Project Two: Exploring Cultural Spaces

During this project, we will discover that essays, books, and articles are not the only things that can be
analyzed. We can also look critically and academically at places and spaces*. Project Space requires you to
consider the social and cultural aspects of places and spaces. You might also look at any socio-economic or
political aspects that may be important.
This project asks you to think deeply about cultural places and spaces in Los Angeles, as well as
the communities, cultures, and subcultures they are connected to, how they affect and define each other,
and how they contribute to the unique cultural landscape that makes up the Greater Los Angeles area.
Major Themes and Questions to Consider for this Project:
Why are certain places and spaces created?
What purposes do they serve?
How and why are they designed the way they are?
How does is a place or space impact the people who live, play, or interact in it?
Are they special or significant to a community of people? Why?
In what way do certain places and spaces reflect or represent certain communities, cultures, and
subcultures?
What are some particularly popular places/spaces? How are they connected to or representative
of Pop Culture? Do these places/spaces start to create their own communities and traditions?
Project Requirements:
1. Do the class readings from Pop Perspectives to get yourself thinking about how to analyze places/spaces
2. Complete Exercise 1: The Place and Topic Worksheet while in class on October 10.
3. Write Exercise 2: The Ethnography/Fieldwork Report. Visit your chosen place/space and experience
it for yourself. Describe the place/space using your 5 senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, touch). Describe
what happened during your visit, including events, people, and other relevant observations. Minimum
length 900 words, MLA format. Due October 17. See Guidelines on the back.
4. Write an Analysis Essay analyzing the connection between your chosen place and its cultural
importance (and/or any other issues surrounding it). Minimum 1200 words, MLA format. Due Oct 31.
See Guidelines on the back.
Project Space Important Dates
Thurs Oct 10: Place and Topic Worksheet completed in class + Readings/Homework Due
Thurs Oct 17: Ethnography/Fieldwork Report Due. Upload to Turnitin.com
Thurs Oct 24: Rough Draft of Analysis Essay Due for Peer Review. Print 4 copies and bring to class.
Thurs Oct 31: Final Draft of Analysis Essay Due. Upload to Turnitin.com
* A note on the terms place and space: For Project Space, we are defining place as a permanent physical location
(a building, a park, a store, restaurant, school, etc) and space as a temporary area or location set up for a purpose (a fair,

a rave, a festival, a farmers market, etc). Space and places can be defined as urban, community, cultural, political, or
personaland they can also be institutional (for example: the university and hospital).

Project Two: Exploring Cultural Spaces and Places

Ethnography/Fieldwork Report Guidelines
First, go to your chosen place or space and spend time observing. You should allow yourself as much time as
possible (at the very least a few hours, more is better). Observe, explore, and interact! If at all possible, you
should take notes about the place and people while you are visiting. Record your immediate observations,
thoughts, and reactions. Think about the following questions:
The Place/Space:
1. Describe your place/space. Where are you? When did you go? What is it like there?
2. What is the dcor? The physical look? What does it sound like? Smell? Taste?
3. Are there any cultural signs or symbols in this place/space?
The People:
1. Who are they? What are their interests, values or other attributes? Who are the people who own it?
Can you tell who is regular and who might be there for the first time?
4. How open or closed to outsiders is this place/space? Is it easy to feel comfortable there if you are not
part of the community or subculture, or is the place/space so strongly associated with that particular
community that outsiders might feel awkward? Why or why not?
5. What are people doing? What is the significance of the events and activities? Is there any specialized
language or slang that here people use? How do people behave? Would they behave the same way
anywhere else, or is their behavior connected to vibe of the place/space in some way?
Writing the Ethnography: Use your notes and observations to write a 900 word (2-3 page) ethnography.
You will write about your observations of the place/space and the people/community that it is connected to.
You will include detailed description of the place and what it looks/feels/sounds/smells like, and details on
the people and activities going on there, but save the actual analysis for your essay. An ethnography is a
reports on where you went, what you saw, and what happened while you were there. You can also record any
interviews you may have conducted (if allowed).

PLEASE NOTE: You can use material from your Fieldwork Report in your Essay Rough Draft, but they are NOT
THE SAME THING. Please do not turn in your Fieldwork Report as your Rough Draft. They have different purposes, and
they should be written differently.

Project Two: Exploring Cultural Spaces and Places

Analysis Essay Guidelines
Your Project Two Analysis Essay MUST:
be at least 4-5 full pages and 1200 words minimum.
demonstrate a thorough understanding of your topic and place.
have a thesis stating something significant about the connection between your chosen place/space and a
community/subculture.
have strong description and detailed observations.
be about a specific place/space in the Greater Los Angeles area.
discuss the significant cultural or social issues involved in your place/space.
Some Things to Think About Before Choosing a Topic:
What places and spaces in Los Angeles are especially interesting or culturally significant?
Is the space connected to a specific community or subculture? How does it reflect that community or
subculture? How is it that certain spaces come to represent a community or subculture?
Does the space you choose to analyze highlight any specific social issue?
What is the purpose of culturally themed places like certain restaurants or neighborhoods? Who do
they primarily appeal to: people who are part of that culture or people outside that culture?

You might also consider: what happens when space that belongs to one culture or subculture bumps up
against space belonging to another culture or subculture? What happens in these border zones?