Preview

Barber Shop Observation

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1406 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Barber Shop Observation
When someone observes an event or gathering that is new to them, they usually are either skeptical, confused, or very intrigued by what is going on. When I am observing a new environment, whether a festival, celebration, or gathering, I try to be as understanding as possible with little, to no judgement involved. The best rules to follow are “don’t judge a book by its cover” and “don’t knock it ‘till you try it” when observing unfamiliar things. If something seems uninteresting or out of the “norms” of someones life it doesn’t mean they should give up on the experience until they have fully experienced it with the right understanding and background. Basically I would say that given the proper information, background, and understanding, any experience outside of a person’s regular life could be enjoyed to a higher extent and possibly have a positive effect on them.

On an early Saturday morning I accompanied my grandfather while he went to get a haircut. My grandfather always gets his haircut at Vaughn’s Barbershop in Downtown Newark, located just off the square and across from the Newark Police station. As we arrived I noticed the long row of cars filling every available parking space in front of the shop. This gave the assumption that this was a very busy time for the business because I noticed every other shop in the strip had not yet opened so I could rightfully assume most of the vehicles owners were inside Vaughn’s. The outside of the shop gave a very manly, genuine feel to the shop. On the front of the building was the standard white and red striped sign, spinning in and endless motion with the word open brightly illuminated to inform customers they were open. The sign advertising the shops name was faded and the paint was cracking and chipping, giving the impression the barber shop had been around for quite some time and didn’t plan on going anywhere. When I entered the shop I was immediately greeted with the smell of fresh shaving cream and a



Cited: Tim, Mr. Personal interview. 28 Sept. 2013. Odom, Johnny. Personal interview. 28 Sept. 2013.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Narrative on Culture

    • 1369 Words
    • 6 Pages

    It was a typical Friday at the Department of Motor Vehicles. It was fifteen minutes until closing time and the place was packed. I was about to call my next customer when a short man dressed in black and white from head to toe with long chin-brushing curls as sideburns wearing a black hat approached my window. He was a Hasidic Jew and I was not happy. I acknowledged him. "Yes?"…

    • 1369 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Truth About Sharks

    • 404 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The story takes place during the day between 10:00 am and approximately 3:30 pm in Norwalk, Connecticut located in Fairfield County at Mitchell Gail’s department store.…

    • 404 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    In John Updike's short story A & P, a young nineteen year old by the name of Sammy describes what naively will become his last day on the job at the A & P grocery store. The story begins with a situation that will engulf Sammy's day and eventually lead to actions he could have never foreseen. In the late fifty's, early sixties the world was much more discretionary than it is today. For a woman, young, middle aged, or elder, to bare a generous portion of her epidermis was considered erroneous and ill-mannered while in a municipal location. This exact situation will set in motion Sammy's story.…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cultural Event Paper

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A cultural event that I have attended in the past that has had a memorable affect on my life was a Native American Powwow. This event takes place every year, Thanksgiving weekend in Tucson, AZ. I arrived in the late afternoon, as the sun was going down. I remember seeing many different types of people, from tourists to the different Native American performers. The physical setting of this particular celebration was outside, and based around, one main circle. Drums were beating so loud, you could feel the pound inside your chest. Different activities were going on all around, such as dancers, vendors, and a huge variety of foods to choose from. The circular dancing arena is known as the arbor, this area is blessed before any of the events begin (Schultz, 2001). This area is considered to be sacred ground, and is respected throughout the entire celebration (Schultz, 2001). The arbor was made of tree limbs and leaves. The four main entries into the festivities were used to resemble the four points of a compass (Schultz, 2001). The dancers entered from the east entrance, and the main announcer was located by the West entrance. Many spectators were sitting on blankets, and some on lawn chairs. The environment was relaxed, and a very friendly atmosphere. The activities included dance and drum contests, different ceremonies, and many different vendors. The crafts were all handmade and amazing. Each piece looked as if it were specially made from the heart. The Native American culture to me felt festive, warm, and very inviting. The dancer’s come from many different tribes. Their faces were painted, and their costumes consisted of beautiful festive colors. They were made of feathers, sequence, dye, and other natural fabrics.…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Festivals DBQ AP Euro

    • 1331 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Throughout history, places around the world have traditionally participated in a cycle of ritualized events and festivals. Historically, European life consisted of festivals like Carnival and Mardi Gras, along with common, daily rituals like charivari, or riding the stang. Some festivals kept people happy and allowed them to unwind while others provided order and punishment. Different religious beliefs resulted in different opinions on certain festivals and rituals. Additionally, rituals and festivals helped people to temporarily escape social identities and to shame members of society into following both explicit and implicit laws. Although from the 15th century to the 19th century these festivals and rituals could have been seen as a negative aspect of traditional European life, they were also positive and served a specific purpose during that time period.…

    • 1331 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The New York Times Poetry Pairing “Barber” explores the complex relationship between hairstylist and client. Larry Bradley’s poem “Barber” focuses on the impact that a seemingly ordinary person, such as a barber, can have on a person. The excerpt of Hillary Howard’s article “Trust Issues in Finding a New Hair Stylist” concentrates on the author’s own relationship with her longtime hairstylist and the difficulty of finding a new hairstylist.…

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    LACMA Museum History

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Personally, I relished the exhibition because I came to learn a lot out of it about culture. I additionally do hope that other people would have definitely gained something out of the event. All of us after the event will find a substantial reason to appreciate our cultures and retain…

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Barlow joined the Old Fourth Ward civic league and signed to its public safety committee. He and a few other men patrolled the neighborhood before sundown every evening. Barlowe “ grew to enjoy patrolling the ward. He felt proud to walk those streets.”(35) The neighborhood has accepted Barlowe in their community and thanks him for his contribution to the neighborhood safety. Everyone acknowledges Barlowe as he passes, children and adults sitting on their porches and playing outside smile and wave back at him when he passes. What Barlowe has failed to realize is that he is apart of the community and the people accept him…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I looked around the place and saw four customers, not including me. They all looked like locals. They appeared used to the surrounding filth. I walked towards a booth a saw the photo hanging above it, dusty and old, some kind of lake house scene…

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cited: For the Love of the Game: My Story by Michael Jordan. Edited by Mark Vancil. Crown Publishers, INC. New York. 1998…

    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When Raymond Robinson was eight years old, he tried to catch a glimpse of a bird’s nest on a power pole. He unfortunately grazed a power line that electrocuted him and caused dreadful facial and body injuries, which never properly healed. He became utterly disfigured in the face, which frightened many people. He could not go out in public without the fear of causing someone to panic. This led him to spend the majority of his seventy-four years in his home. However, rumor has it, he would walk around town at night when he was less likely to be seen. Tourists would drive by his house, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. These people then passed this information on to their children and grandchildren, thus creating an urban…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Just Later, That's all is a story about a Barber and a Captain. Captain Torres goes into to get his hair cut at the Barbers because he hears a rumor of what the barber would do if the Captain was to come into the barber shop. Captain Torres and The Barber are similar because they both value their jobs where as they are different because Captain Torres values leadership and punishment and The Barber values respect and peace.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Barber in “Just Lather, That’s All” should have killed the general when he had the chance, and become the martyr the town desperately needed. Sitting in the chair, The Barber “never had him so close” (Yates 1). The opportunity to have someone so deplorable and universally hated by the village within his grasp presented an opportunity that was extremely rare, and demanded a swift, direct response. The Barber was a rebel, and here was his chance to support the rebellion and free his people from the grasp of the tyrant killing those who only yearned for freedom. It did not even matter that the General knew the Barber was a rebel, the cocky attitude is one other reason the General deserved to die. The joy escaping…

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    On June 9, 1999, in a small town in Texas Captain Torres was murder by the town’s barber, while getting a shave.Around 3 in the afternoon Captain Torres came into the town local barbershop to get a shave. While the Captain was getting his beard shave, suddenly the barber uses his razor and cut Captain Torres’ throat. The barber is so skilled that the Captain did not make any sudden in-pain moans, so no one would have pinpointed that a man was just murder. However, a customer came into the shop hoping for a haircut, but came in seeing a dead Captain Torres sitting on the barber chair and the barber holding a razor cover with blood, said the witness. Immediately the witness went to the authorities, the barber was immediately arrested. As he was…

    • 249 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Michael Jordan was easily the best basketball player ever, but he was also an amazing role-model to people by his encouraging quotes. After his quotes and commercials went viral more people were motivated by them.But he can’t do that without certain characteristics.…

    • 235 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays

Related Topics