I really enjoyed doing my first set
of field working notes. It’s interesting to actually study and observe the site
with different eyes. Instead of going with the intent on enjoying a meal with
friends or family, I had a different purpose in mind. I definitely noticed more
from the Beef Barn when I took the time to observe. The thing that surprised me
the most was watching the people. I am so surprised at the amount of people on
their phones! The worst part is, I know that I do the same thing… It really
made me notice how much we miss from staring at our phones constantly. I saw
people smiling and laughing to whomever they were sitting across from, and that
person didn’t even see because they were looking down at their phones. It was
surprising how dependent we are to our electronic devices. I think I noticed
this, this strongly, because I wasn’t on my phone. That just shows you how much
more you take in without being so attached to a phone. I guess what surprised
me also disturbed me. It kind of bothered me seeing the group of teenagers all
together, but not fully there, they were in their phones. It’s hard to imagine
how our society will be acting in 20 more years! Who knows if people will even
go out and sit down to eat? Or, if people will even hang out face to face then?
It was very disturbing to see how much people miss now. It was sad watching one
parent be on their phones, while their children were eating and talking. I
can’t imagine anything that is more important, on their cell phones, than their
children. It’s also hard to comment on people missing out because of their
phones, because I’m guilty of it too! I hope that observing it will help me
detach a little from my phone, and be able to realize that I am missing a lot.
Some things you can’t get back, or relive through reading a Facebook update or
watching a YouTube video. On a separate note, I am starting to become very
intrigued with food, specifically relating to culture. I am interested in
comparing American food trends to a different culture’s trends. I am starting
to analyze our habits of getting take out, not having home cooked meals, not
sitting down as a family, etc. I think it also would be interesting to compare
these new habits to how people were 30 years ago. Comparing these new to old and
cultural trends would definitely make for an interesting report. It would allow
me to use Beef Barn as my field-working site still, and be able to compare what
I observe to not only this establishment, but also other cultural aspects. Overall,
I’m happy with my first set of notes after observing my site. I know what I will
be more focused on to observe next time, and I’m looking forward to it! I’ll be
able to report back with more intriguing, surprising, yet disturbing things
that keep us thinking and talking about the Beef Barn! Hopefully the disturbing
parts won’t be about the food though… :)
Katie Berard! You are so fantastic! I am in a non-American land where people do not makeout with their phones. People in Britain look each other in the eye and listen well (not London, mind you, which is a city of the world and not really a British city like the one where I'm staying, Lincoln, in the East Midlands). This is a massive theme in 21st century American society and it cause for alarm. We are growing disconnected despite being digitally connected. PARADOX! TENSION! We are also becoming increasingly reliant on electricity and expensive devices to life. What is that all about? I'm sitting in a British college classroom right now. There are 60 students in here, half with laptops and tablets, half who had to borrow one from the University. Reliance on devices is problematic; it's class based. It's culturally based. It's not the norm. So, I hope, hope, hope you pursue this theme--in addition to exploring your own addiction--as you move forward. I also love that you're interested in thinking more about food and trends in American families. Keep going! So interesting! I love that your study isn't about beef, btw. :)
ReplyDelete