This photograph of the bench was taken during the late afternoon, on the south side of the bookstore, from the edge of the sidewalk. I chose a bench because it is almost always used for its expressed purpose, which is simply sitting. Benches are generally seen as objects put in a space that is meant to be a public space. They are something that is supposed to hekp make a space more comfortable and enjoyable for those using it.
While they're expressed purpose may be relief and comfort, this photo shows someone using the bench for something entirely different. The person seen here is grinding the bench on a skateboard. Skateboarding is not generally practiced for relief or comfort, but on the other hand, skateboarding is something that people do during leisure time, just as most anything done while sitting on a bench is.
This particular bench serves an aethetic function in its particular location. It is a very low bench that is tilted forward, which makes it somewhat unappealing to sit on. Another turn off from the expressed purpose of sitting is its location. The bench is near the bookstore bus stop, but it is far enough away from the shelter and where the busses stop that it is not very practical to use it. The planter with the yellow flowers inside furthers the aesthetic value of this bench.
I do not feel like this bench will shape my memory of JMU in any way because I have no particular strings or attachments to this specific bench.
As Kevin Mattson talks about in his article Reclaiming and Remaking the Public Space, when something is deemed public space, people are going to use that space for a variety of different things. Some of these things may not be what seems "normal", but each person has their own opinions of how the space should be used.
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