Understanding Founders Hall 118

Topic

Political Anatomy

Source

The search for a seat in Founders Hall 118, I know we’ve all been there whether we like it or not!

Relation

This relates to the discussion of political anatomy in our textbook RR chapter 1, page 3 where it states: …”The shaping of a human body as ‘political anatomy,’ a way that people’s bodies are controlled by others to operate with the necessary speed and efficiency.”

Description

I’m sure that many of us have had classes in Founders Hall 118, but for those who haven’t, let me describe it for you.  This large lecture hall, I believe one of the largest in the school, is located in the north east corner of Founders Hall. At the front of the classroom, there are two large screens for the computer, an empty desk sitting in the middle, and the computer controls are over on the north side.  When you turn to the west, you see rows and rows of burgundy stadium like chairs (there must be at least 15 rows of seats), staggered up, all facing forward.  All of the seats have little fold out desks to put your papers on, some on the left hand side and some on the right, depending on which row you sit in. 

So far, of my four semesters here, this is my first semester that I have not had a class in Founders Hall 118.  I must say that I am happy about this.  From three semester’s worth of trying to find the right seat, I believe I have some insight.  Now, as many of us already know, the first three rows are dedicated to the “smart kids”.  Typically, these students stay engaged in the lecture, ask the professor questions, and most likely get good grades in the class because of this.  The next section is the middle rows, let’s say row 4-12, and these students are typically your average student.  They are usually somewhat engaged and come to class fairly regularly.  They arrive on time enough to choose a seat, and generally do okay in the class.  This section, I believe, is the broadest.  The next section is the last few rows, let’s say 13-16.  These students are often not as engaged as the students further down the slope.  The often bring their laptops to class, chat quietly with their friend, or sleep.  These students are here because they have to be, this is probably just a GE course for them.   They often arrive late, coming in through the back door, and sometimes leave early.  They rarely ask questions.  The last section of seating is the people who sit on the steps alongside the chairs.  These kids were often too late to get a seat, even in the back.  This is kind of a limbo area, often times they are about the same height level as the first or middle set of rows, yet I have observed that they have more of the tendencies of the students seated in the back.  The steps are for students who aren’t quite sure about the class, it is probably a GE course, but they may still want to get a decent enough grade, but arriving to class on time can often pose a difficulty.  

Commentary/Analysis

The way that Founders Hall 118 is set up is a result of political anatomy, a way that bodies are positioned for the most optimal speed and efficiency of the situation.  As anthropologist, we can observe many things about our own culture by simply examining this classroom.  The way it is set up was not coincidental, it has a specific purpose.  The front few rows, as discussed earlier, are intended for the ‘engaged’ student.  They are on the same level as the professor, they can look directly and evenly into their professor’s eyes.  By being in close proximity to the professor they are set up to be called on and speak more in class, just because they are right there in the professors face.  It is hard to ignore the students in the front row.  The middle rows are for you average students.  They comply with the rules by attending class.  They are slightly higher up out of the professors vision so they usually are not called on, or participate in class discussion not quite as much as those in the first rows.  These students want to blend in, just be the norm and sit in the middle.  They know what they are there for, and usually just want to get it done while still withholding some of the information in the class.  As for the back rows, these students are not in the line of site of the professors.  Usually to get the attention of the professor, they have to wait and see if they make a circulation of the room.  But, if students are up here in the first place, they usually are not trying to be at class.  The students on the stairs, as stated earlier, are kind of caught in between. Depending on how high up they sit on the stairs, it determines how much they are planning on paying attention.  

The setup of Founders Hall 118 is very strategic.  It is made so that all students must look at the teacher because the chairs are all facing in that direction, yet depending on how close you sit to the professor is really how the students are judged.  I think that it is set up in this manner to allow the students that want to pay attention to do so, and those who don’t can just pretend that they do because they are already set up in a position where it looks as if they are paying attention.