Project 1 Reflection: Persistance

Writing this essay was a struggle for me. At first, I didn’t understand what it meant to use a lens and therefore didn’t know what to look for when I went to make my observations at the Memorial Union. Once I made my observations and looked them over I began writing my rough draft. I struggled a lot because I hadn’t understood that I needed to quote the authors of the readings. I had initially thought that we were supposed to make our observations in a similar way to the authors and write our essay in a similar way as theirs. After we got feedback from the professor and went to a workshop I understood what we were supposed to do with our essay. This is when I realized the type of observations I needed in order to write my essay. I went to my place again and re wrote my observations which allowed me to focus on the lens that Frank Vanclay used. Once I understood exactly how I was supposed to write my essay, I began writing again. I pretty much had to start a new essay because my rough draft was only a list of observations I had made and it had no argument or lens in it.

 

Writing my final draft was a little easier because I knew and understood how I was supposed to use the author’s lens. I wrote for a while but couldn’t seem to get the full length required. I went to the editing workshop and got help from a professor. I was told my final draft was only a discussion and that I needed more observations and details. This is when I realized I had to put my rough draft, which was only a list of observations, with my final draft, which was only a discussion of the lens.

 

Through this entire process I learned how to deeply analyze a place and find something unique about it. I learned that everything has other purposes aside from their main functions but we really need to pay attention to notice it. I also learned that the workshops are very helpful and it is very important and helpful to get other’s input on your work. Next time I have a writing assignment I will make sure that I understand what I am supposed to do before I write the rough draft so that I don’t have to write my final draft basically from scratch. I need to put more effort in my rough draft so that I can just tweak it and edit it at the end. It took a lot of persistence and focus for me to complete this project but I have learned from it.

Analyzing a Place Worksheet

Your Place: Memorial Union Patio

What are the intended functions of the place?

The main functions of the Memorial Union patio are to provide a place for people to socialize, eat, and do their work.

What overt messages does the place send (i.e., openly communicated through signs)?

Some signs that you can see while sitting on the patio are one that says “Memorial Union: Your Campus Community Center”, another with the dining and retail hours, and another with the building hours. Another sign you can see on the Memorial Union door is one with the rules of the building (no smoking, etc.)

What covert messages does the place send (i.e., hidden messages)?

Some of the hidden messages the patio sends is one that encourages people to socialize and use this place to meet people. I think this is one of the most important messages of the patio and this is shown through the movable chairs and tables that are placed in the patio. Another hidden message is to keep the place clean. We can see this by noticing the multiple trash cans placed around the patio.

[source: Tom Tingle/The Arizona Republic] 

Have previous users left traces behind in the place?

Previous users have definitely left traces behind. The most common thing left behind by previous users is trash! Many people leave the tables messy, with soda spills and even some food. On the floor there are many cigarette buds and pieces of paper. Another trace that people leave is the tables grouped together. People move the tables and chairs around and don’t put them back where they are supposed to be.

Has the place been re-appropriated (i.e., beyond its original functions)?

???

What social or cultural customs did you observe (i.e., rules governing appropriate behavior)? Part of the patio is located in the middle of the walkway. On its right side people are walking in one direction and on the left side of the patio people are walking the opposite direction. People ask if it’s okay for them to take the chair from another person’s table (politeness). Some people hold the door open for the people behind them. Everyone is sitting on the chairs, nobody is sitting on the tables or standing on the chairs. A lot of people clean up after themselves when they are done, but not all. 

Who has access to the place?  Are there insiders and outsiders?

Anybody has access to the Memorial Union patio. Students, teachers, parents, or any other visitors are welcome here. Some are insiders and some are outsiders. 

Who owns the place?

Arizona State University owns the place 

What is the place’s value (i.e., monetary or otherwise)?

This place cost $300,000 to build. It has many tables and chairs, umbrellas, and some unique and abstract shade panels. It also has another type of value. This place is very important to the university because it can be considered the heart of the campus. This is where most people hang out after and before class and where most people eat.

Are there official representations of the place (i.e., online, in promotional materials)?  Do they accurately capture the place as you experienced it? On the ASU website they have a page especially for the Memorial Union. Even though they have this and it explains everything that is offered inside they barely talk about the patio. They don’t have pictures or explain what is going on outside of the Memorial Union.

Is the place in transition, a changing place? This place doesn’t look like it is changing any time soon. The last time it was renovated was in 1990 and its been the same since then. From this place you can see and hear some construction going in another part of campus.

What conflicts or tensions are there in the place? Although there isn’t any obvious tension or conflict I feel that there are often conflicts and drama going on in this place due to the fact that so many people come to socialize here. You can also feel the tension when there are groups of fraternities and sororities sitting with their friends. Another kind of conflict or tension we can see is in the tables around the memorial union patio where people are recruiting people for religious events or political issues.

What is the place’s history?  Do you see evidence of the past there in the present?

The Memorial Union was built in 1956 but has been renovated and extended a few times after that. Most of the patio looks new and futuristic the only thing that looks like it’s been here for a long time is a sculpture that looks corroded. Another object that could be considered old are the trees, based on their size.

How does this place differentiate itself from other places?  What other places is it similar to, but how is it different from those places? This place is different to any other place on campus because it is one of the biggest common areas and is right next to the building that has almost everything you can ask to eat. It is somewhat like the dining halls, except that this place is outside and its in the middle of the campus where a lot of people are walking around and riding their bike. This place has a bit more going on than the dining halls but serves almost the same function.

What questions do you have about your place?

Who designed it? Has it always been a part of ASU? What is the meaning of the rusty sculpture? Who paid for this? Why is it called Memorial Union?

Key Features / Profiles (taken from the Norton Field Guide (Goggin and Bullock) Chapter 16, pages 165-166)

An interesting subject.  What is unusual about your place?  Alternatively, is there something ordinary about it that you can show in an intriguing way? Even though the MU patio is considered a place for people to socialize, it is also a very calm and serene place. It is next to a water fountain and the experience a person has depends entirely on the time they go. In the middle of the day it is hectic and loud but later in the afternoon it is more peaceful and quiet. Many people only see this place as a hectic and socializing place but it can also be a place to think and reflect on anything you need to. 

Any necessary background.  What background information will you need to include about the place in order to situate readers? The Memorial Union was built in 1956 but after that they have added many new features to it.

An interesting angle.  Rather than trying to tell readers everything about the place, what angle(s) might you use? What I want to focus on this place is on the afternoon and mostly on what you hear and some of the things a person can see. Another thing I want to focus on is people experiences in the MU Patio. 

A firsthand account.  Did you interact with people in the place or participate in some way?  What experiences did you have there that you can write about using “I”?  (Yes, first person point of view is encouraged, especially for this paper.) While sitting on the Memorial Union Patio I interacted with many people. First, as I was sitting down a guy approached me with a flyer about a concert. Another person approached me and asked if he could use one of the chairs that were in my table.

Generating Ideas and Text (taken from the Norton Field Guide (Goggin and Bullock) Chapter 16, pages 168-169)

Explore what you already know about your subject.  Why do you find this place interesting?  What did you already know about it? I knew that this place was in the middle of campus and that it was right next to the Memorial Union. I find this place interesting because even though it is one big place everyone uses it for a different function. Some people come her e to socialize, some to eat, others to sit and do work, and others to sit and smoke.

Do additional research.  Does your place have an online component?  How else might you gather additional research? There are many articles about the Memorial Union on the internet. Even though there is a website there isn’t a website for the patio. 

OBSERVATIONS OF MU PATIO

Little American flags all over the dirt/rocks –representing 9/11; a tragic event that affected many Americans 11 years ago.

Sitting under circular shady things—14 white big structures that allow people to sit outside & avoid the sun

Guy handing out flyers- offering jobs; he has earplugs on which doesn’t make him approachable, that being said he probably won’t get many participants.

     There are a lot of the flyers he is giving out on the floor. Most people aren't interested but take the flyer anyways to just leave it on the ground. Why?!

Weird cactus, unlike the typical ones you normally see. It has about 20 saguaros and it’s short.

White railings all over the tables outside the memorial union

ASU tents promoting and selling things to students. They have huge speakers and a band playing, this attracted the attention of a lot of people because when people hear the noise from far away they wonder what is going on and they come close to the tents, where they are giving flyers and promoting events and clubs that are going on at ASU.

The band is playing and they hold the microphones right on their mouth and they are aligned like a triangle. 

One of the singers is in the front and the other two are behind the one in the middle.

A is girl wearing a sweater in 100 degree weather. Either she’s from a place where the weather was way hotter than the weather in Arizona or she had nothing to wear that day!

Lady with an umbrella, this allows her to block the sun on such a hot day.

There is a truck in the middle of the sidewalk. This is odd and against the norms of our society. Cars shouldn’t be on the sidewalk.

Signs all over the place advertising different clubs and job opportunities. The signs have vibrant colors like red and yellow, which attract the attention of others.

Big umbrella on the tables giving shade to people eating and working; has white rope hanging from the top part

The same bike parking warning all over the place- they probably put so many to emphasize the importance of the announcement.

MEMORIAL UNION STRUCTURE- orange/red bricks with dark green cement walls & pillars holding the structure up.    

Glass side walls with metal outlines & plain gray cement floor

Outside on the patio there are many tables and chairs. The tables can be moved which many people have done in order to sit and socialize with a big group of people.

Some people are socializing, some are eating, some are by themselves on their computers, and some are eating by themselves.

The main function for this area is for socialization

Girl walking around with green hair, could represent a unique personality since it is not very normal to see this.

Girl wearing no shoes, this is definitely not normal, everyone is used to seeing people wearing shoes. It is a normal thing to do, yet she’s not wearing any.

Middle Eastern girl covered from head to toe. This is a cultural and religious tradition for Middle Eastern women to do.

A guy is smoking by himself at a table with his feet on the chair. He finishes his cigarette and throws it on the floor. I look down and I see so many more of these cigarette buds. This shows how people don’t care about their environment and their school. Why throw it on the ground when there are plenty of places to throw them away?

On my right side there is an abstract looking structure. It looks like it’s made of metal but it is oxidized. The top part consists of two arches (half circles) stacked on top of each other. People can rotate this figure and it will continue to rotate for a long time. Why was this created this way? Is it supposed to be oxidized?

The purpose of the Memorial Union is to bring students, teachers, and possibly families and have a place for them to hang out, eat, and enjoy each other’s company. The MU in a way brings people together and allows them to interact outside of their dorms and classrooms. 

Vanity Fair Magazine Analysis

 

In this July 2012 magazine cover, Vanity Fair has attempted to illustrate the Columbian actress and model, Sofia Vergara, as a modern sex symbol.  She is pictured sitting on a vintage looking chair with her legs open, wearing a long, red, strapless silk dress and holding a cigarette in her right hand near her mouth. The actress and model is positioned in the middle of the page covering a little bit of the magazine name. Her name is almost the same size as the magazine name and bigger than the other two pieces of text on the cover, making it obvious that she is the most important element of the cover. This magazine issue could be targeted at both men and woman because it shows a sexy side of Sofia Vergara which appeals mostly to men, but also a powerful and demanding side of her which appeals to woman because that is the type of woman most want to be like.

 

 

In my opinion, Vanity Fair chose Sofia Vergara as the cover model for this issue in order to represent the women of today’s society. Over the years, women’s roles have changed significantly. Now, women are considered to be equal and sometimes even more successful than men. In today’s society, women have been seen as powerful because of the multiple roles they play in their daily lives. While being housewives and caring for their children, most women are also professionals, just like the actress, Sofia Vergara who is a mother of a 19 year old boy. In addition, women are also expected to have time for their own upkeep, in order to look beautiful and sexy, which is also something that is represented by this cover. This cover also symbolizes equality between men and women because Sofia Vergara is holding a cigarette and seating with her legs open, which is mostly seen as a manly habit.

To cut a long story short, Sofia Vergara is on the cover of Vanity Fair to compare how women were seen before to the powerful, sensual, and successful woman of today’s society.