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.

Field Notes I

Field Notes I
Site: Intersection between Denver Art Museum and Denver Public Library

11:35-11:40 am
Civic park’s sidewalks were heavily crowded; bright sunshine covered the vicinity and the breeze rushed through my body giving a sensation of freshness in what seemed to forecast a hot sunny day with scattered clouds. Made my way to Broadway Street and 13th Avenue. I rushed quickly into the Denver Public Library as I needed the restroom quickly. As I made my way through 13th Avenue, three edifices stood out: the Civic Center Cultural Complex, the Denver Art Museum, and the Denver Public Library. An intersection connected a path for pedestrians to traverse through these three structures. I decided to sit in one of the park benches on the area between the western exit of the library and the north section of the art museum.

Response: At this lapse I felt that this would be a great day to be outdoors as the sunrays didn’t strike with heavy heat and the wind chill cooled my body. I had already decided that this day would be used to see the museum’s external environment and how people seemed to interact with the place, how many actually visited the museum and just make notes from the structure.

11:40-11:55 am
I first observed the various artsy structures surrounding this section. One of the structures was right behind where I stood and it was an array of metallic shapes (semicircles, and rectangular masts) red in color. The next structure was a giant dustpan with trash on it. There were also three columnar pillars in a Stonehenge type of structure and another piece on the roof of the art museum featuring a Native and a Cowboy shooting each other. Then I finally went ahead to observe the Denver Art Museum’s main building. It seems as a mixture of various prismatic shapes such as square pyramids, rectangular blocks. Very unusual arrangement for this museum, it makes it stand out from the surrounding buildings that have a common structural arrangement. At this point I observed that quite a few people were traversing the intersection from the public library to the Art museum and vice-versa. Something interesting was that during this time, most of the pedestrians were old-age white men and women. Then at around 11:50 am a group of teenage skaters spent a brief moment doing tricks in the area between the Cultural complex and the museum. The bright sunny cool day then turned into a gloomy and cold one as a massive nimbus blocked the sunlight and the wind started to blow swiftly. Then a young couple appeared to be browsing through these places taking pictures.

The Museum’s structure surely baffled me; its structure is so random and genuine that I imagine how people feel standing in the triangular shape that’s prominent in the north side of the building. The outside works of art are also intricate and genuine but as I have no acute artistic taste for this type of things, I can’t really make a meaning out of any of them even though I can recognize the structures they resemble; it’s that kind of thing where I wish I had a better taste for contemporary art.

11:55 am-12:10 pm - area between northern section of Art Museum and public library
Cars and people keep traversing now I’m listening to construction work going on in a building across the Civic Center Cultural Complex. The same couple is still wandering around observing the Art museum. I decided to move toward civic park and I observed yet another structure which was a series of red pillars with different words written throughout them all. I observed some people just sitting in this area eating or doing other activities, no one seemed to mind me being taking notes. The structure in civic park was also surrounded by orange tape indicating that construction work was also going on around here.

Questions: Do people actually come to this area of town just to chill? Is there anything that makes them pick this exact spot? What would that be?

12:10-12:25 pm – going towards the entrance of Art Museum

12:12- At this time I observed that the young couple from the preceding observations made their way to the museum’s door, they grabbed the handle and tried to open it but failed. They struggled for a few seconds until they gave up and left.
From here I made my way across the intersection towards the main entrance, and I also tried to open it and failed miserably. Then I looked to the side and finally figured out that the museum is closed on Mondays. I’ve decided to finish by making my way south close to 12th avenue, yet another structure laid there; a cow with a young calf. A person was cleaning the windows of the cultural complex, and then two adult skaters came rushing to this area and started performing tricks. Now I had finished my first set of field observations of the Denver Art Museum, and I made my way out of here towards 16 Street Mall, one of the skaters fell and a giant thump resonated in the otherwise isolated area.

Final response: No wonder I didn’t see anyone entering the Art museum!!! I can’t believe it took me almost 40 minutes to figure that one out. At least a got a good deal of visuals from the museum and its surrounding area that might help me with some of my research. For the next observations, I’m thinking of talking to the employees of the art museum by phone or setting appointments in order to ask question that include: why did you decide to work here? Do you like your job? What do you think about this place? Basically I’m trying to assess how employees feel about their workplace.

Field Notes II

After you conduct your second observation of your space for your mapping project, please post a second set of field notes here before class begins on Monday, May 17.

As you make notes from your observations, please make sure you include the following information: 1) Date, time, and place of observation; 2) Specific facts, numbers, and details; 3) Sensory impressions: sights, sounds, textures, smells, tastes; 4) Personal response to your observations—both the act of recording and how others responded to you; 5) Specific words, phrases, summaries of conversations/interviews, and any insider language; 6) Questions that your observations generate for you as the researcher (ones that you might pursue in your subsequent observations).

As you conclude this set of notes, please write a paragraph in which you summarize your observation, paying attention to what you noticed that was either similar to your previous observation or different. What do you think accounts for this?

Finding Sources for Your Mapping Project

Find one promising source for your mapping project and post it—formatted according to APA style—to our blog. Also, copy the abstract into your comment, too, and explain why you think this source will be useful for your study.

Field Notes: Set One

Field Notes: Set 1

Date: Monday May 10^th

Time: 6:15 p.m.

Location: Coors Fitness Center (Observations acquired from treadmills on upper level)

6:15 – Entering the gym two employees folding towels abruptly stop their chores to swipe me in and ask me if I need one. They are pleasant, and return to entertaining themselves as I enter.

6:17 – Observations commence from upper level treadmills, my notes are recorded manually in a notebook to be transcribed at a later time

6:20 – A group of four males enter the gym, shed exterior layers and proceed to rapidly consume what seems to be some sort of protein drink. They assemble around a large piece of equipment, banter casually, and steal glances of themselves from the enormous mirror, reflecting the entire gym floor.

· Implications into the gym as a social setting? Is the gym one of the few social realms in which self-confidence or even conceit is accepted…. encouraged?

6:22 – A potent combination of sweat and some sort of equipment-cleaner permeates the air, televisions facing the treadmills are tuned into a wide array of channels. At this time the gym is nearly at capacity. All treadmills are taken and a cavalry of nearly 20 students run at varying speeds and levels of intensity.

6:27 – Faint sounds of a popular, Denver-based radio station serve as the gyms backdrop and fill-in the interims between the clanking of weights and grey-chatter filling the general vicinity.

6:30 – There is a definite segregation amongst the sex of the gym’s attendees. At this stage, not one female is on the gym floor, however they dominate treadmill use (I am one of 2 males currently using the upper-level treadmills and stair masters, the remainder are being used by my female counterparts.)

· What is the underlying reason for this separation between men and women in gym settings? Are the bases of men and women exercises established by outside societal expectations?

6:34 – Men lifting on the main floor portray a radically wide assortment of what are considered gym “rookies” or “veterans”. This is a common distinction within the world of physical fitness and the classifications are fairly straightforward. The bigger you are, the more likely you are to be considered a “veteran” or a “Vet”.

· Again, this may be interesting to explore in the sense that the “vet” nickname is worn as a badge of honor, an icon of achievement.

6:37 – Whether gym-goers are in groups or lifting individually also varies, nearly all those who are lifting alone are equipped with an Ipod and can be periodically seen changing songs or adjusting headphones.

· Does the decision to work out alone represent internal characteristics unique to the individual? Insight into personal uses of the gym.

6:40 – On a few occasions I witnessed lifters recruiting other members to spot them. The athletes chosen to be spotters were nearly always more fit than the individual actually lifting the weight.

· Spotting in the sense of offering trust to a partner, demonstrating trust in others at random. Implied responsibility

6:45 – “PUSH” “GET IT” “COME ON, ONE MORE” “SMOOTH LIFT” “CLEAN LIFT” are terms sporadically used within the gym and serve a purpose similar to a warriors battle cry; to incite a short burst of adrenaline and motivation to complete the task at hand.

6:50 - Between lifts or exercises, people will commonly walk aimlessly around the gym to regain focus, energy and even sometimes to observe their fellow lifters. This lingering can best be described by paralleling it to an animal, waiting to execute its next task.

· Does this “lurking” period allow for some comparison amidst others? Wandering and its implications into one’s perceptions of their social rank.

6:55 – I have been keeping tabs on the group of four that entered the gym at around the same time as I began observations. In all honesty, they have done very little actual work. Their routine mainly consists of periodic 40-second exercises, (usually using a machine as opposed to free-weights) followed by elongated periods of talking, walking around, getting water, and looking in the mirror.

· Alternate motives for gym attendance?

7:00 – It is interesting to note that the larger “Vets” in the gym take up most of the free weight area. In fact, it seems as though less experienced gym-goers willingly give up this area to the “Vets”. For example on two occasions, two athletes were vying for a set of weights, (control of weights are a valued commodity especially when gym capacity is reaching max levels) and after a brief moment, the smaller individual relinquished the weight to the Vet.

· Fitness Center Hierarchy?

7:08 – As my observations come to a close, so do many of the workouts of the athletes I entered with. Most depart by acknowledging friends and then slowly making their way to the exit. Forgotten towels are left stranded, strewn across the equipment and benches.

7:10 – A woman asks me if I will be off the treadmill soon, (I can imagine my slow walking pace for nearly an hour impelled this woman to ask me for my treadmill before approaching others who were clearly working harder) I figured this was as good a time as any to conclude my first set of Field notes.

Field Notes I

After you conduct your first observation of your space for your mapping project, please post your first set of field notes here before class begins on Wednesday, May 12. As you make notes from your observations, please make sure you include the following information: 1) Date, time, and place of observation; 2) Specific facts, numbers, and details; 3) Sensory impressions: sights, sounds, textures, smells, tastes; 4) Personal response to your observations—both the act of recording and how others responded to you; 5) Specific words, phrases, summaries of conversations/interviews, and any insider language; 6) Questions that your observations generate for you as the researcher (ones that you might pursue in your subsequent observations).

Ideas for Your Mapping Project

Before you leave class today, please take 5-10 minutes and tell the rest of us what your focus for our final project will be. What space will you be mapping? What group(s) of people do you think you’ll be observing and interviewing? What’s your plan for the next few weeks to complete these observations and interviews? What do you hope to learn from this project and why do you think this particular space is an important one to study?

Observing People at Cherry Creek

This weekend I decided to go to Cherry Creak Mall and observe the behaviors of the people working in the stores. I went to stores such as Neiman Marcus, Sacs Fifth Avenue, BCBG, Michael Kors, and Nordstroms. While there, I observes what shoppers were being waited on first and who was being ignored. I noticed that the apparel of the shoppers had a major effect on the their service. Those shoppers, wearing obviously expensive and put-together outfits were helped significantly sooner then those wearing obviously inexpensive outfits. In fact, even those in athletic apparel were helped before people who looked "cheap." Also, I noticed that adults were helped significantly sooner then teenagers. Although these behaviors did not surprise me, it still made me sad that people are so superficial.

Sunday Mornings at Starbucks

Sunday morning, I woke up and set out on my favorite morning ritual – I walked to Starbucks. Walking toward caffeine and breakfast, pulled by the Siren’s call, it seemed to me the corner of University and Asbury was a hub of activity. I saw students walking to the gym or returning to campus after late Saturday nights. Students weren’t the only people, however. The parking lot was full, overflowing in fact, with cars parked on sidewalks and medians. The entire University neighborhood seemed to revolve around that one intersection, that one coffee shop. It was a bustle of activity, but it wasn’t hurried or strained. Watching students nurse hangovers and families pushing strollers getting ready for a sunny day at the park, Starbucks was brimming with life. Walking through the door, I was greeted by a line of people and the striking smell of coffee. I asked a mother standing if front of me in line, “What do you like about Starbucks? What brought you here this fine Sunday morning?” “It’s my little treat in the morning,” she answered, baby in her arms and a toddler in tow. Looking around the coffee shop, I noticed that although most of my fellow customers were in and out, beverage in had, I saw that every seat and table was occupied. Some people were dressed up, possibly chatting after a religious service. Others were donning pajamas and big sunglasses, clearly just having woken up, coming to Starbucks to get their morning fix. A few people were reading the Sunday paper, others reading what looked like books for pleasure. One couple had a gaggle of children around them, little toys and coffee cake crumbs strewn around the table. I took my seat, ready to enjoy my extra foamy Misto and croissant, and began to observe. I stayed for about an hour, but the crowd remained about the same. Some people walked in and out, others arrived for a coffee date and stayed to chat. As time went on and I found my cup empty, Starbucks maintained that calm life, sustained an easy-going buzz. It remained a hub of lazy activity, of people enjoying their Sunday mornings. I don’t know if people value Starbucks for the experience or merely for the caffeine. It could be one, both, or something else entirely, but a morning stop for coffee was a popular thing to do.

Observing People on Campus

This weekend, I observed the main lounge in Centennial Halls. The lounge serves many purposes for the students in Halls, including providing space for studying, entertainment, socializing, and eating. As you first enter, the room is empty with the exception of a table, a few chairs, a couch, and a trashcan. To the left is a convenience store. The convenience store has several shelves along the walls, three small aisles, several refrigerator style coolers, and a counter for the cash register. As you enter the lounge and move straight back, there is a pool table, a foosball table, an air hockey table, two ping pong tables, and several large crimson bean bag chairs with the DU Pioneers logo on them. Back and to the left is a TV mounted on the wall, a couch, more bean bag chairs, a piano, and another table. This table is where I took my seat.

Students seemed to use the space both recreationally and, to a lesser extent, academically. When I first arrived, two students were playing pool, four students were playing ping pong, and two were working on laptops on a couch. Although most were using the space for fun, it was still relatively quiet. During the time that I was there, about 8 people entered the convenience store in the lounge to buy something.

After about ten minutes, a student approached the area where I was sitting and asked me if I he could turn on the TV. After I told him it was fine, he thanked me and explained that some of his friends were meeting up to watch the new episode of South Park. Just a few minutes later, more students from his group came in. By the time the show started, there were a total of 7 students in his group. They were gathered around the TV either on a couch, on beanbag chairs, or on the floor. All of the students watching the show were laughing, including myself. They included me in the group, showing me that the area was used for socializing and was generally an open and welcoming area. After the show was over, all of the students watching TV left and the room was quiet except for a few people who were still playing pool.

Overall, it acts as a gathering place where students seek relaxation and the company of other people.

Observing Observatory Park

This weekend I observed Observatory Park and the space and people in it. The park was quite active despite the colder weather we have been having. At this time of year it is very green and everything was looking beautiful. The sun was out giving a much-needed warmth to all the life in the park. The trees swayed in the wind as I heard the light breeze and rustling of leaves pass by. The air smelt fresh and clean. People were whacking balls in the tennis courts, walking their dogs, or playing Frisbee. Three seemingly college students were lying on their towels and tanning in the sunlight. Another man was helping the environment by picking up trash and throwing it into a trash bag. This man seemed to be here on his own will, just to help clean the park. I managed to interview a man playing Frisbee and asked him why he comes here. He answered that it’s a beautiful park and it’s sunny out so playing Frisbee seemed like a good idea. The park obviously was beautiful and very connected with nature. The observatory in the middle only adds to the park’s splendor. The old style of the building gives the park a view not constricted by modern society. A view into the time when there was no pollution and nature was valued more. This was the observation I made at Observatory Park.

Observing People on Campus: Illegal Pete's

Place: Illegal Pete’s
On Friday night, April 30 at 10 p.m. Illegal Pete’s is a lot similar to the way it is any other time of day. The parking lot was in the back and we walk around to the front door like any other day. The gray concrete floor is not exactly welcoming, but it is familiar. I walk in and contemplate whether my friends and I should sit at one of the tables to our left, the counter seating on the windows, or take a step up to the stage like area and sit in one of the booths. The booths are always fun because one can get a good view of the artwork on the wall. There is one painting of a baseball player, the other of a guitar, and the other of a woman dancing. It is not as though there are many options; Illegal’s Pete is very rectangular in shape and was not necessarily made for huge crowds even though it promotes a draw with its bar to the far left of the restaurant. In the midst of attempting to sit in a comfortable place, I don’t think anyone can think clearly above the sound of steaming rice, beef, and peppers. Most people also get caught up in the game that is usually playing on one of the four big screen TV’s. The dim lights make it so that it is hard to see the giant menu that is hanging above the buffet style counter. It is too bad Illegal Pete’s isn’t buffet style; I think a lot of people would appreciate all you can eat burritos.
Usually, people come to Illegal Pete’s for a quick bite to eat; burritos on the go. Since not many people stay, there is not much seating there but just enough. Tonight, however, people were at Illegal Pete’s for more than just a late night snack. They were there to see their friends perform. Joey Genetti and the Galaxy Cookies drew quite a crowd to Illegal Pete’s. The people here are music students, particularly those that play in jazz ensembles, residents, assistants who work in Centennial Halls at the University of Denver, residents of an RA who plays in the band, and random passersby who were just looking for a good time. 90% of the people there were there to enjoy the music, and the rest were quite confused at what was going on. Illegal Pete’s quickly grew short on seating, and a crowd amassed in the middle of the floor. There was dancing, and singing, and a little bit of drinking. People did not mind being in close proximity to one another, even though they may have been standing next to a stranger. On Friday night, people use that space, not as a restaurant, but as an avenue to support their friends in the band, to enjoy themselves and get away from the stress of midterms and school and life. Illegal Pete’s is an example of how a space that was generally used for one thing, shifted to a new use and was used in a different way.

Observing People On Campus: The Pub

Located on the first floor of Driscoll North, Sideline’s Pub is tucked into the corner closest to Sturm. With a front door from Driscoll and a back from the parking lot located across the street from the new education building construction, the pub has two clear paths to the counter to order. On one side a stage, with some tables and booths, and the other tables, bar seating, two pool tables and a foosball table. TVs are located on both sides but silent, giving way to music ranging from NKOTB, New Kids On The Block, to country-pop crossover songs to rock. As the name suggests, the design is that of a sports bar with beer paraphernalia and jerseys/uniforms all around. A warm yellow and maroon feeling with wood trim and tables offers a comfortable place to meet and eat.

This Monday was oddly slow in the pub, with the usual five workers on, in the 45 minutes I have been here there have only been eight customers including myself, all ordering to be eaten here. The first two to arrive after myself were a male and female, appearing to be on a date of sorts, though not showing any affection. They took a table near the counter, but next to a pole, offering seclusion from the rest of the pub. The next two to arrive were both females, alone. They each took booths to do homework, and again with the size of the booths, seclusion was achieved. Finally, the last three arrived together, a couple and a second girl. I knew the male of the group and we had a brief exchange while the girls went and took a booth, and began to do homework.

Everyone who entered the pub used the front doors from Driscoll and with the exception of myself took a seat on the stage side of the pub, almost seeming to try and achieve seclusion. With the exception of the possible date, everyone else brought out work to do while waiting for, and consuming their food, including myself. Also, everyone elected to eat in the pub, rather ordering to go.

Measuring Authenticity Qualitatively

In the conclusion to her study on Bodie, Califorina, Dydia DeLyser writes, “Authenticity is not the end result of a visit to Bodie. Rather, it is a vehicle through which the narratives of the mythic West, of progress, and American virtues, are made tangible and believable to visitors.”

What do you think DeLyser means here? Based on her observations, what forms of authenticity do the tourists and the staff members experience in this ghost town? How does she as a researcher measure these authentic experiences? As you reflect on her conclusion, cite at least one concrete example from her observations that supports or illustrates your response.

Observing People and Spaces on Campus

I decided to observe the people and space of Jazzman’s café. Most of the tables near the windows are empty, while the tables and chairs in the inner part of the room are filled with students and staff. There is the usual hustle and bustle of people studying and eating lunch in the mid-afternoon. The smell of coffee and a somewhat burned bagel are in the air, while music is being played in the background. Most of the students are typing away on their laptops in the inner part of the room, while a few people are there to just catch up with friends. One student seated with a professor, seems to be discussing registration for the next quarter, as advising week gets closer. Another student is listening to music with his headphones, as I can hear a faint hum of the song, while he annoyingly taps his pencil to the beat. A student behind me is loudly and aggressively talking to her mother on the phone, arguing as mothers and daughters do. As the time gets closer to fifty minutes past the hour, the line at the register starts growing and the noise of students walking across Driscoll from class to class gets louder.

Observing a place on campus

This weekend I spent some time on the E line of the Denver Light Rail system going between campus and the Elitch Gardens/Pepsi Center station. I observed many different people and even got the chance to ask a couple some questions about how often and why they use the light rail system. On my way to work at about 9am, there was significantly fewer people at the stations and on the train than there was this afternoon when I came back. Most of these people were either individuals or young familes. One woman I interviewed said that she was on her way home after going grocery shopping at Target on Colorado Blvd. When she doesn't have a great deal to buy, she likes to take the light rail instead of driving because it saves her money and sometimes time if the traffic is bad. Another man I talked to was riding with his wife, baby daughter, and two young sons. He said they their family vehicles are somewhat small and with three kids, it can get noisy, so they like to take the trains downtown on the weekends to spend time together. Today they were headed to the park by Union Station.

On my way back to campus this afternoon the majority of passengers were younger people who were riding with some of their friends. One group of students who I spoke to said they had gone downtown for the afternoon and were now headed back to the Metro Campus Village student housing building. They do not have cars at school, so their only form of transportation is RTD, but they didn't seem to be bothered by that. "It's free and dependable," one girl named Amanda said. During the 40 mins that I spent on the Light Rail this weekend, it became obvious that a great variety of people use this system of transportation for just as large a variety of reasons.

Annotated Bibliographies

Anderson, William. Cherokee Removal: Before and After. Athens: U of Georgia P, 1991. Print.
The book Cherokee Removal: Before and After, by William Anderson, focused on Indian Removal and its affect on the Cherokee Tribe. The book uses maps, and excerpts from Native Americans’ recollections to support the claims. The two chapters that I mainly looked at for helpful information were the “Rhetoric Versus Reality: The Indian Policy of Andrew Jackson” chapter and the “The Demography of the Trail of Tears Period” chapter. The chapter about the Trail of Tears gave me information about the effects of Indian Removal and gave me facts about the trail to Oklahoma. The main claim of the chapter on Andrew Jackson was on how his rhetoric on Indian Removal was persuasive and did not reflect later actions against the tribes. The chapter on the Trail of Tears stated that the forceful removal of the Cherokee tribe went against what Andrew Jackson promised and the tribe was greatly affected and damaged by the event.

Black, Jason Edward. "Native Resistive Rhetoric and the Decolonization of American Indian Removal Discourse." 66-88. 2009. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 18 Apr. 2010.
The article “Native Resistive Rhetoric and the Decolonization of American Indian Removal Discourse” by Jason Black focuses on the broken promises and hypocrisies of the U.S. government and its policies on Indian Removal. It also discusses the Native Americans’ reactions to the removal at the time. The article uses excerpts from journals and interviews of Native Americans and Congressmen to support the claim of the hypocrisies of the Indian Removal policy. This article helped me with the idea that Andrew Jackson’s promises did not come through the policy years later.

Black, Jason Edward. "Remembrances of Removal: Native Resistance to Allotment and the Unmasking of Paternal Benevolence." Southern Communication Journal 72.2 (2007): 185-203. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 18 Apr. 2010.
The article, "Remembrances of Removal: Native Resistance to Allotment and the Unmasking of Paternal Benevolence” by Jason Black discussed how the Indian Removal act was the precursor to the anger built up in the Native Americans after the passing of the Dawes Act. The Indian Removal Act forced Native Americans to move west to Oklahoma. After some years, the Dawes Act passed, allowing the government to reduce the sizes of reservations in order to make room for westward expansion. The article argues that resentment from the Native Americans toward the government was building up after the Indian Removal Act then erupted after the Dawes Act and that the Indian Removal Act gave the government the idea of authority over the Native American community. The author uses statements from Native Americans who experienced the effects of both acts to get his point across. He also analyzes petitions and speeches by Native Americans after the passing of the Dawes Act to show the resistance that grew through the community. This article shows one of the consequences of the Indian Removal Act and Jackson’s policies, the Dawes Act.

Cave, Alfred A. "Abuse of Power: Andrew Jackson and the Indian Removal Act of 1830." Historian 65.6 (2003): 1330-1353. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 18 Apr. 2010
“Abuse of Power: Andrew Jackson and the Indian Removal Act of 1830” by Alfred Caved discusses how there were discrepancies between the law and Andrew Jackson’s administration’s actions. The Indian Removal Act specified that Native Americans would be moved voluntarily to the west and that no one would be forced to do anything by the United States Government. Cave shows evidence from prior treaties with the United States Government and the Native American tribes and how Jackson’s actions violated these treaties. Cave also states how congressmen who supported Jackson tried to reassure the public that Native Americans would not be forced out of their homes. This research article helps be understand the rhetoric of the Indian Removal act so then I can compare it with Jackson’s persuasive message to congress about the act.

Meyers, Jason. "No Idle Past: Uses of History in the 1830 Indian Removal Debates." Historian 63.1 (2000): 53. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 18 Apr. 2010.
As it says in the title, the article, “No Idle Past: Uses of History in the 1830 Indian Removal Debates” discusses the debates held in 1830 about the Indian Removal Act in Congress and how rhetoric of events in history skewed the truth. The author uses quotes from congressmen at the time and excerpts from the Indian Removal Act itself to show the discrepancies and how they got away with it through the debating of the bill. This article states how the debate for the bill argued that the Indian Removal act was for the benefit and safety of the Native Americans, as Andrew Jackson argued later in the year. The main claim of this article is that debaters manipulated facts from history for their argument for the Indian Removal. This article helped me understand how rhetoric was used in Congress and by President Andrew Jackson to make this policy seem as though it would greatly benefit the Native Americans.