Objects, Part 2: Joe Davis

THEATER SEATING

I went to an older theater in Raleigh NC. The most striking feature of these seats is how they are different from modern cinema seating. Most modern theater seating tries to emulate your home recliner (e.g., La Z boy furniture). They are very plush, and the materials are supposed to ooze comfort. This seating arrangement was quite different, made of fabric with a small amount of padding. The seating were nostalgic of older theaters I went to growing up, but it was also kind of old and dirty. The seats didn’t squeak and were easy to access. They were not very comfortable, and I found that I had to readjust my position multiple times to prevent soreness and fatigue.

DRIVER’S SEAT

I drive a Volkswagen Jetta for my daily commute. The most striking quality of the driver’s seat is the red stitching. The stitching is there to suggest a sense of sportiness. It doesn’t actually make my Jetta sportier or the seat more comfortable. This is my seat for my commute to and from work (approximately 19 minutes each way). I like my Jetta and find the seats more comfortable than any of my previous cars. I enjoy driving and look forward to sitting in these seats. One problem I have is with the black “leatherette/fake leather” material that these are made of. They become very hot during the very warm North Carolina summers and uncomfortably cold during the winters.

HOME OFFICE COUCH

I bought my tufted loveseat for my home office. The most striking feature for me of this couch is the minimal amount of materials used to make it. I would assume this allows for it to be made rather cheaply in comparison to something like a recliner. The couch took up very little space when it arrived and I assembled it at home. I purchased this loveseat for reading, writing, and a place to comfortably perform general work. It functions very well for long periods of reading and working on my laptop. Overall this is a very comfortable seat; however, after about two hours, I start to feel fatigue from using it.

DESK CHAIR

The most striking feature of this chair is the materials used. I didn’t need a chair with leather and wood, but when looking for office chairs the better materials both consciously/unconsciously took precedence over more ergonomic options. This is my home office desk chair. I bought this chair because my old college one was giving me extreme back pain. The chair functions well, I am able to sit in it for several hours before becoming uncomfortable. It is rated for 10 hours of sitting, but I would say it is able to get me through 5 comfortably.

 

LOFT CHAIR

The most striking feature of this chair is the way it feels when you sit in it. There is no support, underneath the chair towards the back. This causes the chair to bounce when you sit down. This IKEA chair is made of wood and has a thin pad that goes over the top. It is in the loft of my house. I try to avoid sitting in this chair, but when there are guests over it provides backup seating. My cat uses it more than I do. This chair is frustrating. It is easy to get into, but rather difficult to get out of because of its odd shape and design. It is uncomfortable to sit in and has a weird bounce to it.

DINING CHAIR

Simple mass-produced dining chair purchased from IKEA. The most striking feature of this chair is that is light, easy to move and very simple in design. It is located in my dining room, though I rarely dine there. I don’t find this chair very relatable as I barely use it. It provides a place to sit but is not very comfortable for an extended period of time. I don’t have any strong feelings about this chair since I don’t use it that often. It performs a function of providing a seat at the table, but nothing beyond that function. It is not a particularly pleasant design. It is definitely not a work of art.

STARBUCKS

I find the fact that this chair is made of wood to be its most striking feature. It is simple and easy to clean. It is light and easy to move. This is a wood chair at a local Starbucks. I go to this Starbucks frequently with friends and family and have sat in this chair several times. It performs its function as a place to sit but does not exceed that function. It is plain and boring. It is uncomfortable after a few minutes of sitting, but I don’t have any negative feeling towards this chair. It serves it’s purpose well and adds to the atmosphere of the Starbucks.