Overall, I think my paper turned out really well. I really enjoy writing on subjects I know a lot about because I feels like it provides a good basis for writing a paper. The approach I took to this essay was somewhat condescending, but I feel that in order for an author to get a point across about a space and what it means, they have to add their own personal interpretation of the location. It was interesting to me how I found different arguments all around the space that I had already visited probably 40 times in my life. It is easier to not notice things that are being projected on you in the space when you are a customer, but as an observer you recognize so many other things.
The main emphasis or controlling idea in my paper was how Palm Beach Tan influences women; especially young women. The idea that society has this perfect stereotype of what a woman should be (thin, blond, tan, etc.) and how Palm Beach Tan embodies that idea. From their staff to the pristine environment to the glowing models on the posters they are manipulating the female demographic, through these various arguments, to fit into mainstream society.
It is hard to explain a tanning salon to a woman who has never been to one or especially to a man and this is why I specifically tried to include vivid descriptions so that no matter what "group" in society you fit in to, you could understand this essay and all of the arguments Palm Beach makes.
I like this piece because I feel like it is honest and written from various points of view (the customer and the observer) and makes a general statement about the argument Palm Beach Tan is trying to state, as well as the underlying arguments that many people may not see within the space.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Work Shop Feedback
I think that I worked really hard on my first draft and that it paid off when my piers read and reviewed it. I liked the feedback I got in terms of what needed clarification within my essay and hat wording totally didn't make sense. I also thought it was important that I had both genders review my paper. Hearing information from different genders who participate in different aspects of the TCU community gave me various points of view to revise my essay from. This was honestly the first time that I have enjoyed a workshop review session because I actually felt like I got solid feedback and that it was those individuals honest opinions of my piece of work. It is important to me to have honest feedback from those who are not some of my close friends, that is why I am glad that Ms. Patrick did not let us pick our own groups because I would have probably just chosen those that I already knew and that were most similar to myself.
I need to add a little bit more to my essay in terms of clarification and strengthening my central opinion throughout the paper. Towards the end I really present the argument well but I need to make sure that in the beginning of my essay is doing the same. I think most of the feedback that I made was really constructive and helpful to the other members of my group. It was also interesting to be able to read other people's papers because that made me look at my own paper more critically and not just settle for what I had already produced.
I need to add a little bit more to my essay in terms of clarification and strengthening my central opinion throughout the paper. Towards the end I really present the argument well but I need to make sure that in the beginning of my essay is doing the same. I think most of the feedback that I made was really constructive and helpful to the other members of my group. It was also interesting to be able to read other people's papers because that made me look at my own paper more critically and not just settle for what I had already produced.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Author's Note: Draft One
Authors Note: I am almost done with my paper I believe, besides the finishing touches. I am happy with the structure and content but if I am missing something in terms of these items I would love to know. I also would like some grammatical editing in terms of commas, semicolons and capitalization. I am looking for something to really make my paper stand out so if there are any suggestions I would be happy to hear them, or if you already think my paper is unique, let me know that as well. I need a closing paragraph as well. I feel like I have covered everything and I have nothing else to talk about.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
My Space in the Community
To some, Palm Beach Tan may seem like a very superficial place and one that no one can relate to, but they are completely wrong. Palm Beach Tan is a vital part of the Texas Christian University community. During my observation I saw at least 10 girls enter the salon that I knew or had seen before. Another 12 had either TCU clothes on or a sorority shirt. I do think its weird that none of the girls who work there go to TCU, maybe it is because those who are going to college have higher ranking jobs in the community. For some though, some may view PBT as a nuisance or a waste of space in the community. I mean, really all it contributes is skin cancer and tan bodies.
The community that Palm Beach Tan is centered in also consists of local businesses. Restraunts such as Panera and IHOP, a nail salon and local boutiques for women. It is important to realize that the majority of those girls that do go to TCU who tan, go to Palm Beach. The community in Fort Worth is much less focused on "looks" as say Dallas would be, but it is still a very important part of our culture.
The community that Palm Beach Tan is centered in also consists of local businesses. Restraunts such as Panera and IHOP, a nail salon and local boutiques for women. It is important to realize that the majority of those girls that do go to TCU who tan, go to Palm Beach. The community in Fort Worth is much less focused on "looks" as say Dallas would be, but it is still a very important part of our culture.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Observation Notes
Saturday January 30th, 2009:
Notes:
Structure: Gold walls, blue chairs (leather/vinyl), flat screen televisions (steps for spray on tan, men and women in swimsuits, talks about safety and instant results), lotion selection on wall, central greeting counter, photos (big, on walls, mostly women), Contemporary, very clean (sterile), two hallways (one with super tanning beds the other with regular (all numbered)), white tile floors, finger swipe access, two visible beds in the front (most expensive), magazines and soda machine
Questions: Do people want to tan in a place that is welcoming? Does it matter that there are big comfy chairs to sit in or do most people just want to get in and out? Are the pictures motivations for customers to think that “they could look just like the models”? Is there a behind the scenes that we don’t see in terms of cleaning? Actually how clean is the tanning bed after they sterilize it?
Audience: Within one hour ten women and one man, all young between the ages of 17-25, staff greets them (asks them for their name, if they need to buy lotion, how long they want to tan, finger swipe, room number), speak with slang terms only familiar to those who visit frequently, most people do not look tan at all or they look like they have leather skin
Questions: Do those who come to PBT want the entire experience? From the greeting to the amenities to the farewell? Why do these people come here? Just to tan? For endorphins? For sunlight when it is a cloudy day?
Tanning Room: Hard plastic blue chair, goggles, towel, “we appreciate your business” sign, UV level warnings from the state of Texas, shelf, hooks to hang clothes, tanning bed, fan, music playing (personal choice/ 6 channels)
Back of store: sterilizing buckets for goggles, washers and dryers for cleaning of the towels, hair ties, hair spray, deodorant, bathrooms
Annotated Version:
The environment of Palm Beach Tan is comfortable and inviting. The gold walls begin to give you a sense of warmth when you walk into the store and the contrast of the blue chairs brings life to the space. Palm Beach Tan is an important place in the community because it is often visited by college students and with its convenient location; it is very accessible to those who don’t even have a car, expending their ability to attract a diverse client base. The cleanliness of the store is also not something you often see in the tanning bed chain industry and that is what sets apart PBT from the others. The flat screen televisions playing videos of picture-perfect models tanning at PBT makes the average audience swoon for the chance to be exactly like them. The main pressure from society behind being thin, for women, is being tan. Entering the space and seeing these beautiful women who both work behind the counter and that are plastered on the walls definitely seals the idea into individual’s heads. Most of those entering the store were women in their early twenties, with an exception to some older men in their 30’s or 40’s. Does this mean that older women do not feel the need to tan? Or is it just that they come at a different time in the week other than a Saturday afternoon?
The staff is a completely different story at Palm Beach Tan. Normally there are not many jobs when being attractive is a requirement, but that is not true if you were looking for a job here. All of the staff that I saw was female and they all had piles of make up on their faces. They were also al, you guessed, incredibly and almost sickening tan. They greet you with a smile and take you through the process of swiping your finger and telling them how long you would like to tan for. The jargon they use, however would not be easily understood by someone who has never been to a tanning salon. That also makes the space special because anyone could walk into the store but only select people would actually understand what was going on.
The way the store is set up also is interesting because they have the central counter with all of the expensive lotion displayed behind it. The central counter is where one checks in and buys lotion and swipes their finger for access. The waiting area is very comfortable with magazines and a soda machine for convenience for those who have to wait for the next available bed. It is also important to note that on either side of the counter, one can find one of the most expensive tanning beds to use. They obviously makes these beds visible in order to persuade clients to switch to a higher level bed, incurring a greater cost.
Sunday February 1st, 2009
Notes:
Audience: More college kids today, no men at all, all of them are already members (none have to set up a new membership), most are in a hurry, most are wearing sneakers and Nike shorts (it looks like they just worked out), the location of PBT seems very convenient, not as busy, still no adults or people over 30
Structure: The slogan “Life needs color all year long”, “Become a premier member today!”, the option of sunless tanning (How many actually chose this choice?), free upgrade signs all around the store, a brochure with statistics says that 30 million people in North America in 2006, 75% of them women, turned to tanning salons
Other: PBT claims to be the best tanning salon because of their cleanliness and customer satisfaction, they say they care about their clients skin types and care
Annotated Version:
On this visit I actually tanned, instead of just observed and it was a much different experience. Once you enter the room with the tanning bed there is a hard plastic chair, a shelf and hooks for an individual’s clothes. It is an uncomfortable and sterile room in which one does not want to spend time in unless tanning, it is not a room built for comfort, but for purpose. The tanning room also gives you the option of blaring music of your choice. This is also something that makes PBT special because it gives each person who visits the chance to listen to their own music while they tan. The tanning process is at most 20 minutes and it is an odd experience for someone who has never tanned before. To be put into a small warm box and cook for twenty minutes is not most people’s idea of relaxing, however to those who tan frequently, it is a very rejuvenating experience. For some people it is the heat of tanning that brings actual warmth or it is the endorphins that arise when being exposed to artificial light. Maybe for some it is even a nice experience to have during a lunch break in order to relax.
The slogans that are all over Palm Beach Tan would definitely encourage, or even manipulate an individual into thinking they need to come back and tan more. It is obvious by the statistic that tanning is an increasing pastime for the younger generations, but whether it is a healthy one has yet to be determined.
Notes:
Structure: Gold walls, blue chairs (leather/vinyl), flat screen televisions (steps for spray on tan, men and women in swimsuits, talks about safety and instant results), lotion selection on wall, central greeting counter, photos (big, on walls, mostly women), Contemporary, very clean (sterile), two hallways (one with super tanning beds the other with regular (all numbered)), white tile floors, finger swipe access, two visible beds in the front (most expensive), magazines and soda machine
Questions: Do people want to tan in a place that is welcoming? Does it matter that there are big comfy chairs to sit in or do most people just want to get in and out? Are the pictures motivations for customers to think that “they could look just like the models”? Is there a behind the scenes that we don’t see in terms of cleaning? Actually how clean is the tanning bed after they sterilize it?
Audience: Within one hour ten women and one man, all young between the ages of 17-25, staff greets them (asks them for their name, if they need to buy lotion, how long they want to tan, finger swipe, room number), speak with slang terms only familiar to those who visit frequently, most people do not look tan at all or they look like they have leather skin
Questions: Do those who come to PBT want the entire experience? From the greeting to the amenities to the farewell? Why do these people come here? Just to tan? For endorphins? For sunlight when it is a cloudy day?
Tanning Room: Hard plastic blue chair, goggles, towel, “we appreciate your business” sign, UV level warnings from the state of Texas, shelf, hooks to hang clothes, tanning bed, fan, music playing (personal choice/ 6 channels)
Back of store: sterilizing buckets for goggles, washers and dryers for cleaning of the towels, hair ties, hair spray, deodorant, bathrooms
Annotated Version:
The environment of Palm Beach Tan is comfortable and inviting. The gold walls begin to give you a sense of warmth when you walk into the store and the contrast of the blue chairs brings life to the space. Palm Beach Tan is an important place in the community because it is often visited by college students and with its convenient location; it is very accessible to those who don’t even have a car, expending their ability to attract a diverse client base. The cleanliness of the store is also not something you often see in the tanning bed chain industry and that is what sets apart PBT from the others. The flat screen televisions playing videos of picture-perfect models tanning at PBT makes the average audience swoon for the chance to be exactly like them. The main pressure from society behind being thin, for women, is being tan. Entering the space and seeing these beautiful women who both work behind the counter and that are plastered on the walls definitely seals the idea into individual’s heads. Most of those entering the store were women in their early twenties, with an exception to some older men in their 30’s or 40’s. Does this mean that older women do not feel the need to tan? Or is it just that they come at a different time in the week other than a Saturday afternoon?
The staff is a completely different story at Palm Beach Tan. Normally there are not many jobs when being attractive is a requirement, but that is not true if you were looking for a job here. All of the staff that I saw was female and they all had piles of make up on their faces. They were also al, you guessed, incredibly and almost sickening tan. They greet you with a smile and take you through the process of swiping your finger and telling them how long you would like to tan for. The jargon they use, however would not be easily understood by someone who has never been to a tanning salon. That also makes the space special because anyone could walk into the store but only select people would actually understand what was going on.
The way the store is set up also is interesting because they have the central counter with all of the expensive lotion displayed behind it. The central counter is where one checks in and buys lotion and swipes their finger for access. The waiting area is very comfortable with magazines and a soda machine for convenience for those who have to wait for the next available bed. It is also important to note that on either side of the counter, one can find one of the most expensive tanning beds to use. They obviously makes these beds visible in order to persuade clients to switch to a higher level bed, incurring a greater cost.
Sunday February 1st, 2009
Notes:
Audience: More college kids today, no men at all, all of them are already members (none have to set up a new membership), most are in a hurry, most are wearing sneakers and Nike shorts (it looks like they just worked out), the location of PBT seems very convenient, not as busy, still no adults or people over 30
Structure: The slogan “Life needs color all year long”, “Become a premier member today!”, the option of sunless tanning (How many actually chose this choice?), free upgrade signs all around the store, a brochure with statistics says that 30 million people in North America in 2006, 75% of them women, turned to tanning salons
Other: PBT claims to be the best tanning salon because of their cleanliness and customer satisfaction, they say they care about their clients skin types and care
Annotated Version:
On this visit I actually tanned, instead of just observed and it was a much different experience. Once you enter the room with the tanning bed there is a hard plastic chair, a shelf and hooks for an individual’s clothes. It is an uncomfortable and sterile room in which one does not want to spend time in unless tanning, it is not a room built for comfort, but for purpose. The tanning room also gives you the option of blaring music of your choice. This is also something that makes PBT special because it gives each person who visits the chance to listen to their own music while they tan. The tanning process is at most 20 minutes and it is an odd experience for someone who has never tanned before. To be put into a small warm box and cook for twenty minutes is not most people’s idea of relaxing, however to those who tan frequently, it is a very rejuvenating experience. For some people it is the heat of tanning that brings actual warmth or it is the endorphins that arise when being exposed to artificial light. Maybe for some it is even a nice experience to have during a lunch break in order to relax.
The slogans that are all over Palm Beach Tan would definitely encourage, or even manipulate an individual into thinking they need to come back and tan more. It is obvious by the statistic that tanning is an increasing pastime for the younger generations, but whether it is a healthy one has yet to be determined.
Arguments of Fact or Deffinition and Related Space
At Palm Beach Tan, there is an argument of fact with the prices that they charge for their services. For some people, a new membership fee of $75.00 is reasonable for the service they provide, but for others, it may seem like that amount of money is ridiculous. Also, depending on what level of service you would like, silver, gold or platinum, the price will change for your monthly fee. This is an argument of fact because some may argue that it should not cost money to start a membership there considering you are paying monthly. Others may also argue that no matter what level of membership, everyone should pay the same flat monthly fee. The prices for lotions are also an argument of fact because many think it is crazy to pay $75.00 for a bottle of lotion that will run out after about 15 tans.
There is also an argument of definition when someone mentions the word "tan". Does being tan mean glowing or does it mean bright red burnt skin or does it mean a leather like texture and color of skin. There are many different ways that individuals could define "tan" in comparison to what Palm Beach considers "tan".
There is also an argument of definition when someone mentions the word "tan". Does being tan mean glowing or does it mean bright red burnt skin or does it mean a leather like texture and color of skin. There are many different ways that individuals could define "tan" in comparison to what Palm Beach considers "tan".
Chapter 8 (217-249)
While visiting my space I learned a lot about it. I never noticed many things while using Palm Beach Tan but by just sitting and observing instead of using the facility, I was able to see many different things about the space.
The environment was much different when I watched the staff interact without any customers around besides myself. The environment was also very welcoming because of the gold walls and comfortable chairs that those who are waiting sit in. It was also interesting to notice the difference in the furniture compared to the front of the store where most people wait and the furniture in each of the separate tanning rooms. You go from having a very comfortable blue chair to a hard plastic one. The difference in the textures determines the functionality and comfort of each room.
I also noticed that the store was immaculate in terms of spotlessness. The tile floor was pristine and it seemed like in the hour period I was there, there was a lot of cleaning going on by the staff.
The staff is a completely different story at Palm Beach Tan. Normally there are not many jobs when being attractive is a requirement, but that is not true if you were looking for a job here. All of the staff that I saw was female and they all had piles of make up on their faces. They were also all, you guessed, incredibly and almost sickening tan. They greet you with a smile and take you through the process of swiping your finger and telling them how long you would like to tan for. The jargon they use, however would not be easily understood by someone who has never been to a tanning salon. That also makes the space special because anyone could walk into the store but only select people would actually understand what was going on.
The environment was much different when I watched the staff interact without any customers around besides myself. The environment was also very welcoming because of the gold walls and comfortable chairs that those who are waiting sit in. It was also interesting to notice the difference in the furniture compared to the front of the store where most people wait and the furniture in each of the separate tanning rooms. You go from having a very comfortable blue chair to a hard plastic one. The difference in the textures determines the functionality and comfort of each room.
I also noticed that the store was immaculate in terms of spotlessness. The tile floor was pristine and it seemed like in the hour period I was there, there was a lot of cleaning going on by the staff.
The staff is a completely different story at Palm Beach Tan. Normally there are not many jobs when being attractive is a requirement, but that is not true if you were looking for a job here. All of the staff that I saw was female and they all had piles of make up on their faces. They were also all, you guessed, incredibly and almost sickening tan. They greet you with a smile and take you through the process of swiping your finger and telling them how long you would like to tan for. The jargon they use, however would not be easily understood by someone who has never been to a tanning salon. That also makes the space special because anyone could walk into the store but only select people would actually understand what was going on.
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