Tori Horn

Observation One January 28, 2014 Time: Period of 33min and 3 sec

Location and Setting: Throughout viewing this location there is one major setting. The setting is in the heart of San Francisco in an apartment that is shared by seven young people between about the ages of 20-25. As you walk into the apartment you notice that it is all majorly open space, it is meant to be not private so everyone can see everything scandalous that is happening. Once you first walk in you first see to the left is the kitchen that is connected to the living room and the dining room. From the dining room to the right is a sliding door that moves to reveal a bedroom that has two beds which is like the other three bedrooms in the house. Right out side of the bedroom door there is two tables set up for the girls to get ready to put their make up on and such. (A lot of personal talk goes on here) Aside from the bedrooms there is a lounging area that has a pool table and is just a place from them to hang out and relax. And last but not least one of the very most important places in the house is the telephone room, where we see recordings of the residents talking to their loved ones and exes on the phone back home. But they do this having no idea that within 14 days their exes will be moving in.

Rules for convention and appropriate behavior: The specific figured world that I am observing is the TV show real world. This is a real life tv show about seven randomly chosen people that are supposed to live together for 3 months during the summer. During this time a lot of scandalous things develop and happen like relationships, good and bad. This tv show airs on MTV at ten o clock on Wednesday nights that I watch every Wednesday! This figured world is defiantly not a place of business or for a family. This is a figured world of drunken young people who are literally making a mess of their lives within this 3 month time span. In this environment the purpose is to see what will happen when you put multiple types of people to live under the same roof. A variety of different activities happen in this figured world. Most of all they just get drunk and party within their own realm and bedrooms, but often they go out to parties and to clubs where they can get wild with each other and basically act a fool. Those are the basic two activities that happen 24/7 except sleeping. Now when it comes to appropriate behavior the limits are pretty far off, a lot is acceptable in the real world house rather that you would say a school house. There is drinking, sexual activities and a lot of just goofing off. But you are still expected to act humane and not hurt anyone, you still have responsibilities as a person and are expected to act humanly. Loud volumes and lots of noise is absolutely expected around the house and people would look, but it would be no surprise. And within communication, there is a lot of screaming and you have no choice but to come face to face with each other during confrontation. You have to come in contact with people, you dont want to just talk to them over the phone or text them. The various discourse communities that I plan to find are communities that value alcohol and friends with benefits relationships.

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Actors are: The people who play important roles in my figured world (the real world). Actors: There are seven actors within the television show Real World and they all contribute to all of the scandals and actions that make this show as dramatic as it is. Listing with a description of the actors in this show is important because you need to get a sense of who these people are and what they are like around the house. So here is a list of all the actors that are in the show Real World. Jenny: Jenny is a very outspoken girl that happens to be the peace keeper in this show. And although she is usually in the middle of most of the controversies, she tries to calm everyone down who is upset. She is a very likeable person that starts out as having a relationship with Cory, one of the guys in the house. She is lively and likes everyone, no matter the stupid actions that they decide to make. Personally my favorite one on the show. Ashley: Ashley is in fact THAT drunken girl that no one likes. She originally lived in San Francisco but is from West Virginia. She tends to get in a lot of trouble with the other six people in the house because of the actions that she takes while she is drunk. She is always at the throat of another girl that lives in the house, her name is Jamie. Ashley disrespects Jamie all the tike when she is drunk and she has no respect for herself or the other people in the house. And this becomes a problem because Ashley cannot remember anything that she does when she is drunk so she does not take responsibilities for her own actions. Jamie: Jamie is probably the most outspoken girl that is in the house. She was judged when first coming in the house because she is covered in tattoos and has gages in her ears with bright red lipstick. Jamie is not usually involved in much conflict unless it involves Ashley. She tells us in the show that she had been cheated on in a previous relationship so she is very against the thought of cheating because she knows what it feels like. Jamie develops a relationship with a guy in the house named Thomas. Arielle: Arielle is the one woman in the house that is a lesbian. She is very tall and slender but is proud of who she is. She is an independent woman that doesnt like people who act up for attention (Ashley). Arielle outside of the house is a model for a shooting company. Arielle is strong willed and literally much stronger than most of the buff boys in the house. Cory: Cory is the big buff attractive guy that all th girls drool over at first. He is funny, talkative but very physical and protective over the people that he cares about. He tends to throw things around in the house when he gets angry or upset about a situation that doesnt go his way. Akaits Corys way or the highway. And at the beginning of the show, Cory has a fling with Jenny but it doesnt last that long because he wants to wear the pants in the relationship and that idea has never been challenged before now. Thomas: Thomas is the ultimate hipster in the house, he is cool laid back and is always up to take a nap or just go to bed. He also has a lot of confidence in himself, and admits that he thinks that he is very good looking and will tell anybody that. Him and Jamie have started a relationship together and although he has the make-up of that good boy and Jamie has the past and looks of

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a bad girl, Thomas just cant seem to resist Jamie. Thomas just lingers around the house and mostly tries to stay out of trouble or drama that gets started, he is not involved in much. Jay: Jay to me is the guy that hinds in the shadows, and to be honest is a very likeable guy to be around. He does not start drama but tends to end the drama with laughter with his jokes and adorable accent. Jay doesnt technically have a girl in the house that he is drawn to but tends to stay close to his ex-lover back home. Overall Jay is just that guy seen chillin in the background on the sofa. Artifacts are: Physical objects, emotions, or ideas that are important to the figured world that I am observing. Artifacts: Artifacts that can be found throughout this observation is one, the frying pan. The frying pan is what is used to throw hot hamburger oil into Arielles face by drunk Ashley. This started a lot of controversy in the house because of the level of disrespect that was show to her by basically burning her for no apparent reason. Another artifact that I find to be important is the private room phone. This phone is what the people in the house use to connect with their world back home, and most importantly their exes. And this is especially interesting because at the time they have no idea that these people that they are talking to on the phone will be moving in with them in about the span of two weeks. So the phone is that private connection that they have to have those conversations to their loved ones and exes that no one else in the house hears. My third artifact that has control on a lot of people in the house and mostly Ashley is Alcohol. The alcohol is what starts a lot of the problems in the house because it changes the way that people act and how they treat one another. And the very next day they have to come face to face with their actions resulting in consequences and apologies. Literacy Practices are: The way that my specific actors are communicating within my figured world. The Telephone: The telephone is a major way that the actors communicate not just with each other but with their exes, as mentioned before, and with the people back home. Without this phone the actors would not have a way to come in contact with the rest of the world and people that they care about. This also encourages for the actors to keep in touch with home, foreshadowing the move in of the exes. Face to Face Conversation: Coming face to face with each other is the main way to communicate with others in the house. If you have a problem with someone or with what they have done, then you have to go up to them and talk about it, you dont have much of a choice if you live with that person. Also, they are surrounded by each other almost twenty four seven so why not just talk to that person about whats going on? INTERVIEW: Question 1- Jenny, why have you decided to keep your relationship with Cory strictly friends?

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Answer 1- Well basically we are nothing alike. I mean dont get me wrong, he is very sexy but I just dont think that our two personalities mix well together. And another thing why is because he reminds me too much of my ex boyfriend who I am still trying to move past. Question 2- Jay, do you think that it is hard being the only guy in the house that doesnt have a fling with someone? Answer 2- Nah, actually I really dont think that it is that big of a deal, yeah I have to watch everyone else in the house have their romance, but it aint bad. And on the plus side I am still trying to fix things with my girl back home so I dont want to ruin anything for us in the future because I care about her a lot. Question 3- Jamie, how did it make you feel when Jenny told you that she had saw emails from Toms ex girlfriend on the computer? Answer 3- To be honest it really upset me. I could not believe that Tom was still letting her send him e mails although she knows that he has a new girlfriend. I was also upset about the fact that Tom said nothing to me about it, I mean I think I should have the right to know if his ex is trying to make her way back into his life?! Question 4- Thomas, How did it make you feel when you were at the club and Jamie kept getting in between you and girls that were coming up to talk to you? Answer 4- Now that really did piss me off because I didnt expect it, she just came out of no where. I just rally think that if she wants to be with me then she needs to learn how to trust me and understand that I wont do her wrong. But in that case I just had to go ahead and give her the reassurance and tell her she was my girlfriend to make things a whole lot better. I mean I was gonna ask her anyways so why not then, ya know? Question 5- Arielle, What was your feeling towards Ashley when she threw the hot grese from the pan straight into your face? Answer 5- At first I was like what the hell is going on, and then I realized oh Ashleys drunk again. And although I was angry beyond words I knew that I needed to keep my cool and contain myself before I did something stupid. I just thought to myself that I would talk to her in the morning about it when she is sober. THE OBSERVATION 1 5:00- They go through a recap of the last episode of commotion that Ashley caused when she was drunk. In the morning Ashley apologizes to Arielle for throwing hot oil into her face, not knowing what she was doing. They sit down and have a house meeting to determine what they are going to do about Ashleys actions. Jamie and Ashley have a one on one about their differences toward each other but end up getting into another argument. 10:00- The ten cast members go on a tour of the city and get on the conversation of how many people they have had sex with. Thomas says three people and everyone makes it into a big deal and everyone reveals their number. One of the producers brings up to Cory that him and

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Ashley had something going on in the cab the other day, but neither of them remember. Jamie calls home to talk to her best friend about her crush against Thomas. 15:00- Cory and Jenny get together to talk about the rumors going around about him and Ashley because Cory and Jenny have a thing. Jamie takes it hard that Thomas does not want to get with her and he takes her number hard and begins to judge her. Jamie and Thomas sit down to talk about the meaning of sex and what it means to them and Thomas storms off. Everyone begins to see that Cory and Jenny have something going on because they kiss one another in front of everyone. 20:00- Ashley and Jenny go out for a walk in the city and talk about Jamie ans Thomas and their future. Arielle takes all of the house to a Gay bar and Jamie and Thomas get a lot closer and touchier. Thomas says to Cory and Jay that he has never fallen for a tattooed and gages kind of girl before. Cory ends up getting jealous because Jenny was dancing with another girl at the club and they get into an argument over it. 25:00- Cory Admits to Jenny that he is afraid ti be cheated on or treated bad, and he talks about his past eight years with his ex-girlfriend. He calls his ex-girlfriend to tell her that he met someone and she gets angry and hangs up the phone. Cory and Jenny have sex in the shower and everyone finds out about it and wants them to respect their public space that everyone uses. Thomas calls her ex-girlfriend to talk to her about what they have been doing around the house. 30:00- Jamie and Jay talk about her and Thomas relationship and basically asks his advice on their relationship to be. Jenny and Ashley go out to a club for a girls night to go dance the night away, Cory reminds Jenny not to break his trust and to not bring anyone home. The others go out to a club and Jamie is very very protective over Thomas and doesnt want any girl to talk to him. Thomas isnt happy about it and its driving him crazy, so he gives her the title of being his girl so she will stop worrying about him liking someone else. 33:03- Cory gets in a fight with a guy on the street and storms into the house and knocks things over. He goes to apologize to Jenny for him acting up but he ends up getting ticked off again. Jennys says how she knows what kind of relationship that they would have if they were together and it wouldnt be good. Ashley is cleaning up Corys mess out of the floor from when he broke things in his anger rage.

OBSERVATION 2 5:00- Everyone starts to talk about their exes and what they are doing with their lives. Arielle and her girlfriend Ashley get into a conversation about their relationship. They explain why they broke up and talk about getting together. Cory and Jenny talk about how their exes are seeing other people an d they feel like they can be independent and free. Jamie and Tom talk about staying friends with their exes while Jamie seems to think that is a weird, awkward situation. 10:00- Jays ex girlfriend calls the house and Jay tells he to be good because he is afraid that she is going to do something bad behind his back. He says that it is his turn to prove to her that he

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want s to be with her. Arielles girlfriend leaves the house. Not knowing that she is actually going to see her again soon so she makes out with her by the door way. 15:00- The phone rings and Cory goes to pick up the phone and he speaks to his ex cursing him out over the phone. Jenny and Jay sit on the floor outside of the phone room and listen to the whole conversation and Jenny says that she sounds like a psycho. They go out to a club and start to dance and act crazy with each other, the attention is on Jay. 20:00- Jay is at the club and asks a girl to give him a kiss on the cheek but he is trying to avoid the cameras so it wont be caught on television. Jennys attention gets caught by Jay and this other girl and she fears for Jays relationship with his girl back home. They go home and Jenny gets a call from her ex-boyfriend from back home and he asks her if she has had sex with another guy and she admits to him that she has. Jenny goes to check her e-mail and gets a glimpse of Jays e mail that he has gotten from his ex-girlfriend. 25:00- Jamie goes and confronts Tom about the email that she got from his ex saying that she cant stop thinking about him. Jamie and Tom sit down and have a long talk about the whole email situation and Tom said that it shouldnt matter what his ex has to say. The producer calls and says that they all get to go out on a trip to the lake together for a day. They leave for the lake and get on the boat, Jenny drives some of the time as the sun goes down. 30:00- Jamie and Thomas get even closer and spend a lot of time with each other while at the lake. Meanwhile back home the producers are cleaning up the house and moving in the beds for the exes to move into the house. After all is set up, the first ex moves in to the house and they all start pouring in, thinking that they are the only ones that are moving in. The house members are on their way back home. 33:00- The exes in the house begin to talk about how they didnt expect this to happen and they hide for when the house members come home. The members come in the house and see that it has been cleaned up, Jenny is the first one to enter and says that there is a new member that ahs moved in. All of the exes jump out from behind the counter and all the cast members are in total shock and Jenny stands there with her mouth wide open.

OBSERVATION 3 5:00- The members walk in and all of the exes are standing there. Jenny still has her mouth standing wide open. Arielle is jumping for joy and everyone else is not so happy about that. Jamie is looking around for her ex Cameron. All of the exes are very happy to be there, walking around and checking out the house, while the members are freaking out because they just found out that they are going to be there for six weeks. 10:00- Jamie calls her friend back home and finds out that her ex is not coming to the house. Brian and Jenny are sitting at the Bar and Jenny doesnt know she is happy to see her or not. Cory keeps creeping on their conversation that they are having and Brian sees that he is watching

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them and makes a smart comment. Cory goes back into his room and Tom says tells him to not start anything with Brian. 15:00- Brian and Jenny get on camera and talk about their past relationship and how it didnt work out. Jenny thinks that they are sharing beds but thankfully finds out that he has his own bed. Jenny and Cory get together and talk about what they are going to do with Brian. Jay, Tom, and Brian talk about Jenny. 20:00- Cory and his ex get in the shower together and Jenny walks by and gets offended that he is moving on so fast. Thomas asks questions to Jamie about why she is so dead set on her ex Cameron not being on the show, he is afraid that she still has feelings for him. Toms ex and Corys ex sit at the make-up table and talk about how there is probably going to be drama in the house. Cory, Brian, and Jenny set at the kitchen table as Cory and Brian try to talk things out like adults, trying to overcome some of the tension. 25:00- Arielle and Jenny talk together because Brian thinks that he can not be kicked out of the house, but Jenny reassures him that he can get voted out. They get into two vans to go to the club. Jay and his ex hang out in the club together and everyone else is hanging out with their significant other. Thomas goes up to his ex at the club and tells her not to bring anyone home. Jamie coms and sits beside them to make things awkward. 30:00- Everyone goes out to the park and Hailey (Toms ex) is trying to find another guy because she is the only one that is not hooked up. Tom gets jealous because he does not want her to have someone else to be with. Jamie is in the background obviously getting really jealous. Cory has a conversation with his ex and he thinks that she needs to leave the house because he wants to have fun. 33:00- Jenny says that Tom has something wrong with him so they sit down and talk about it and Tom tells Jenny that he hates having relationships. Jamie walks up to him and asks him what is wrong and he basically tells her that he does not want a relationship title.