For my observation exercise I decided to look at a four-way intersection that connects campus and off campus. In my Community Development and Planning graduate class, we discussed the importance of understanding physical and symbolic boundaries (i.e. edges) of a space, as a way to comprehend a location. A road can be both a physical edge as well as a symbolic one, as is the intersection of Downing Street and Florence Street. The road is an obvious edge, or boundary for both cars and pedestrians but also a symbolic one because it is the edge of Clark's campus and the beginning of the Worcester community. At this intersection people from both 'worlds', Clark and Worcester, converge, forcing them to physical interact with one another. My question
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The weather was a typical autumn afternoon, the sun was strong and hot, but there was a nice breeze to counter the heat. People dressed in layers, many carrying the overcoats and sweaters that they no longer needed to stay warm. There was no one in the playground across the street and very few other people outside, besides those walking or driving. Despite being a static fixture in this location I was paid little attention to by most of the people I observed. Emerson argues that the ethnographic researcher always creates unintended consequences through how their presence influences their observations (3-4), but I did not see much recognition of my presence as an outsider. Instead I perceived that of those who did take notice to me, viewed me as someone else using this space as a means of transport like everyone else. I believe that because I am visibly a student, with my backpack and taking notes, I lost some of my "outsider" status despite observing instead of participating in the space. Emerson however all states that increased familiarity with a location or people allows for a greater understanding of what "is required to become a member of that world" (2), an advantage I had during this process making it easier for me to distinguish Clarkies from Worcester …show more content…
First, students consistently did not look or stop before crossing the intersection. Second, people driving, both students and residents rarely completed a full stop at any of the four stop signs. Third, the majority of people walking were interacting with their cell phones and not with the people around them. During my observation period only three residents crossed the intersection on foot, however each one clearly looked and stopped before crossing. I deduce that this difference derives from a sense of comfort and safety in the space that Clark students have on-campus as compared to people who are not covered by the campuses protective bubble. In reference to the second pattern I witnessed I became very nervous for the physical safety of the pedestrians who did not look before crossing because the drivers do not completely stop at this intersection. In contrast to the comfort that the students appeared to have with the location, the Worcester residents appeared more apprehensive in the space. Moreover, they also appeared to move more urgently through the intersection, where I did not view the students as rushed. Additionally, some students did not use the sidewalk or cross walks at all but instead moved through the street carelessly further supporting my analysis that their is an increased perception of safety and ownership over the space from
The weather was a typical autumn afternoon, the sun was strong and hot, but there was a nice breeze to counter the heat. People dressed in layers, many carrying the overcoats and sweaters that they no longer needed to stay warm. There was no one in the playground across the street and very few other people outside, besides those walking or driving. Despite being a static fixture in this location I was paid little attention to by most of the people I observed. Emerson argues that the ethnographic researcher always creates unintended consequences through how their presence influences their observations (3-4), but I did not see much recognition of my presence as an outsider. Instead I perceived that of those who did take notice to me, viewed me as someone else using this space as a means of transport like everyone else. I believe that because I am visibly a student, with my backpack and taking notes, I lost some of my "outsider" status despite observing instead of participating in the space. Emerson however all states that increased familiarity with a location or people allows for a greater understanding of what "is required to become a member of that world" (2), an advantage I had during this process making it easier for me to distinguish Clarkies from Worcester …show more content…
First, students consistently did not look or stop before crossing the intersection. Second, people driving, both students and residents rarely completed a full stop at any of the four stop signs. Third, the majority of people walking were interacting with their cell phones and not with the people around them. During my observation period only three residents crossed the intersection on foot, however each one clearly looked and stopped before crossing. I deduce that this difference derives from a sense of comfort and safety in the space that Clark students have on-campus as compared to people who are not covered by the campuses protective bubble. In reference to the second pattern I witnessed I became very nervous for the physical safety of the pedestrians who did not look before crossing because the drivers do not completely stop at this intersection. In contrast to the comfort that the students appeared to have with the location, the Worcester residents appeared more apprehensive in the space. Moreover, they also appeared to move more urgently through the intersection, where I did not view the students as rushed. Additionally, some students did not use the sidewalk or cross walks at all but instead moved through the street carelessly further supporting my analysis that their is an increased perception of safety and ownership over the space from