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Working at Nothing

I started this assignment multiple times but always felt like I failed. I would sit physically doing nothing but mentally I was still thinking quite intensely. I would think about other assignments I had or work later that day, planing out what I might wear that night, anything but silence and zen. I even tried to meditate and push all thoughts out of my head like my high school economics teachers taught me, how we must push all distractions and thoughts away to rewire our brain to find peace. This just left me thinking about high school and putting so much pressure on myself not to think I ended up thinking more and being disappointed by my failure. Which leads me to believe there is no such thing as doing nothing, I think nothing implies a lack of trying to do anything but if you are actively forcing yourself to do nothing that in itself is something. I think to do nothing you have to allow yourself to sit and go where ever your mind takes you. Allowing freedom for yourself allows you to feel like you did nothing is a calming reset without leaving yourself tense or upset.

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Walking on Franklin Street starting at the 700 block walking up town at around 3:45 pm on Saturday, November 11th, 2023. The weather is sunny, warm in the sun, cool in the shade with a cool breeze about 59 degrees but feels a few degrees colder.Cars pass by on the street creating noise and wind as they pass. Scattered groups of students walk by slowly less densely populated than on a weekday. Squirrels run down from trees, across the sidewalk and into bushes trying to survive. The last of the leaves still holding on to the trees blow in the cool autumn wind. The street is full of beautiful old homes now converted to offices and school buildings by VCU, preserving the charm of these old buildings and making the street relatively well kept and a safe place to walk. The road is intermittently busy with cars driving slower than they used to due to the addition of speed bumps up and down the faded black pavement street to try and keep students safe. Today is the Richmond marathon which leaves lots of roads closed making Franklin Street slightly more busy than normal for this time of day. With few traffic lights on this street, even further down, the cars pass less predictable than if they were all caught at the same red light. The street feels almost secluded away from the tall buildings, trash, and hustle and bustle of the city. The school buildings don’t often hold class meaning the sidewalks are less crowded than places closer to the gym or the compass. One block over is Grace St which is crowded with police due to the marathon and students due to the abundance of food places and apartment buildings. This highlights the contrast between Franklin and the rest of this area making it feel more intimate and slow.

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Questions for your discussion group(s):

In what ways could Jane Jacobs be considered a designer?

She observed the isolation of communities and designed a plan to connect the people in the communities. She looked for what people already used the city for and planned around that instead of making buildings and forcing people into the designs.

What were three (3) methods/tactics used by Jane Jacobs in her work to save Washington Square Park?

Writes to the mayor saying a road going through the park would make it uninhabitable for the residents

She got Eleanor Roosevelt to speak on behalf of the park

Arranged for her daughter and her friend to be photographed having a “ribbon tying” ceremony to oppose the concept of ribbon-cutting ceremonies that the executives do

Based on watching the movie (and reading at least one of the texts), what is the role of the individual in a democracy?

The fight for the West Village is a good example of the individual in democracy because it sparked resistance to central authority. It is the individual’s responsibility to stand up for what they believe is right and the change they want to see in their community especially when it is being threatened by a political figure.

Leah, Colin, Vivian, and myself met in the library during class time today, Wednesday November 8th.

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Writing Bodies Against Curation by Litia Perta

Why is the capitalization random and not correct?

The reading states, “knowledge has also been treated like a territory to be conquered, like a field waiting to be mastered.” How is this true in regards to knowledge regarding design?

In what aspects of your everyday life can you apply the ideas of deconstruction?

How does the author want us to “fight back” against an exclusive system?

Would this piece be as impactful if it were written in proper grammar and punctuation?

Why does the author think of it as a positive thing if the reader doesn’t “get” the text?

Does the author really believe chaos in all aspects is the answer, or is it over exaggerated for art’s sake?

What is the significance of the poets and authors listed at the end?

Leah, Max, Vivian, and Colin met at the library during class time on Wednesday.

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People dressing up as characters in Times Square is an example of a simulation of the actual character because it is them imitating the real character when in reality they are just a person.

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The american flag is an example of a copy because there is a known original made by Betsy Ross that has been reproduced many times and in different sizes and forms changing slightly and each time being slightly reinterpreted.

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A fake christmas tree is an example of a skeuomorph because it is plastic but is made to look like a real pine tree.

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The American flag is also a symbol that represents the country The United States of America. As most Americans know the flag is full of representations. The stripes represent the thirteen colonies that became states and 50 stars representing the 50 states now a part of the United states. This form of representation is instilled in Americans as young children as we all understand the red white and blue striped flag equates to the United states even if we don't understand all the history behind it. Since the flag was created during the revolutionary war when the colonies were breaking away from England it has also become a national symbol for freedom and even inspires others to travel here and possibly immigrate to the United States. Others who aren't as patriotic and have critiques of the United States often see the flag as representing things like oppression or systemic racism. In recent years it has also been heavily associated with the Republican Party. This is an example of a semiotic symbol because Represents the idea of the United States without showing the shape of the country (something that is learned) 

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The colors pink and blue have also become extremely recognizable in what they have come to represent. Genders. Especially in the past where heteronormativity controlled all pink became associated with girls and blue became associated with boys. The idea of these colors being representative of a certain gender came about in the 1940s with the rise of industry and marketing where companies decided blue would represent boys and pink for girls. By the late 1950s this idea had become fact in the United States. This has been reinforced by traditions such as gender reveal parties in which a color (pink or blue) appears and exposes the gender of an unborn baby. Society has accepted this idea and practiced it in forms of marketing, clothing, and toys. People have been leaning away from gendered colors in recent years with new waves of feminism and societies shift to more accepting and non-binary ideas although everyone in society understands what these colors can represent. This is an example of a semiotic symbol because its societal symbol that has to be learned and does not represent gender without the generational concept.

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Traffic lights are something we encounter everyday that are representative of other actions. In this case the colors glowing on the traffic light indicate whether you go, stop, or begin to stop. Green meaning go, red meaning stop, and yellow meaning that the red light is coming and you should begin to stop.​​Traffic lights are a symbol that most people understand. From you when we were children this idea was instilled in us and reinforced when we began drivers education. They started becoming common and popping up in cities around the United States in 1930 meaning any born within the last 93 years has been exposed to this form of representation since birth. Its continuity and its general understanding from the public is what makes this form of representation so successful and has ensured its longevity. This is an example of a semiotics symbol because its learned in drivers ed, red doesn't always mean stop but in the context of a traffic light we have learned it means stop.