Anthropology notes Date : March 29, 2013 Location: Food Court a Mall Setting : There are quite a few different types of establishments in the food court. Here are some that I see as an example: -Japanese takeout -Burgers and fries -A smoothie bar -A fusion Indian cuisine restaurant - several fast food franchises -A pastry cafe -A coffee shop Out all of the different places to purchase food and sit down, almost all of the establishments had a common seating area, an area which resembles a cafeteria. The coffee shop and pastry cafe seemed to have their private seating areas. The eating area seems to be more than just a place to eat. Rather it seems to focus like a multipurpose room. There were many types of groups. Some seemed to be there with many friends who just wanted to have a place to hang out while others seemed to just be there waiting for their female partners to finish shopping. More will be covered in the scene notes below. The coffee shop - most of the people who I see in the coffee shop were either alone or with what appeared to be a partner. -those who were alone seemed to not spend much time in the coffee shop. As in, they would grab their drink and leave. There could be many reasons for this. For example, they may be uncomfortable hanging out at a cafe alone, or they may really be busy. - the other common scenario I saw at the coffee shop was the presence of couples. Many of these couples were carrying shopping bags, a baby or both. It seemed like they were at the coffee shop to either relax after shopping or take a mid shopping break. -There were also entire families with older kids at the coffee shop, but more often than not, it was the parents who were ordering for themselves. They were also on the the go... ... middle of paper ... ...erent types of personas and demographics present in the dining areas of the mall was an experience that demonstrated how people adapt to their situations. There were people who did not want to participate in the shopping experience, so they chose to wait in the food court, as seen with the bored males. There were others who may have felt tired, so they stopped by at the coffee shop for a caffeine boost, so that they may fuel their shopping habit. Finally, there were many other younger age groups, who were not there to shop at all. These typically consisted of teenagers, looking for a place to hang out, such as the food court. Thus the aforementioned demographics help demonstrate how people adapt to their environments and situations. More importantly, it shows how people can easily learn to optimize their situations by making do with their resources and surroundings.
Fish’s depiction of the process of buying a coffee now is an unfair stereotype, as not everyone has experienced what he describes. For example Fish states, “if you are patient and stay in line (no bathroom breaks), you get to put in your order,” (Fish). The bathroom comment was quite unnecessary because nobody gets bathroom breaks for long lines. This quote by Fish was illogical for his argument. Fish continues, stating that when one receives a coffee, the “real problem” is how the coffee accessories are placed. There are too many of them, Fish believes, and the order is random. This is not true for most coffee shops. Typically in coffee shops, the dairy is together, the sugars are neatly piled, the straws and napkins are stacked tidily. Of course, there are coffee shops now that are how Fish described. However, he only describes a percentage of coffee shops, not all of them. Fish should have made that clear in his argument. To continue, Fish writes about people fighting over the accessories and balancing coffee in one hand. This comment is almost theatrical in its description. The scene Fish depicts is rarely seen at coffee shops. Fish’s argument does not represent a realistic representation of all coffee shops. Fish does not state this, therefore being unreliable in his
Inside the coffee shop, a great deal of thought has been put into spatial distribution. The space is small, but every square centimeter is utilized for sitting, ordering and preparing and displaying food. The floor plan allows customers to move in a structured way to order and then sit down or leave. The floor plan is similar to a continuous circular flow of costumers, that starts when you walk in the door and ends when you leave. Like an assembly line, this suggests that Canadian culture is very rigid and structured. The sitting area consists of small tables that let only three people sit comfortably at one time. The sitting chairs are upright with a hard surface; they're not comfortable and relaxing in the least bit. Upbeat easy rock music plays in the background, this music is very safe in that all ages can identify and accept it while still loud enough to not hear the noisy kitchen in the back. Bright lights, along with the chairs, tables and music create an atmosphere and mood that does not allow people to get too comfortable.
The ethnographic study took place at McDonalds’ shop, Leeds, local market in the afternoon of Monday, 17th January 2011. From away I could observe the huge logo of McDonalds. I stood at the entrance and stared at the shop for few seconds. The shop was far more elegant than the average McDonald’s. The interior has a minimal style with posh chairs, tables, black art deco fixtures, beautiful paintings and attractive lights and draperies. There were large windows so it was impossible for customers to see into the Harvey Nichols store. Also, outside were window boxed filled with flowers or greenery. I could hear some relaxing music. At first glance, I noticed that customers were people with different age groups, genders, ethnic classes, social classes and cultural backgrounds. The language which was more spoken was English. [Without thinking, I was moving towards the counter, I faced] the girl behind the counter [; she] was wearing a red t-shirt with a cap and a hut. She seemed to be in a rush to handle the orders. Despite that, she was friendly and with a smile on the face to welcome the customers. The most co...
My first observation exercise was at the shopping arena. The shoppers tended to move in groups and were more concerned with the needs of their groups. The children however socialized in between groups prompting uncomfortable apologies and new friendships. The workers' age seemed to be distributed from as low as 18 to the mid-60s. Races were diverse ranging from Hispanic to Caucasian to Africans and Asians. The mall was female dominant though there were males present. The staff at most of the stores had on casual clothing, seeming happy and patient with the children and impatient customers. They also knew each other without having to look at their name tags and I did not observe any tension amongst the workers.
social class citizens. Thus, there was a coffee house for every walk of life. During this
I also observed a group of 2 females and one male that were most likely under 18. After getting dropped off, they came inside and pushed 2 tables together to sit down. Immediately after sitting down, they became rather obnoxious. They were very loud, considering how small the Starbucks was, and were also cursing. One group sitting at the table behind them gets up and leaves. As they were walking out, I can clearly see that they were annoyed. However, it is possible they were getting ready to leave soon anyway. After a few minutes, the baristas began to look at them too, however they did not say anything. Eventually, one of the female’s phones ring and they all leave the store. A little while after they left, two teenage females enter the store and sit down. Like the last group, they begin looking at
By using observation method, a wide variety of behavior can be recorded. Picking through the garbage on the side of the road can reveal behaviors of fast-food customers, or sitting for only one hour in the university canteen can understand the gender differences in choosing (diet) meal, or even watching the customer’s behavior from deciding which yogurt to be taken off its store shelves in the supermarket can also answer the question: Are the customers be attracted by its appearance or flavor or price or brand or nutrition? The aim of this observation assignment is to evaluate and explain the different types of interactions between individual and groups present, as well as the environment in which these interactions take place. The field observation was conducted at the Vietnamese fast-food restaurant named “We love Banhmi” in Budapest, and the role adopted, was that of observer as a non-participant. Group structures as well as overall activity, patterns of behavior, and the duration and timing of such behaviors and interactions were observed and recorded. Sociological concepts pertaining to age, gender, and appearance were also noted and applied.
Mall appreciators argue that the malls are centers of entertainment and pleasure for mall visitors. George Lewis in “The mall as Refuge”, asserts that “kids come to look around, meet and make friends, stay away from home and hang out- because there is nowhere else to go” (1990, P. 309). He believes that teenagers go to malls to socialize and to escape from the troubles in their lives and at home. Therefore, malls serve as a second home for kids. Similarly, Lewis says that with the controlled environment of malls, with the security and the central location of malls as a good reason why many retired, and old people visit malls. Here they get to meet up with old friends, exercise, eat out, and share experiences with their old friends. These two groups as Lewis claims are misfits in society because; the world considers them as unproductive. Jon Pahl also ...
Starbucks divides their shops by phase, sex, revenue, cultural context and domestic lifestyle. For example, demographically, Starbucks is usually found in expensive areas, near workplaces, and near college grounds.
Starbucks is a company in which purchases and roasts high quality whole bean coffees and sells them along with fresh, rich-brewed, Italian style espresso beverages, a variety of pastries and confections, and coffee-related accessories and equipment (starbucks.com). During my environmental scan in which took place at the Starbucks on the corner of Fair and Newport across the street from vanguard, I noticed many things in which where never brought to my attention in prior stays and visits at Starbucks; such as the many social groups in which choose to have their meetings at Starbucks. Thus in this essay we will discuss things in which many people do not really notice when going to Starbucks.
Starbucks at the time did not typically sell coffee drinks. Beans and coffee makers were their forte. In 1983, Schultz traveled to Milan, Italy, where he was struck by the numerous coffee bars. He saw “not only the romance of coffee . . . but a sense of community” in these c...
Seniors usually gather in the mornings and leave at 11 am before the noon rush so that’ll give an opportunity to set up special nights during after-school hours’ design to encourage children and parents to visit the restaurant. She can offer discounted meals and children activities to keep the children involved and parents interested. This strategy will bring entire families to gather and certainly increase revenue overall.
GAUDIO, R. P. (2003). Coffeetalk: Starbucks™ and the commercialization of casual conversation. Language in Society.
The cafeteria is not merely a place for small children; now that I am in college, I spend more time in the cafeteria than ever. Living in the dorms, I have no kitchen or any other place to cook. Instead, I have a meal plan that offers me fourteen meals each week at the Stanford/Hecht cafeteria. I eat lunch and dinner there as my two meals on most days. But, I do not and cannot go to the cafeteria and just get food. I get much more.
In countless homes and numerous cultures, drinking morning coffee is a staple routine. One can drink it alone at home, in a car en route to work or school, or stop at a coffee shop or café and enjoy it among other people. In developing my routine this year, I chose the latter practice. Every morning I arrive at a local coffee shop, smell the same aromas, order the same drink, sit in the same chair, and observe the same people who continue their morning customs as well. For several months now, my mornings have consisted of this, and every morning, I would mainly observe one person; an old man who has become somewhat of a fixture at this coffee shop and who has not changed his routine as far as I have witnessed. He is already there when I arrive every morning, sitting alone at the small table for two in the corner by the window, drinking his small cup of black coffee, and reading the newspaper. He is on a first-name basis with the workers and owner, and often chats with some of the other regulars. After months of polite smiles, quiet “good mornings”, and creating a background of this old man in my own mind, I finally get the courage to approach him. I start the conversation with him about our similar morning routine, and it gradually develops into a soft and informal interview.