Assignment Notes

Memorial Stadium (Indiana State University) 

1. Game Day Culture

• Observe:

  • Tailgating rituals (food, music, decorations)

  • Marching band performances

  • Fan clothing and face paint

  • Chants/cheers and school spirit

  • Group behaviors: families, students, alumni

• Questions:

• How do people show team spirit?

• Are there specific roles people take (leaders, organizers)?

• Any gender differences in behavior or dress?

2. Everyday  Use

• Examples:

  • Daily walks

  • Community Events

• Observe:

  • Participant demographics (age, gender, ethnicity)

  • People that use it

  • Event rituals (races, speeches, activities)

• Questions:

• How is inclusivity promoted?

• Are families involved? Volunteers?

3. Stadium as a Cultural Space

• History:

  • Built 1924, acquired by ISU in 1967

  • First to use Astroturf in a university stadium

  • Upgrades: FieldTurf (2018), new locker rooms

• Observe:

  • How space is used (seating, entrances, gathering areas)

  • Movement patterns (where people go, gather, avoid)

  • Any memorials, plaques, or symbolic features

• Questions:

• What does the stadium "say" about ISU culture?

• How has the space changed over time?'

4. Visual/Spatial Anthropology

• Observe:

  • Stadium design: fences, entrances, walkways, turf

  • Fan zones, student sections, accessible seating

  • Use of symbols (logos, banners, mascots)

• Questions:

  • How does the layout influence social behavior?

  • Are there any hidden or less-visible areas?

  • How does the stadium feel during different events (empty vs. full)?