Field Site

1. What is going on in the field site?
At first I walked into my field site which is a place where hookah smoking is quite popular. This Middle Eastern restaurant named Divan, contained a lot of people, preferably family and friends all eating and dancing, listening to music and having a good smoke from what is known as a Hookah.

2. How do the members of the subculture interact with each other?
Their is Arab music playing and we have groups of people, usually family members and friends that get together and eat dinner at low to the ground tables and chairs. Afterwards they enjoy beverages such as wine and pull out the hookahs and begin smoking on them. Mostly the customers usually gather around the table and socialize, taking amongst themselves, enjoying the presents of their surroundings and dance with each other. Majority of customers that come to smoke hookah are Caucasians but occasionally you will see Middle Eastern and Indian people join in on the cultural festivities.

3. Make a list of terminology used at the field site with which you might be unfamiliar.
Star buzz
Argila
Nargila
Persian Galyoon
Sheesha
Harem

4. What details, behaviors, and surroundings did you have questions about?
I was wondering why there was so much paintings and artwork on the walls and I found out that the paintings were of the Middle Eastern Culture. Many different exotic styles were displayed all throughout the restaurant. I noticed that the water pipes had a long pipe coming out of the base of it and I wondered is that where the smoke will be coming out. When I was listening to the music that was playing in the background, I could not help but ask what kind of music was being played? I found out that it was Arab music and usually Divan mixes up with Persian and Spanish music.

5. Find at least one person at your field site you can speak to and ask them a question about something you observed that you didn't understand.
Actually I found a very helpful person that gave me great information about hookahs and the culture of it. Max Lofty is the manager of Divan. I asked him many questions regarding to my research paper and one question stood out from the rest. I asked him what the customers smoke from the hookahs, water pipes. He responded with the components that make up the flavorful smoke you either inhale or blow out. First off, the tobacco is mixed with molasses and fruit. The minimum amount of tobacco is .01% so they are not as harmful as cigarettes. On the top of the tobacco their will be a piece of charcoal. The water in the water pipe filters the smoke coming from the tobacco and charcoal into the opening with a thick smoke.

Act V

Questions:

1. What do the individuals in the subculture value?
The volunteered inmates value the theater arts. They are the individuals that re-an act the plays that are directed by volunteers such as Agnes. Other actors and PHD's come in and talk to them about acting and information regarding to the plays so that they can get some good advice. The inmates also value bringing out an inner self that is mostly covered by the society they are in, behind bars.

2. What do they disdain or what is taboo?
The taboo probably is refers to how criminals cannot understand art and theater because they only deserve punishment and time for their crimes. Basically, many people think of inmates as a lower society that should be kept locked up and excommunicated from the outside world. Other inmates may taunt the other inmates that participate with the plays because they may think it is a weak way to carry on them.

3. How do you attain group membership?
First off, you have to be an inmate to join Act V. This specific subculture is an cooperating operation for criminals to get a chance to experience theater and performance while they are incased in prisons and correction facilities. If you want to volunteer to help out with the plays and such then you can contact Prison Performing Arts on their website or by calling them.

4. What activities are important to the subculture?
Certain activites such as casting calls and read throughs are very important. The director should be aware of who they pick and how they can incorporate characters well for the play. When the inmates gather to practice lines and discuss comments, critiques, and such they are also joined with other actors and actresses. Performing the plays and theaterical works is a huge activity that shows off how much they have practice and how well they done in front of their audience.

5. What artifacts or behaviors are important to the subculture?
The criminals are in character so that they can relate the scenes with their actions done in order to get a feel in their part. They use psychological ways to incorporate the plays to exercise the minds and see society beyond what they usual see. The criminals see how they are in plays and practices and enjoy being a part of a group that will not discriminate them because they are doing time for crime. They are seen as human beings that are inspired by the arts and some discover who they are now, a changed person.

My Topic

Topic: Hookah Smokers


Sources:
Miller, Michael C., ed. “The hazards of hookah.” Harvard Mental Health Letter 24.9 (2008): 1-3 . Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Georgia’s virtual library. 14 Mar. 2008

Jaecks, Kelli Swanson. “Smoking the Hooka.” RDH. 28.1 (2008): 38-44 . Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Georgia’s virtual library. 14 Mar. 2008

Williams, Stephen. “No smoke without fire....” Middle East. 383 (2007): 60-61 . Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Georgia’s virtual library. 14 Mar. 2008 http://ezproxy.gsu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=27512716&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Mehta, Niti. "HOOKAH SMOKERS RULES LEARNT THE HARD WAY." Lexis Nexis Academic. 05 Jun. 2007. Galileo. 14 Mar 2008 .

O’Connor, Anahad. “Hookahs are safer than cigarettes.” New York Times on the Web 11 Sep. 2007. 14. Mar. 2008


Reflection:
My topic is over Hookah smokers and I briefly looked over one article I found online titled, Smoking the Hookah. The hookah is world wide and this trend of smoking has a major affect on the teenagers and college students. Hookah started off in the ancient days and recently started up again with places called Hookah Bars located in many college living communities. I have been exposed to information about Hookahs on the local news before but never did I realize how much information I have found that linked to certain topics within my own topic. Certain college students and friends that I know go to Hookah bars. For my research I already have my field site and how I would start off my rough draft by looking at some articles about Hookahs.