So it's finally here, the end of the semester. For many of us, that means it's crunch time. In this class alone, we are all pretty bogged down concerning final projects. But whatever, it's about time to finish out the semester and I'm hoping to finish out strong.
So, on that note, I also wanted to put up here that I recently found out I was accepted into the Teach for America program and will be teaching either K, 1st or 2nd grade starting in August at an elementary school in Phoenix, AZ. This is truly my dream job and I'm very excited. But I'm also stressing out. On top of all my final projects, graduation plans, etc. I have to read through many more text books before June, study for my educator's proficiency exam, log in many hours at an elementary school here and move to Phoenix by June 3rd. Aghhh! Hopefully, it will all come together.
So that's all I wanted to say. I know many of you all are in the same boat, I feel your pain.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Non-place
So, I waited to write this post until I had completed the movie, Lost in Translation. I think that this was a very good artifact to choose, especially as a critique of Auge's article.
After comparing the two together in class today, I am reminded of an old quote, something that we've probably all have already heard: Sometimes a crowded room feels the most alone. I think that this is a good distinction that Auge clearly makes when describing a non-place. Even though it's an area as busy as a train station or airport terminal....elevator, we still feel like we're alone. Even as indicated in the movie, we may pass the same people everyday in these same exact places, we might even smile at them, but we don't know who they are and we rarely ever converse with them.
But something that the movie suggests, which goes a little further than Auge's article, is the fact that maybe some people feel less alone in a non-place than a space that they would more readily call as a place. For example, Mr. Harris and the girl felt more comfortable around each other in the hotel bar than they did in their own hotel rooms. Furthermore, Mr. Harris felt more "at home" or in Tokyo than he did at his own house, with his own wife, and his own children, who were "used to him not being there."
So I think that the movie made a good example of how a place and non-place is greatly interchangeable. Furthermore, I think that an argument can be made (straying slightly from Auge) that a place is something more than relational, historical, but emphasize it's connection with identity. I think that it's this psychological connection that we have is what truly can define something between a place and non-place. For example, my old bedroom at my parent's house. I can relate to this place and it does have history (for sure), but I don't connect the old bedroom (which has since been re-modeled and all my stuff has been taken out) with my identity anymore, making it a non-place for me. This is the same as in the movie, when Mr. Harris is used to being away from his house, not caring about the carpet color or a shelfing unit (because he no longer associates it with identity-his identity).
All in all, I think that it's easier to interchange a place to a non-place and vice versa. Although Auge agrees with the interchangeability, I think that it is just more easy than he makes it out to be.
After comparing the two together in class today, I am reminded of an old quote, something that we've probably all have already heard: Sometimes a crowded room feels the most alone. I think that this is a good distinction that Auge clearly makes when describing a non-place. Even though it's an area as busy as a train station or airport terminal....elevator, we still feel like we're alone. Even as indicated in the movie, we may pass the same people everyday in these same exact places, we might even smile at them, but we don't know who they are and we rarely ever converse with them.
But something that the movie suggests, which goes a little further than Auge's article, is the fact that maybe some people feel less alone in a non-place than a space that they would more readily call as a place. For example, Mr. Harris and the girl felt more comfortable around each other in the hotel bar than they did in their own hotel rooms. Furthermore, Mr. Harris felt more "at home" or in Tokyo than he did at his own house, with his own wife, and his own children, who were "used to him not being there."
So I think that the movie made a good example of how a place and non-place is greatly interchangeable. Furthermore, I think that an argument can be made (straying slightly from Auge) that a place is something more than relational, historical, but emphasize it's connection with identity. I think that it's this psychological connection that we have is what truly can define something between a place and non-place. For example, my old bedroom at my parent's house. I can relate to this place and it does have history (for sure), but I don't connect the old bedroom (which has since been re-modeled and all my stuff has been taken out) with my identity anymore, making it a non-place for me. This is the same as in the movie, when Mr. Harris is used to being away from his house, not caring about the carpet color or a shelfing unit (because he no longer associates it with identity-his identity).
All in all, I think that it's easier to interchange a place to a non-place and vice versa. Although Auge agrees with the interchangeability, I think that it is just more easy than he makes it out to be.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Non-place....or place...
For my blog post today, I am re-writing some notes I took of the non-place I chose to view- Charley's on State St. I decided to use this place for a variety of reasons, mainly because it's convenient for me, but also because I work there. In using this place for my blog post (when I got off of work) I could see the fine line that is drawn between a place and a non-place, something that I never really thought of before.
Auge states that if "a place can be defined as relational, historical and concerned with identity, then a space which cannot be defined as relational, or historical or concerned with identity will be a non-place." As we suggested in class, these areas would be like large lecture halls, shopping malls, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. So, I chose to view a restaurant.
What I found interesting, is that I never really noticed before that such a place could be a "non-place," but after sitting down and viewing it for awhile, it is quite obvious that it is. For example, no one really communicates with each other or other parties seated in the restaurant, although they are eating right next to each other (eating the same food and reading the same newspaper no less). Furthermore, you have no idea about an individual's history, why they are there, or if they're crazy or not and you're sitting right next to them! I find that so fascinating. I think this is why an airport terminal represents a non-place so well, because you have no idea if people are coming or going, etc.
Auge states that if "a place can be defined as relational, historical and concerned with identity, then a space which cannot be defined as relational, or historical or concerned with identity will be a non-place." As we suggested in class, these areas would be like large lecture halls, shopping malls, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. So, I chose to view a restaurant.
What I found interesting, is that I never really noticed before that such a place could be a "non-place," but after sitting down and viewing it for awhile, it is quite obvious that it is. For example, no one really communicates with each other or other parties seated in the restaurant, although they are eating right next to each other (eating the same food and reading the same newspaper no less). Furthermore, you have no idea about an individual's history, why they are there, or if they're crazy or not and you're sitting right next to them! I find that so fascinating. I think this is why an airport terminal represents a non-place so well, because you have no idea if people are coming or going, etc.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Spring "Break"
So, I decided to do the spring break thing this year (kind of). On Monday, I went with a bunch of friends to the Dells and stayed in one of those water-park hotels. It was a pretty neat experience, but all in all, I'm glad it was only one night. First off, I was sick. That nasty flu that was going around during Christmas break was not the only flu going around I guess, as it struck me again. Being the sick one, no one even wanted to share a bed with me, so I ended up sleeping on the floor right next to the bathroom. Great.
Other than that though, it was a pretty interesting experience. Because our spring break was so late this year, hardly anyone else was there, so there were no lines for the slides or other pools, which was pretty nice. We also explored the downtown Dells area and went to some pretty cool places (not just bars) which made it worth the trip (although put a huge dent in my bank account.
But since Monday night, I have been back to the daily grind, working full days, trying to finish all my essays due the day after spring break, getting everything ready for graduation (I guess we are suppose to get our cap and gown already?) and going on those ever-popular job interviews (in which I'm competing for one position with all the other thousands of college-grads). My one hope is that it gets nice out soon, so I can sit outside and do this stuff...the library is getting old.
Anyhow, I hope everyone else is having an awesome spring break too!!
Other than that though, it was a pretty interesting experience. Because our spring break was so late this year, hardly anyone else was there, so there were no lines for the slides or other pools, which was pretty nice. We also explored the downtown Dells area and went to some pretty cool places (not just bars) which made it worth the trip (although put a huge dent in my bank account.
But since Monday night, I have been back to the daily grind, working full days, trying to finish all my essays due the day after spring break, getting everything ready for graduation (I guess we are suppose to get our cap and gown already?) and going on those ever-popular job interviews (in which I'm competing for one position with all the other thousands of college-grads). My one hope is that it gets nice out soon, so I can sit outside and do this stuff...the library is getting old.
Anyhow, I hope everyone else is having an awesome spring break too!!
Modernism and Weird
So, as you all can probably tell, I'm a little bit behind on the posts. Here is the post concerning the reading notes for last Tuesday (I apologize about that).
So last week in class, we discussed this idea of Modernism and post-Modernism and what the differences are. For instance, we (as a class) decided that Modernism would encompass individuals such as Wright and Taylor (in the grid and the network piece). But somewhere in th mid-20th century (give or take) a new genre gave way, that of post-Modernism. In our reading, it seems as though post-Modernism is a type of movement away from the absolute truth (maybe to get away from the horrors of what happened previously?) For a post-Modernist, things just aren't black and white, there is a bit of a grey area.
Thus, in terms of Modernism, we decided that language can perfectly account for the world as we see it. A post-Modernist, on the other hand, would state that language cannot perfectly account for the world as we see it. We are using something man-made to explain things that are beyond ourselves-something that a simple word like "sky" can't begin to account for. But, the post-Modernist would also agree that language, even with its short-comings, is all we have and we develop such meaning through language.
I think that the discussion of such terms was one that was incredibly interesting. Although I mostly think about it in terms of art and artistic movements, the concepts of Modernism and post-Modernism mean something more and can have a greater meaning within our lifetime. Such concepts coincide with political movements and socialist movements. It links with the idea of anti-foundationalism and sets the stage for issues of identity and difference. I think we will definitely see more ideas of post-Modernism and how it relates to the world on a larger scale, not just one of art.
So last week in class, we discussed this idea of Modernism and post-Modernism and what the differences are. For instance, we (as a class) decided that Modernism would encompass individuals such as Wright and Taylor (in the grid and the network piece). But somewhere in th mid-20th century (give or take) a new genre gave way, that of post-Modernism. In our reading, it seems as though post-Modernism is a type of movement away from the absolute truth (maybe to get away from the horrors of what happened previously?) For a post-Modernist, things just aren't black and white, there is a bit of a grey area.
Thus, in terms of Modernism, we decided that language can perfectly account for the world as we see it. A post-Modernist, on the other hand, would state that language cannot perfectly account for the world as we see it. We are using something man-made to explain things that are beyond ourselves-something that a simple word like "sky" can't begin to account for. But, the post-Modernist would also agree that language, even with its short-comings, is all we have and we develop such meaning through language.
I think that the discussion of such terms was one that was incredibly interesting. Although I mostly think about it in terms of art and artistic movements, the concepts of Modernism and post-Modernism mean something more and can have a greater meaning within our lifetime. Such concepts coincide with political movements and socialist movements. It links with the idea of anti-foundationalism and sets the stage for issues of identity and difference. I think we will definitely see more ideas of post-Modernism and how it relates to the world on a larger scale, not just one of art.
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