Thought Paper #6

     Upon first exiting the bus, I was immediately aware of the atmosphere surrounding us. We were in the Fringe of the Tenderloin. This is an area where many underprivileged, troubled people live. We automatically make stereotypes about these people upon their appearances. Although many people living out of shopping carts and in boxes are addicted to drugs and alcohol and are therefore somewhat incoherent and “removed”, there are also many who have simply been laid off or have unfortunate events take over the course of their lives. As we walked down the street, I automatically found myself feeling nervous and unsure around some of these people. I tell myself not to worry, but it’s a natural inclination to feel uncomfortable around people who aren’t as fortunate as us. It’s hard for us to look at them and not feel either guilty or disgraced by the way that they are living their lives.

     Clearly the signage surrounding this area on the Fringe of the Tenderloin is directed towards people of all socioeconomic classes. It is certainly not directed towards the high status members of society due to the culture of the area. Not to make stereotypes of any kind, but there are certainly people living in and around the Tenderloin who don’t have the same educational opportunities as us. Thus, some of these people never learned how to read efficiently. The signage in the area was clearly created for the purpose of being effective upon a purely visual encounter.

     As we continued to walk down Market Street, the atmosphere changed rather drastically. Less people occupied the streets, and more high-end shops and restaurants came into the picture. The signage and art culture became more “in depth” in a sense. I found this very fascinating considering the small amount of space between say the Fringe of the Tenderloin and Union Square. Union Square has commercial signage visible from all vantage points that is undoubtedly directed towards people with money. This area of downtown is not the place to shop if you only want to drop a couple bucks. If you plan on spending four hundred dollars on a scarf, than be my guest, go right into Prada or Gucci.

     As we walked toward Mission Street, it was unbelievable how many different billboards and signs we saw for the new Target store. I can’t say that the signage wasn’t effective though. When we saw the first sign advertising the store, we immediately changed course and set out to find it. We fell into the trap that signage artists set up for society in an oh so subtle matter. Sooner rather than later, we were inside the realms of the store. Once we were in, let’s just say that it was not easy to leave as quickly.

     As we headed back toward the Civic Center and Public Library, the atmosphere changed again ever so slightly. We went from feeling like we didn’t quite fit in the “high class” vibes to feeling quite well put together. We came to the conclusion that the area around the Civic Center and library were attempting to raise the bar, and that they would be quite classy minus the groups of homeless and weed-smoking people. It wasn’t an observation that we were proud of, but it is certainly intriguing to think about how much a place can change based on the people and vibes that are expressed there.

     I felt as though this field trip was a successful one by the end of the day. It was a good way to open our eyes to the city that surrounds us. I’m sure most of us have been downtown several times, but it wasn’t until this little trip that I came to realize and really take time to study my surroundings to a full extent. Downtown was one culture and one atmosphere in my mind before. I now see the differences in the people, signage, art, culture, and atmospheres that lie between a matter of city blocks.

     

Thought Paper #5

     Ocean Beach is filled with a lot of history. During the early years in San Francisco’s history, the area was largely undeveloped. Development didn’t start to come until the late 19^th century when a steam railroad was put in. The railroad attracted people to come to the first amusement ride at the city’s ocean side and to the Ocean Beach Pavilion for concerts, dancing, and other public affairs. This was the beginning of a new era for Ocean Beach. By the time 1890 rolled around, there were multiple trolley lines that led down to the beach. This only caused the area to grow in popularity over the years. For a brief period of time after the 1906 earthquake, Ocean Beach served as a refugee camp. It became almost like a small resort. With the 1920s and 1930s came a major construction period. The Great Highway along with housing in the Sunset and Richmond Districts were built. In the 1990s, the area was no longer seen as a resort spot, and apartment blocks and a supermarket came in to replace the amusement park that once stood.

     Before any development took place at Ocean Beach, there was not much attraction to the area. Signage was a major step in the development that took place. The signage at Ocean Beach transformed the landscape from “space” to a “place.” Previously, the beach had simply been a so-called “abandoned space.” After development took place, the space became a friendlier environment for people of all ages to interact in. This is when it really became a “place” in the eyes of many locals. Some of the signage that contributed to this area was simple, such as warning signs and informational signs about the beach. Much of the signage in and around the Beach Chalet is a little bit more detailed and complex. I find it so interesting that signage could make such a difference in the rate of attraction to a given area of land.

     The WPA did a lot of work to make Ocean Beach a more desirable destination spot for locals and tourists. The WPA was more or less an organization that created useful jobs for people in a time of need. Many of the projects that the WPA worked on consisted of improving public space. In general, the WPA has done much in terms of contributing to the culture of San Francisco. Without much of the signage and developmental work that the WPA has put in, San Francisco would not give off the same cultural vibe as it does today. San Francisco is known for its vibrant, accepting, diverse community. Much of this is expressed through forms of art and signage all around the city.

Thought Paper #4

     Signage is important for many different reasons. It can serve as directions to lead people to a particular destination. It can bring color and art to a once plain white wall or billboard. It can be monumental or even simply serve as a reminder to keep off the outdoor bowling greens in a public park. The signage in Golden Gate Park does all of these things and more. If you were to take a stroll around the park, it wouldn’t be long before you found one of the many monumental statues of important historical figures. The signage within Golden Gate Park has done quite a bit in the way of developing the area. It has made the park an easily accessible and enjoyable place for people of all ages to enjoy. With the clear directional signs, it is quite simple to find your way to just about any specific destination in the park. While I was enjoying the sunshine in the park with Madeline last week, we found the directional signage particularly useful in finding our way to the carousel and outdoor bowling greens.  The many different statues and works of art have also attracted people from all over the country to come and see the sights for themselves.

     The signage varies in all different parts of the park. It is quite noticeable to see the difference between the signage on the exterior of the various museums. Outside of the Science Museum there are various statues, but the majority of what surrounds it pertains to the scientific field. Similarly, many varying forms of art encompass the de Young Art Museum, as if to give you a taste of what lies within. I think that it is a fair assessment to say that the exterior of the museums in the park often reflects upon what lies within the walls. It’s a way of using signage to clue people in on what surrounds them.

     If you are a perceptive individual in the slightest, it won’t be very difficult to notice how the visual language of the signage communicates information on what the museums contain. By simply looking around the exterior of a museum, the forms of art and signage will certainly clue you in on what the museums contain. Even the architectural aspects of the museums reflect upon what kind of museum you are approaching.

     Noticing and reading signage is really all about being perceptive and reading the landscape. It is quite easy to miss simple pieces of signage that can tell a whole story or help you to make connections. By looking deeply into what surrounds you though, I can almost guarantee that you will find yourself learning so much more about the area.  

Thought Paper #3

     In the late 1880s, the Haight and Ashbury district was a place to live outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown San Francisco. It was almost like a little suburb of the city at the time. However, this district has changed dramatically over the years. It was the central location for hippies in the late 1950s and 1960s, and due to its popularity during these years; it was the prime spot for the “Summer of Love” in 1967. People came from all over the country that year in hopes of seeking out free love, drugs and rock and roll.

     The corner of Haight and Ashbury remains the most famous spot for tourists in district, because this is where the height of all the action took place. Most people are attracted to interesting and exciting places because they are simply fun to visit. Places with a lot of history behind them make them that much more intriguing. Thus, it should come to no surprise that corner of Haight and Ashbury is a historic, tourist location. The area is certainly still a fun, happening place to visit. There are plenty of funky shops and interesting restaurants to try out. Most of the businesses on Haight Street work hard to maintain the flower power and hippy vibe that it is known for.

     Counterculture would be an appropriate term to describe the mentality of many of the young people who lived in the Haight district, specifically in the 1960s. By definition, counterculture is the culture and lifestyle of those people, especially young, who reject or oppose the dominant values and behavior of society. This era was filled with young people who drummed to their own beat and set out to live as wild and free spirits in society.

     Due to the dominance that young, free-spirited hippies had over the area in past years, I feel as though the vibe given off by the surrounding signage is that of carefree peace and love. This correlates with the history of the district and the “free love, drugs and rock and roll” attitude. The signage definitely contributes to my understanding of what happened in this area. By looking down the street at the different shops, works of graffiti, and psychedelic colors; it is almost as if you can imagine yourself in another time era altogether. It’s almost as if you have been transported back to the 1960s. The sight of hippies, or even the risen Beatles probably wouldn’t startle too many people walking down this street. It’s a place where nothing is normal, everything is accepted, and history lives on.