The Imperfection of Perfection within Cities

Tron Legacy is a science fiction film directed by Joseph Kosinski. The main characters of this movie are Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn and Clu, and Garret Hedlund as Sam (Kevin Flynn's son). Tron is a movie about Sam's journey into a virtual reality world that his father, Kevin Flynn created, called The Grid. After the disaperance of his father, Sam became the biggest share holder of his father's company, ENCOM. However, Sam was not interested in his father's company. One day, Alan Bradley, ENCOM's executive, approached Sam about a mysterious "page" that was sent from his father's computer from an old abandoned arcade. While investigating the arcade, Sam found a secret computer room, where he accidentally sent himself into the virtual reality world created by his father: The Grid.

While watching the movie, I noticed parallels and contrast between Tron city and the city in reality.

Compared to the authorities in the real city, the authorities in Tron city were much stricter. In the beginning of the movie, before Sam teleported himself to Tron city, he violated the law several times, but got away: speeding on the highway and breaking into his father's company. However, when Sam arrived at Tron city, he was viewed as a flaw within the system and was immediately captured. Authorities in Tron city seek out all flaws and imperfections in the city, in order to make it the perfect city, as his father had programmed it to be. Flawed “programs” (humans in Tron city) were either "rectified" or forced to play a game, a battle to the death. Corruption and violation of the laws in Tron city was strictly punished or corrected immediately. In contrast, in the real city, the human system is not as effective in dealing with crimes.

In addition, both cities represent modernization. In the real city, we see modernization from the old brick building of the arcade to the tall, glistering glass skyscraper of ENCOM. In the Grid, the city of Tron is located in a middle of nowhere, surrounded by the barren, rocky terrain. The contrast between the structured and lighted city of Tron to the bare and wild terrain that surrounds the city, emphasizes how modernization of a city creates a boundary between humans and nature. The motor bikes used to travel around Tron city, could not be used in the rocky terrain. Compared to the arcade, the ENCOM building was much more sophisticated and technologically advanced. Similarly, Tron city is a technologically advanced city, but it separates itself from the natural world.Finally, this movie wrestles with the idea of the “perfect” city and the corruption of technology. Technological advances and development has always been seen as beneficial to human needs. However, in Tron Legacy, Kevin Flynn attempted to use technology to create the perfect world for humans to live in. He created Clu, and programmed him to help create the “perfect” world. However, Clu saw human qualities as an imperfection that needed to be destroyed. This shows how technology can be useful and beneficial, but we should not depend on technology to do human responsibilities.

Sports as a Symbol of their City

May I introduce to you the St. Louis Cardinals, the greatest baseball team in the MLB and the world.

However, it is not only this stellar team that led me to Busch Stadium in St. Louis, but the skyline that Busch proudly accentuates in the background. It provides a view of the Gateway Arch, the Old Courthouse, and buildings such as Met Life, AT&T and Bank of America that create a spectacular night time skyline visible for everyone to enjoy along with a baseball game. All of this is available for a relatively low price (unless you want a seat close up).

But before you understand the importance of the skyline in connection with the stadium, you must first understand why baseball (and all professional sports) became popular. The reason is pretty simple; the games were cheap and entertaining. As the 1800's came to an end the sprawling new cities created new patterns of recreation and leisure. The congestion and disease of city life led many people to seek participation in outdoor recreation. People sought places within the city to escape the tenements, factories and offices, so they turned to parks where others had set up croquet or tennis clubs.

Working poor could not afford to join a croquet club and did not have as much free time as the affluent, but they too wanted recreation, leisure and fellowship. They found this in gymnastics clubs, amusements parks, and spectator sports such as professional BASEBALL!

People from all social classes (mostly men) attended the games, with ethnic immigrants being among the most faithful fans. Cheering for their baseball and other sports teams, the rich upper class and the downtrodden lower working class found a common loyalty which gave a sense of belonging to uprooted people.

In short, the excitement of rooting for the home team united all fans. So not only were they getting inexpensive entertainment (and most of the time free as you can see in the picture above. Man, can you imagine the World Series being a
free game?), an escape from reality and a passion that they could pursue, but more importantly this all took place in an environment where they were equal to the upper class: their bosses -- the Rockefellers, the Mellons and the Carnegies.

When I went to watch the Cardinals, earlier this year, I noticed that outside the stadium tickets were being sold for a relatively good price that dropped as time went by. As we enjoyed the game, we naturally began socializing with the fans sitting around us and discussed our common interest: the Cardinals, hunting, etc. This was especially interesting when I realized that the the
family sitting behind me was an inner-city family and in front of me sat a family from an upper-middle class suburb. After the game, as I walked through the stadium, I ran into a mass of people from all different social standings, ethnicities, and (probably) financial statuses, the perfect example of unintended social integration.

I was with my dad, and it was an extremely exciting and entertaining game. The Cardinals were trailing the entire game by two when the home-town hero, Albert Pujols, stepped up to the plate with two outs and drove in two runs to send the game into extra innings. All this entertainment for only $20!

As sports have grown up they have not only kept this connection with all social classes, but have grown even more intimate and essential to the city and the people, serving as symbols of their respective cities. It became quite clear to me the other night when the announcer of the game stated, "The city of St.Louis can sleep sound tonight," after the Cardinals beat the Phillies to tie the NLDS 2-2. This was just a sign that teams such as the Cardinals are not just economically tied into the life of the city, but emotionally and symbolically tied to it. When someone talks about a team, they always use the name of the city, for example: Tampa Bay beat Boston. The pride that people experience from a team winning is akin to nationalism -- people live and die by

their teams. One Chicago Cubs fan goes into this more deeply, "...to me, and to so many others, they [the Cubs] are more because they symbolize something greater: hope, loyalty, endurance, love, pride, tenacity, the strength to carry-on, the ability to keep a dream alive, and my city...
EVERYTHING that I hold near and dear to my heart, that makes me who I am, that signifies all that I believe in...."

In a recent Chrysler commercial (this link will bring you to YouTube) where they flash various symbols of the Detroit, (at 0:48) they show a man wearing the Detroit Tigers baseball shirt. It is just another example of how sports team are symbols of their cities.

Many stadiums are tied in with the city that they represent. The most recognizable symbol of St. Louis, the Gateway Arch, is emblazoned across the outfield (as seen in the picture to the right). In some cities the stadium is an integral part of downtown. I snapped this picture as our plane curved around downtown St. Louis. As you can see, Busch Stadium is a large part of the downtown with the Rams football stadium, the Edward D. Jones Dome, on the other

side. Similar to this, the Staples Center, home of the Laker, Clippers and Kings, is surrounded by downtown Los Angeles right off one of the main streets. These two stadiums, and many like them, became integral parts of their respective downtown landscapes. Their constant association with the city makes the people
feel that the teams represent the city.

One can see all of this (the social classes coming together and a team symbolizing of the city) in the article A Fan's Perspective: What the New York Yankees Mean to Me. He talks about how during 9/11 he felt as if the city rested on the weight of its sports teams. He remembers seeing the "Mayor of America," Rudy Giuliani sitting with the masses and cheering on his favorite team.

The picture of Busch Stadium, at the top of the post, offers more than just a scenic view. It is the perfect symbol of how a team can symbolize a city, can bring together all social classes and can give them all equal entertainment and common ground -- it is a symbol to the fans of all the city has to offer.

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Now here is a cool
progression of the Cardinals' ballparks through the ages

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Robinson Field in 1907 (1893-1920) (an amusement park used to stand right

outside the park)

Sportsman Park in 1920 (1920-1966)

Busch Stadium in 2005 (1966-2005)

New Stadium can be seen at top of the post.

Getting Away From the City in the City

Red Bud Isle -- a friendly place welcoming to dogs, dog lovers, fishermen, birds, and anyone seeking a refuge from the city around them. I left my house on Saturday morning (earlier than I am usually awake), got out of the car and walked into a place that, at first, seems just like any other park, except for the dogs running free. This is a place that is 5 minutes from my house in the middle of Austin; a place I pass every day, twice a day, that is purely natural, that I knew existed, but never bothered to visit.

As you walk around the perimeter and get deeper into the park you’ll be swarmed with different sounds ranging from pedestrians with their dogs, birds of every type, a dog splashing around in the river, fish popping to the surface to snatch some breakfast, and a squirrel barking its peculiar squirrel bark on a tree branch. Man-made sights that surround the park such as the river bluff houses, the bridge, and the dam are mostly hidden by the towering cypress trees. but had never taken the time to explore. Early in the morning you can find many different people bringing their dogs to enjoy an area where the dogs are allowed to run free. Walking into the park, you are met by the sights and sounds of dogs playing and chasing squirrels as people stand around having friendly chats with strangers.

While all of this is happening there is the buzz of cars passing by on the low-water bridge, an airplane passing overhead, and when the gates are up you can hear the roar of the dam. Over the tree tops stretches a radio tower and the LCRA dam. But all these sights and sounds are in their own way soothing. Listening to the cars pass over the bridge while you fish becomes calming as they each have a similar rhythm. There is always a slight hint that you are still in the city, however in this environment it is nature that drowns out the sounds of the city.

Red Bud Isle attracts people from all over Austin who want a quick escape. Most are Caucasian or Hispanic who come from as far west as Barton Creek, north from the UT campus and all the way from downtown Austin wearing clothes ranging from casualwear to sportswear.

When these people were asked what they think about the park, the answer was simple, “It’s great, you know, more of a forested area that is just right in the middle of town. You can drive your car just a couple of miles and you’re here.” The fisherman, I see almost every morning on my way to school, responded, “…it’s one of the

few spots I really like on Town Lake. It’s peaceful. It’s a nice little meditating spot. It’s a really green part of the city. Mornings like this are really pretty. It’s just a nice place to come down from the city and just relax.” What place seems more peaceful and serene than a lush green island surrounded by the calm Colorado River.

When I went up to one of these groups of dog owners to ask what they thought about having the dog park so centralized one, as if speaking for the group, told me, “ it’s perfect…” It offers not only this great atmosphere, but also many amazing views and opportunities for recreation such as fishing, canoeing, jogging, or just enjoying some fresh air, all free and easily accessible. But the main reason people go to Red Bud Isle is for their canine buddies. There is something that takes over on this island and immediately all the dogs become friends with each other. When a new dog comes to visit then all the others dogs run over, two sniffs, and the new dog is invited to play tag with the others. While the dogs run around with each other playing and splashing around in the waters of the Colorado, the owners begin to socialize with each other.

The deeper we got into the park,

leaving the dogs behind, we realized it was not just a park for dogs. By the end we didn’t even notice the dogs when we came to the end point that provided a perfect view of Town Lake with a couple canoers, a fisherman on a boat, the twisting roots of a cypress tree, and the water shimmering like glass. The only things you could hear were the birds, faint snatches of conversation from the canoers, and the sounds of the river.

All this combined creates a refuge for residents, dogs and nature to commune, right in the heart of the city.

Sherbet Skies and Dumpster Flies

Sk8er Brah

We found this picture of the "bowl" in House Park Skate Park being built on Google.





We chose the House Park Skate Park because we did not want to choose a "typical" Austin spot like Barton Springs, Zilker Park, or the Capital, but a more urban and unknown place that makes Austin, Austin. Unlike many other cities, it is legal to skateboard in Austin in some areas. This man-made home for skateboarders and BMX riders is open and public for all types or riders, new and experienced. It is easily accessed because it is in the heart of Austin located by Whole Foods, Amy's Ice Cream, and House Park Stadium. While at the skate park we noticed the skaters were ages 10-26, and all male. Although, there were a couple of girls sitting quietly to the side admiring potential boyfriends. As we were walking through the skate park, we picked up on the smell of marijuana and cigarettes.

The skate park has many different elements from skate ramps, rails, stairs, bowls, half pipes , and other jumps. This makes is frinedly to not only skaters, but bikers as well.
Despite the common stereotype that skaters are rebellious, they do not mean any harm. They skate for fun and for the friendships they make at the park. The first skater we interviewed said that he would rather skate in a park over skating in an urban area because "of the fact that you could gets tickets and possibly go to jail or whatever, but as far as the fact as it being a breaking the law type thing, I can see that's why people would want to skate in the street. It's like when your parents tell you not to do something and you go do it because you are just being kids, but when you get older and get tickets, that makes you want to stick to the skate park.'' You would think being a new skater would be intimidating, but it's rather a very welcoming ans accepting environment as we learned from Lil Mike, whose nick name was given to him from the older skaters.
PHOTO CREDIT: KATIE OSTRANDER
In an interview Lil Mike told said, "I feel very comfortable here and I would most definitely ask one of the older guys for help when learning a new trick. They want the best for everyone." Lil Mike started skating when he was about 10 and he goes to the skate park every day from 4-7.


The skate park is just an example of how Austinites "Keep Ausitn Weird." Austin is unique because as a city it is willing to provide 27,000 square feet only for skaters to enjoy, The location is very convenient because after skaters are done, they can grab a quick sandwich at Thundercloud or pick of their girlfriends a nice pair of jeans from Hem, or an athletic outfit from Betty Sport. These shops close to the skate park can fulfill your desires whether you want to be sporty or chic.
PHOTO CREDIT: THE SKATER IN THE BLUE SHIRT
The guy's shirt says "Gnarbro" but it is replacing Marlboro, which is cigarette brand. This goes along with the common association of skaters with drugs or smoking. It also incorporates skater slang with the words "gnarly" and "bro."

Barton Springs

Barton Springs

Imagine walking along a gravel path. It is a hot fall day. The sun is out, and there is hardly a cloud in the sky. You see a beautiful swimming pool. People lay out on a grassy hill, soaking in the sun. Others stand in line at the diving board, waiting for their turn to show off their talents in the air. The sound of the splashing water is rhythmic and peaceful.

This is Barton Springs; Austin’s oasis.

Barton Springs is a public swimming hole in Zilker Park located off Barton Springs road near downtown Austin. Admission is free in the winter, but cost $2 for adults and $1 for children during the summer months of June, July and August. However, the money for admission goes directly to conservation and maintenance of Barton Springs as well as the conservation of the famous Barton Springs Salamander.

Barton Springs Salamander

Barton Springs is a popular hangout for families, friends, swimmers and hippies alike. A variety of people come to enjoy Barton Springs. And to some, one of the many joys of visiting Barton Springs is observing the people.

Speedo Man (David Hassehoff?)

Although strange, he is right. There is a variety of people sprawled on the grassy hill on the banks of the pool. A group of adults wade through the water talking. Three boys are throwing algae at each other, until a lifeguard reprimands them. Barton Springs is just a very peaceful place, and it provides a perfect escape from the city and all the responsibility and stress that comes with living in the city.

Barton Springs provides an escape for Austinites

Barton Springs is filled by a spring that provides water from the Edwards Aquifer. As a result, the water is a chilly 68 degrees Fahrenheit year round. Nevertheless, it doesn’t keep people out of the water, and as temperatures continue to reach the 100s, no one is complaining. In fact, The Statesman reports that Barton Springs has broken its previous record of attendance set in 2009 in the months of June, July and August. 2011 has crushed this attendance record with the help of the heat and drought, and in just two months 2011 nearly matched 2009’s previous attendance record which was set in three months. However, the hot and dry conditions which make Barton Springs a refreshing oasis are also harming the overall health of the spring. According to msnbc.com, the drought has caused Barton Springs to reduce its flow rate to almost 25% of what is normally expected. The drought has also endangered the Barton Springs Salamander, native only to Barton Springs. The Barton Springs Salamander is about 2.5 inches long, and is brownish grayish. Dry conditions and dirty water have threatened the Barton Springs Salamander and its habitat almost to the point of extinction. As a result, it has been placed on the endangered species list, and many environmentalist organizations from Austin, Texas like the S.O.S. or Save Our Springs Alliance have been committed to saving the Barton Springs Salamander. Also many aquatic plants dying; however, the algae thrives in hot conditions and as a result, has taken over the pool.

Barton Springs Pool Clean Up

Despite the ever worsening conditions of the drought, I am not too worried about the future of Barton Springs because I know that in the end, Barton Springs lovers will band together and work together to save Barton Springs. There is too much at stake not to.

BELLY FLOP!!!!!!

SoCo So Austin

SoCo street sign with a classic Austin twist

South Congress, or SoCo, is the cultural hub of Austin, Texas. It is a little strip of Heaven. There is no  other place in the city where all aspects of Austin’s character can be represented in one place.  People from all walks of life stroll the streets. The hipsters, the starving artists, and even passionate local businessmen all try to maintain the small town atmosphere that can be felt here, which means avoiding mainstream urbanization. SoCo has a gigantic assortment of small rustic shops, food trailers in a dirt parking lot, street vendors, and more upscale establishments that seem as though they were built yesterday. Such a variety of stores draws an interesting pool of people who all congregate together on one of our city’s most popular streets. This diversity is something that really “Keeps Austin Weird” and most Austinites like it that way.

Although there are a lot of parking spaces available on South Congress, they are normally filled up. Therefore, we parked a street over in a little neighborhood where the houses are baby blue with a pastel yellow trim. In this neighborhood the sound from the street is a faint background noise. The birds chirping and the occasional bug that flies by are the only loud sounds that we can hear. Our excitement grew and we could hardly wait to reach the street. We met two guys from Houston who are about twenty years old. They too have come to South Congress to eat the food and look in the kooky shops. Although we caught them at the end of their journey, they were smiling and we knew that South Congress has accomplished its goal of bringing people joy once again. South Congress draws people from all over.

Hey Cupcake trailer located on South Congress*

            As soon as we reached South Congress, the vibrant atmosphere hit us. The smells of food, cigarettes and car exhaust, the noises from the passing cars, peoples’ laughter and the music make walking down this street an experience like no other. We started at Hey Cupcake one of the many vendors that is part of a “trailer park eatery”. It is famous for many of its delicious concoctions some which include the Michael Jackson (chocolate cake on the inside with white icing on top) and the classic Red Velvet cupcake. The line for this shop was long, but people of various ages still waited patiently with the hopes that their favorite flavor will not run out. Eating a cupcake from here is like eating a cupcake straight out your mama’s kitchen, just as much love and care is put into it so that it tastes just right.

Bernadette playing infront of her father

 Right next to Hey Cupcake is a singer song writer from Mount Jolt Tennessee. He has played in that exact location every Sunday through Thursday for the last ten years. He describes his music as “Americana” or comfort food music: grilled cheese for the soul. His music is laid back, singing softly he maintains the calm atmosphere that SoCo creates. He does it because he loves music, he is not driven by the desire to create a fortune. The best thing about this wonderful performance is that he has his five year old daughter, Bernadette, played with milk crates on the ground in front of him. This accurately shows how down to earth and family oriented South Congress really is. People passed by with giant smiles on their faces and stopped to drop tips in his collection jar. He is friendly enough to let us ask him some questions, he too like everyone else on South Congress, likes to get to know people on a personal level.

The resturant hours posted on Wurst Texas

Further down in the trailer park eatery, we stumbled across another food vendor called Wurst ☆ Texas. It reminded us of a county fair because red picnic tables are placed in front of the trailer. Wurst was not open that Sunday afternoon, but somehow this restaurants presence still made a huge impact on our group. It was closed because the owners are getting married. They have posted on the front door of the trailer a cardboard sign that is hand written, explaining why they were closed and when they would open again. We stood there for about fifteen minutes watching people shuffle to and fro. Not one person left that eatery mad or upset at the fact that it was closed. In fact, they were happy for the couple who were off somewhere starting their life together. People even wrote sweet notes in the dirt that covered the trailer wishing them good luck with the festivities. This trailer is not just some random restaurant where people just go to fulfill their cravings; almost everyone who eats there creates a personal connection with its owners. This just reiterates the fact that South Congress takes pride in its small town atmosphere, a community where everyone cares about each other.

Exterior of Lucy on South Congress

On the opposite side of the street is one of the most extravagant and fun stores that SoCo has to offer: Lucy in Disguise. This is eight thousand square foot costume shop which holds thousands of costumes that can be rented or purchased daily. You name it, they have it.  It was claustrophobic in sense because all the wigs, masks, jewelry and costumes are literally overflowing from every crevice in the place. But, this claustrophobia is not the same claustrophobia that can be felt when one enters a store such as Hollister, and its sales clerks literally follow you around pestering you with the hopes that you will buy something. We all felt so comfortable in the store because it was a place where people embrace what is strange and different. From a transvestite to a man wearing skinny jeans and a fedora, from toddlers who are extremely excited to celebrate Halloween or young ladies looking to release their “wild side” on Halloween night, it has something for everybody. The clatter of costumes being piled together and the constant ring of the bell that is hung over the entrance door, truly show how this establishment is a major part of Austin. The people who visit it are “kids in a costume store”.

Modern plaza where Kendra Scott is located

Lastly, towards the end of the SoCo area, we stumbled across a jewelry store called Kendra Scott. The store is tucked behind an upscale bar area, and it too is deserted. We were not looking for something modern and fancy, we just happened to stumble upon it. Some may say it is elegant: there is no dirt, nothing is out of place, the interior is all white, with marble flooring, but it is too perfect, too sterile. Although, the interior of this store would be considered gorgeous in any other setting, it is out of place in comparison to the artistic beauty that is present on the main street. Its doors completely blocked out the sound from the streets. As we entered the store, we all felt uncomfortable. It was as if we did not fit their standards of a usual shopper for their store, but in all actuality, it was the store which did not fit the standards of SoCo. One of the employees there was kind enough to let us interview her. Although the Kendra Scott store is not what we were looking for in our experience, we cannot ignore it as part of South Congress. It will satisfy the needs of someone out there and that is important when talking about the inclusiveness of SoCo.

South Congress is one of the most influential places in Austin. It is a vibrant area that plays host to many different groups of people who flock there because of its oddness. These four places which we focused on are not the only major stores on this street. We just focused on them because they made the hugest impact on us. Whether you are in Austin for a week or for a couple of hours, we urge you to take a stroll down this wonderful street. There, you can get a good fell for Austin, it’s one of the coolest places that Austin has to offer. You won’t regret it.

Kendra Scott
Hey Cupcake
Wurst Texas
Lucy in Disguise

* Taken from Google images
All other pictures taken by
Nolu Mcilraith and Huy Nguyen

Music in podcast (in order of appearance):
Downtown, by Tegan and Sarah
Original song by James Anthony Johnson
Lato and Judi, by the Kingston Springs
Noticed, by Mutemath
Free Until They Cut Me Down, by Iron & Wine

Whole Foods vs. Austin Liberalism

Skyline on the roof of Whole Food

By Luke Zhang

               The flagship store of Whole Foods on 525 North Lamar Boulevard might probably be considered as a symbol of Austin Liberalism. Surrounded by apartments, office compounds and hotels, Whole Food is artificially designed as a natural and welcoming compound for everybody. Its scenery makes sure that the grocery store not only offers organic products, but also attracts local residents to spend their leisure time there. Whole Foods therefore becomes a mixture of commerce and living. Theatrically intended as a family friendly gathering place where everything is harmonious and laid back, Whole Food seems to fit in with the liberal aspect of Austin. Yet, as we dig deeper in our observation, we find its style contradict against the liberal soul of Austin. After all, we conclude that Whole Foods is just a grocery store trying to sell its upscale organic products to a limited variety of people.

Infant Seat

By Luke Zhang

                In order to appear as liberal as possible, the Whole Foods in Austin’s downtown area tries to impress people by advocating natural environment and free soul around the store, thus instilling a sentiment to its customers that they can do whatever they wish here. Picnic tables can be found all over Whole Foods --- located right next to the cashiers, up on the second floor, outside of the store, and even on the roof. To accompany the tables, shades are built to mimic trees and natural scene such as artificial rocks and fine-looking flowers. To further promote greenness, smoking-free signs can be seen anywhere in the park, trash is categorized into as many as six cans. The place is not merely green, but also convenient for people to spend some quality family time, as it is both animal and baby friendly. As we observe the store in the park, we see more than five pets sitting next to their owners and enjoying the afternoon sunshine, while babies are comfortably napping in the infant seats that Whole Foods provide. Even better, Whole Foods plays music from its own radio and provides free public Wi-Fi to its customers, attracting many to spend their leisure time here to do some work. From first look, all these features would make people feel like Whole Foods is a liberal place where everybody is warmly invited.

Tree-Like Shade

By Luke Zhang

                Yet, as we scrutinize this grocery store more closely, we begin to realize that the core value of Whole Foods is not too close to the idea of liberalism and even a little fascist. Even though the corporation tries hard to make it look like a welcoming place for everybody, it does tend to keep the poorer families out of its store. The hit brand of Whole Foods, “365 Everyday Value,” promises to produce the most organic food one can find in a grocery store, giving customers the sense that by purchasing them, they are eating the healthiest foods. Yet, what many people neglect is that organic does not necessarily mean healthy. For example, the “365 Slightly Salted Baked Potato Chips” has been criticized by a reviewer online as “extremely sugary,” and he suggests that instead of labeling those chips as “slightly salted,” they should be placed at the cookie aisle and be called “heavily sugared.” The “365 Everyday Value” is also more expensive than other ordinary products’. For example, as we go through the snacks section, we discover that the chips here are often as much as two dollars more expensive than the common chips brands such as Lays, which can be found in other markets such as Wal-Mart and HEB but are apparently ignored by Whole Foods. As a result, customers often find that they only have one choice when buying products in the store, the pricy “365 Everyday Value” brand. This policy shuts the door for most of the lower class families as they simply can’t afford to shop at Whole Foods, which by the way, sells the largest mark-up per product in grocery business.

Seat in Shop

By Luke Zhang

                Austin downtown’s Whole Foods not only lacks liberalism in terms of its narrow choices of products, but also influences the dynamics of its surroundings. According to our research online, when Whole Foods enters the scene in populated area such as the downtown of Austin, it severely affects the neighborhood. Usual consequences include an increase in the price of nearby hotels and apartments and the closure of smaller but cheaper convenient stores. Richer people might appreciate the existence of an organic store, but poorer citizens would not feel lucky and might even have to move out of the area since now the living cost here has dramatically increased. Whole Foods Corporation’s inconsistency with Austin’s Liberalism is not only reflected by its “unfriendliness” towards the lower income people, but also proven by its lack of diversity in terms of ethnicity. While we are spending our Sunday afternoon at the picnic table, there is only one African American walking into the store and two Asian boys doing their English project. Other than those three, all of the other people are Whites. In our opinion, Whole Food’s overly natural campaign, including the usage of brown bags, donation to plant trees, biodegradable packaging, and the advertisement of a green product line, has made the White urban customers feel like that they are embracing and saving the nature by simply consuming at the store. More significantly, the corporation successfully made customers feel good about themselves for buying healthy yet expensive products. True Austin Liberalism is not a concept for people to feel good about themselves, just like Richard Wright’s Native Son is not written to make rich white girls feel bad about African Americans.

     

Live Music Line-Up

By Luke Zhang

           To some people, Austin’s Liberalism simply means “a place where groups of hippies gather at a music hall to enjoy live music and have a sip of beer.” As we quietly listen to Adele and Stevie Wonder singing on the Whole Food radio and observe this organic store’s culture, we notice a chalk board listing all the artists who are coming to the store soon to sing. We are deeply impressed by Whole Food’s effort to make it appear as liberal as possible. Yet, at the end of the day, we still conclude that Whole Food, with its limited types of customers and selected brands of products, does not quite fit with the Liberalism of Austin.

Wooldridge Square

Google Maps View of Wooldridge Square

Wooldridge Square

By: Noah Stewart and Michael Greeson

Project Chopped and Screwed in GarageBand

"The Truth Enforcement"

Real APD Squad Vehicle

Wooldridge Square

At the intersection of 10^th and Guadalupe Street, there lay a 1 square block patch of dried grass, which goes by the name of Wooldridge Square. Although devoid of any nature after a record-breaking drought, this park remains alive in terms of human interaction. Here we found various subcultures of Austin clashing, and co-existing as they used urban space provided by the City of Austin as they pleased.

An off-white gazebo sits in this small valley of the square. Although the gazebo appears to tower over the homeless citizens who seek its shelter, it is dwarfed by the surrounding government buildings. Even from the lowest point in the park, the capitol building is visible, looming over the top of every building in between. The urban space is host to irony, as the government officials in the buildings surrounding the park observe the impoverished inhabitants of the park without aiding them in any manner. The park also represents the eternal struggle between rebellion and authority given its location between the Travis County Constable Office, the Travis County Jail, and the Justice of Peace.

Upon scanning the various corners of the intersection, we found a group of skateboarders. We approached them in order to inquire about their use of urban space. (View their location here.) The skaters happily showed us their different tricks, all utilizing the set of stairs in a different way. After observing, recording sound, and shooting video for a few minutes, a policeman arrived to enforce the law upon the urban rebels. We observed from a distance with a small portion of the group as the cop lectured the other skateboarders and apparently told them to leave. Both of us approached the policeman for an interview after he sent the skateboarders away but were turned down after being told that granting us an interview would oppose department policy. This clash between authority and rebellion was again exemplified in a different corner of Wooldridge Square.

Just a short walk away from the corner where the skaters were, we saw what we believed to be a police car a first glance. But upon inspection we realized that this car was not a police car at all, but “The Truth Enforcement.” The car was the exact same make and model as the vast majority of squad cars in the area, but instead of enforcing the law, this vehicle preached marijuana reform. The driver of this vehicle is using the urban space to protest solely by parking the car there. When he is around the vehicle, he is using the space to actively spread the word and hand out pamphlets.

After only an hour of observation at Wooldridge Square, we found that urban space is used for much more than the designer intended. Observing a landscape is just like reading a book in the sense that one must pay attention to each detail and read further in depth than what meets the eye.