Observing Social Life- Central Texas

Section 1

The main focus of the study is to observe and analyze the social life of people living in Austin, Texas particularly around the Central Texas area of Downtown Austin. This is the central business district of the city where observations took place on September 30, 2017. It is here that the tallest condominium towers in the state are located including the Independent, which is still under construction, and the Austonian standing at 690 feet and 58 stories, and 685 feet and 56 stories respectively. The observations took place on 6th Street that stretches over nine blocks into three sections, West, East and what the locals of the area refer to as Dirty Sixth. This section hosts numerous entertainment and historic venues with structures dating back to the 1800s. Observations took place in the late in the afternoon and there were hundreds of people seeking to enjoy their time in different entertainment centers like the Driskill Hotel. With numerous other bars in the area, 6th Street seems like a major attraction for people visiting Downtown Austin. The majority race in the location is primarily White though there are a few Latinos, African American, and Asians present in the street. There is an equal distribution of men and women with majority being youths between early 20s and mid 30s. The businesses in this region are markings of social class. The numerous bars and restaurants show that the people in the city identify it as a hotspot for leisure and entertainment. The venues provide a diverse experience to suit the diverse population and demonstrating the spirit of Texans. As the people continued to drink alcohol and enjoy their time in the 6th Street some began getting rowdy and were forced to leave venues for being too intoxicated. The individuals in the area are fairly poor considering the fact that there are no classy venues or high-end entertainment centers and a few homeless people seen in numerous corners. Nevertheless, the high level of activity in the location is an incredible experience that one would want to engage in.

Section 2

A visit to the Sixth Street in Downtown Austin is an experience of the distinct hierarchical structure evident in the society. The location is nicknamed Dirty Sixth primarily due to the high conflict between the public and the police. It is depicted as a region where there is significantly heavy police presence with the Peaceful Streets Project providing majority of videos. Majority of outsiders usually form a negative image of Downtown Austin based on the experiences they have in 6th Street. The numerous bars and alcohol serving restaurants mean that on many occasions the majority of people will be intoxicated or drunk particularly on Fridays and Saturdays. As presented in the class on conflict theory, the tensions in the society arise from uneven distribution of resources, status, and power among the diverse groups in the area. The conflicts arising in the community are primary factors that lead to social change. The police in the region are seen to hold the power in the area, which before the 1980s was largely abandoned with deserted building and minimal businesses. The Pecan Street Festival in 1978 started off a culture of celebrating local cuisine and art by the community in the area for cultural preservation and creativity. However, due to the high large numbers of people and the availability of alcoholic drinks, the local government has called for heavy police presence. The Peaceful Streets Project came about in 2012 seeking to portray the brutality of police interaction with the public particularly on weekends. The vast majority of videos provided by the activist groups focus on events taking place in Sixth Street.