Ave Artwork from Above

Hey everyone...I don't know if you guys are still looking at this, but I found this interesting article in the Seattle PI this morning. You should read it.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/366183_art07.html

Anita

Starbucks on the Ave

Starbucks on 4147 University Way is sitting at a crossroad between 42nd and the Ave. Standing with the back to the main entrance, one can find Café on the Ave right on the other side of 42nd that serves coffee and similar beverages as well. At the remaining two corners of the University Way a copy centre and an Indian restaurant are located. Compared to the surrounding buildings, Starbucks from the outside is notably much more clean and well-kept.

Although from the outside it seems to be made of bricks and cement, once inside, the walls sound as if they were made of a thick kind of plastic and wood.
The outside dominant colour is the well-known forest-emerald green of the logo and the overhangs.

Most of the people who go to Starbucks don’t just go there by chance; they seem to know exactly why they went there, what to order, who to meet, where to seat and what to do. Starbucks on the Ave is never empty, even though it’s also never overly busy. Almost no one goes there just for a cup of caffeine but instead customers seem to look for the whole Starbucks experience. Whether it’s grabbing a cup of coffee or frappuccino, preparing an exam while munching on a low-fat blueberry muffin or having a chat with a friend, Starbucks seems to win over the many coffee stands of the U-District thanks to its comfortable atmosphere.

Starbucks on the Ave has a special role within the U-District. Its proximity to the University of Washington campus makes the coffeehouse one of the favourite spots for students and staff to go and have a cup of coffee or also to chill out after a busy day. The employees affirm that circa the 70% of the customers are UW related, especially students.

Portage Bay Cafe

Portage Bay Café is located on 41st and Roosevelt in the University District in Seattle, Washington. It’s a family owned breakfast and lunch place with American style cuisine. Portage Bay Café is open 7 days a week. On weekdays it’s open from 7:30 til 3:00 and during the weekends it’s open from 8:00 til 3:00. Portage Bay Café is a gathering spot for college students, locals, and business people taking a break for lunch. During the weekends it attracts the families. But if you are looking to go there on a weekend, expect a wait because everyone loves this place and will probably have the same idea as you. Portage Bay is known for its organic cuisine and vast choices for meateaters, vegetarians and vegans. Make sure when you visit that you ask about what Organic means. On one wall a breakfast bar is placed. On top of it glass bowls are filled to the brim with delicious extra add ons such as berries, syrup, whipped cream, nuts, and raisins. Most customers you will see in Portage Bay are families. This gives the restaurant a family oriented feel and makes you feel warm and welcomed. Back in the main area of the restaurant the first thing a customer may notice is the high ceilings. Raised above everyone’s heads is a racing shell. It extends the distance of the whole restaurant and is held by thick cords. If you watch customers you can see them glancing up at the boat from time to time. This especially attracts young kids because of its length and spot in the restaurant.

Portage Bay Café was started about 10 years ago by John and Amy Gunnar. It was the first restaurant they opened and is still family owned today. Until 4 weeks ago it was the only location. Now there is the second Portage Bay located in Eastlake. In 2001 Portage Bay began using organic products in their menu. It was so successful that they added more and their menu grew. Today they “offer a menu consisting of more than 80 percent organic, local or sustainable items”(John Gunnar).

Portage Bay is not only a local eating spot but also a hang out and a workspace. Depending on the day and the time you come you will see many different types of people. The weekends attract the families and the groups of college students. On weekdays it’s normally smaller groups of people and always business types. Business workers like the free wireless they can get and the space they can have to do a little extra work after their meal. When college students come in you know they have been saving up all week for this meal, because why the food is delicious it isn’t cheap. Families are attracted due to the large tables you can get and the big portions which you can share.

--Jen

The Wall of Death

The Wall of Death is a large structure, featuring twelve pointed metal cylinders leading up to a light red, circular marquee featuring the words "THE WALL OF DEATH".  It is located underneath the University Bridge just off of 40th street.  

There are many socio-cultural uses for the Wall of Death.  Its primary function, as the artist Mowry Baden desired, is as a work of public art for all to enjoy.  People who bike, run, or walk along the Burke-Gilman Trail pass the Wall of Death.  It can function as a place for people to sleep, sit, skateboard, take pictures, etc.

The Wall of Death has a definite role within the U-District.  It is connected with the University because of its close proximity to campus and its location along the popular Burke-Gilman Trail.  It is also pictured in Art Department slides available through the UW library system, which signifies that the university recognizes its contribution to public art.  

Ruzhen Mongolian Grill

Excerpt describing the restaurant's role within the U-District:

Disregarding the restaurant’s obvious geographical ties to the U-District, one will immediately observe this connection. Like many Applebee’s which gather local artifacts to give each store a local feel, Ruzhen contains artifacts connected to the UW. On the wall above each table in the private room they have placed old black-and-white photographs that vary in subject matter but all revolve around the university; from the old football team, a sorority, and the graduating class. The left wall of the viewing room is completely covered with flyers and posters of recent or upcoming events sponsored by the UW or taking place within the U-District. There must be close to a hundred posters up at any given time and it seems they feel it is important enough to keep up to date.

This close tie to the university and the interests of its population leaves a good impression with those who visit Ruzhen. Many are attracted to come in for the first time by the unique operations of the restaurant as a Chinese grill. These people are easily distinguishable from the regulars, newcomers often are unsure about what they’d like to toss in their bowl and by the time they are done they’ve only just barely filled it. Those that are familiar with the restaurant tend to know the exact contents of what they plan to put together all the way to 5/8 spoonful of vinegar. These people can be most easily spotted by the carefully constructed tower of food protruding from the tops of their bowls. These people can easily squeeze out two full dinners from these bowls and at $8 a bowl; this fits a college student’s budget quite nicely.

UWMC Entrance Area

The University of Washington Medical Center lobby and pick-up and drop-off area is located just north of the Montlake Cut and along Pacific.

The lobby is brightly lit by natural sunlight and artificial lights. It has a white linoleum hallway with several carpeted seating areas with colorful and cushioned chairs, as well as tables. The space also has artistic and practical objects that add color and contribute to the vibrant atmosphere. The pick-up and drop-off area is made primarily of brick. There are planters with ledges that are just the right height for leaning on, as well as a few benches that are used by a limited number of people. Cars, taxis, vans, Access Metro buses travel through this area.

The UWMC entrance area is a place that helps patients, visitors, employees, and volunteers feel comfortable. There is much action walking along the hallway of the lobby, but the seating areas are rather quiet and relaxed. In the pick-up and drop-off area, people sit or stand around waiting for rides, and vehicles remain idle as their drivers help passengers in. In any of these spaces, people are free to read, stare, and watch other people without feeling awkward.

This entrance area brings together people from many different backgrounds from all over the U-District and Greater Seattle area. It is a diverse community in itself that is constantly changing but never seems to be particularly rushed. People are free to enter in and become part of this dynamic culture, and are just as free to come and go. This UWMC entrance area provides a site for cultural interactions between people who would otherwise never cross paths.

Cafe Solstice

Cafe Solstice is located in the heart of the University District on the Ave. It provides its visitors with both indoor and outdoor seating. You can find patios both out front of the cafe and in the back. There is also a wide variety of seating found in the cafe with bar seating, round tables, long tables and couches. No matter your reason for the visit, your seating desires will be acoomodated.
The cafe makes efforts to connect to the neighborhood by featuring local art from the University District Art Walk on their walls every month. They also feature local music talent on their stage on week nights. It has tables featuring flyers that locals leave behind, displaying upcoming concerts, films etc...going on around the University. It's wide open windows and patio features allow for its visitors to people watch from their seats while sipping their beverages from their wide mugs.
Solstice appeals to everyone from the students of the University to the locals who want a relaxing place to read or catch up with friends. You will find young people, old people, business people and even dogs. It is the closest coffee shop to south campus, but attracts people from every corner. Time and precision is given to their beverages and food. You will find artful designs in your lattes and hot pressed paninis on your plate. It affords the walk for anyone who has been there.

Anita

The College Inn

The College Inn stands on the corner of University Way NE and NE 40^th St. Built and opened in 1909 during the Alaska Pacific Yukon Exposition the Inn captures the excitement and internationalism of the Expo through its rustic aura and architecture. Constructed in a Tudorbethan style, the Inn is characterized by its use of half-timbering, dormer windows and high pitched roofs resembling a cozy European cottage.

Currently the College Inn building houses the Café Allegro, Easy Shoppe, College Inn Pub and the Bean and Bagel coffee shop.

The majority and more apparent of its socio-cultural uses tend to surround the variety of components to the building. The Inn itself, however, plays its role as a hotel quite strictly. This is due to its detachment from public accessibility, the Inn occupies the upper three floors of the building and is accessible only to its residents and employees.

Patronage at the Inn includes three types of individuals. They include prospective college students who are attracted by the Inn’s cheap rates. Older individuals are drawn by its separation from the urban environment, creating a haven of quiet and serenity. Finally, those who are looking for a unique hotel experience, something that is atypical from standardized hotel chains.

The Wayward Cafe is a collectively run vegan restaurant located on the corner of 9th and 55th street, near Roosevelt. Open six days a week from 9am to 4pm, their main dishes are breakfast and lunch. There is no hassle of waiting on someone to bring your food or check, you pay up front at the cash register and grab your meal once it is prepared.
Bookshelves, posters, zines, xeroxed flyers, and other artifacts line the walls that create a very artsy environment, which also coincide with the occasional art galleries held at the Cafe. Since it is not located directly on the ave, it can be overlooked completely, blending into its residential background.
Positioned in the UDistrict, there are a variety of people to come and go in the cafe, some university of Washington students, but mostly not.
The Wayward Cafe is part of a larger organization called the Seattle DIY movement which is focused on creating a more diverse, close community rather than the consumer culture. This community and other similar individually run projects stand for and support environmental justice, animal rights, egalitarianism, and human rights as well as fighting against institutionalized oppression (racism, sexism, ageism/adultism, and homophobia). Even though you may not be vegan or politically influenced toward any means, the wayward cafe is still a good place to just hang out and have a bite to eat.

The University Branch Library

After watching the library users for a few hours, it became clear that a certain trend was occurring. The men, ranging from 19-60 would enter the library, and surf the internet for the given hour and then read the newspaper, or do homework. Younger women also did this, perhaps 19-23, but the older the women got the less time they spent inside. They would peruse the new fiction, perhaps pick up a hold, and then leave. Their average time spent could be no longer than half an hour. This positive correlation dwindled as the age of the women entered the 60’s range, and then their attributes mimicked the men, spending more time sitting and reading. This idea of the library as a place of extended time holds some problems though.
When I first entered the library I desperately had to pee. I searched out the washroom and quickly found it. My hands found the knob and turned, but to no avail. In my hurry, I completely missed the sign reading “Ask for key at circulation desk”. I returned to the desk and grabbed the oversized key chain and made a mental note to investigate the matter. While talking with the children’s librarian, I brought up the locked bathroom issue. I work at the North East Branch, and our bathrooms are only locked during the final closing minutes. She explained that because of the location of the branch, they were frequented by transients and vagrants. Being a public institution, and a haven from the elements, it came as no surprise. The bathrooms were constantly locked to prevent misuse that had happened before. She also noted that they were constantly occupied, and sometimes had to be cleared of over users.

Bus route 880: Mukilteo to University District and back.

The 880 is a blue-and-white-colored commuter bus that belongs to the Community Transit bus system, which travels to areas in King County from Snohomish County. Route 880 in particular, serves as a connection between Mukilteo and the U-District. Commuter buses are roughly twice as long as their local counterparts, and has accordion-like material insert in the middle to make the bus more flexible in turning around corners.

The trip to University District and back approximately takes 45-minutes to one hour. The long duration of the trip affects the activities conducted on the bus, and the most popular activity by far for passengers to do on the bus is to simply sleep. Commuter buses boast features such as cushiony seats, overhead compartments, reading lights, leg rests to make the long ride to the U-District more tolerable. People will generally avoid sitting next to each other, if possible. Each bus passenger like to occupy his/her own pair of seats.

The 880 is serves an important role to those who must commute to U-District frequently by providing an accessible, inexpensive form of transportation, without having to experience the inconvenience of paying for parking fees, gas, car maintenance, and insurance. For students commuting to UW, the 880 helps cut down the cost of college by living at home. For people who commute to the U-District for their jobs, the 880 expands their employment options beyond areas close to home in Snohomish County, changing the landscape by enabling people freedom to live and work where they want.

College Inn Pub

College Inn Pub is part of a historic building tied with the University of Washington's Origins as part of the 1909 Alaska-Yukon Exposition Worlds Fair. The Pub is hidden along down in the basement of the inn and features lots of various table space for many uses, it features antiques, historical artifacts, paintings, photographs, art, pool, darts, pinball machines, etc.


It's a friendly, relaxed, bar and great place to socialize with friends and colleagues, and even your TA's and professors too! It's also a great place to read the paper, eat food, watch the game, and even study. This is unique pub because you wont find many "people watching people", but it's know to be a place that catalyzes profound conversations, intellectual discourse, heated political debate with people you know and people you don't.

As a geographic landscape, there is not much to say about a pretty good pub underneath an inn, but the social role among the University community is quite significant. While most undergraduate students find their place to imbibe alcohol on The Ave or at large parties, The College Inn Pub provides a service to upperclassmen, and professors to relax, hangout, converse and unwind. Lots of ties with UW community through sponsorships, clientèle are mainy UW attendies/alumni, relies heavily by word of mouth.

The U-District Farmers' Market

The University District Farmers’ Market was first established in in June of 1993 and is often described as “Seattle’s oldest and largest farmers’ market” (uhcca.org). It is currently held year-round on every Saturday from 9am to 2pm at the corner of University Way and NE 50th in the University Heights Center parking lot. This year marks its 15th anniversary, and has always been what’s called a “farmers only” market, meaning that only produce and agricultural goods are sold here. On its opening day in 1993, the U District Farmers’ Market included 17 farmers and brought in 800 shoppers. Currently, it includes 60 farmers and attracts between 4,000 and 5,000 shoppers each Saturday (Baker 28). The U-District market is one of 7 in the Seattle area, all of which are a part of the Seattle Neighborhood Farmers’ Market Alliance (NFMA), a 501 © 3 non-profit organization. This area market provides U District residents a place to meet, exchange, and share a weekly ritual that is more of an experience than a shopping venture.

The phenomenon of farmers’ markets can be witnessed within the familiar neighborhood of the U District, in the rather ordinary parking lot of the University Heights Community Center. Farmers’ markets exist in an interesting sphere, both in the literal environment and in the consciousness of the consumer. First, the temporary modification of ordinary space shows a creative and collective effort by a community. Because of this, the farmers’ market is a place where these bonds can only be strengthened, extending them past the immediate community and as far as urban-rural resident, buyer-seller, and friend-stranger. The farmers’ market simply brings people together, and can help characterize a region. This is also in part due to the larger social context; history has shown that markets such as ours occur at times of social change and reconsideration. The seemingly simple and nostalgic farmers’ market is actually a product of larger and very complex social and economic processes. This end product is therefore imbued with numerous cultural meanings, and can provide am experience that cannot be replicated.

21st Avenue N.E.

North campus of the U of Washington resides some of the finest mansions that have become antiques to the streets of Seattle.  On 21st Avenue, alone, holds more than eight fraternity or sorority houses and other living areas for college students; including, but not limited to, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Gamma Delta, Delta Gamma, Pi Kappa Alpha and Husky Court Apartments.  This means that there are approximately 800 people who live on and are temporary residents of 21st Avenue.

Three story buildings, French doors, outside pillars -- all of which create a dazzling impression.  Even though there are basically parties every weekend, the fraternities and sororities concern for their houses appearance is perceived extremely well through the beautiful exterior of their houses.  Similar to the fraternities and sororities on 21st Avenue, Husky Court Apartments is also located on this street but mainly house those who are not affiliated or a member of the fraternity or sorority.  These apartments have maintenance people who keep the general area of the apartments clean; entailing groomed garden work, nicely painted building, no trash, unmarked sidewalks, and no graffiti. The road is dirty from the seasonal changes, leaving wet and dirty leaves along side of the street where the cars are parked.  The sidewalk is exceptionally clean due to the vast amount of partying that takes place on the street and the role nature takes on the street.  

On any given weekday, the traffic flow through the road is very consistent from the morning time to the night.  Thursday nights especially bring people out on the road because Thursday nights have been declared to be the most popular and regular party night for the Greek system.  Social-culturally, 21st Avenue supplies over eight different fraternity or sorority houses to intermingle with each other.  Each of these homes carries different traditions, which adds to the social-cultural mixture that occurs within the block.  The street has a shared appreciation for each student because their goals are relatively similar to each other.

21st Avenue, in its entirety, stands as a home to the students of the U of Washington.  Its place and role within the U-District allows people from various backgrounds, ideals and morals to meet and acknowledge something other than their own particular background.  Aside from the partying, the socializing, the different fraternity and sorority houses, the scarce parking, dirty roads, beautiful and impressing buildings; 21st Avenue has generated a home away from home for students to live, enjoy, and learn for four years.  The role of the Avenue is truly vital within the area for the simple reason that it can create such an environment with the little space provided.

The Burke Gilman Trail - south campus, Brooklyn/Pacific St.

Excerpt describing physical characteristics: "...Today, the Burke Gilman Trail consists of a paved surface with a soft surface shoulder. It is characterized by a combination of native and non-native vegetation. Non-native plants along the trail include, but are not limited to, black cottonwoods, Himalayan blackberries, and invasive groundcovers. These plants are dominating native plants and contributing to soil erosion around certain sections of the trail..."
Excerpt describing socio-cultural uses: "...Many cyclists, walker, and joggers use the trail as a place to exercise, even without having a particular destination in mind. For this reason, the Burke Gilman trail is also a great place for photographers, bird watchers, or writers that simply need a little inspiration..."
Excerpt describing place and role within U-District: "...For the general public, the trail is a way to reach distant areas around Seattle while either walking, jogging, or cycling. For the University of Washington, the Burke Gilman trail has become a feature that the school often cites on its list of amenities due to its proximity to campus and ease of accessibility for students. Because this section of the trail is so heavily used by students, it inadvertently becomes a part of the campus in a way that other sections of the trail do not..."

*Note: Picture courtesy of Cliff Despeaux, The Daily. 13 February 2008.

Cafe Allegro

Cafe Allegro is a small espresso bar located in an alleyway of The Ave behind Magus Books. It consists of three different rooms or sections: a front room, a back room, and an second story room with outside deck seating. It creates a calm, artsy atmosphere with relaxing music, dim lighting, and a rustic design.

Besides the obvious function of providing coffee, Cafe Allegro also provides a meeting or study place for groups of people. It also serves as an art display and a host for just-beginning musical groups as a place to get started.

The role of the University District community is obvious within the business. There are countless numbers of ads for community events and services. There are a number of fliers and such addressing political issues and movements known to be associated with the liberal arts and progressive movements dear to the UW. It also draws upon the unified international feel of The Ave through its support of ethnic events and display of multicutural artifacts.

The Blue Moon Tavern

There are two ways to tell you’ve arrived at the Blue Moon Tavern, located at 712 NE 45th St. in the University District. The first indicator is the signature blue neon sign hanging over the sidewalk that features a nude woman sitting on a crescent moon. The second is the animated sculpture on sentry duty outside the door, known as “The Hammered Man,” by artist Jim St. John (a video is available below). According to Gus Hellthaler, the owner, the physical space is approximately 45 feet wide by 40 feet deep and occupies about 1800 square feet. The space is visually and physically divided by the bar, which creates a narrow row of booths along the west side of the tavern, and a larger space on the east side which has an open area and also is lined with booths along the eastern perimeter. 



Who goes there: The age of the customers varies from University of Washington student types around the age of 21, to “hippie”-type people in their 50s (or maybe older). An employee, Bill H. says the average number of customers ranges from a dozen to 99, but is more often around a dozen. Both men and women go to the Blue Moon. Because of its fame/notoriety, I think some people go there out of curiosity (like me), and some expect to undergo some sort of illuminating or cathartic experience (because of the legendary notables who once hung out there). In order for humanity to survive, people need places where they can gather, talk, meet, be creative, and express themselves. Humans are social animals with the desire to be among other people. The Blue Moon Tavern is a place where people can do these things.

The Blue Moon is a historic site in the U-District where people today mostly go to hang out, drink beer, talk and listen to music, but some of its former customers, who went there for the same reasons, went on to be culturally and historically important.

Glory days: In the 1950s some of the Blue Moon regulars included National Book Award-winner Richard Hugo; future Pulitzer Prize-winning poets Carolyn Kizer, Stanely Kunitz and James Wright; and it attracted notables Dylan Thomas, poet and James Farrell, author, who would stop in whenever they passed through Seattle. (P. 12, Crowley) Other highly esteemed literary figures who made pilgrimages to the Blue Moon included writer Jack Kerouac, and poets Allen Ginsberg, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. (P. 15, Crowley). Historian and writer Walt Crowley reported Theodore Roethke regularly conducted gatherings of budding poets and writers in the Blue Moon’s back booths, and [U.W.] campus lore, “maintains Roethke celebrated receiving the Pulitzer Prize at the Blue Moon in 1954.” (P. 12, Crowley). There’s an overwhelming sense that this space had seen the presence of greatness, even though today it could be easily seen as a dive.

Brief Introduction: Husky Stadium is mainly known for the place where the University of Washington’s Football team plays. It is located at the edge of the UW campus right next to the Intramural Activities building and the Bank of America Arena. Behind it lurks Lake Washington. The address is 3800 Montlake Blvd NE.



Husky Stadium History:
This stadium was built in 1920, so of course it has quite a bit of history behind it. This first version of the stadium only had a capacity of 30,000. In building the Stadium, architects took many factors in place. They wanted a location that would provide all the good views Seattle has to offer, and they also wanted to make it to eliminate sun glare. To do this they made it into a longitudinal axis, which also helped giving everyone the view of Lake Washington. After it was built in 1920, it has gone through several remodeling to make it what it is today. The construction in 1920 cost $600,000 a student fund drive providing a lot of its resources. The opening of the stadium was on November 27th, a football game between Dartmouth and University of Washington. Final work for this stadium actually was only completed 12 hours before the games kickoff. The first was in 1936, adding 10,000 seats. In 1950, another remodel was made adding 15,000 seats to the south side. (GoHuskies.com) This also provided a press box. In 1968, a few thousand more seats were added along the rim. This was the year that they installed astro-turf, the first major stadium to do so in the country. Along with this, they installed an “all-weather” track which replaced the existing one. 1987 provided an addition 13,000 seats to the North Side. During this final remodel a collapse killed one of the workers. With it they added glass-enclosed reception area with a field view of both sides. Called the Don James Center, is not only used for games, but many banquets and social events are also held here.
One of the interesting things about Husky Stadium that makes it stand out from the rest is the myth of “The Wave.” The Wave, as you probably already know, is when fans at stadium games from football to baseball all stand up at the same time as the people in front of them and the people behind them, but right after the people to the left and before the people to the right. This creates a “wave” motion that goes across the stadium. It is rumored to have started at the Husky Stadium on October 31st, 1981. (ESPN) The creator was the Yell-King at the game, Robb Weller. From here, it is believed ot have carried over to University of Michigan when they visited Husky Stadium and saw the wave, and also to the nearby Seattle Seahawks. It is now common of many sporting events to participate in “The Wave.”

The Corbet Building

The Corbet Building, whose original name is the Ives building is located on the corner of NE 45th Street and University Way. Built in 1923, the two-story structure is made out of concrete, and features a Classical design. The revival of this Classical design features columns and pilasters that are located on the South and East sides of the building on the second story. The Ives or Corbet building has decorative terra cotta and a simple cornice encircle on the ground floor. The original windows on the second story have been replaced and the transom windows have been either covered or removed completely. The storefront of the Ives and or Corbet building has undergone much altercations in order to keep its Classical design.

The socio-cultural uses of this building are quite vast. On the main floor of the building there is a authentic Mexican restaurant as well as an Teriyaki house. These restaurants serve as a place where many students, and the rest of the public are able to come together to enjoy good food, for an inexpensive price. On the very corner of the Corbet Building is the Twice Sold Tales, where the public as well as students are able to buy books from all genres that are sometimes new, but mostly used copies that have been sold back to the store. Twice Sold Tales serves as a place of comfort for the customers, and also a place where they can find a lot of books that are not mainstream any longer, or that are unique and original. Also, considering the owners bring their cat to work with them, who mostly just lounges on the books near the front window, brings the customers to feel safe and at home. Next to Twice Sold Tales is the cafe SureShot, that has quite the quirky personality, and also serving dishes that sometimes include vegetarian and vegan dishes. SureShot provides a place for the "Ave Rats" [People who hang out in front of Sureshot, dressed in grungy clothes, and often seem to be under the influence of some substance] to congregate, and it serves as a local hangout for students to study. Finally, on the main floor is the Hair.Comb people who provide expensive haircuts, styling and waxing to a wide variety of customers. On the upper level are the University of Washington Office of Annual Giving, including the Student Calling Program, which solicits alumni for donations in order to help insure the University's future as well as providing funds for students and individual academic departments. These offices serve as a great job locations for student only, who get to interact and work with alumni, also this office provides a laid back and fun atmosphere often involving games including pictionary, catchphrase, bowling etc.

The Corbet Building is located right at the heart of "The Ave" and therefore plays a vital role in the identity of the U-District as a geographic and social landscape. The Classical style of this building provides many with the aesthetically pleasing view of a historical building, one that serves many customers and clients daily in a number of services. The role that the Corbet Building plays is one of historical structure and is used as a hub that brings many types of people together for a common purpose, whether that be food, books, calling alumni or a haircut this building causes people to interact with one another. Overall, the Corbet Building provides the U-District with a place where people are able to congregate, and enjoy themselves.

University Heights Center parking lot

The parking lot is located on 50th between Brooklyn Ave. and University Way. The parking lot is used mostly by the restaurant across the street called, Cedars on Brooklyn. The parking lot has a fence around it with lots of colorful fliers to advertise the Farmers Market, a basketball hoop, a grassy area, and a playground.

People park their cars their on this parking lot and then cross the street to eat at the Middle Eastern, Indian and Continental restaurant. The parking lot has many socio-cultural uses because it has many different physical features. It has a basketball hoop, children's play area and even some grassy areas next to the community center. It also is host to the Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm. People go there to play basketball, lay in the grass and relax in the sun, or let their children play on the playground area. During these times people converse and interact in many different social ways.

The role of this parking lot in the U-District is fairly simple and very similar to the socio-cultural role. It allows people to park their cars to go eat and serves as a recreational area for people to enjoy the outdoor activities.

Metro Transit bus route 67

Bus 67 begins its route at the Northgate park-and-ride, but its route through the U-district begins once it reaches Roosevelt Way NE and Ravenna Blvd. Bus 67 is a blue and yellow metro bus with about 60 seats. Along its course down Roosevelt Way, popular locations bus 67 passes are the Trading Musician, Giggles Comedy Nite Club, Scarecrow Video, and Hardwick's Swap Shop.

This bus is used daily by many University of Washington students and staff coming from areas north of the U-District. Many UW students and staff living in these northern areas find it very convenient to ride the bus to and from campus instead instead of driving to UW and having to find and pay for expensive parking. Bus 67 is not strictly intended for the use of UW students and staff. All are welcome to ride the bus, and many others do, daily. The route travels by several restaurants, shops, theaters, and hospitals, whcih are the destinations of many of bus 67's passengers.

Bus route 67 has an important place and role within the U-District. It serves as a direct route to the Universtiy District from Northgate. There are other buses that have similar routes, like the 66, but the 66 doesn't make any stops on the UW campus. Metro Transit chose to use one of the largest buses available for the 67 route. By using the largest bus possible, many UW students and staff are able to fit in one bus heading toward campus. It is very common to see a large amount of UW students and staff compacted into this one artifact.

University Heights Center

University Heights Center is a two-story wooden structure designed by architects Bebb and Mendel in the Mission-Revival style. Aside from two vending machines and few metal chairs, the main hallway contains little evidence that the building was renovated to allow it to operate as a community center. From the hallway, the doorways of each of the classrooms are non-distinct. Yet upon entering individual rooms, it is clear that each classroom has undergone its own unique transformation.

University of Washington students and members of the University District community use University Heights Center as a venue to pursue their interests. The Center houses a wide variety of programs, classes, and offices, allowing it to accommodate a variety of needs. Most notably, University of Washington’s Experimental College holds many classes at UHC. University Height’s southern parking lot is also the site of the University District Farmer’s Market, which is held every Saturday, year round, from 9:00 am- 2:00 pm.

Geographically, University Heights is located about five blocks northwest of UW’s campus. Because of this distance, UHC is not located in an area that is frequently travelled by UW students. However, the center is situated in a transitional area between the commercial area of the U-District and the more residential portion. Since the population of this residential area is not restricted to those associated with the University, UHC is very accessible to the entire community.University Heights serves as a bridge between UW-affiliated residents and non-UW-affiliated residents of the University District.

Starbucks - University Ave

This Starbucks is located at 4147 University Way NE. It is a small store on one of the corners on University Ave. When you see this Starbucks, the first thing you see is a traditional, round, green Starbucks coffee sign above the doorway with white writing, and with a green overhang. There are also two green overhangs on the right and one green overhang on the left. The overhangs are there to protect potential customers from the rain. There are four round tables, with two chairs each outside of the coffeeshop. Inside the coffee shop are square, wood tables, with two chairs each. There are four tables on the left when you walk in and 6 tables on the right. There ia also a bartop area where people can sit on stools, which face the baristas.
This Starbucks serves many purposes. People go to Starbucks for the obvious things, such as coffee, food, and other beverages, however there are also other reasons people visit. A lot of people go there to purchase merchandise. Starbucks sells everything from coffee beans to music and people make special trips in order to get these items. Starbucks is also used as a meeting place. People very commonly choose Starbucks as there meeting place because they have stores everywhere and are usually well known. It is also a place where they can sit for hours and not have employees or anyone else bothering them.
This particular Starbucks has a distinct role in the U-District that makes it different from other Starbucks. While it is still common for people to do those things I mentioned above at this store, it is most commonly used for studying and student meetings. When you visit this store, the first thing you will notice is the plethora of students sitting down with books or notes open studying. It may just be only one person, but groups also come here to study. Students also tend to use this Starbucks as a meeting place. this can be for social reasons or class related. Students very commonly want a caffeine boost to help get them through there day so it is the perfect place to meet by a college campus.

The Ave/"The Ave"

The Ave, like all streets, is characterized by street signs. At each cross road, there are signs designating the precise location, for example, NE 47th St and University Way NE. However, like many people believing University Way is University Ave, even city signs can misrepresent the name as University Ave NE. The Ave generally begins at NE Campus Parkway, and for this tour, concludes at NE 47th St. Many businesses reside along The Ave. Common sights are coffee shops, fast food establishments, cafes, copy shops, and bookstores. The Ave is often misrepresented by being only the sidewalks and storefronts that surround the actual road. By looking up one may see additional housing or business space above businesses at ground level, and by looking behind, one sees the refuse generated by The Ave. Oftentimes these areas are not as well maintained as what is “seen” by the general public. The Ave is truly not complete without these components and cannot be fully understood by only looking at what is at the “surface level.”

When walking on The Ave, it is noticeable that not much window shopping is done. The people frequenting The Ave tend to have a reason for being there. However, the other aspect of frequenting The Ave is for social needs. The Ave seems to attract a specific type of regulars that are seen socializing in groups. These are mostly students at hangout spots (i.e. bars or coffee shops), the homeless, and addicts. The Ave’s visitors offer an array of personalities; as the Blue Scholars mention in their song, “The Ave,” it truly is “one of the few places that they coexist on the planet” (“The Ave”). Despite the extreme differences between the inhabitants on the street, a type of harmony and understanding is achieved, resulting in a sense of acceptance. The Ave offers a neutral space where interaction can occur; it is likely that while on The Ave one will be asked to spare some change by a transient or will see people from opposite social groups nodding hellos. As a common street, The Ave also serves to provide a common ground.

Because of the diversity found on The Ave, the street acts as a refuge to those who are deemed different. Within the U-District, people of all types are drawn to The Ave because of this. It is almost as if a miniature city lives within the street—many reside on the sidewalk and sleep under sheets of newspaper. To describe the homeless and addicts that roam The Ave, the term “Ave Rats” has even been coined, giving the street’s residing population a name, just like those who live in Seattle are thought of as Seattleites. By categorizing the people of The Ave, they have thus been given an identity and a home they belong to. The Ave also provides an educational experience, one that cannot be gained by attending a conventional school. The Ave teaches diversity, tolerance, and interaction skills to those who frequent the strip. The knowledge comes through viewing the scenes that unfold on the street and interacting with those who inhabit The Ave. As the Blue Scholars say in their song “The Ave,” it may be better to “F--- class, get your education on The Ave!” (“The Ave”).

Cafe Allegro

Cafe Allegro is a coffee shop stuffed into the back of a parking lot just off the corner of 42nd and University way. Inside the main entrance there are tables and chairs, much like any other coffee shop. The espresso bar lines the back wall; above the bar hangs the menu of Café Allegro. To the right of the main entrance is an open door that leads to a narrow staircase. These steps lead to the roof of Cafe Allegro. The roof is set up much like the downstairs (minus the espresso bar and with the addition of a terrace).
Cafe Allegro is not only a coffee shop for picking up coffee on the way to work, it is also a meeting place for a variety of people. Parents bring their children, peers come to discuss topics and sometimes people just want to be alone. People who sit alone usually have laptops for writing or doing schoolwork.
Café Allego can be seen as a time capsule... back to the late 1970s. Even though thirty years may not seem like a great deal of time, in today’s ever changing environment short times contain very big changes. Café Allegro is a reminder of the days when espresso was not available on every street corner.

THE WALL OF DEATH

Physical Description (and location): The Wall of Death can be found under the University Bridge (in the Southwest corner of the U District on the map). It is visible from the street as you drive under the bridge, but the most common access comes from traffic along the Burke Gilman Trail, which passes literally right by it. The Wall of Death is, perplexingly enough, not actually a wall at all, but rather a pair of large, thick orangey-red bands that overlap about fourteen feet above the ground – it looks a bit like a gigantic mobius strip. The orange bands are supported at eleven points along the circle by tall pale purple spikes positioned alone or in pairs. Emblazoned in capital cutaway letters across the edge facing the trail and the road are the words THE WALL OF DEATH.

Socio-Cultural Uses: The Wall of Death is, somewhat surprisingly, quite a multi-tasker. In just the time I spent observing, visiting, and passing by the structure, I saw it in use as a shelter (for a pair of sleeping forms huddled in dingy sleeping bags against the two back spikes), practice space (for a young man and his saxophone), skatepark (a boy and his girlfriend in Hot Topic hoodies attempting tricks on the ramp opposite), and meeting place (various solitary figures or groups who’d circle aimlessly or stand off to the side until others arrived and they went off to wherever). It’s also a major landmark and talking piece – more than one jogger arrived, took a breather, and then turned around, showing that this was a barometer of distance and a destination.

Place/Role within U-District: The Wall of Death’s location right on the Burke Gilman Trail situates it along one of the major arteries of the U District. The U District itself gets a lot of traffic, since the University has so many students, staff, and visitors. The Wall is visible from bus, car, bike, skateboard, scooter, what-have-you on two paths – the street and the trail. Tons of people pass by it every day on their way to the UW campus, apartments, or Gasworks Park. On a physical level, its location under the bridge gives it a roof and enables it to be a shelter for homeless people or students escaping sudden Seattle showers. Its existence sets the area apart from a normal underpass – it has a specific and unforgettable name, giving the area a unique identity.

Burke-Gilman Trail--IMA Bridge

The Burke-Gilman Trail is a 12 mile stretch of pavement that outskirts of the U-district. It is encompassed with green trees overlining the path. The part of the trail adjacent to the IMA footpath is marked with a YIELD sign and a crosswalk, indicating heavy usage. To the right is Montlake Boulevard, and to the left is stairs to campus. The trail is peaceful, weaving its way alongside the burr of the busy traffic.

The trail here serves as a connecting site. More often then not, you will see people walking across it to get to something else in this area rather than continuing onwards. It's socio cultural uses are mainly made up students traveling to and from class, or recreational goers out for a little exercise. The trail encourages use by being clean and relatively safe in the day time. The trail as a connection is not meant to foster any sort of particular interactions with people, maybe a quick hello while on the go.

The Burke is an essential element of the U-District. It attracts people of all different cultural backgrounds and brings them together in one place. Within the U-district, it serves, as afore mentioned, as a connection between sites. The Burke increases the property value of houses and apartments next to it. As busy traffic is avoided, it aids to the flow of all elements in the District.

The Burke-Gilman Trail- from the intersection of Pend Orielle Road and 30 yards South

This section of the asphault trail, besides the intersection, is about 15 wide and is covered in a blanket of trees. At the intersection the road is sandwiched by two stop signs and thee waist high posts. The stops have blinking red lights, which is powered by what looks to be like a solar panel.

The social-cultural uses of my artifact are jogging, walking or strolling, commuting, berry picking, and more. The most popular use of the trail is biking. Some like to bike for pleasure and some use the trail to get from one place to another. Within these uses, the trail offers a social space in which people can converse and interact. Since the trail is 15 ft wide there can be many different uses occuring at the same time.

The place and role that the trail serves is one that is unique. It not only offers a social space in which to carry out sportlike activities, but it represents something more to the community. The trail gives the community an opportunity to stay healthy and contribute to the environment in a good way by not driving a car for their comute. My specific part of the trail also allows cars and the users of the trail to interact, although there is some tension at the interesection.

Scanner Darkly

A Scanner Darkly, like most science fiction, is a projection of the future. Its setting portrays a society that is rampant with drugs, boasting high levels of addiction, paranoia and corruption. The main protagonist, a character named Bob Arctor, plays a drug enforcement agent attempting to correct and rehabilitate a misguided population. His aim is to eradicate a narcotic called Substance D, a hallucinogen that, after extensive use, destroys the functioning capability of the brain by splitting it into two competing hemispheres. Within Arctor’s society, the government had begun a wide range monitoring program in an attempt to identify drug dealers by use of a machine called a Scanner. Arctor is assigned to monitor the activities of specific suspects on the Scanners, also to live amongst them as an undercover agent, endeavoring to discover the origins of Substance D. In this atmosphere Arctor eventually becomes addicted to the narcotic and slowly deteriorates in his mental capacities, ultimately suffering the consequences of Substance D. Another device that is important to note is a scramble suit. The scramble suit is used by drug enforcement officers to protect their true identity from outsiders as well as from inside the agency. The suit becomes a central element in the theme of personal identity and self.
Another character that is important to the story is one by the name of Donna. Donna is a drug dealer that Arctor is dating in an attempt to discover her sources of Substance D. Later in the story you find that Donna is also an undercover agent who ultimately has been using Arctor as a pawn. In the end of the story Arctor loses his mind and enters a drug rehabilitation program and unwittingly discovers that the leaders of the rehab program have been cultivating and trafficking the drug Substance D.

The Alley

“The Alley” cuts through the block on 47th and 18th NE connecting 47th to 50th. It is a one lane road that was intended to provide garbage storage and pick up space. Its’ “walls” are lined with cars, dumpsters, and the occasional tree. The main entrance, and only entrance for cars, is the south side of the alley. The majority of activity done in the alley is accomplished at this side as the majority of pedestrians are going to and from the University. When walking through “The Alley” it is obvious that the residents have taken over this garbage truck pathway. Cars line the edges. With this in mind the most numerous sites are the various parking lots. They range from simple open spaces to covered garages, from capacities of 2-3 cars to one that can fit 7-8 cars. An interesting and unique to the North side feature is the intricate back entry stairs. These stairs weave back-and-forth serving as both fire escapes and as an alternative entryway.

At the very end of the North side, the exit of “The Alley,” the “One Way” sign shows the intended flow of the alleyway. This aspect of the alley, that traffic is legally forced to go north and leave the Greek system and the UW campus, has altered the way the alley is used. People don’t often use the alley as a pathway to go to school, but often use it to return home.

A very interesting series of events is directly connected with the Greek lifestyle. Fraternities tend to drink a heavy amount of alcohol, typically in cans, which they throw away by the bag full on a weekly basis. There is a homeless couple that searches through the garbage dumpsters and collects the cans, crushes them, and takes them to sell back to the state for a nickel a can. It is interesting how the party oriented life of the Greek system helps a couple put food on the table.

Seattle U District: City Artifacts Map

Here is a map of the U District marked with the locations of the city artifacts you are researching. We may put photos and Wikipedia entries on this map, or add links to the marked locations.

This set of artifacts includes...

• coffee shops, from Seattle institutions like Allegro Expresso to regular old Starbucks, a different kind of Seattle institution;
• bars, like the historic Blue Moon Tavern and College Inn Pub;
• a community center, its parking lot and the farmer's market that is held there;
• a public library;
• eating establishments that indicate U District tastes, from a vegan cafe to a Chinese grill to a restaurant known for Northwest cuisine;
• recreational trails and sites, like the Burke Gilman Trail, University Playground and Husky Stadium;
• a mysterious public art work;
• a hotel, a multi-use commercial building and the UW Medical Center, all important to the university's and the city's economies;
• streets and other byways that are central to the neighborhood's identity, including one commemorated in a popular song;
• bus routes that connect the U District to other parts of the city and region.

While these artifacts certainly reflect your interests in and experiences of the U District, they also, as a "collection," create a remarkably accurate socio-cultural portrait of this urban community: closely linked to the university at its heart, but at the same time a distinctively Seattle neighborhood.

City Artifacts: What and Where?

For your proposals due Thursday, you need to designate the artifact in the U-District that will be the subject of your study. This artifact can be:

• a public part of the built environment, like a bridge or intersection;
• a privately-owned location in the neighborhood, like a garage or building or commercial establishment within a building;
• a monument or landmark, like a statue or mural;
• an open space, like a park or construction site or vacant lot;
• a "vector of connection" to or within the neighborhood, like a bus-route or bike trail;
• a text that marks the neighborhood, like a set of posters or graffiti.

Obviously there is a lot of overlap among these options--and the artifact can be something else entirely, if you check with me first. Please choose something that's interesting to you. And remember to think about the pros and cons of working as an "insider" (on an artifact that you already know and use) or "outsider" (on an artifact that is new to you).

So where is the U-District? For the purposes of this project, it's the area east of I-5, west of Montlake Boulevard/25th Ave NE, south of Ravenna Park, and north of the Montlake Cut. Here's a map:



University District.
From http://www.historylink.org/I-map/NErav.htm.

You'll want to explore the neighborhood on foot or on bike before choosing an artifact. You'll also want to think about the history of your artifact; a good place to start is with the history of the U-District itself, which you can read about in more detail here. (But don't forget about the other internet sources I provided in the assignment guidelines.)

And please... check with Gabrielle if you have questions!

Researching History and its Representations...

Now that you're writing an essay about your graphic novel and its representational techniques, you may be curious to find out more about the real-world events depicted in it. Please remember that this kind of research is NOT required for the essay, since the essay's focus is on the image-text relationships in your panels. But if you feel that a brief discussion of this event could help your argument or just your understanding of the graphic novel, then go ahead and investigate.

Where can you go for this kind of information? In an email posing this question, Elena mentioned good ole Wikipedia, a clear choice given our involvement with that source so far. But our recent investigations into the generation of Wikipedia articles might be relevant here... for example, in the graphic "novel" Elena is working on, Palestine, the real-world event in question is the First Intifada. Here is Wikipedia's entry for that topic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada

Note the warning label at the top that says, "The neutrality of this article is disputed." The discussion and history tabs indicate that the article is edited quite often. Well, given the nature of the conflict and its ongoing presence as a political issue in the Middle East, that's really not surprising! (By the way, you may have noticed yesterday on the HUB lawn the Jewish and Palestinian student booths on either side of the central path... even at this basic geographic level, there is division.)

You can also look into more traditional encyclopedias, written and edited by experts, like the Encyclopedia Britannica--which you can access through the library portal:

http://www.lib.washington.edu/research/

But this approach may not be totally satisfactory, either. For instance, when I searched for "intifada" in Encyclopedia Britannica, the closest match was a very long article on the Middle East. The intifada is mentioned, but as an event it's woven into a much bigger topic, so it is hard to figure out precisely when it began, how it began, what constituted it, how it ended, and so on. Perhaps that's a better way to represent the intifada--as one piece in a puzzle--but it sure does make it hard to grasp what it IS. (I also noticed that Encyclopedia Britannica has a new feature: you can send suggestions to its editors. Hmmm, following the example of Wikipedia, perhaps?)

My goal here is to remind you of something we have encountered before in our readings: hard facts can be elusive and transitory! Paul Auster makes this point in City of Glass, of course, but we've also seen it in theory--for example, in Foucault's analysis of power, in Said's description of Orientalism--and in our own discussions about mass media and popular culture. In short, "knowledge" is always under construction, always conditional, always "ideologically situated."

Does this mean that the representations of real-world events in our graphic novels are as reliable and secure as the representations in, say, the Encyclopedia Britannica? Probably not. But it does indicate that both are representations.

Palestine

Joe Sacco's Palestine is the result of the author's personal journey to Palestine and Israel in 1991/1992. The graphic novel collects different publications chronologically organized into nine chapters with a foreword by Edward Said. The first eight chapters are primarily based on the author's dialogues with Palestinians, for the author is at the same time a character in the story.
The last chapter instead sees Joe Sacco in Jerusalem escorting and escorted by two Israeli women. The narration of the events is therefore unevenly balanced in favour of the Palestinians' point of view. However, I believe that the author is not trying to manipulate the reader or propagandize a determined ideological standing point as He makes his choice clear from the beginning and even dedicates the entire ending chapter to convey that there is a counter side of the story. The novel, seen from this point of view, is actually a work of journalism since Joe Sacco is giving voice -and shape too- to a displaced and often silenced minority of the Middle East.

The main theme of the novel is perhaps the fact that there's one land for two peoples, together with all the cultural and non-cultural implications that come with this. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict seriously makes an issue in itself and can be seen from many points of view: the author's main concern is to tell their stories (not his), to portray the everyday life of the Palestinians and its many, unquestionable difficulties. The city also plays a role throughout the novel: Jerusalem is indeed the city par excellence, the prize of the conflict. Moreover, the lack of a city can be seen as a theme too. The Palestinians in fact don't really have a city but rather 'curfewed' villages. No such things as Benjamin's arcades or post-modern metropolis are present in the graphic novel, but a supportive community inhabiting occupied territories.

The visual style of the graphic novel is pretty much straightforward. The focus is mostly on the written text and the panels don't require a particular interpretative approach to be fully understood. The layout of the pages, however, is influenced by the content of the story: mainly geometrical when the author is in inner spaces, chaotic during the outdoors, messy when violence breaks out. Nevertheless there are also symbols that visually corroborate the written story, e.g. the mud that's all over the streets of Palestine or the walls that clearly define portions of space.

Persepolis 1 & 2

Plot-
This graphic novel is more of a memoir than a fictitious story. Marjane “Marji” Satrapi is a young Iranian girl at the beginning of this tale. She is parented by two avant-garde parents, liberal and perspective to their daughter’s unique situation. The fundamentalist party of Iran has just overthrown the existing government, enforcing a strict regime of Islamic practices on the whole nation. Marji is an adept school child with a hunger for knowledge. She reads, listens to her parents’ conversations, and even sneaks into a protest in hopes that she can gleam some information about her fold in history. This first-hand education is made real and dangerous when her beloved uncle is arrested and killed.
In order to escape the persistent situation, Marji’s parents send her to Belgium, to continue her education and live in a peaceful environment. If only it could be that simple. Once in Europe, Marji finds it hard to assimilate and find friends. Not only is she restricted through language, but her culture is discriminated by some very interesting folk, like her boyfriend’s mother. The very thing she was fleeing from is being projected onto her, because of her skin. She eventually makes friends with the marginalized, and experiments with drugs and ideology. After finishing secondary school, Marji feels lost and pulled between her Iranian roots and her present Western environment. She decides to return to Iran, in a burst of homesickness, but her ideal dream is flattened upon arrival. Iran is in much the same state as when she left, with the only major difference being that the streets have been renamed after martyrs. She tries to adjust, but finds it very difficult until she enrolls in art school and marries. This interim doesn’t last long and soon she finds herself wishing for Europe. In the end she returns to her foreign home.

Themes-
Identity crisis, xenophobia
Fundamentalism- assimilation
Knowledge=power
Class struggles (maid’s love, dad’s car)
The Marginalized people
War/ Society against individual

Drawing Style-
Marjane uses wide, rounded images—very soft in nature. Setting the story in the perspective of a nine year old, some of the pictures are very childlike and endearing. As the novels progress, a certain attention to detail grows with Marji. The panels do not have a specific formula such as nine to a page, and often there are full page drawings. Using only black and white, Marjane shows the stark difference in Iran during that time period. Many of the fundamentalists have beards covering their entire mouths and have uni-brows. The dialogue bubbles are much the same throughout the characters, but become jagged when someone screams. Implementing her Islamic background, there are many beautiful patterns and geometric images to structure her panels.

Shutterbug Follies

Plot
Shutterbug Follies is a story of a young girl who, working at a photo shop, happens upon some photographic evidence of murder. She begins tracking the suspect, despite all odds, becomes determined to solve the crime.

Themes
Feminism is a major theme that runs throughout the story of the little, teenage girl who unveils the evil works of a dangerous man. While she enlists the help of other men to solve the crime, she is always the gutsy one who drags them along.
Another theme is the role of the city as a dangerous place and a blanket for high crime. Also the diversity in the city is commonly depicted throughout the panels.
Art, you could also say is a recurring theme. There is a play on the definition of art, what is accepted as art, and the many forms it can take.

Visual Style
The visual style of this graphic novel is distinct in its use of color, lack of narrative, and the unique panel adaptations from a typical form.
The pictures themselves are very vibrantly colored and styled in a manner typically associated with regular comic books in appearing cartoon-like. They also include little sounds like a comic book would (clack when a phone is slammed down). Furthermore, the entire text appears in dialogue with almost no narrative with the exception of such phrases as "later that day." Where any narrative could exist there are series of pictures demonstrating the progression.
Also, another visual technique employed in this graphic novel is the manipulation of the panels. Certain panels appear through the lenses of binoculars or cameras and others exist as photos or negative film slides.

A Scanner Darkly

Summary:

A Scanner Darkly is a novel written by Philip K. Dick, which eventually turns into a film and then back into a graphic novel.  Using still shots from the film, the graphic novel is created with actual scenes from the movie.  The graphic novel is essentially about a character who is an undercover cop, by the name of Bob Arctor.  Bob gets caught up in drug usage and an identity crisis while trying to investigate on the drug known as Substance D.  Substance D is a highly addictive drug which is known to cause the two halves of the brain to work independently.  Bob plays the role of "Fred", the undercover drug addict investigating Substance D, which he eventually becomes an actual addict and confuses himself; leaving Bob to spy on himself as "Fred".  Ultimately, Bob is checked into a rehab center called New Path and takes on a different identity, Bruce.  Bruce finds outs that New Path is actually the supplier and distributor of Substance D -- ending the novel with a sort of twist on the drug issue occurring in the community.

Main Issues, Themes or ideas:

- Identity crisis

- Drug addition and persecution

- Morality

Visual Style:

The visual style was definitely unique in the sense of using still shots from the movie created out of the novel and developing a graphic novel from the actual scenes in the film.  A program, rotoscope, was used to create this sort of animated look that made the style even more riveting and distinctive.  

Maus I & II

Summary:The novels cover two story arks:It details Art Spiegelman recording his father’s, Vladek’s, account of the Holocaust.This task spans over quite some time and during this the novel paints a picture of Vladek what has become. He is in poor health, his behavior is erratic, compulsive, and has an unhealthy relationship is his second-wife, Mala.He novel ends with Vladek’s death.As his father recounts his life leading up to and during the Holocaust, the book retreats from the present and becomes a narrative told from Vladek’s perspective.He married Art’s mother, Anja, who was a member of a prosperous family in Poland.When the Nazis came to power things were difficult for them and all other Jewish families.Their condition got worst and worst and their attempts to survive were made all the more difficult because of rampant deception.Eventually they were split up and sent to Auschwitz.With cleverness, conservation, and a whole lot of luck, the two survived the war and moved to America where Art was born.After a few years Anja committed suicide.


Main issues, themes, ideas:
Racism/Diaspora
Value
Father-son relationship
Power
Collections
Self-reliance/Trust
Survival


Visual Style: Art Spiegelmans is pretty consistent with his visual style.There is little detail in most of his drawings and they can seem to take a backseat to the novel’s text.There are occasions that the visual style dramatically changes which can be quite jarring and punctuating.These sweeping alterations create a foreign atmosphere and give insight to the different aspects of the characters and author (who is a character in the book).Throughout the novel Art represents groups with certain animals.The Jews are mice, the Germans cats, the Polish pigs, the American dogs.The symbolism is apparent and its consistent use begins to meld the relationships between these groups with our perception of the relationships between the animals they are being represented as.

The novel jumps between the present day and WWII, but as Art becomes engrossed in his father’s tale of the Holocaust, aspects of the story seep into the drawing of the present day.For example, while conducting an interview during a drive, the silhouette of lynched Jews can be seen in the forest beyond the road they’re driving on.The bridging of these two worlds is a powerful visual technique that demonstrates how Art has been affected by constructing the novel.

A Scanner Darkly

Plot
The graphic novel "A Scanner Darkly," is based on the movie adaptation of the novel by Philip K. Dick. Set in a dystopian Orange County not too far in the future, protagonist Bob Arctor is an undercover cop who goes by "Fred" while investigating the drug scene of the highly addictive Substance D. Substance D is known for its potent psychoactive effects; continued use of it will eventually lead to the user's brain splitting into two competing halves. With the majority of the population addicted, Arctor goes undercover as a junkie and becomes addicted himself. Amongst the police force, Arctor's identity and others' is concealed by a "scramble suit." This measure actually leads to Arctor having to spy on himself; that is, officer Fred has to spy on Substance D junkie Bob Arctor. This crisis is amplified by the effects of addiction on Arctor's cognitive ability. Finally, Arctor is admitted to New Path (a rehabilitation center guarded from government surveillance) and discovers the source of Substance D within New Path's garden-commune. Arctor was chosen by the police force to enter New Path as an actual addict in order to confirm it as the distributor of Substance D.

Main Issues:

• Drug addiction and paranoia
  
• Identity; the psychological, physical, and emotional aspects of it-performative identity
  
• Government surveillance and conspiracy
• Criminal - Cop relationship

Visual Style:
The graphic novel images for "A Scanner Darkly" were stills taken from the film version that was released in 2006. The film was done in a unique style known as rotoscope, which includes the preliminary digital filming of real actors (you might recognize Keanu Reeves, Winona Rider, and Robert Downey Jr.) followed by animating over. This produces an interesting effect; here's a link to view the movie trailer if you're curious as to what it looks like.

Maus I & II

1. Maus, by Art Spiegelman is a story about Art's father, Vladek, who survives the Holocaust. The story starts in the beginning of WWII, and continues on until the end of the war. Vladek's struggles during the war are described by his son. Everything from having to hide himslef and his wife, Anja, in bunkers to escape the Germans, to actually being prisoners in Aushwitz. During the book, Vladek tells his story to his son, yet at the same time we are shown the troubled relationship Art has with his father because of the war. Maus shows not only how WWII affected Vladek during the war, but also how it continued to affect him the rest of his life, especially his relationships with people.

2.
Identity
Gender
Race
Religion
Mental illness/Effects after War
Father/ son relationships
mother/son relationships
Class separation

3. The characters in the novel are presented as animals. The animals seem to have a hierarchy consistent with the nations/religions of the time. The Germans are cats and the Jews are mice. During this time the Germans deinitely were more powerful than the jews and did trap them just like cats trap mice. They kept them confined to small towns and did not let them no what was going on until it was too late and they were in the concentration camps. Also, once in the camps, they were trapped everywhere they went and would eventually be killed. The Americans were represented as dogs. The US won the war and did defeat the Germans, so it would only be appropriate that they would be dogs, since obviously dogs eat cats. This kind of hierarchy is shown across all nations/religions.
Also, the cartoons are all shown in black and white. When the father is telling his story, in the beginning of each part, they show him and his son. This way we see the interaction between Art and Vladek, and can see how their relationship has been affected. Once Vladek is deep into his story, the cartoons then switch to images of the past. These images give us a better understanding of the kind of things he went through and how he felt. Art goes out of his way to point out certain things. These things are usually separate images from the line of the story. Art likes to put important things in boxes separate from the other images. He does this alot with drawings of places, such as bunkers or camps. These are important images because otherwise these places would be very hard to describe with just words. Art also tries to draw the reader in by putting signs in separate boxes as well. Signs that were posted or letters that were sent are shown separate so that the reader is reading them, the same as Vladek would have.
Lastly, there is narraration at the top of most of the images, which is coming from Vladek as he decribes the events to his son, or Art as he describes his father. The author also shows dialogue between people in the images, giving the reader more insight on how it was during the time. Doing this makes the story more complete and easier to follow especially since we are constantly going between present day, with Vladek and his son, to the past and the war.

Shutterbug Follies

Shutterbug Follies is about an 18 year old girl named Bee who solves a murder mystery where the Killer takes photos of the victims right after their graphic death posing as news photographers and artists. The killer took the photos to be developed at the Photo shop that Bee worked at. During this story she puts herself in danger to uncover the truth about the murders.

One of the main themes in this story is feminism as Bee is an independent (though she lives with her mom), young woman who convinces men to help her and defeats a male enemy. Another is the City life and how diverse it can be/is. The city also provides a good cover up for the criminals. Also, Bee is an “ordinary” person who goes on to be the hero of the story and there is even a little romance.

Some of the theories embedded in this story are Marxism, Orientalism, a little Queer theory, the Other, and feminism.

Some of the major visual aspects are that the book is in color, that there are many different points of view, ex. a undeveloped picture or looking through binoculars, and there are virtually no narration throughout the entire book as the picture tend to tell all that is needed.

Persepolis 1 and 2

1). Persepolis wasnt so much a story with a plot as it was a memoir of Marjane Satrapi and her life growing up in Iran during the revolution. As the graphic novel progresses, you can tell that her understanding of the real world does as well. In the beginning, she believes what she is taught in school and is conflicted when her parents try to explain otherwise and what is happening with their government. The story is a good narrative to get a sense of how a child views war and what is "morally" right. The war causes her family to split up, while she goes to live and attend school in Europe where she experiences typical adolescent trivialites: sex, drugs, rebellion, love, etc. She goes through an identity crisis when she visits Iran and she feels like she doesnt belong here, as well as not belonging in Europe.

2). Themes/Main Issues:
- Identity Crisis; Marjane trying to be true to herself and her heritage while finding an identity for herself.
- Marxism, materialism, and class order
- Family Relations
- Power
- Self awarness and education

3). Marjane Satrapi creates visual pictures that are often dark, black in background, and with a lot of shadow. This emphasizes the dreary times of the war and how she is feeling (lost or all alone). The panels are often mixed up, averaging about 9 panels per page. But when she feels something is especially important, she will dedicated a whole page to the illustration. Her visual arts are very well put together and it correlates better with the story.

Postcards: True Stories that Never Happened

A Joyous Eastertide
Story and Illustration by Phillip Hester

The Plot: In "A Joyous Eastertide," a man tells his 25 -year -old daughter about his childhood. When he was a young boy, his mother committed suicide, leaving him all alone with his father. The boy’s father marries a woman with Tourette’s Syndrome. When the father dies from the influenza, the boy is left in the care of his new stepmother. During this time, the boy has terrible nightmares and would sleep in the same bed with his stepmother. Over the years, the stepmother takes very good care of the boy. He would grow up to be an assistant medical examiner. One day, he realizes that woman he is examining had neatly trimmed her pubic hair into a heart. Instead of finding this situation amusing, he begins to remember his stepmother. This woman on the examining table had chosen to ignore the embarrassment and had given this simple gift to someone. This reminds him of his stepmother who had taken care of him, even though he wasn't even her real son.

The themes and ideas of “A Joyous Eastertide” include family, sacrifice, love, acceptance, and death. The stepmother took care of this boy who wasn't even her own son. She chose to love him and treat him as if he were her own child. Similarly, the woman on the examining table sacrificed her embarrassment and made the heart in her pubic hair.

The visual style: There is a recurring theme of lines in this story. On the legs of the Jesus statue, there are cracks in the feet that the boy thought was the blood from Jesus’ wounds. Again, we see lines when the boy is lying in bed with his stepmother and he is examining her hands. He saw those lines as a “net of her abiding kindness.” Lastly, we see lines in the feet of the woman being examined. These lines reminded the man of the lines in his stepmother's hands. Another visual technique that this story has is the three panels showing the face of the stepmother as she scrunches up her face. Each time, the first panel has the drawing of the woman with a soft face, and the second is always the scrunched face. The last of the three panels always has the same soft face seen in the first panel.