3.2.2.2.2 Meaning and Representation

Question 1

Meaning of place

Answer 1

Meaning relates to individual and collective perceptions of place

Question 2

Representation of place

Answer 2

Representation is how a place is portrayed in society.

Question 3

Individuals representing place

Answer 3

Individuals who are proud to be from a place will present it in a positive way whilst those who have had a bad experience of a place will present it in a negative way.

Question 4

Organisations representing place

Answer 4

Organisations, such as tourism companies, will present ways in the best way to get business. Newspapers may present places in a negative way in order to sell the most papers.

Question 5

Perception of Place

Answer 5

A perception of place is developed through what people have heard or read about a place.

Question 6

Sense of place

Answer 6

Developing a sense of place is the result of lived experience in a location developing a sense of place is important to an individuals personal identity.

Question 7

Governments influence on place

Answer 7

Governments may do this in order to attract people or investment to a specific area.

Question 8

Corporate bodies influence on perception of place

Answer 8

Corporate bodies might do this to generate profit or because they have been set up for a specific purpose.

Question 9

Community or local groups influence on perspective of place

Answer 9

Community or local groups might try to change the perception of place to improve the local community or the lives of local people.

Question 10

What are the three main strategies used to alter the perception of place?

Answer 10

• Rebranding
• Re-imaging
• Regeneration

Question 11

What is rebranding?

Answer 11

Is often used to dispel negative perceptions. Rebranding aims to give a place a new, more positive identity at the local, national and international levels.

Question 12

What is re-imaging?

Answer 12

Re-imaging is related to both rebranding and regeneration and involves a marketing / public relations exercise to promote a modern, fresh and positive image of a place.

Question 13

What is regeneration?

Answer 13

Regeneration is a longer-term process often aimed initially at economic regeneration, which through the multiplier effect will bring further social and physical.

Question 14

Quantitative

Answer 14

Then can be quantified numerically and statistical analysis can be performed on them.

Question 15

Qualitative

Answer 15

They can’t be quantified numerically and may be more descriptive or creative.

Question 16

Representing place through statisitcs

Answer 16

Statistics such as census data gives quantitative data about a place.

Statistics themselves are objective but can be used subjectively (people can choose what data to show).

Question 17

Representing place through maps

Answer 17

Maps can be used to show any sort of data that has a location.

They can show quantitative demographic and economic data. Some maps also show qualitative data. For example maps of indexes that show levels of happiness.

Question 18

Representing place through films, photography and art.

Answer 18

Visual representation shows what places look like and can give some sense of the character of places. However they only represent what the artist wants to show so can be misleading.

Photographs give a sense of place in a specific moment. They can also be altered.

Films and television evoke a sense of place that is dependent on the story that is being told.

Paintings and sculptures are less reliable as they are the artists interpretation.

Question 19

Representing place through stories, articles, music and poetry

Answer 19

Written representations can be used to describe places and to also evoke a sense of how it feels to be in that place.

Newspaper articles give a lot of detail but they may be biased.

Stories, music and poetry can give an