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.