Andy Dittrich ENGL-1102 September 20th, 2013 Assignment #1: Figured World Observation The Zip Spark &

Haze of the Existential Twilight Shangri-La, Or What You Will a.k.a Nightclubbin Im a bit detached from my generation. One of the things I dont really understand is the popularity of the dance/house music clubs that seem to be all the rage among my fellow whippersnappers today along with the aforementioned style of music that has also risen to popularity. Therefore, the figured world I will be observing will be the Phoenix nightclub of Charlotte. I chose to observe Phoenix because it is fairly popular with the college level youngsters like me because of their 18 and up events and low cover charge ($10). I would like to interact with the various club goers to ask about why they go to these kinds of places (is it for hanging out with friends, enjoying the music, cynicism, etc.). I would also like to talk with one of said clubs DJs and ask about the music they play and create(?). Being from a music background myself, Im curious how dance music (or subjectively; laptop muzak) is made and why people like it (really). It seems that the rules and convention are fairly minimal at these places. I guess they dont want anyone getting too blitzed and bladdered or let any shenanigans get too whack. Activity-wise, it would seem that dancing is where its at. Im not really what else people do. The about video on their website didnt really improve my understanding. It mostly featured clips of people hanging out with friends, dancing, dancing, and more dancing in the crowded dance floor dazed by flashing strobe and spot lights flashing like some combination of lava lamp Cirrus clouds, an incidental tornado of fire flies on Red Bull, and a lightning bolts cough.

Some Terms: A Figured World is basically the scene that is being observed. It is the stage where actors and artifacts interact and, in return, is defined by these cultural interactions. In the case of Phoenix, it is the figured world where the clubbers interact with each other and enjoy the music and scene there together even. While they are drawn to Phoenix for this desirable experience, they also define Phoenixs environment as a popular club where these kinds of people go (for better or worse). The Actors of a Figured World are the people that interact within it. They affect their figured world and are also shaped by it. They are the characters that set the scene. In Phoenixs case there are a lot of them. They are the clubgoers here for the music, the friend cliques here to see each other and be seen (not sure which is the priority), the singles here to maybe find that someone, the partyers here to be seen partying, and everyone between and beyond or too drunk to find a category for the time being. This is the diverse (used with some hesitation here) audience that defines Phoenix and its reputation as a partying, happening shindig. The various groups of people here interact in various ways too. These Discourse Communities are usually compartmentalized into various cliques and friend groups, usually the same as when they arrived. Sometimes it seems like theres a lot of mini-parties of around 6-8 or so rather than one giant club party. In addition to actors, Artifacts also have strong influence on their figured world. They are the objects and concepts that help define the Figured World. In Phoenixs case, due it is more open dance environment, there arent many physical objects that everyone interacts with but the party environment concept that Phoenix creates strongly defines it and the actors that come. Lets call it Oppenheimers Theory of YOLO Gravity. If there is a party, partyers will find it.

Observations Observation #1: Cameo Thursday Thursday September 5th 9:30-9:45 PM The first event I am looking into at Phoenix is their Cameo Thursdays which, in their words, is Charlottes largest weekly three level 18 and up party (How many more are there?). I had to find out that the doors open at 10 PM because their website doesnt mention any times. They do however note in terms of attire, they say Club casual attire is acceptable. Cameo is nothing without cool people and we want you to be comfortable yet looking like you belong in the hottest party in the Carolinas! Im not really sure what that means. Im just going to wear my maroon jeans and a gray Bob Dylan shirt. Its that Highway 61 Revisited-era one of him in the studio. Its made out of cotton so its soft but I dont like how the sleeves tend to slip up on my arms. Why is it so hard to find a cool shirt with sleeves that fit comfortably? It shouldnt feel like I have to buy the XL one and remove the sleeves and replace them with sleeves from the XXL one. The XL one is already a little big on me and the sleeves on the XXL ones arent actually longer theyre just wider! Im not the only one that thinks this doesnt make sense right? I guess that its not that major of an issue because I still wear and like the shirt, its just a bit irritating sometimes. Theres also a $10 cover charge for entering. So it goes. 9:30 PM: I got here a half-hour early at the recommendation of not having to wait in line to get in. The horizon has long past absorbed the sun and its officially night time. The club is situated cozily between North College and slightly down East 6th Street. Its a modest looking brick building on approach, almost on the corner if it wasnt for Cosmos Caf that it shares its brickwork with. As you walk up to the club, noted by the small round Phoenix sign with the eponymous mythological bird insignia, you notice it has its own little alley way that reveals the three levels of the building connected by fire escape chic stairways. Towards the end of the little alley is the door for the bar, but thats two years away being observable. 9:45 PM: Theres a minor line built waiting to get in. Seems like a good time to do some observations. Dress wise, most of the guys are in either Button down shirts of single shade or plaid variety or the Nike-style T shirts with irrelevant sport-swagger quotes on them. My favorite was Bring It On because I couldnt figure what it was supposed to imply. The least favorite was Know You Want It!, because I could. The girls are manly dressed in casual skirt-orpants+ top Forever 21 catalogue fashion. I asked a guy who was with a few other friends about how often they went here and he told me that this is how they celebrate their weekend early. The girl next to him added that Phoenix was the best place to be on a Thursday night in the QC [Sounds cooler than Charlotte I guess?]. When I asked why, she told me that it was because everybody goes here to party. When I asked her why everyone comes here she told me it was

because everybody knows that everybody goes here. I accepted the headway I had made, thanked them, and moved on. As the doors open I begin to get a good idea of how incredibly loud the music in there is. I think Im going to go over that CVS a few blocks away and get some earplugs before I go in there. Im not blowing my hearing on this. 10:03 PM: This is a really nice CVS. Its fairly quiet in here and has that nice chain budget MD convenience store scent.

Observation #2: Cameo Thursday, Part II Thursday September 5th 10:30-11:30 PM 10:30 PM: So now its time to go in and see how this works. Past the line, past the bouncer, wallet $10 less, here we are. It seems like theres a good amount of people here, time to check out the inside. The entrance is marked by a metal overhang with Phoenix in dimly warm red lettering somewhere stylistically between the Hot Topic and Geico logos. The guy standing nearby notices me looking at the sign and asked me if I thought the Phoenix on the sign looks cool (specifically, if it was bitchin). I told him it looks like a pheasant instant conversation shut down. 10:31 PM: ITS SO LOUD IN HERE. Its like standing next to a jet engine taking off powered by rocket fuel, stun grenades, and synthesizers. I have a good feeling that the dance music here is slightly above that 130 dB pain threshold (which is surely what the alcohol is for). Musically, it sounds like some combination of dance (or house apparently) music. I think theres a DJ here somewhere, I havent recovered my senses enough to look for him. 10:35 PM: There are a lot of people in here too. Interior wise, it looks like a prototypical club with these off-white sofa seats on various walls. There are stairs going to the second level about an ocean of people away. Other areas here look like the would-be interior of the Yellow Submarine as designed by Prince. Its difficult to tell whats going because of the volume of people here and the 50 shades of seizure strobe lights flashing all different directions all over the main dance floor. There are a lot of people dancing in the open floor area here various ways, or convulsing. Its a good thing I talked to people before I came in, I cant hear anything in here sans groove drones and shouting. 10:40-10:50 PM: Found the DJ! He has his own little perch at the front of the main dance area. Hes playing with some knobs and buttons on his console. Not really sure what. He seems into it at least. Its tough trying to navigate this place without bumping into a person dancing or the

groups of friends hanging out and (attempting) conversing. I tried talking to one group about how they could hear each other but they couldnt hear me. It seemed that many people where using their phones to communicate via text with each other. I also looked at the Phoenix Facebook page and noticed that a lot of people were posting about fun they were having at Phoenix. 10:54 PM: My ears are going numb. I think the DJs played several songs already but Im not sure. There are people looking down from the second floor balcony enjoying the music without all the pandemonium down here. 11:00-11:30 PM: The upstairs patio is a nice break from the searing volume of the music downstairs and the commotion. There are several benches and chairs. The view is also pretty nice for a single story vantage point in Charlotte. The sound of the street ambience is a nice come down. There are cliques and groups of people hanging out. I asked one guy sitting at the bar about hanging out up here and he told me that doesnt enjoy dancing as much as his friends so he and his girlfriend usually end up here. I asked him whats the point of coming with friends if you end up separated from them the whole night and he noted that he also acts as their designated driver, which merits about a B- for effort though I kept that thought to myself. I asked the bartender about the people that come up here and she said she noted that this is where singles like to go to possible meet somewhere. Talking to a few others, I got the idea the patio was like the eye of the hurricane, a calmer, relaxed break from the techno-torrent that roared below. 11:45 PM: After another attempt at enduring the music on the dance floor I think Ive had enough for today.

Observation #3 Who Cares Friday Friday September 6th 10:00-10:30 PM Fridays at Phoenix are Passport Friday where, according to the site, your Passport team of resident DJ Pilots will steer you towards destinations both known and unknown. Apparently the focus is on more international forms of dance music. I asked someone about what it meant but didnt get a clear contrast to Cameo Thursday. I also couldnt confirm that there even was any special Friday event. Phoenix really needs to update its website. Either way, Friday should be a busy night for any club. Im assuming that the dress code is the same as it was Thursday, not that thats a problem. 10:15 PM: Theres a decent line to get in, should be in soon. It looks like most people here come in groups of friends. A couple people look a tad tipsy already. I decided to ask a guy who seemed to have a less than horizontal line of sight about why he came to the club. MAN I LOOOVE THESE PEOPLE!! he shouted in response, loud enough to string laughter through the line and justify the self-amusement of my asking. I asked a girl about the music here and she told me that it doesnt really matter what they play as long as she can dance to it. A few others chimed in agreeing. One girl told me that she was only here because her friends were and that she hates this place, showing me the earplugs she keeps in her pocket. I think I might have made a friend. I asked her why she was here if she thought that and she conceded that its just the way the social thing works out when it comes to her friends. By this point her clique had moved into the club, though she said shed hang out with me on the patio sometime when I get in. 10:30 PM: Bouncerman says I cant get in. Apparently green pants dont belong in the hottest club in Charlotte. Slightly drunk kid behind me is kind enough to inform me that the reason I couldnt get in was because you look like a fag, bro. He seemed to be rather fatuous and uncouthor more simply, an asshole. In response, the bouncer cracked up and recommended that I try the Scorpio. I was honestly a bit surprised that he actually responded to that effluvium as if he thought the kid actually had half a point. Considering that any counter argument I would make against what just happened would imply that I wanted to be at Phoenix or that I felt I belonged there, I just left. 10:32 PM: I guess thats the end of this observation. So it goes. 11:30 PM: Finally home, I used Google to get the Scorpio joke I missed. Its the popular local gay bar. They have drag shows too that are apparently popular. Its not my thing but good for them.

Cast (mostly in order of appearance) Thank you to the following people who interacted with my and helped makes this figured world observation assignment possible: Static Tim Joe Sport Dada Mirror Marie the Socialite The nice cashier lady at CVS Jeff Jeep 6 People in Need of Hearing Aids DJ MacTop Reliable but Questionable Dennis Suspicious Mary Janet the Fountain Queen Hugo the Seagull The Outdoor Ambiance Quintet Patient Paul Sauced-Out Steve Lady Neon Carrie-Anne with Reason Rambo Stockade, bouncer Drunk Asshole NotGoogle

[All names are pseudonyms devised to protect the privacy, shame, and dignity of the kind, helpful and hopelessly drunk. You probably dont know who you are]

Picture This I didnt take any pictures while at Phoenix but here are a few that give a decent impression of it that I found on the internet. First, Heres where the club is on the map

And the midday street view (from the side alley)

Some of the photos on Phoenixs website:

And the patio floor:

And I couldnt forget CVS: