Ia Observation: “an Hour at Ridge Hill”

IA Observation: “An Hour at Ridge Hill”

Ali Choudhry

Word Count: 696

IB Candidate Number:

        At the Ridge Hill Movie Theater in Yonkers, a diverse amount of people of different races and cultures arrive with the intention of watching a movie, a widely spread American culture. Additionally, there are certain aspects of watching a movie many tend to include such as eating popcorn, drinking soda or running around the theater lobby when waiting for a screening to commence, especially pertaining to children. With these observations, it is evident that many of the same customs are shared when one person or group watches a movie at a theater.

        Upon arrival at the theater, many children were running around the theater while their parents were either purchasing tickets or ordering food for a movie. Some people even used a machine rather than seeing the ticket seller at a desk to receive their ticket, which shows how they desire to get their seats in the theater as soon as possible. Meanwhile, it was observed that most of the people who purchased a ticket also ordered popcorn along with a drink such as soda or an iced beverage. Few people even ordered a hotdog or sandwich, especially for their children. While their parents are ordering food, most of the children ran around the theater lobby playing games such as “tag” or “hide and seek”. Some children who had their own money even played games in the arcade. When the parents had the tickets and food, they took their children and proceeded to enter the theater to find their seats and enjoy the movie. However, there was one particular family that stood out from the others. A man wearing a formal dress shirt and pants entered the lobby with his wife, who was wearing a dress which one would wear to a gathering. With them, their children walked in, wearing average clothing; a t-shirt and blue jeans. However, the children did not behave like the other children who ran around the lobby. Instead, they appeared to be disciplined and obeyed their parents unlike the other children.