Territorial Play: Illini Union Food Court: Questions

1. What are the borders of your territory? And how are they defined/marked/known?
The borders of the food court are the basement of the Illini Union. They are defined by walls of the space. Also, they are defined by the restaurants lining the walls of the space.

2. What kinds of interactions between people and the site are there? Are there objects or architectures that govern how the site is/can be used?
The interactions between the food court and people are mainly informal. A place to sit and eat and relax, maybe between classes or to meet friends. Chairs and tables take up most of the room in the space, outside of walking space. The site is meant to be used as a place to find food, and then be seated. Not much walking around, unless it is to buy food, throw out garbage, or come and go. There is a juxtaposition between the large quantity of seating space, and then the transit space; Individuals with backpacks are coming and going, while others are seated and eating.

3. What kinds of interactions/encounters between people are there? (is it competitive, collaborative, monetary, familiar, etc?)
The interactions between people are familiar, in that they know the space and are socializing in groups. Monetary encounters occur within the space, people are purchasing food,therefore there is an exchange of money between patrons and restaurant workers.

4. Are there distinct roles that people play within the territory?
The roles seen within the space are mostly students using the space for leisure. Some professors are seen in the space, also workers behind the counters of the restaurant.

5. What rules seem to govern these interactions? And how are the rules known? (Are they implicit or explicit)
I think the seating arrangement governs much of the activity within the space, and therefore are explicit for whoever uses the space. Another rule would be to pay for the food provided in the food court. Again, this would be explicit because the food would not be received until payment.

Delany's Introduction to Territory

Delany's discussion on territories is interesting in that it opened my eyes to all the territories that jurisdict the way in which our world operates. There are territories that separate countries, states, cities, towns, blocks, houses,rooms,etc. Much of how we live our lives is by abiding or violating territories. I really like how he started the reading with, "Nothing better reveals how something is supposed to work than when it isn't working." This is very true, and it was thought provoking how he used that quote to describe the ongoing Iraq War, and even more examples of war in the past. So much of how the world functions is through establishing territories, and using them for a sense of security. Within the walls of the territory are the "us", and outside are the "them". With these attitudes, separate cultural and social perceptions are developed. Or even within the territory of one's own room ,one can create their own norms within their own space. Shifts in territorial space, such as my own apartment becoming accessible to the public, or spaces in public, like the quad, become privatized would drastically change the way in which society conducts itself.

Locative Media: iMap Application

iMap Application Prototype