Claiming Public Spaces

Brittany B. & Brittany V.  

For this assignment we chose Union Street Diner as our location for investigation for use of public spaces. This place is planned to be used as a restaurant, but is also used as a place to do homework, meet with friends, or as a last stop before heading home after a late night. Activities within the diner are controlled by basic laws regarding capacity, behavior, and social norms in relation to restaurant etiquette.

 

The design of Union Street Diner is one that is common and easily recognizable as a place grab a burger, milkshake, or breakfast for dinner. The reflective paneling on the outside of the building exemplifies the aesthetic qualities frequently associated with a diner.  In an article from The Post, the diner expanded its services to accommodate a late night crowd and busy students when it changed its hours and became open 24 hours:

http://thepost.ohiou.edu/content/athens-eatery-offers-24-hour-service-hungry-students

 The representational space within the diner is visible in its visual appearance, atmosphere, business hours, and contents of its menu.

The representation of space within the diner is visible through the many students that eat here, the late night shenanigans, and the use of the diner as a place to study or converse with friends. The representations of space and representational space typically coincide on any given day. Exceptions to this would be during their late night hours, when intoxicated students may violate social norms and behaviors. This can be seen through their words and behaviors as drunk people often violate what its typically acceptable of them. 

In general, public space can have many uses as space for representation. College green, for example, is a common public space for students, families, and other members of the community to enjoy. It is a place typically designated for studying, talking with friends, eating lunch, playing catch, or just passing through on your way to class. Additionally, college green is a public space that is so common, it is a place for groups to get their voices heard. Protests and picketing are somewhat common occurrences on college green. 

The above photo is a picture of the protests for the tuition hike at Ohio University. Students mobilized and gathered to get their voices heard in protest of the planned raise of tuition for students.

College Green is also used as a place for demonstrations or raising awareness for issues that often go unrecognized. Recently, women in Athens gathered to speak out against rape and sexual assault during their Take Back the Night demonstration. They hung shirts on the trees of college green as a way to gain attention and draw awareness on the issue.

 

Regardless of the ways in which public space is used, be it representation of space, representational space, or spaces of representation, what's important is that there is still the existence of public spaces. These spaces may have intended uses, but in the end, people are going to use them how they see fit. Whether it's a late night stop at the Union Street Diner, or a casual lunch on college green, places are used according to their purpose, but often have room for flexibility in the way in which they are represented by the public. 

Claiming Public Space

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Images of Homelessness

Dan B.
Brittany B.
Brittany V.

In this post we will be examining how homelessness is portrayed in mainstream America. We decided to examine this issue through one particular media type - Newspaper cartoons/comic strips.  Newspaper cartoons often depict sensitive issues such as homelessness and often focus on general stereotypes.  These following examples should provide a fairly solid idea of some of the problems and typical ideas related to homelessness in America. 

After looking through these pictures and others, several emerging themes began to arise. One of the overarching themes surrounding homelessness is the fact that many people without homes, and even the concept of homelessness in general is misunderstood by the general public.  As seen in several examples above, many of the homeless depicted are either ignored or looked down upon by the general population. A few such as the "ice sculpture" comic and the last comic with "Crisis" written on the papers reveal how even though these two populations are occupying the same everyday spaces, the problem of homelessness is invisible to many. 

Another theme that arose is summed up by the familiar catch phrase "Get a Job".  Many main stream Americans assume that people become homeless due to solely their own actions, and that they can get out of homelessness if they only tried a little harder.  The truth is, as stated in the Kellett and Moore article, that many people without homes are constantly seeking ways to get their own home again. The complications and struggles faced by someone without a home can be great, and really make it difficult to succeed and prosper in today's society.

 A final theme that emerges is how the homeless population are typically viewed. When not completely ignored by the public eye, the homeless are viewed in a very negative light.  Every face visible in the above cartoons has a beard and most are filthy with tattered clothes. Most figures are also represented in public places such as street corners, park benches, or ally ways, and are often begging for change. These traits represent the common depiction of a homeless person, and unfortunately many of these are often untrue.  Many of the homeless in America, and arguably the more "typical" homeless person can be found in either homeless shelters or hostiles, trying to find ways of improving their own situations. Also interesting to see is that every homeless person depicted in the cartoons are male.  This follows along with May, Cloke & Johnsen's article where they state how many homeless women are "politely ignored" by society.

 Our following AD campaign will attempt to change the way homelessness is viewed in our society, and show that the problem is much closer to home than many realize.

The goal of this campaign is to draw awareness on the fact that homelessness can happen to anyone. In today's world, it can be difficult to make a living, and homelessness isn't something experienced only by drug addicts or people who need to just "get a job". There's so much more to everyone's story, and homelessness can result from a variety of factors in one's life. Rollinson discusses a "new" homeless in his article "The Everyday Geography of the Homeless in Kansas City". He explains that the homeless population has shifted from mostly older men, to young men, women, and children.   Our campaign is designed to show the "new" homeless that Rollinson describes. It shows a couple outside of their home, smiling and holding a baby.  Next to them is a man and a little girl sitting on the ground. The man is holding a sign that reads "I used to be your neighbor". This helps to convey the message that homelessness could happen to anyone, even your neighbor living in a comfortable neighborhood. There are a variety of factors that can cause a person to end up without a home, and it's possible for it to happen to someone you know. Things like losing your job, getting a divorce, or suffering from mental illness are all events that can be traumatic, unexpected, or life-altering for most people. It is important to acknowledge that everyone has their story, and no two are alike. Our goal is to increase awareness of the realities of homelessness, and reduce the stigma associated with being homeless.

The Ad Council would most likely work to increase awareness and compassion for the homeless. There are many stereotypes associated with being homeless, and many of them are not accurate. Assuming that a homeless person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or that they are too lazy to  support themselves are common misconceptions about the homeless. The Ad Council would work to educate the public about various reasons a person may become homeless. In addition, they would use our image to show that single parents with young children are increasing in their rate of homelessness. Perhaps the homeless man in our photo has a mental disability and cannot afford treatment, or doesn't want to leave his daughter? This doesn't mean that he is lazy, or just not trying hard enough. What he needs is help.  If we want these people to be contributing members to society, then it is important to determine what they need to get there. The Ad Council would work to convey this message, along with reducing the common misconceptions associated with homelessness.

Donkey Rules

There are many rules to consider when enjoying a cup of coffee, or conversation with your friends at Donkey Coffee in Athens, Ohio. Some of them are posted explicitly, while others are understood as practices of social norms.

Written Rules:
Take cell phone calls outside or away from customers
No more than 50 people allowed on the main floor
No smoking within 20 feet of the building
Employees only in marked areas

Take cell phone calls outside or away from customers. The Donkey is a place where many students go to study, write papers, or even just to relax and sip on a latte. Like most cafes and restaurants, there are usually written and sometimes unwritten policies on phone use inside the establishment. It is a simple courtesy to take any phone calls outside and not disturb any other customers or workers.

No more that 50 people allowed on the main floor.  This is another written rule located on the wall of the first floor notifying customers that there is a maximum capacity of people that are legally allowed to be in the first floor at any given time. Personally, I have never seen anyone get kicked out because of this written, but it is a necessary precaution in case a situation ever presents itself.

No smoking more within 20 feet of the building. This written rule is located outside of The Donkey. Although this rule is posted, many partons seem to disregard this rule as I have seen many customers smoking at the outside tables located within 20 feet of the building. I think this written rule is posted to keep the non-smokers at ease even though at times it is ignored.

Employees Only in marked areas. This written rule can be seen in the picture below. Almost all establishments have these areas marked off so that the customers know where they can and can not go. If these written rules were not posted, patrons might travel to places that would disrupt the flow of business or even cause danger to the customers or workers.





















Understood Rules:
 
Maintain an appropriate noise level for the present atmosphere
No smoking inside
Observe proper etiquette for live music/performances
Return all cups and glassware when finished
No patrons behind the counter
No animals inside
Only sitting on the chairs
No horseplay


Maintain an appropriate noise level for the present atmosphere. The Donkey is a popular place for people to go to read, study, converse, or even enjoy some live music. The atmosphere will change based on the events occurring on any given day. During times when there is live music, it is appropriate to talk at a moderately loud volume, and to applaud when it is desired. On days when there is no live music, it is understood that patrons will keep conversations at a reasonably low volume, as to maintain an environment conducive to studying or reading. This rule is for the comfort and respect of the people inside.

No smoking is allowed inside of the Donkey: This rule applies to all businesses in Ohio, so it is not explicitly posted inside the Donkey. It is assumed that patrons will observe this rule as they would in any other public building. This rule is for the comfort and health of all patrons and workers inside the building.

Live Music / performances: The Donkey coffee house holds live performances. Located in the back of the Donkey there is a small stage and during live performances patrons are not allowed on stage and disruption of performances will not be permitted. This place is specific for low key acoustic performances. It is not a large concert hall that holds performances that require large equipment and very loud concerts. The live performances are geared toward the community as well; the setting becomes a gathering for locals and amateur performers. It is understood that those in attendance should be respectful and attentive to the performance. It is different than other places nearby that also offer live music. The fact that The Donkey does not offer alcoholic drinks enhances the contrast to other nearby places.  

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The donkey coffee house is a space that is designed for the local community, as this place has a specific atmosphere that would not fit easily into a different location. (Like E. State St.) It is not discriminative to age or gender or race. It is designed for college students and people who enjoy spending their time drinking coffee, socializing or enjoying live music in calm laid back atmosphere. It reminds me of the subculture of the beatniks from the late 50’s early 60’s in which origins were intellectually based with a deep association in the arts. 

RETURN GLASS COFFEE MUGS TO COFFEE PREP AREA WHEN EXITING. This rule is understood from the informational sign that states (Glass mugs go here with a arrow indicating a plastic bus tub) The staff ratio also indicates a self service operation as there are not waitresses/waiters moving around outside the coffee prep area. The atmosphere of The Donkey has many community informational signs that correspond with this understood rule, implying that this is a very pro-active community involved atmosphere indicating a self service operation.

The Donkey is a big place compared to the area they have set aside for coffee prep. That becomes an indication that much of the space that this operation occupies, is left for the patrons to mingle and socialize. Considering the location of this business is near campus a lot of students make up the majority of the business. Once you receive your ordered coffee from the counter you are able to choose seating in four different rooms. When ordering a coffee to enjoy there, it is served in a large modern glass mug the atmosphere then comes into play that- you as the patron are trusted to bring the mug back to the used mug area. This aspect of the self service operation makes one feel like they belong there, and creates the laid back calm feeling of the beginnings that you are part of this place that represents the community as a whole. I feel as all of the community informational signs go hand in hand with this offered trust of becoming part of the whole in hopes for return business and community involvement.

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No patrons behind the counter: The counter itself serves as a barrier between patron and employee, and all transactions are done here.  This barrier can prevent theft as well as unwanted use of store equipment. At an establishment such as the Donkey, it can get fairly crowded and space can be limited. The employees working behind the counter are busy filling orders and any unnecessary bodies would get in the way. The staff is also trained on how to use all the equipment and work the cash register, and most regular patrons are not.  This rule is understood in most places of business and it is common knowledge that the people behind the counters are employees of the business. 

No pets inside : This rule is common at most places of business, especially ones that serve food or drinks. This rule is in place to maintain the satisfaction of the customers. Although you may love your pet, others may not.  Many people are allergic to dog or cat hair, and this can create an uncomfortable environment for those people.  Pets can make messes as well, whether it be shedding hair, knocking things over, or going to the bathroom unexpectedly. Not all pets are trained well.  Some pets, especially dogs, can bark unexpectedly and can disrupt customers who are there to study or relax. This rule does have one exception, and that is for service animals. These animals are trained to help people with disabilities, and are allowed in most businesses. 

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Use the provided furniture for its intended use and in a respectful manner. There are a variety of types of seating available in the Donkey. Some options include couches, armchairs, and regular style cafe tables. There are also chairs and tables for those who choose to sit out front of the shop. No matter where your seating arrangement is located, it is understood that you be seated on the furniture and not standing or using it in an unintended manner. There is to be no defacing of the furniture or one would be asked to replace it at once.

No Horseplay. Although Donkey is a relaxed atmosphere where you can hang out and socialize with friends, there are still confinements to the limits of the building. The space is rather limited and the arrangement of the place is crammed and small so horseplay would not be tolerated. Also, this is still a place where people come in order to do work and have meetings so causing a large amount of distraction would be considered grounds for being asked to leave the premises. All out horseplay may not be acceptable here, however; the building is divided into many different spaces that allow for different amounts of noise level and activity. Located in the middle room is an area for board games. Also, in the far back there is a small stage that allows for activities such as open mic night. The upstairs generally remains a quieter area used mostly for studying.