Monday, March 19, 2012

Ethnography

Jessica Suarez
English 114B
20 March 2012
Kitty Nard
                                                Culture Through the Waves

Venice Beach in Los Angeles is one it’s most talked about beaches. The vibe that it has,
is something that is not found in many places. There are a lot of different types of people
walking along the beach. There are a lot of shops and activities for everyone. There is also food
stands and restaurants. People go to this beach to exercise, people watch, shop, and much more.
The people on the beach are friendly. Venice beach is a great example of how groups of different
people can all feel at home in one location. Los Angeles has the effect on many people.Just like
Los Angeles, the beach is a great example of how diverse Los Angeles is. Venice beach also has  

When people think of Los Angeles, the things that come up are beaches, diversity,
entertainment and acceptance. Venice beach is beautiful and looks similar to what is seen in
movies. There are people with different styles in fashion and hairstyles. Gay couples walk
around holding hands. People are biking, skateboarding, walking, and jogging around. There is
an outside gym where body builders work out. All types of dogs are being walked. Los Angeles
is made up of all of this and accepts it. Los Angeles is made up of different cultures and trends.
Also Los Angeles is entertainment. In Venice beach people play basketball and volleyball, where
people can sit and watch.  There are also people singing or playing instruments. There is other
types of entertainers along the beach. Los Angeles also accepts people’s opinions and sexuality.
It also goes along with public space, because the people make Venice Beach. The different
people are what makes Venice so unique and a beautiful place. The place defines everyone; it
gives them the opportunity to be who they truly are without any judgment. The art in Venice is
also what makes it very unique.

“Sidewalks become a world of their own, with complicated human movement and even
more complicated forms of behavior as people jostle one another in crowds and make snap
decisions when to step aside and when not to” (326). The sidewalks on the beach are a part of
public space, like the one that is explained in the book Convergences by Robert Atwan.
Although there people walking, jogging, skateboarding and riding their bike on the sidewalk,
everyone seems to know how to get around each other. It is the way people move in a crowded
place. Venice beach is how we see the world, because we seem how everyone is different. The
way people dress, talk, and act. We view the world as one; an Venice beach has different cultures
and trends. The art in Venice also supports how we see the world. Art is used to explain
everything; ideas, cultures, love, life, and activities.

            Venice beach is not only a beach but a little part of Los Angeles. People love Venice
beach for different reasons. The main reason is how different it is and the culture inside of it. Not
only does it have a place for everyone but it can open people’s eyes to experience something
new. It opens people’s minds to accept and to be a part of something new. That is what Los
Angeles is. People come to Los Angeles to follow their dreams, but also to be able to be
accepted. Los Angeles like Venice beach accepts anyone and everyone. Los Angeles is a place
for artists and creative people. Venice beach is a major part of this, because people’s art and
music is found in Venice beach.

            Venice beach in a larger context is surrounded by change. The world looks for change.
The people there are usually want progressive social change. The space is looking for change.
This explains how Los Angeles is a part of how people have to change. Our world has to be more
accepting. Our world has to accept different cultures, ideas, arts, opinions and be able to live
with this diversity. Venice beach is a great example of what change is, the idea that art and music
can be expressed on the streets without judgment. Although some people may not be comfortable
in Venice beach, it is a great start to try to become comfortable with each other.


























                                                            Works Cited
Atwan Robert. Convergences. Bedford/St. Martin’s . Boston. 2009.

Venice Beach LA

http://www.venicebeach.com/




Thursday, March 8, 2012

Another City

"Minnie Riperton Saved My Life" by Luis Alfaro

"Minnie Riperton Saved My Life" by Luis Alfaro is about a mexican young man who lives in LA. His parents came from Mexico and they moved to LA from the Central Valley. Luis sees how he and his parents are different.  Luis lived in a nieghborhood were there was mainly black people. So, when he goes to a school were there's mainly Mexicans, he feels like he does not fit in. He connected with what he was surrounded with, Marvin Gaye and soul music. Music is what helped him find himself. Music to him was what helped him go through high school. He understood the music and connected with it.

I understand how he feels how he and his parents are different. The music they listen to is in different languages, but they speak to him the same way. He connects more to the English music, because it is what he is surrounded by. He also explains how his parents came from Mexico where they would stop and pick crops, but since Luis didn't grow up around that, he was embarrassed. I understand that. I am not embarrassed by my parents, but I see the difference of how we are, because of where we grew up. I question why his parents only let him listen to blues in their house, but only let him listen to Gospel.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Project Space

The cluster of Public Space, is about how space can create emotions. It can also define the people that live there, like a bad neighborhood gives people a bad reputation. Public space can also be defined by people, because people can change the space.

The airport picture, shows how space can cause many different emotions. In the airport, you see many different emotions from different people. There's sadness when a loved one is going away or happiness when you are picking up a loved one. There's also joy or excitment to go and travel to a new place. People cry or smile in an airport.

The picture of the airport is kinda dark and is empty. I think the emptyness of the airport makes me think about what an airport really looks like. I try to remember what LAX or SFO looks like. Mainly when someone goes to an airport. You pay attenetion to the people, because it is so busy. The picture brings some sort f sadness, because it's dark. It also makes me feel sad, because that's the place were I am the most emotional. I live 6 hours from here. When I go to SFO to retrun back to Northridge, it's the worst experience, but going to LAX is the best, I get to go home.