3221 Flashcards
Define place.
More than its physical location, place is space given meaning by people.
What are the 3 aspects of place?
- location
- locale
- sense of place (place meaning)
Outline location as an aspect of place.
Where a place is on a map - its latitude and longitude.
Outline locale as an aspect of place.
The place where something happens or is set, or the particular events associated with it. Eg school bus, internet chat room.
We behave a particular way in these places, according to the social rules we understand.
Outline sense of place as an aspect of place.
The subjective (personal) and emotional meaning to a place - its meaning. People develop a sense of place through experience and knowledge of a particular area.
There are 3 main theoretical approaches to place. What are they?
- the descriptive approach
- the social constructivist approach
- the phenomenological approach
What is the descriptive approach?
The idea that the world is a set of places and each place can be steadied and is distinct.
What is the social constructionist approach?
Sees the place as a product of a particular set of social processes occurring at a particular time.
Eg Trafalgar Square built to commemorate British Naval Victory in the 1800s can be understood as a place of empire and coloniasation.
What is the phenomenological approach?
Interested in how an individual experiences a place.
Ideas include:
- it is through human perception that we get to know places
- the degree of attachment, involvement and concern that a person or group has for a place is critical for out understanding of a place.
What did Yi-Fu-Tuan describe?
That our understanding of our environment and our attachment to it expands with age.
He suggested our geographical horizons expand in parallel with our physical ability to explore the world.
What is our attachment of a place influenced by?
Our depth of feeling (attachment) is influenced by the depth of our knowledge and understanding of it - this attachment increases with age, as we learn more about our home.
However, research also shows that our attachment to a place is influenced by the quality or intensity of experience we have there. So, the more enjoyable the experience (or the greater the degree we feel safe (where all needs are met)), it becomes home.
Define place making.
The deliberate shaping of an environment to facilitate social interaction and improve a community's quality of life. Places great emphasis on: - identity - belonging - well being
How does identity relate to place?
Our sense of a place (the meaning we give to a place) can be so strong that it features as a central part of our identity.
However, there is a difference in terms of the scale at which people identify with (I am European / I am English / I am Mancunian).
One person could have made all three statements. Perhaps this person thinks of their identity in layers, or as having a number of facets that derive from different aspects of their family history, upbringing etc.
What may affect people’s identity of place?
Changes in the nature of places (social, economic, environmental).
Eg if a major employer falls, those made redundant will miss the social interactions associated with the locale of the factory, and must re-evaluate their role in society.
Identity can be evident at three different scales. What are they?
- localism
- regionalism
- nationalism
Outline localism as an identity of place.
An affection for, or emotional ownership of a particular place.
Historically, people have identified most with their local area because they have a greater knowledge of the area and people. Likely to caused NIMBYism.
Outline regionalism as an identity of place.
A consciousness of, and loyalty to, a distinct region with a population that shares similar characteristics.
Many people identify with place at a national level, and this is usually strengthened by a common language, national anthem and through cultural, and sporting events.
Outline nationalism as an identity of place.
Loyalty and devotion to a nation, which creates a sense of national consciousness.
What did Doreen Massey argue?
The character of a place can only be seen by linking that place to places beyond. There is a need for a global sense of place.
Why do people now argue that place is less important?
Globalisation is seen to have made place less important as the forces of global capitalism have eroded local cultures and produced homogenised places.
This can be seen through the presence of global chains in high streets across the world.
Define clone town.
Urban retail areas that are dominated by national (and some international) chain stores.
Placelessness also describes such places. Eg an airport terminal - it could be anywhere because it lacks uniqueness.
What does James Kunstler argue?
That processes such as urban sprawl have led to community-less cities covering huge areas of countryside with identical shopping malls, car parks and roads. He argues that
“Every place is like no place in particular”.
What is glocalisation?
Multinational companies are increasingly having to adapt to the local marketplace.
For example, McDonalds aim to increase profits by adapting its brand and product to the local market place. Eg in Hindu countries, beef has been removed from the menu. Whilst in Muslim countries, pork has been removed. Also the number of McCafes has increased in countries with a coffee culture.
What causes glocalisation?
Some local places and cultures are resisting the power of globalisation.
Eg in 2012, Costa wanted to open a branch in Totnes. But 3/4 of the town signed a petition against it, as they support the independent high street and wanted to prevent a clone town. 8 months later, Costa dropped their plans as they recognised the local feeling about place identity.
