Bathrooms

This is a picture of the bathroom system found largely across United States. Several different bathrooms are found spread throughout campus. What is striking about this observation is separation of sex’s. This implies that culturally men and women are seen very differently. So differently that the most basic bodily functions shared by every living being must be done in designated, separated, private, facilities.

This can imply or mean many other things about the cultural view of sex, gender and shame. There seems to be a cultural implication of sexual repression, as that they are taught their bodies and others are so sexually implicate they must hide from each other. And yet at some point they are expected to interact (the different sex’s bathrooms in close proximity). 

Cafeteria

An area for students to eat at some point during their day. Here we see a replaying theme at the college.  The table set up allows for people to choose the level of social interaction. The lunchroom area was desgned for students to be able to interact with other individuals or other distinct groups or to be alone and engage is solidary sedidated activites.

We observe several students that are sitting at tables of four people on engaging with their electronic equipment. Some are talking to eachother, however only in interpersonal communication, very little group activity is taking place. Most students don’t look or make eye contact with other students who walk by them, even if when passive acknowledgements are made.

A few distinct group interactions are going on. They are of  groups that seems to be closed off, either of their own doing or through the self isolation in the culture, or through an interactive combination of both forces. All students who approach the groups are previously known by other group members, and any individual the group engages seems to be a ‘member’ of the group.

A lot of students in this pic at first glance have on beanies, jeans, hoodies, carry back packs and so forth. Showing the desire, need, and/or natural inclination to fit into the group. And even with this group with a particular style, education level, geographic similarities students still view themselves and each other as separate. Somehow a birth of these other distinct isolated subgroups are born. 

Student Lounge Area

Here is lounge like area for students to relax in between classes or other activities. First thing that I notice is how far apart the pre-arranged tables are set up. This implies cultural expectation of people to want space from each other, to largely wish to be either alone or in groups of 2-4, based on the seating arrangements observed. In the picture taken 3 of the 6 students were relating more to their electronic equipment than other people close by. A contradiction occurs here as the area being set up as one large room has implication of students desiring and/or societal expectations of people to be in groups. Or else we would see tables or individual spots to rest, do homework, ect  in more isolated locations. Even through the strong self and group isolation, we observe the desire of the students to be connected to other students. This further implicates social confusion or social stress among population

Library

Colleges in US have a high prevalence of academic and other literature material. They areas designated for the very act of finding and using such material. They do this through an organized system that expects, but doesn’t necessarily require, each individual to have a specified interest, and to be able to navigate book system to find desired literature without help. The books range from all different topics, authors and perspective, and readily available for any student.

However books that students are actually required to read for most classes are found in a separate library, with security, supervisors, long counters, and staff members and cameras to keep students away unless they are able to pay. Contradictory in that so many books are made available, but not the ones they are expected to read. Such importance placed on knowledge and literature, yet students are restricted from certain types of it. This society strongly suggests importance of education and individual needs yet makes clear that profit of the company and/or author is clearly more important than the students learning or economical difficulties. Another clear point being made through the secondary library is that the students are not trusted. This can have unconscious, subtle, or reinforcing implications that the student is not viewed by the college as a connected working part of its activities, participating in the social struggles and isolated behavior seen in college population.

Cash Register

Here we observe Bellevue College students and staff members engaging in meal time activities. In this culture we find the many different meals and variety of foods prepared implies expectation of people to eat isolated. They must have their own individual taste and idea of what they’re particular mood is calling for. However this creativity must stay within the constructs of what is made available to them by unseen persons involved in running the cafeteria. The food itself has no connection to individual, the meal time is not group interactive, and even the perceived choice of the individual is largely constructed. Each person picks their own food, based on limited choices made available to them. This was prepared for them by an unknown and seemingly unimportant person. Little to no engagement between people picking food and people making/serving food or other cafeteria staff is going on. There is little to no engagement in between people picking food themselves, and significantly more interaction in between cafeteria staff members than the other, however the interaction only seems to happen in areas designated for staff only, separating ‘customers’ from cafeteria staff. This interaction mostly seems to happen in areas designated for staff only, separating ‘customers’ from cafeteria staff. The food itself has no connection to individual, the meal time is not group interactive, and even the perceived choice of the individual is largely constructed