For my Public Space Analysis, the place I am choosing to use is the TCU Recreational Center, a place with which I am very familiar to. This is a place that every student (hopefully) is at least exposed to, while for others this may serve as a second home. The TCU Recreation Center is a place where more than just running or lifting weights goes on, this is a place where the TCU Swim and Dive team practices, where TCU Women’s Volleyball matches are held, where a group of friends can play a pick-up game of basketball on one of the three courts in the main gym, where a student can lay out at the pool, get money out of a Wells Fargo ATM, or even attend classes, which are held for a variety of majors in the Rickel Wing.
This space is appealing to me because of the variety of activities that go on here, as well as its importance to me as a student here at TCU. I have been to the rec center on a regular schedule the entire time I have been at TCU. This is a place where I can go to clear my mind, to get a break from studying or to get away from some of the stresses I inevitably face as a college student. This is a place that appeals to everyone, and it can serve many purposes to the students, faculty, and community of TCU.
While observing the rec center as a bystander, I want to pay more attention to the small details that I may not have noticed before. These things include, but are of course not limited to: signs, lighting, colors, noises/music, objects (and reasons for their location), the atmosphere, décor, and architecture/structure. I also want to observe the people there at different times of day and their mannerisms. I have been to the rec center in the early morning, mid-afternoon, evening, as well as late-night, and at each time of the day there is a different crowd of people there, which should make for an interesting written observation.
I would definitely consider myself a part of the target audience of the rec center, as well as all of my peers as well. This is a place where TCU wants to promote the need for good health among the community. In the world today, it is so easy to contract diseases or viruses, get out of shape and gain weight, and simply lose motivation to be active. The rec center makes a strong effort to support well-being among the student population through various activities, and the main goal is for our student body to be healthy.
Because I am familiar with the rec center, I do have pre-conceived ideas about it, but they are not negative at all. Because I do have some pre-conceived notions, I do think it is important for me to observe that which I have not noticed before. Through observing the more minute details of the rec center, as well as the inhabitants through different times of the day and week, I feel that I will gain a better understanding of the rec center and its larger cultural influence.
The Rec will be a good place to pick up on observations, and develop an argument about the space. You're right, there are so many different personalities and types of people depending upon which time of day you go. And, there is such a variety of reasons why people are at the rec. I have had classes in Rickel, been to volleyball games, taken exercise classes, sat in the sauna, played volleyball, laid by the pool, and of course, worked out on a regular basis. I feel like my mannerisms change depending upon which activity I'm doing, so you should get a good amount of read from people depending upon what they came to the rec for.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good location to write this essay, having been there many times I can vouch for the different people coming in at different times. It's fun to go late at night and see who's running or lifting weights. Out of all the times I have been there though, I have never noticed music, weird.
ReplyDeleteThis posting made me think why I didn't think about writing about the rec first. Anyways, you are absolutely right about the rec center appealing to everyone. And I liked how you analysed the bigger picture of keeeping students healthy.
ReplyDelete