This is a picture of the festival lawn. The festival lawn is a mini quad located behind the East Campus dinning hall on the east side of the JMU campus. One of the best things about the festival lawn is the view it allows. I believe the festival lawn is on eof the most aesthetic areas on campus. The festiaval lawn is located on a hilltop overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. The festival lawn is the ideal example of space; it has been used on multiple occasions for the purpose of student interactivity. Late night breakfast is an excellent example of an activity that takes place on the festival lawn every once in a while. From time to time, there is a dance party or a mini concert that occurs on the festival lawn, bringing students togheter. When this picture was taken, the festival lawn was being used by a non-profit organization to raise awareness on student suicide rates on college campuses. When nice and sunny, students that live on the east side of cmpus spraw on the fesival lawn studying, tanning, or just hanging out.
I can’t really imagine any other uses for this space other than what the photographer mentioned. It is really is a multi-purpose space which can serve both individual and public and community needs. It’s got one of the greatest views on campus and I have sat here many times admiring it while waiting for a friend to go to lunch or something. This picture is more about the event than the space in my mind and that’s what moves me. Suicide is a hug problem across the nation on college campuses and this demonstration, albeit a bit morbid, really stands out to people and makes them stop and think.
ReplyDelete-Liz Cozzati
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ReplyDeleteNice picture, the east side of campus is really used as much as the other side of campus. I don't really no why. The picture shows an enormous amount of space for people who pretty much do whatever they want. There isn't any idea of privatized events that happen around here, because everyone is subjected to complete freedom. People who live in these dorms are very lucky to have such a great view of the "skyline"....
ReplyDeleteAdrian Darkwah
This picture really captures the way Festival is open to all types of organized events. It is the one part on campus that is literally a jack-of-all trades, able to host concerts to cookouts to SGA events. The somber issue that is being addressed in the picture is proof of Mattson’s argument that public spaces are necessary, since they provide a forum for strangers to interact and solve problems, such as student suicides.
ReplyDeleteI really like this picture because it shows the diverse use of the festival lawn here at JMU. I think it's great that JMU and the students participate in awareness events like this. I also like the angle of this shot, it shows that there's a lot of land that can be used and it's up the people on how to use it. I think this public space is definitely necessary and I'm happy that people utilize it and not just take advantage of it, especially for an issue like suicide. -Jacki Gordon
ReplyDeleteThis space is a truly diverse one. As the photographer stated, many activities take place on the festival lawn. It is a beautiful, peaceful spot on campus where students come to study or lay out in the sun. However, when there is a concert, it is also used for dancing and partying, which is completely different from the quiet atmosphere one would witness on a hot spring day. Recently, I have seen this space used for a sunset yoga class. As an avid participant of yoga, I cannot think of a better place to practice. I think that it is interesting that the mere fact that you can see the mountains and the sunset so clearly from this space makes it the perfect place for something like yoga.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Thomasma