Field Notes III

Name: “Jessica”

Age: 18

How frequently do you visit the mall?

I don’t know, sometimes on weekends if I want a new outfit to wear out or if there is an event I want something new for ill head over to the mall

Do you ever go to the mall just to hang out and spend time with friends?

No, not really

If yes, what is enjoyable about going to the mall for leisure?

If no, why?

I grew up in Hawaii and we didn’t really have a big shopping mall, we would go outside and spend time outdoors if we had a day off. Shopping isn’t something I see as a way to socialize

What groups of people do you see at the mall for leisure most often?

Here there are a lot of kids at the mall and some families

Name: “Alex”

Age: 20

How frequently do you visit the mall?

At least once a weekend

Do you ever go to the mall just to hang out and spend time with friends?

Definitely!

If yes, what is enjoyable about going to the mall for leisure?

There are stores and restaurants and sometimes I will see a movie or something

If no, when do you visit the mall?

What groups of people do you see at the mall for leisure most often?

A lot of people go to the mall, I think that a big group of them are like 12. I know that I did that. the mall was a place I knew I would feel comfortable and I knew my mom would feel comfortable with me being there, it was like we were meeting half way, I got alone time and she knew I was somewhere where I couldn’t get into too much trouble without her.

Field Notes: Set Three

Field Notes: Set Three

Date: Thursday May 20^th

Time: 5:15

Location: Coors Fitness Center

My third set of field notes are comprised of an eclectic mix of observations that are to supplement my previous sets of notes. Within this set, I include some final routine locational observations, begin to identify some recurrent themes from my interviews and finally draw some conclusions as to why the segregation of sexes is so evident in the gym.

5:15 – I enter the gym as I had done so many times before and make my way up to my “observatory perch” better known as the treadmill level of the Coors Fitness Center.

5:20 – It is evident that the separation between men and women (now at the forefront of my chosen paper topic) has continued to establish itself as a norm in the gym. Men are seen dominating the lower levels (utilizing free weights and the majority of the machinery) and women have taken over the upper-level cardio vascular – based equipment.

5:30 – I am unsurprised at this point by any of the actions occurring at the gym as most of them mimic my initial records of the interactions occurring in this space. The separation of sexes is abundantly evident and it seems as though my initial observation of this dynamic was not a fleeting coincidence but an established norm within this social establishment.

5:40 – I realize that my time in merely observing surroundings, at this stage, may be wasted. It is now of the utmost importance to delve into the underlying motivations behind this distinction and uncover why it is that this fundamental difference in exercise routine occurs.

Recurrent Themes:

Although three of my more insightful interviews were outlined at great length in my previous set of field notes, to expound upon all of them would also be a misallocation of time. Instead, I have reviewed my interview notes and extracted recurrent themes that explain both why females and males separate in the gym and why gym attendance is important to men and women. This will allow me to succinctly identify some important themes that I will discuss in greater length in my final paper.

Why Males and Females are segregated –

· An intimidation factor where men dominate lower level gym floor

· A stigma associated with a “bulkier” girl

· A fundamental difference in fitness goals/differing perceptions of attractiveness

Importance of gym to men and women –

· For women, it seems as though gym attendance revolves around a desire to pacify anxieties or insecurities. They utilize the gym to maintain both a healthy body, but more importantly, to cultivate a strong self conscious and self-image. Essentially, women use the gym to hedge against excessive consumption that is inherently associated with collegiate life. They too however uses this space, occasionally, as a social realm and maintain a presence on campus.

· In men I found that a recurring theme was the gym was utilized also to enhance a self-image. But for men, gaining mass (completely opposite of the female objective) was desired as it implicated time and dedication to self-improvement. Men used this space to establish a sense of self amidst the widely varying social hierarchy. Astonishingly, nearly every male who was interviewed said that having women on the upper level effected them in some way.

Field Notes III

On Sunday May 16: The Lamont School
At 7:14 p.m. on Sunday, May 16 I approached the Lamont School of Music. From the outside, it looked the same as it always had: huge slabs of gray brick, impressive architecture, and gold plated signs. In spite of this, I still expected to be surprised at the things I found there. This was a recon mission. I went on a day when students were not there and there was not an event going on just so I could see the building for itself. This was going to be fun.
At 7:20 p.m. I decide to start creeping around on the second floor of the school and see what I find. There were bulletin boards everywhere that featured flyers for senior recitals, junior recitals, statewide concerts, and upcoming local shows. I was also pleasantly surprised to find the professors mailboxes as well as pencil sharpeners that were mounted and shining in the hallways of the Lamont School. I also saw small classrooms that couldn’t host more than 20 students and came complete with a musical staff on the board. Just like in the movies.
At 7:27 p.m. I work my way down to the first floor. Here, are the practice rooms for the percussion instruments, as well as a few recital halls. There is a small one that is simply labeled “Instrumental Rehearsal” and a larger, more popular one called William’s Recital Hall a.k.a. Flo’s Underground. I hear the sound of a diligent music student practicing on the drum set, and I chuckle when I hear someone practicing a xylophone. I smile in reminiscence at the lightly colored wood music lockers. This space is the most familiar one to me.
At 7:32 p.m. I make my way up to the second and then the third floor. I was amazed at how specific it was. Harp, oboe, and flute. There were also offices for the GTA’s and of course, more bulletin boards. I hear the voices of students chatting with each other as they take the stairs down to the main floor and I tense up. Even though I was doing nothing wrong, creeping does make one stand on edge. The whole time, I was afraid I would get caught. It is quite silent on this floor and the faculty lounge is empty. I also can’t help but notice how dense each place feels. It feels as though the carpet was thick and heavy and in each room, it felt air tight. I think I even felt slightly claustrophobic, or maybe that was my paranoia of getting caught that was getting to me.
At 7:40 p.m. I take the stairs to the fourth floor and am pleasantly surprised to find the music library. Unfortunately, it was closed, but I saw that faculty and students could borrow scores of music, dvds, and books. On the fourth floor, there was also the piano lab that hosted students who needed to practice music compositions or work through a song. I was also pleasantly surprised to find the classic guitar studio on this floor.
At 7:50 p.m. Onto the fifth floor I went and I have never heard such a constructive mess. Students practicing flutes, clarinets, piano etc. I had the opportunity to go into a practice room and the concrete box with the piano, wooden bench, mirror, and window was not necessarily inspiring in and of itself. The only thing that would inspire me if I were there would be to practice as perfectly, efficiently, and quickly as I could just so I could get out of there. However, the view from the fifth floor window was gorgeous. As I wandered on the floor, I saw something surprising and disheartening. There were signs on several of the doors that said “Practice rooms to be used by current Lamont students and faculty for practicing at all times. Anyone who utilizes this space for anything else will be charged with trespassing.” It surprised me because I was told that non music students were able to use the practice rooms and because it was so stern and serious and not at all what I expected to see. Didn’t they think the keypad on some of the doors was enough? Also, on the fifth floor is a student lounge complete with lockers and a microwave. (Late night snack anyone?) The fifth floor lounge also had a rose window that hosts stunning views of the city of Denver. While standing there, I wanted to write a song myself. Next to the rose window, there was an inscription that said “The rose has always been the symbol of an exceptional performance.” I felt that this statement was quite appropriate for Lamont. Not because it is a music school, but because I have seen my fair share of exceptional performances.
At 8:07 I finally leave the music school. I walk out on the second floor of the music school, at the west entrance past the Bryron Flex Theatre. I walk out and see a huge stone statue of a man and woman and what looks like a thief. I am saddened that there is no description of this outside. I look up, and above the doors I see several quotes engraved on the slate structure. My favorite of these is the quote by William Shakespeare that states, “If music is food, then let me have in excess. Play on.” I leave feeling quite knowledgeable about the school and I feel a bit closer to it as well. Maybe it is because my familiarity with it expanded after exploring each floor, or maybe because I finally saw it for everything it has to offer. We will see.
What I saw truly confirmed that the Lamont School is a place that is meant to educate and inspire. It is a place that is a “second home” to the music students and a place where “family” can be formed. Lamont is a space that benefits the community in that there is always something that students are able to participate in. It is a space that is open for everyone to enjoy their favorite kinds of music and a space for music students to perform for their peers. The Lamont School is more than DU’s token cultural institution; it is a place that brings color and accessibility to the fine arts to the campus.

Field Notes: Set Two

Field Notes: Set Two

Date: Saturday May 11^th

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Coors Fitness Center

In analyzing my first set of field notes it came to my attention that my observations were primarily based upon the physical setting of the gym and the ways in which I perceived people to be using the facilities. Although these observations would definitely give me a concrete foundation upon which I could build further connections, I had not yet taken into account people’s personal perspectives of what the gym meant to them personally. It is for these reasons that the majority of my second set of field notes revolved mostly around three interviews I conducted within the gym. I wanted to get the most comprehensive look at the various uses of the gym possible so I categorized my interviews into three parts: employees, male athletes and female athletes. I thought by interviewing these three demographics I could attain valuable insight into the gyms various uses.

Interview 1 – Desmond (an alias used to preserve the subjects identity) is a towering 6’5 man who works as an employee of the Coors Fitness Center. Luckily, I had enrolled in a speech class with Desmond earlier this year and built a rapport with him. I felt for this reason I could gain some more in-depth insights into his uses of the gym, the following is a transcribed summary of our interview:

Desmond began his interview as suspected, mildly tentative and put off by the formalities encapsulated by my pen and notebook and the overall “interview mode” that had been imparted upon him. Soon enough however he loosened up and began telling me about his involvement with the gym. “I’m on a big scholarship right now so any extra money helps out big time,” he explains. “The funny thing is I don’t even lift {he chuckles} I mean every once and awhile ill play ball but other than that I don’t get how people can be in here so long.” I asked Desmond why the gym? With so many other places to become employed why had he chosen the fitness center? “I guess I like being able to see kids I go to school with, ya know, friends and teachers and stuff.” “The pay is also not bad and I can do homework when the days are slower”. It seemed as though Desmond had found a perfect medium between generating income while maintaining a presence with his fellow classmates. I then inquired as to why it was important to have a job at all? This was the point at which some more insightful answers began to surface. “Growing up one of three kids in a single parent place is tough, but my mom was tougher [smiles] she always made sure that we knew nothing would be handed to us, and that good things were a product of hard work.” I was astounded at this, as I had never heard Desmond’s back-story during the time we were in class together. I began to realize that the gym to Desmond was not a place to cultivate an exterior image, but was an avenue of self-sufficiency and independence. “I feel like I’m earning my way here you know? Like, I know my mom is still back home working for my little brother to go to school. I don’t know. It just would feel wrong to have her back home working and me not doing anything out here.” I was amazed by both his candid nature and his ability to stay loyal to the values instilled in him a long time ago. The interview went on but nothing during that time came close to the importance of the previous lines. I concluded my interview shortly thereafter and let Desmond get back to Work.

Interview 2 – Molly was a girl that I had spotted upstairs on one of the ellipticals. I decided to interview her because she seemed to be on the “cool down” phase of her workout and the machines to the sides of her were vacant. I had lucked out with Molly. She was an upbeat, energetic sophomore who was more than willing to talk to me. Her preparation included nothing more than popping her earphones out and quickly wiping her hands to shake mine. The following is a transcribed summary of our interview:

After explaining to Molly exactly what this interview would entail, she agreed to participate. So why are you at the gym today? “well I had quite a night last night so I’m making myself pay for it today” She said. I asked her to explain and she stated simply “when I go out I feel obligated to come to the gym and work some of it off.” I can, with a high degree of confidence, infer that Molly was speaking about partying and consuming excessive food or alcohol. It seemed as though Molly utilized the gym to keep her social life and physical well being on an even keel. “If I go out a lot or even if I just don’t come to the gym for a while I get antsy, almost, and find myself getting very irritable.” Essentially a lack of gym attendance correlated strongly to an overall feeling of laziness and unproductiveness. I then asked Molly if she had realized the separation of males and females in the gym. “Oh absolutely, I never go down there [referring to the main floor of the gym, interview conducted from upperlevel].” When asking why, Molly had a few reasons as to why she never ventured onto the main floor. “I guess it’s a little intimidating, a lot of the guys down there are huge and you’re afraid that you’ll get in the way and be a victim of some serious roid rage.” Admittedly, I thought this was a refreshing view of the male female gym dynamic and we were able to share a laugh. She continued “plus I don’t really need any of the stuff down there, none of it does what running does for me.” I asked her why she chose running over other exercises and she explained that “running makes me feel like I’m actually sweating calories out, like I’m actually working hard. Plus it’s a great way to slim down and keep the sophomore slump [a continuation of the freshmen 15] at bay.” Molly went on to speak about how she associated lifting weights with a bulkier more muscular physique where running resulted in the more sought after “slimming” figure that women love. This fundamental difference in appearance was something I wanted to expound on. I asked her, so do you think that pre conceived notions of attractiveness dictate how men and women will choose to workout? “For sure” she declaratively stated. “ We’re all well aware of how were supposed to look. And for me, attractive is a lean figure that I can only get from running or the Stairmaster.” Molly had given me incredibly insightful and useful information into why women were hesitant to wander onto the gym floor. Their resistance to the floor stemmed from two primary concerns; mere intimidation or uncomfortably from the men and a fear that weight lifting would leave them with a bulkier less desired look than that of a more cardio-based exercise.

Interview 3 – My final interview came from a strapping young man named Matt. I had seen Matt frequently in the gym and had met him a few months ago simply by being in the gym often. Matt was most certainly a “vet” and touted his strength in the gym regularly. He was always one of the strongest males in the gym so I thought his interpretation of its inner workings would be valuable. Normally I would not have gotten a chance to interview Matt as his workouts are propelled by an intent focus that is not to be disrupted. Luckily, however I caught up with him on the way out and walked with him back to Nagel Dormitory. I first asked Matt why he though that so few girls frequented the gym floor. “Well, I guess I never really noticed that. I mean it’d be kinda weird if you saw some girl who was bigger than you [he chuckles]” I asked Matt about the intimidation factor and whether or not he found that to play a part in the segregation. “Yea that makes sense, I mean I know a lot of guys who shy away from working out if they see that they’re one of the smaller ones out there. So it’d make sense that girls would shy away too.” I then asked Matt why he had made working out such a big part of his life, his answers wee surprising. “Well I started lifting my junior year in highscool actually. I played football but I wasn’t very good. I was one of the smallest kids out there and I used to really get thrown around. Then in college I started to grow into myself and lifting weights really started to show. I never wanted it to stop. It kinda became an obsession. To get bigger, and eat well and be noticed as a strong guy was something that meant a lot to me.” Never would I have guessed that Matt’s passion for lifting weights was actually deeply seeded in some insecurities that arose in high school (although it made perfect sense). I then asked what outside influences, if any, delegated what and how he would workout. “Yea, well, no one wants to be small. No matter what anyone says a big strong guy is going to have a leg up in almost every facet of life. Someone whos visibly in shape allows people to assume that they care enough about themselves to work on their body.” Essentially Matt was telling me that he craved not only the physical outcome of lifting weight, but equally important was the assumptions that came along with a strong individual. I wanted to touch base with the male-female dynamic and how he viewed this, another interesting revelation surfaced. “Its funny cause I think that the gym is just another social setting for men and women to socialize. The girls get to see all the guys below working out and it almost becomes sort of a MAN-SHOWROOM.” This dynamic was exactly what I was trying to unveil and investigate. Matt had seemingly deconstructed the creation of the gym and deemed it a way for men, to tout there strengths among other to acquire a social rank not only among themselves but among the ever-vigilant female eye watching from above. “Its also pretty motivating when you have 20 girls up there running ya know? I mean if I know that many girls are up there and some of em are looking…. Lets just say its motivation for that last rep” These insights offered by Matt were among the most helpful and helped me grasp a view of the gym that I had not yet noticed.

Field Notes as Monday May 17th

Confluence Park on Sunday May 9^th, 2010 “Mother’s Day”

Setting out to observe how people use the South Platte Bike Path, I observed Confluence Park. As the intersection of the South Platte and the Cherry Creek bike baths, as well as their aqueous namesakes, I concluded the park would be a good place to start my observations. Upon arriving and having picked up some coffee at the REI Starbucks right on the park, I walked to the other side of the South Platte and perched on a steep hill, granting me a wonderful view of the entire park.

- -At the Starbucks located in REI, several people were standing in line and most tables occupied. A barista said the traffic wasn’t just because of the Mother’s Day holiday, “Sundays are always busy.”

- There was public water spigot so baristas wouldn’t have to keep refilling water bottles.

2:45pm

- The weather is warm, but not too hot. Its sunny, but there are a few clouds. Its breezy but nice. Overall, its perfect spring weather!

- The Bike Rack is Full at REI and the Bcycle catalog is empty

- There are lots of people, both cyclists and pedestrians. Its almost crowded

2:52pm

- Trolley Arrives at REI

- There are mostly ‘dedicated’ or ‘hardcore’ cyclists – cyclists who wear bike pants or cycling shoes. They only sometimes wear helmets.

- Flowers and Trees are blooming

- The bridge over the Platte is never empty. Its always very crowded.

2:57pm

- I see a kayaker going down the Platte rapids! It turns out there is not only one, but a small group.

- Regarding helmets, most people wear them. Kids always wear them, but surprisingly parents in less so.

- There are lots of ‘loungers’ in the area on the east side of the Cherry Creek.

- There are lots of dogs, and most of them are wet from swimming in the rivers.

- Most people come from or go to the Cherry Creek Trial instead of continuing along the Platte Trail. They cross the bridge and continue along the curve to Cherry Creek.

· Confluence Park seems like a destination. It appears to be a stopping or starting point, even though it continues both North and South of Confluence Park.

- Bcycle riders are always in pairs or groups. The same is usually true for most pedestrians and cyclists.

· Confluence Park is a social place, a community center.

- From Confluence Park, you can’t see the mountains over the Highlands (Partially obstructed by clouds). You can see all of downtown and the view is great. Sugar Mill Lofts, the Glass House, the Millennium Bridge are beautiful rising above the horizon.

- The Bridge over Speer Blvd looms over the entire park.

- Buses and cars zoom over the 15^th St Bridge.

- There is a Power Line pole right at the foot of the Speer Blvd Bridge, and it continues alone the Platte toward the Regency and out of sight.

· Colorado is reputed for it’s amazing natural beauty, but confluence park is created and fabricated nature in the heart of a city.

3:25pm

- Trolley Arrives at REI again.

- Watching the bridge/ramp to the North Trail, there is much less Traffic. It is much more narrow than the bridge across the Platte.

· Is the South leg of the South Platte Trail favored over the North Leg? How does ridership reflect that?

- All ages were represented, babies to the elderly.

3:34pm

- About half of the Bcycle bikes were returned to the catalog.

- Surrounding the park, there were lots of cars. The I-25 on ramp, the Speer Blvd Bridge, the REI Parking Lot, and the 15^th Street Bridge were all right off the park.

- The bridges across the Platte, at Speer, 20^th, 15^th, the Viaduct, 19^th, and the bridges in the City of Cuernavaca Park, were always busy with traffic.

- The was lots of hustle and commotion around the park, but the park was a ‘refuge,’ and oasis.

3:39pm

- The sun goes behind a thick cloud. The weather is still nice, but it is cooler.

- A line of people stands on the north side of the bridge watching something below. Kayakers? The Rapids? A Camera?

- At the foot of the bridge, people take pictures in front of the blooming trees.

- ‘Dad’ takes pictures of his ‘girls.’ A couple approached and offered to take the picture with all of them. They exchange cameras and take pictures of each other.

· Community. There is a sense of community in the park.

- Woman napping face down in the park.

- I hear bike bells from the bike path.

- Rapids are very fake and look artificially created. There is a terraced pillar of flowers and shrubs in the middle of river; very odd and unnatural terraces.

- The Rapids and the waterfall were created.

· The actual confluence of the South Platte and the Cherry Creek is created. I find it interesting that a park that celebrates nature is completely artificial.

- Lots of people are wearing ear buds.

3:49pm

- The park is much less crowded than an hour ago.

- ‘Beaches’ are concrete steps to the water.

3:56pm

- Birds circle overhead.

3:59pm

- The sun came out a bit, and activity in the park seemed to instantly increase.

- The trolley arrived at REI.

- A couple rides across the bridge on a tandem bicycle.

4:02pm

- A 4-person bike cab crosses the Platte Bridge. On the back, there is an advertisement for those bikes rented from the Aquarium, just a little bit down the South Platte Bike Trail.

- There is a map of all of the major bike trials in Denver right at the foot of the South Platte Bridge. It is on the Cherry Creek side of the river and doesn’t really reach riders of the Platte Trail.

- There is a Starbucks right off the park in the REI building, right off the Platte Trail, the Platte Bridge, and the Bcycle catalog.

· As the Barista said when I picked up my coffee before sitting down for observations, Sundays are busy. On a Sunday, patrons are not commuters; they are people enjoying the weekend. The park is mostly for recreation and leisure.

After sitting in the park for a few hours, I decided to rent a Bcycle and ride North of Confluence Park along the Platte Trail. I wanted to explore the idea that the Northern leg of the trail was much less traveled than the southern leg. I set out after 4pm in the afternoon, and understandably the levels of ridership would be different than a few hours earlier. Knowing this, I see the opportunity for skewed results. I decided to proceed with the ride to familiarize myself with the trail and observe the riders.

4:14pm

- I check out a Bcycle from the REI catalog right on Confluence Park. There are a few bikes available to be rented and a few spaces for bikes to be checked in.

- Riding through City of Cuernavaca Park, I was really confused by the trail. I wanted to continue north on the Platte Trail, but I followed the signs and it took me to a dead end. As it turns out, you have to circle the park and cross the Platte River to get back on the Trail.

· Although a beautiful park, the trail was much more confusing than the southern leg of the trail. I am beginning to conclude that the trail was mostly intended for trips from Confluence Park southward.

4:25pm

- Riding along the northern leg, I crossed under a Rail Road bridge next to Park Ave, and a train crossed over it just as I rode under the bridge.

- Northside Park was completely empty. There were absolutely no humans.

- I stopped at the History Riverside Cemetery, although the Trail continues northward toward Brighton.

- I encountered only a few riders along the Northern Leg of the Platte Trail. Although there were only a few people, I can’t definitely say that there was a noticeable difference in ridership from the Southern Leg.

- I ride back to the REI Bcycle station to check in my bike. Every space is full and I must ride to a different Bcycle station.

· The Park must be an afternoon spot. Although the weather may have influenced the attendance in the park, I think Confluence Park is a destination for sunny afternoons, not cool evenings.

5:13pm

- After an hour ride for a round trip of 4 miles, I check my rented Bcycle into the 16^th and Platte Station.

Overall, I realized that Confluence Park is a natural oasis created in the middle of a city. It is a destination. People ride their bikes to the park, or it is a starting point for their afternoon ride. Some people came to lounge in the sun, others to socialize and spend time with other people. It was a bustling center of activity, like the hub of a wheel, connecting all of the different paths and roads across the city.

Thinking of that analogy further, it is one of the very few centers of Denver – a city center in the old European sense, when a city was developed in concentric rings. Right on the Intersections of Speer and Interstate 25, the Confluence of the South Platte and the Cherry Creek, Confluence Park is a central meeting place for all of Denver. Interestingly enough, Speer Blvd was built following the Cherry Creek. The curve of I-25 around Downtown Denver was influenced by the South Platte. Interestingly, the use of that place has cycled over time. At first, it was the center for the uncivilized pioneer Denver. With the growth of industry, it became the intersection of main roads in the city. Now, it is back to nature, a park in the middle of the city, celebrating the confluence of rivers and of people.

A significant and surprising observation I had while sitting in the park, was that it was fake; created to look like nature in the heart of an industrialized city. The Rapids that kayakers enjoyed were artificial. The beautiful blooming flowers and trees were purposefully planted. I was surprised that this natural oasis wasn’t natural at all.

Field Notes II

Observations
Sunday 16th 2010
Denver Art Museum intersection in 13th avenue

12:30-1:00
I started out by standing on the same intersection where I began my first observations (13th Avenue). During the first five minutes I noticed a mass flock of people traversing through this area extensively, either from or to Civic Park. Most likely this was due as it was the end of the week and a lot of people use this day to expend it outdoors anyway. This time the mass of people had a wide array of ethnicities involved: many white, some Asian, and a lot of Latino. At this time of the day, the sunlight brightened the edifices that stood beside me and the heat was relatively pleasant to what had been forecasted.

12:35 pm – I traversed to the Western side of the museum complex to get a different perspective from last time. The most noticeable things were a nice flat green on the southern end with a few vegetation scattered on it, mostly seasonal flowers. There are a few houses in the vicinity and a huge parking lot. The museum itself doesn’t look very different on that side as its arrangement is near symmetrical the main difference is that there are not many doors and windows on the lower level of the unusual main building. After this I decided to head into the mid-section separating the Cultural Complex and the DAM.
As time passed, people kept traversing through this path and not many actually entered the museum during this lapse of time. I was sure glad I didn’t plan to actually visit the museum today. Sporadically, a few couples and some families made their way into the entrance but not a significant number. Most of these folks were white middle and teen-age individuals whose appearance didn’t seem artistic at all.

12:30-12:40 pm
A group of skaters appeared (around 8), the group was diversified and they started skating around this area. Other than this, people kept using this way as a means of transportation only as if this place was nothing more than a mere sidewalk.

12:45-1:00 pm
At this time I briefly talked to one individual of the skater group. He preferred being called “Nerd” as that was his nickname, very obvious by the way he looked with the big glasses he has to wear. I started by asking “why do you guys skate here?” and he responded that there was no special reason as the group just roams around town skating anywhere possible. Then I went on asking why they had chosen this exact spot. He replied that it was wide enough to try speed races among one another, and that the park benches and the occasional steps found in this area were useful when trying various tricks. Then I actually asked him if he had ever entered the Art Museum and he bluntly stated “hell nah”. The last question I made was “Well what do you think about the museum?” and he said that it looked kind of tight but that he wasn’t into art or any of that stuff. As I had brought my skateboard with me, he ended up inviting me to skate around with the group. For the last 5-10 minutes I did join the group and we raced each other. Nerd and two of the other skaters did some killer moves in the benches and he tried to teach me a really weird back-flip, like a 360 spin of the board while I was jumping from the bench. I fell down hard like 10 times before getting the hang of it. After this I had to rush back home, and I went towards 16 Street Mall towards the light rail.

Response:
A lot more people were walking the intersection this time and a lot more ethnic groups were present which was tremendously different from last time. Even though the museum was open this time, a lot of people who entered the museum didn’t seem interested at all. There were a lot of similarities in the attitudes of the people I observe in this space just like last observation period. It seems as the museum is not even important in this place, and that a people have other uses for this place. For example, the skaters used this spot to skate around and have fun instead of observing the structure present in DAM or the complex itself. I contribute this lack of acknowledgment for DAM as a result of poor advertising as I have rarely heard anything about Denver Art Museum, I mean how can I be interested in a place that doesn’t tell me that I actually need to go. Overall I think this was a productive day and I’m starting to think of how I will attack my final set of observations

Field Notes III

Before class on Wednesday, please post your final set of fieldnotes here to our course blog as a comment. Make sure and include the same kind of information as in previous fieldnotes. In this final set of notes, though, you might try and sketch out any tentative conclusions you are making about this space and its significance for the people who use it.