Body Building

*What is going on in the field site
-when i first walked in the gym, it was a typical gym scene: the floor was covered with large exercise machines that made a constant clanking sound as they were being used. there were many large, muscluar, finely chisled men as well as skinny, scrawny, normaml men ranging from very young to very old. there were a handfull of men standing in one section of the gym, posing in the wall lined with mirrors. the men constantly posed, flexing their muscles as if they were on stage displaying their robust features to invisible judges. this scene was amusing because it looked so stereotypical and cheesy. the people working on the machines were working hard, grunting and sweating. a few of them had a partner with them to help them with their reps. some men were wearing headphones and listening to music on their Ipods while others talked only sedomly to let their partner they were ready to end their sets.

*How do the members of the subculture interact with each other?
-although they are in close quarters, the bodybuilders stay little to nothing to the other members of their subculture. the only time they speak is when they are done with their workout routines and are ready to hit the showers. the times they do talk to eachother, they are asking about the equipment or asking them to spot for one another. after they are finished, some groups of friends get to together and chat. while others quicky and quitely leave the floor.

*Make a list of terminology used at the fieldsite with which you might be unfamiliar.
-in the zone = when someone is working out and they giving total attention to what they're doing. they arent thinking about whats going on around them and they are focused on their reps.
-just one more rep = is what the person working out says to their spotter when they want to do another rep but need their help finishing it
-IFBB = International Federation of Bodybuilders
-can i work out with you = means someone wants to claim the bench before anyone else does, so they offer to be their spotter
-max out = when a person is working out and they cannot finished their reps
-juice = steriods
-chalk = power used on the hands for a better grip
-bulk up = to get bigger; buffer; more musclar

*What details, behaviors, surroundings did you have questions about?
-i was curious about the men who stood in the mirrors and posing. i was wondering if they were going to competition soon and were practicing or were they just flexing.
-i wondered how much some of the really muscluar men worked out.

*Find at least one person at your fieldsite you can speak to and ask them a question about something you observed that you didn't understand.
-I spoke to a bodybuilder named Timothy, he's 25 years old. he's been training for 1 years but he hasnt competed in any competitions yet. he is going to attend the 2008 NPC Georgia Bodybuilding Championships on July 12th. i asked Tim about the men posing in the mirrors because he was one of the men that i was observing. He said "well me, personally, i'm just bangin' out these knuckle heads," he jokes around as he gestures to his group of bodybuilding friends, meaning he is showing off. Then after we share a laugh he says that he is practicing the poses that his older brother , Mark, a professional bodybuilder, showed him. He said "Mark showed me techniques and poses that the judges look for...it's harder than you think."

Criminal Subculture: To be, or not to be in prison

What makes this fieldsite a good one to study this subculture?

-this is a good fieldsite because the prisoners are able to share their real emotions with the interviewer. as stated by the narrator, the prisoners have connected with the character which they play and can open up to the interview on an emotional level, they are not hidding the way the feel.

What observations does the author make that are particulary useful when talking about the subculture?

-the author observes the hierarchy of the prison system, the settings in which the prisoners live, the different types of prisoners. he also sees a bit of contradiction in the hierarchy of the prisoners when one particular prison claims that he is a "killer whale" and the program is full of "guppies," however he is one of the main characters.

What are the norms and values of this subculture?

-bigger and meaner prisoners rule the facility, more educated artsy prisoners take head in the educational programs, mostly straight men, they value their families, they almost always change from being cruel and confused to calm and remorseful

What interview techniques does the author use?

-he is nice to the prisoners, he talks to them as if they are his friends

"We want to pump...you up!"

Topic: Male Body Building

Sources:

Berardi, John. "John Berardi." Body Building. 18 Mar. 2008 .

Klein, Alan M. Little Big Men: Bodybuilding Subculture and Gender Construction. New York: State University of New York P, 1993.

Klein, Alan M. "Pumping Iron: Crisis and Contradiction in Body Building." 18 Mar. 2008 .

Monty Python - Charles Atlas. Dir. Monty Python. Perf. Charles Atlas. YouTube. 18 Mar. 2008 .

Reflection:

This is a very interesing subculture. It is one that Alan M. Klein, Professor of Sociology-Anthropology at Northeastern University, accuses of being filled with "narcissism and fascism" (Klein). In all of his journal articles and books he demonstrates a disapproving tone of bodybuilding because it promotes self-loathing. He has a general negative tone about the American sports he writes about. Klein is a good reference to have because he shows the counter-argument for the positive side of body building. John Berardi, on the other hand, is a reowned body builder, and thusly demonstrates the exact opposite attitude of Klein. Berardi is very enthusiast about body building and sees it as having its own"unique set of values and mores that are often very different." (Berardi) I think uses opposing views will help me to develop a great paper because I will be able to give a well rounded discussion.