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APPENDIX: QUESTIONNAIREAs anticipated at the end of the Introduction to the Syllabus, the members of B8601 and B9601-38 are invited to provide their overworked and underpaid instructor with some much-needed assistance by providing some data for his on-going research on the subject of experiential consumption. This brief exercise should be useful to the class members in conveying a sense of interpretivistic or "qualitative" ethnographic methods, in suggesting insights into their own consumption experiences, and in reviewing material suitable for coverage in the final exam (B8601) or in the class projects (B9601-38). Specifically, each class member is requested to take a couple of stereographic photos that represent "What New York Means To Me" and to explain these stereographs via a brief paragraph that indicates their significance. In other words, you should reflect deeply on your New York Experience (which may be relatively new if you have recently come here as a student or relatively familiar if you have lived here all your life or, of course, somewhere in between). You should think of some scene that captures the essence of what New York means to you; it could be at home or at school or in your neighborhood; it could be indoors or outdoors; etc. You should then take two stereo photos of the scene in question -- preferably from two somewhat different angles and/or set up in two somewhat different ways so that if one photo does not work well in stereo the other might have a fighting chance. You should then write a brief paragraph in which you describe the relevant scene that captures the essence of your New York Experience and convey why you have selected this particular scene. You should then return your paragraph and the cameras to the instructor (or perhaps pass the cameras directly to another student) so that the next person can use them as soon as possible. For purposes of taking the photos, two cameras (taped together) will be provided by the instructor. Your job is to use these "twinned" cameras to capture two good-quality 3-D images of "What New York Means To Me." The paired-camera stereo rigs will be made available at the start of each class to be borrowed by whatever class members feel prepared to take their photos prior to the next meeting of the class. When you take the cameras, please be sure to return them to the front of the room at the next class period so that other members of the class will have an opportunity to take their photos. Please do not forget to do this. When taking the 3-D photos, please be sure to follow the following crucial guidelines. (1) The paired cameras must be held horizontally; holding them vertically will produce no 3-D effect whatsoever. (2) Pictures should be composed in such a way that there is interesting content in both the foreground and the background. The nearest object should be about ten feet away. The best stereo effect will occur for the content that is between about 10 feet and 20 feet; so that is a good place to put the material of central interest. However, it is also desirable to have something far in the background to provide a nice sense of depth. (3) If possible, the photos should be taken out of doors and in bright sunlight (which should be coming from behind the photographer). These are inexpensive disposable point-and-shoot cameras designed to be used with well-lit subjects; so taking pictures in dark places will not work very well. Obviously, it may turn out that "What New York Means To You" happens indoors. But if you do take your pictures indoors, please be sure that the room is very well lit and that you use the flashes for certain. (4) Even if you are outdoors in bright light, both flashes should always be turned on for the photo; this will help to eliminate shadows or dark patches on nearby objects. Please do not forget to use both flashes for all pictures. But please also do not turn them on when you are not using them because this will wear out the batteries. (5) Every effort should be made to include significant "depth" information in the photo; for example, if possible, include an interesting background or emphasize an interesting spatial relationship between objects that are near versus far. By contrast, avoid taking pictures of things that are essentially flat such as the side of a building or an object in front of a wall.. (6) When taking each photo -- after making sure that both flashes are turned on, that the nearest object is about ten feet away, and that there is plenty of depth information in the scene -- push both shutter releases as simultaneously as humanly possible, being careful to hold the cameras steady to avoid blurring. If you fail to push the shutter releases together at the same time and anything in the picture moves, the resulting pair will not be usable; so please time your button pushes very carefully to achieve the best synchronization possible. (7) Please be sure to return your written paragraph and the cameras no later than the beginning of the next class after you borrow them; better yet, if you know someone in the class and can pass the cameras on to him/her (who should then return them at the next class period), please do this because it will save time and thereby give everyone a better chance to participate. (8) Please write your descriptive paragraph explaining "What New York Means To Me" in the space below and hand it in when you return the cameras. (9) Please be aware that your words may be so profound and/or your picture(s) so striking that the instructor will want to quote or reproduce them in some published form. In the event that this happens, your name will not be used. So please do not worry that any of your secrets will be revealed publicly. However, to make things legal (1) please sign the permission statement at the end of the space provided for your paragraph; also, (2) if for any reason you include a person or people in your photo, please have them also sign the permission statement to the effect that their photo can be used in print. (10) I hope to be able to post the photos on the wall outside my door and/or to pass them around in class before the end of the term. So, please, let's get moving! This should be fun! MANY THANKS to all class members for their help on this project!!! DESCRIPTIVE EXPLANATION: "WHAT NEW YORK MEANS TO ME"I hereby give permission for the instructor (Morris B. Holbrook) to quote from this paragraph and/or to reproduce the accompanying photographs in printed form. Signed____________________   ____________________
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