Culture Research

Culture and Coffee Shop Environment

Culture is a facet of human nature that permits for the interaction of people within the community. Indeed, the knowledge and therefore the characteristics of particular individuals defined by the utilization of language, social interaction, the religious activities of the group and therefore the art and music. there's little question that the environment is a critical influence on the event of a specific culture. within the paper, the researcher spent a while within the cafe with the aim of understanding the movement of the people. From the observations made, the researcher develops a thematic analysis in an effort to answer two important questions: what are the interactions that occur within the cafe environment and what's the rationale that the coffee shop has become a conducive spot for students to study and work.

Setting and Context

The coffee shop that is off campus is called Villa. Despite having several Starbuck shops within the local town, the coffee shop seems to be the focal interest. The people speak of the place having the best coffee in the town. The coffee shop is elegantly arranged to ensure there is a place where people can access computers. The décor includes small tables that allow two or three people to sit together. There are also booths that allow large groups to sit together. The kitchen plan and the service area are set up to allow people to see the coffee machines and the assortment of snacks sold in the shop. The dominant color in the shop is brown with splashes of color here and there. However, the barrister sets the tone of the coffee house. The choice of music is soft and plays quietly in the background. There is energy in the shop influenced by the sounds of chatter, laughter and the noise made by the coffee machines. The atmosphere in the room is welcoming especially with the aroma of the coffee. The customers’ body language is engaging, calm, and happy.

The Comfort of the Coffee Shop

The place is one of comfort because it offers a getaway from the business life of a student. The cool ambiance offers a place of comfort that allows people to study and work. The comfort of the shop is seen through the constant flow of people in and out of the shop. The area set aside for browsing is always. The single tables are full of students studying and working quietly on their laptops. However, the booths have some students. Across from my table, I can see a girl consistently working on her iPhone as opposed to reading or using her laptop. She seemed to be focusing on the list as if she is trying to set up informal meetings. As a place to meet people, it offers a safe space for interaction. Thus, the people are not uncomfortable. During the observation, some athletes walked into the shop noisily. Their entrance drew the attention of the people within the shop as they looked at them with disapproval.

Analysis

The four concepts to be used in the analysis include Anthropological theories of value, society, culture and kinship and descent. In the discussion of these concepts within the context of the coffee house, the functionalist theory will be applied. According to Fabian (2014), functionalism proposes the society exists as a system of interconnected parts that function together in a harmonious state with the maintenance of social equilibrium and a system of balance. The functionalist theory suggests that the society exists in the complexity of the individual parts that allow for the stability and solidarity in its framework.

Anthropological Theories of Value

The Anthropological theories of value propose that the approach to the economic process provides a platform in which culture can be reviewed in line with the principles of modern economics. The setting and the ambiance of the coffeehouse emanates from a cultural response to modern economics. The ambiance, arrangement, and the contextual environment are infrastructure aimed to accommodate the customer needs while encouraging more customers to allow for the owner to turn a profit. Indeed, the aura of the shop provides an excellent area for people to study, relax, and work.

Society as an Anthropological Concept

The society as an anthropological concept is evident in the coffee shop culture. The customers are part of the coffeeshop's community and culture. Much like the community, the coffee house allows for interconnection much like the framework of the society. Thirdly, the kinship and descent are shown through the coffee shop being an avenue for social interaction through the provision of public spaces. The features of the coffee shop create an urban social life that allows for mixed-gender interaction within a safe place. Finally, the culture as an anthropological concept presents the coffee shop at the intersection of private and public space that is indiscriminate of the social classes and languages.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the coffee house is a place where culture enables functioning of the society. Given the anthropological concepts above, the function of the coffee house as a place for interaction that provides the multidimensionality required to fulfill the needs of the student society. The coffee house culture enables the people to achieve the satisfaction of their needs while allowing social interaction.

Reference

Fabian, J. (2014). Time and the other: How anthropology makes its object. Columbia University Press.