1991). Environment, cognition, and action: An integrated approach. Oxford University Press.

Gde Agung Rahma Putra, A. A., & Sedana, I. N. (2022). The dance of sacred water. Lekesan: Interdisciplinary Journal of Asia Pacific Arts, 5(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.31091/lekesan.v5i1.1646

Gibson, J. J. (2014). The theory of affordances. In The ecological approach to visual perception (pp. 127–137). Psychology Press.

Gray, J. G. (1952). Heidegger's "Being." The Journal of Philosophy, 49(12), 415–422. https://doi.org/10.2307/2021188

Gray, J. G. (1957). Heidegger's course: From human existence to nature. The Journal of Philosophy, 54(8), 197–207. https://doi.org/10.2307/2021841

Haugeland, J. (1982). Heidegger on being a person. Noûs, 16(1), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.2307/2215406

Heidegger, M. (1962). Being and time (J. Macquarrie & E. Robinson, Trans.). Blackwell Publishing. (Original work published 1927)

Hillier, B., & Hanson, J. (1984). The social logic of space. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511597237

Hunter, L. (2018). Positioning participation in the field of surfing: Sex, equity, and illusion.In J. Albright, D. Hartman, & J. Widin (Eds.), Bourdieu's field theory and the social sciences (pp. 181–198). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5385-6_12

Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia. (2021, March 22). SOP perintah kawalan pergerakan pemulihan (PKPP) [Standard operation procedure recovery movement control order]. https://asset.mkn.gov.my/web/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/SOP-AM-PKPP-Kemaskini-22-Mac-2021.pdf

Kim, M.-K. (2021). Affordance-based interior design with occupants' behavioural data. Indoor and Built Environment, 30(9), 1373–1389. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X20948015

Lee, S., Alzoubi, H. H., & Kim, S. (2017). The effect of interior design elements and lighting layouts on prospective occupants' perceptions of amenity and efficiency in living rooms. Sustainability, 9(7), Article 1119. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU9071119

Lima, G. H. V., Guimarães, P. L., & Baboghluian, M. (2021). COVID-19 and surfing: Problems, strategies, and solutions for surfers. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 27(1), 11–15. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202127012020_0056

Maier, J. R. A., Fadel, G. M., & Battisto, D. G. (2009). An affordance-based approach to architectural theory, design, and practice. Design Studies, 30(4), 393–414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2009.01.002

McDaniel, J. (2013). A modern Hindu monotheism: Indonesian Hindus as 'people of the book.' The Journal of Hindu Studies, 6(3), 333–362. https://doi.org/10.1093/JHS/HIT030

McDonald, W. (2017). Søren Kierkegaard. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Stanford University. (Original work published 1996)

Mills, C. [@surfstrengthcoach]. (2022, September 24). It's all energy. Behaviours and tendencies in the water are often reflections or mirrors of behaviours, mental patterns, anxieties, and [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci4mMsHDTtG/

Norberg-Schulz, C. (1991). Genius loci: Towards a phenomenology of architecture. Rizzoli. (Original work published 1979)

Park, S., Jung, H., & Oh, S. (2023). A paradigm shift in the fences of a new play affordance city. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 23(4), 1453–1470. https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2023.2270011

Reed-Danahay, D. (2020). Bourdieu, social space, and mobility. In Bourdieu and social space: Mobilities, trajectories, emplacements (Vol. 6, pp. 1–19). Berghahn Books.

Rietveld, E., & Kiverstein, J. (2014). A rich landscape of affordances. Ecological Psychology, 26(4), 325–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/10407413.2014.958035

Sartre, J.-P. (2007). Existentialism is a humanism (J. Kulka, Ed.; C. Macomber, Trans.). Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv15vwkgx (Original work published 1946)

Smith, R., & Bugni, V. (2006). Symbolic interaction theory and architecture. Symbolic Interaction, 29(2), 123–155. https://doi.org/10.1525/SI.2006.29.2.123

Taylor, B. (2007). Surfing into spirituality and a new, aquatic nature religion. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 75(4), 923–951. https://doi.org/10.1093/JAAREL/LFM067

Yin, R. K. (2011). Qualitative research from start to finish. The Guilford Press.

Young, F., & Cleveland, B. (2022). Affordances, architecture and the action possibilities of learning environments: A critical review of the literature and future directions. Buildings, 12(1), Article 76. https://doi.org/10.3390/BUILDINGS12010076

Yudari, A. A. K. S., Suarka, I. N., Ratna, N. K., & Kusuma, I. N. W. (2016). Tri Hita Karana and hydraulic cycle based on Veda. Journal of Linguistics, 10(1), 54–72.

Submitted Date

2024-03-30

Accepted Date

2024-12-29

First Page

5

Last Page

24

Authors' Bio

Siti Balkish Roslan
sitibalkish.roslan@xjtlu.edu.cn
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5223-7374

Siti Balkish Roslan is an Assistant Professor at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou, China, specialising in social architecture, architectural design, and education. As a registered architect in Malaysia, her work focuses on how architecture can improve community engagement and social well-being. Roslan has a particular interest in coastal communities and surfscapes and spaces, aiming to understand how these areas can be better designed to support community resilience, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation. Her research is practical, looking at the real-world application of architectural principles in unique environments like coastal and surf areas, highlighting their importance in society.

Nor Atiah Ismail
natiah@upm.edu.my
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7227-8322

Nor Atiah Ismail is an Associate Professor at Universiti Putra Malaysia, holding a PhD in Landscape Architecture from Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand. Her academic and research interests are deeply rooted in urbanism, landscape design, and the broader landscape of urban spaces. With a strong focus on enhancing the aesthetic, functional, and ecological aspects of urban environments, her work aims to contribute to the development of more sustainable and liveable cities. Through her expertise in landscape architecture, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of urban landscapes in Malaysia and beyond, emphasising the importance of thoughtful and innovative design in urban planning.

Sumarni Ismail
sumarni@upm.edu.my
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2458-6646

Sumarni Ismail is an Associate Professor at Universiti Putra Malaysia in the Faculty of Design and Architecture. Her academic pursuits span a diverse range of subjects, including the History of Geography, History of Art, Communication Design, Urban Sustainability, Architectural History, and Architecture. With a deep-seated passion for exploring the intersections between historical context and contemporary design principles, her work significantly contributes to the understanding and development of sustainable urban environments. Her expertise not only enriches the academic discourse in these areas but also guides the next generation of architects and designers towards creating more resilient and culturally sensitive urban spaces.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Author(s) retain the copyright of articles published in this journal, with first publication rights granted to Interiority.

Download

Plum Print visual indicator of research metrics
PlumX Metrics
  • Usage
    • Abstract Views: 293
    • Downloads: 136
see details

Share

COinS