Fashioning the Body: Versions of the Citizen, the Self, and the Subject

Tragedy struck yesterday for a bottle of Aquafina as it was carelessly tossed into a gas station garbage can. The bottle only lasted a few short days in this harsh world and wasn't even granted the grace for a second chance. The bottle was made in china by a large machine who also produced it's milions of twins. Sadly the bottle was only lucky enough to meet several of it's twin siblings. Afer being boarded up the bottle was mailed to the source. It was here where the bottle made its first life accomplishment. It was filled by the source but then repackaged and sent to a dingy backroom, never even seeing the light of day. After several days of waiting there was finaly a place for the bottle in the cooling unit, now waiting for the lucky person who would purchase and drink all of the lovely water from within it. This was the darkest but most thrilling part of the bottles life. It sat and watched as people looked in at it, considering water but then reaching for something more appetizing. Then one day a hand did reach in and grab it, then walked it to the cashier. It was on sale! The injustice of the world had befallen the poor bottle and it wasn't even worth the normal 1.29. Things just got worse though instead of being opened and lifted to the poor, thirsty persons lips it was opened and tipped into a plastic container inside a large car, the radiator! Then the bottle was tossed carelessly into a large round can. This was the end of just one Aquafina bottle.

Last week for the beauty shop wanderings I investigated the bookstore. I began my study by moving through the store noticing the people and set up of the store itself and the items within. The store was set up very systematically. For those who enjoy spending their money on useless but definately "must haves" there is a whole area of that type of stuff when you first enter the store, imediately attracking attention. Then the store is seperated into several sections: evergreen school propoganda(golf balls, mugs, stuffed goey ducks, etc.), school supplies, computer supplies, clothing, intrest books and school books. There was an information desk in the middle of the store, with people willing and waiting to answer questions or help. The store seemed very easy to navigate within, especially for those people who come into the store with something specific in mind. There is also a large sale section that is somewhat in the middle of the store, where people can gather random things they might eventually need, at a discount. It's interesting the way the school supplies and the school books are on complete opposite sides so that people are forced to walk through the other areas on their way from one to another. This seems like a set up to attempt them to spend more money because as they pass through they might see something else they need or just want. Along with a place of purchase the bookstore seemed like a place of meeting. There were a few small groups of people who had randomly ran into each other and then proceded to have conversations, perhaps introducing their companion to the new addition. There were lots of smiles coming from these groups of people. Smiles, laughing and conversation from the people who meet or came in together. The people who came in by themselves usually looked more concentrated or were frowning. They seemed to know more what they wanted then those who were gossiping and wandering throughout the store.