Annotated Bibliography 7 – Making Place In The Nonplace Urban Realm

Rutheiser, Charles. “Making Place In The Nonplace Urban Realm: Notes On The Revitalization Of Downtown Atlanta.” Urban Anthropology and Studies of Cultural Systems and World Economic Development 26.1 (1997): 9–42. Print.

INFRUSTRUCTURE

Within the texts of “Making Place In The Nonplace Urban Realm: Notes On The Revitalization Of Downtown Atlanta” author Charles Rutheiser discusses and examines the deep-rooted structural problems within the city of Atlanta and how this has and will affect the future of the built environment of Atlanta. Contained throughout Rutheiser’s essay is evidence that though Atlanta has been successful in job creation and population growth over the years, the social infrastructure and physical landscape of the city is gradually deteriorating and is negatively effecting the exterior built environment of Atlanta. This source provides factual evidence to those who are seeking to understand and gain knowledge on enhancing the atmospheric and urban landscape of residential and commercial neighborhoods of Atlanta to perfect the exterior environment of the space and to match the economic growth and success of the city as well. Ruthesiers arguments in this source are mainly comprised of factual evidence which adhere to the exterior infrastructure of the city and provide minimal biased opinions throughout the piece. This source helps in providing information on how the city of Atlanta, though very successful for coming generations, can better itself within its physical attributes as well.

Reading Summary 6 – Better Online Living Through Content Moderation

Better Online Living Through Content Moderation

 

As we begin to learn about content control features and the reality of online abuse through Melissa Kings article “Better Online Living through Content Moderation” we gain knowledge into how important and needful it is in society today to employ content control features in the online world. Nobody should be required to read or listen to content if they do not want to (King). This statement is the premise for the argument of instilling content control features and this issue has grown to become popular problem for the world in this day and age technology is more advanced and progressive than ever seen before.

King first opens her beginning argumentative paragraphs of this article with a counterpart; considering the argument in the views in which individuals against content control feel about this issue. Content control is viewed as for those who are “weak” and “too sensitive” and is criticized for not allowing individuals to be exposed to the reality of hurt and negativity they will come to terms with in the online world. Exposure theory is a method used that is supported by those against content control and is commonly known as a type of theory designed to combat severe anxiety through gradual and controlled exposure to its source, to inure an individual to these triggers and lesson the disruptions they can cause. However, for someone suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) this method of exposure could increase trauma and would initially worsen the problem instead of being a solution.

King states that Millennials are more progressive than any other generation about this issue and acknowledge that many individuals are effected by trauma from different forms of online abuse and bullying. It is also believed that online harassment is a myth and is simply mean comments said on the internet with no real connection to public safety. The fact is, threats of violence online can be a cause of PTSD in and of itself (Lack). As we read on throughout the article we notice that online harassment does indeed effect mental health and eventually if worse enough can cause cases of PTSD.

Next King begins to discuss specific types of content control features available and suggests that blocklists are important tools to take note of. Blocklists are controversial because the idea perceived with this tool is that one gave in to the abusers harassment and had to resort to blocking people instead of just dealing with the issue up front. The author however expresses that this method of dealing with online abuse is actually a smart idea and ideally the best resort to immediately stop the abuse.

SUMMARY 6

Criticism in all aspects of the online world is bound to take place for most individuals because of the territory but is said to be worse for women than for men. This is said to be particularly true with women who are involved in areas that are predominantly male dominated. As the author states each point of this argument and comes to a conclusion her opinions about this topic revolve around the need for content control features and tools so that people have more room to act on behalf on behalf of their own mental and emotional needs.

Reading Summary 5 – Journeying Through Life With Color Walks

COLOR WALK

Often times we find ourselves busy trying to get things done in our daily lives that we don’t really take the time to stop and observe our surroundings along the way. There is so much natural beauty and vibrant colors that we often purposely give a blind eye to because we do not have the skill of observation. This article called “Color Walking” written by Phia Bennin and Brendan McMullan describes their experiences as they tried a new way of observing their surroundings.

The introduction of this article familiarizes the audience to a man named William Burroughs. Burroughs was an American novelist, short story writer, spoken word performer, and taught student on writing and how to writing with specific detail and color. Burroughs had many addictions to various substances throughout his life, but this is what also helped shape and mold him into the type of writer he is today and the out of ordinary techniques of observing environments to make writing more specific and unique.

As we continue to read through the article, the authors convey to readers that William Burroughs created a tool called color walks to help and inspire his students in finding a new way of observing and taking in the outside surroundings much more than one would otherwise. The task of the color walk as told by both authors is quite simple and requires you to think and observe with an open mind. The color walk is where you open the door, walk outside and pick a starting color. This color can be any color that immediately catches your eye as soon as you make your first steps outside. Once you have chosen a color, you continue walking and following all the objects you see with same shade of color that you have chosen. As you walk you are to follow each object one after another as they appear and continue following the color you have picked in whatever direction the objects lead you.

Continuing through the middle portion of the article, both authors state that they decided to give this method a try and wanted put this form of observation to the test and mentioned that they would also allow themselves to switch from color to color as they journeyed through their walk. Bennin and McMullan’s color walk took place at WNYC in lower Manhattan. The authors stated, “Stepping out the revolving door, we followed blues which led us to pinks, which pulled us towards violets.” The article also has an added in reference timeline of their recordings throughout the walk giving us an in depth source of analysis of the objects they followed and what times they followed them at. The walk started a little after 4pm with a beautiful blue scarf, followed by blue in basketball courts, and ending with purple and pink on clothing and in nooks and crannies. Towards the end of the article, the authors share their experiences and say that this method of observation keeps the colors and things seen to remain in your brain and eyes much longer and also helps in noticing so many objects and colors throughout the environment that one would not normally notice on a regular walk. The article comes to a conclusion by both authors sharing their advice for anyone else who would like to try the color walk for themselves. There best advice is to work with an uninterrupted full hour, picking a color that you really enjoy, and to also switch up colors if you get lost.

Interior Built Environment Description – Krog Street Market

Krog Street Market

KROG STREET MARKET

This is an image in side of Krog Street Market which is located along the Beltline of Atlanta intersecting the trail at Edgewood Avenue in Inman Park and is home to many famous dining and retail shops within the complex. Krog Street Market which was created in the summer of 2014 has a unique atmosphere and a West Coast California feel to the environment. The Krog Street Market has a unique and very well crafted layout for the way shops and eateries are located throughout the complex. Before walking in to the main entrance, there is a separate brewery on the left and immediately when you walk in you are welcomed to an open space with a bar directly to the left and an open seating area to the right. As I observed more of this space I noticed that the environment consisted of a flat area with many shops set up to the left and right side of you, and the interior of the whole building is set up with an oval shaped approach. This particular space is quite distinctive because it has a variety of different environments all in one complex so that you can choose where you feel most comfortable. The space is open at first in the front area with a large spacious seating area but as you slowly enter deeper into the building the space is a bit crowded with tables between shops in the walkway area along with people which causes limited space between the shops making the environment feel a bit constrained. However, the layout of Krog Street Market is easy to navigate because there are no corners and it is not a closed area. The environment of Krog Street Market made me feel calm, sophisticated, and elegant for many reasons. The atmosphere has a calm feel to it because the colors present at the site were neutral and had an ecofriendly vibe to them. There were colors of light wood, white walls, and accents of gray and steel within the space because of the ceilings and chairs. The greenery dispersed throughout Krog Street Market within the flower shop and organic vegetable shop also added to the calm relaxing vibes of this space. The upscale majority white American cliental made this environment feel sophisticated and high class. Overall the Krog Street Market is a place for individual vendors to market their products and is also a hangout spot and a place to relax after work. Krog Street Market is well known in the Atlanta community and is not really advertised publically, however the site does target its intended users by the products these individual shops sell and the atmosphere the space releases. Krog Street Market is definitely a space that all should visit and spend some time at, it’s really a great spot to experience a different side of the Atlanta community!

Exterior Built Environment Description – Edgewood Community Learning Garden

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I had the great privilege of visiting and observing the Edgewood Community Learning Garden which is located in the middle of the quiet residential area of Edgewood about ten minutes away from Downtown, Atlanta. If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city but don’t have the time to travel out far, this is the perfect spot of nature and serenity for you! The ECLG is newly renovated and primarily built as a learning environment for children who attend school nearby and kids living in the area.

This garden offers a variety of different artifacts spread out sparsely throughout the garden to insure you get the most out of your experience here. The ECLG is open to the public and anyone can come visit and observe this beautiful garden. The atmosphere the garden brings is very free and inviting, and is a great peaceful space to relax and destress. The garden offers many different types of greenery and vegetation such as a pollinator garden, a rain garden, fruit trees, berry bushes, and nine veggie beds.

The garden is not modern at all but instead has an old-fashioned farm land feel to it because of its wood built architecture and chicken coop located in the back of the garden. The minimal color associated with the garden other than the greenery of the vegetation helps in bringing individuals to a simplistic mindset and focusing more on the literal nature and calmness of the environment. The garden also offers a variety of entities such as a treehouse and jungle gym with a connected slide and tire swing, a sandbox, and also a small pond. The best part of the ECLG is the beautifully built gazebo located in the center of the garden as a place to sit and enjoy all that the environment has to offer. The gazebo is specially detailed on the ground with dedication bricks engraved to honor those who have supported, funded, and contributed to the making of the ECLG.

This quaint spacious garden located right outside the heart of Atlanta is open to all visitors and even has an open volunteer page for gardening hours and associated community projects on its website. This beautiful garden is a great environment that has brought the neighborhood and community together as a place to relax and have fun.