Alberto Garcia-Figueroa
Prof. M. Marca
Eng. 113B
20 March 2012
Ethnography
My classmates and I visited Dodger Stadium one weekend in
hopes of finding an issue we believe can be faced in today’s society. Is Dodger
Stadium really the heart and soul of L.A? Can it be the source of an issue we
as Angeleno’s face in our everyday life. We went to try and shed some light on
all these questions. We received a tour around the stadium learning many facts
about how great it was that the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. Though, that was
the question in the back of our heads as we took the grand tour of Dodger
stadium. How great was it that they moved here? Was it good or bad? Also, we
learned quite things about how and why they moved here and what success they
have had since they debuted here in the heart of Los Angeles. The view from the
stadium was beautiful and breathe-taking. If you look one way you see the
Hollywood Sign, turn and you can see Los Angeles, and then the mountains. It
truly does look like it is at the center of Los Angeles. Not to mention how
much the stadium is worth and how many people it houses. It is said to be one
of the most expensive baseball stadiums today. Though, many issues we found
existed with the team and stadium of L.A.
There are many issues I believe can be brought up when
talking about the Dodgers. From them moving here to the way the stadium has
been built to the way the seats are colored. We have many interpretations and thoughts
on what we could in order to find a social problem that would work. Although,
it was hard to come with an issue that could be disputed from both sides that
are for and against it, but I believe I have found one. I thought of the idea
of disputing whether eminent domain of Chavez Ravine was for the good of the
community or not. Was ridding people of their private in order to build Dodger
Stadium? I will be discussing how it Chavez Ravine being given to the Dodger
franchise was good, because it brought our society closer, gave us a sense of
pride, etc. I chose this question, because I believe it can be disputed from
both sides of the pole. One side saying it was good, because of all of what the
Dodgers have given to the city in the sense of pride. Also why it was bad,
because families were deprived of their homes and taken from their sacred place
without a say. I believe I can provide a well structure argument for one side of
the dispute in what Dodger Stadium could be faced with.
As a group we have found a question and issue
that could be disputed as a social problem in today’s community at large. I am
eager to look for information that can support what I am trying to argue.
Dodger Stadium has much more to it than what you see on the surface. It is much
more than a team playing baseball every spring. My group and found out a lot
about what the Dodgers did in order to move here and what happened to the many
families that had to be thrown from their homes to make room for the
multi-million dollar stadium. Chavez Ravine was a significant community that
died as Dodger stadium was born and I will be examining why it was good or bad
and if it was worth it or not.
