8 Changing places Flashcards
What is the definition of a place beyond just its geographical location?
A place encompasses:
Physical characteristics of the landscape.
Human characteristics, including the people who live there and human features like land use.
Flows of people, money, ideas, and resources in and out of the area.
The emotional meanings associated with the place, such as personal connections like ‘home’.
How can physical characteristics of a place change over time?
They can change due to:
Natural processes like river migration.
Sudden events like volcanic eruptions that alter the landscape rapidly.
What are the implications of changing human characteristics in a place?
Changing human characteristics can occur over:
Long time scales, as new people are born and others die.
Shorter time scales, as people migrate in and out of a location
What does the ‘sense of place’ refer to?
The ‘sense of place’ refers to the emotional connections individuals or groups have to a location, which can evolve over time, such as a childhood home feeling different when revisited as an adult.
What role does place play in identity creation?
Place contributes to identity formation as individuals often base their sense of self on the places they feel connected to, creating shared identities among people from that location at local, regional, and national levels.
Define ‘insider’ in the context of places.
An insider is someone familiar with a place who feels welcome and belonging there, such as residents sharing cultural values in their country.
Define ‘outsider’ in the context of places.
An outsider is someone who feels unwelcome or excluded from a place and does not feel a sense of belonging, such as immigrants not sharing the local culture.
What factors can influence whether someone feels like an insider or outsider?
Factors include:
Age,
Sexuality,
Gender.
For instance, elderly individuals may feel out of place in a nightclub, while young people may feel out of place in a retirement.
What is meant by ‘media places’?
Media places refer to locations that people know about through media representations (films, books, art), rather than personal experience.
How much has globalisation affected our experience of far places?
Globalisation has made distant places feel more similar to near places due to:
Improved travel technology,
Increased familiarity with media places,
Digital connectivity allowing relationships with distant places.
What are endogenous factors in geography?
Endogenous factors are the internal characteristics of a place that shape its unique identity, including:
Physical characteristics,
Built environment,
Infrastructure,
Demographic and economic characteristics.
How does location influence the character of a place?
Location affects a place’s character by determining its features, such as:
Proximity to the coast (e.g. ports),
Position in rural vs. urban areas,
Location at road junctions affecting trade.
What does topography refer to in the context of places?
Topography refers to the shape of the landscape, influencing character through features like:
Flat areas conducive to farming,
Mountainous regions ideal for grazing.
Define physical geography and its significance.
Physical geography involves environmental features of a place, such as:
Altitude,
Aspect,
Soil and rock type.
These features influence economic activities like mining based on resource availability.
What is land use and its impact on places?
Land use describes human activities on a piece of land, such as:
Agriculture,
Industry,
Residential.
Land use is vital in defining whether an area is considered urban or rural, impacting the overall character of the place.
How does deindustrialisation affect land use?
Deindustrialisation can transform industrial land other uses, such as:
Housing,
Recreation.
This shift reflects changes in a place’s economic dynamics and built environment over time.
What are exogenous factors in relation to places?
Exogenous factors are external influences that impact a place’s characteristics, including:
Economic investments,
Tourism,
Migration.
These factors can alter demographics and the built environment.
How does tourism shape the character of a place?
Tourism brings features such as:
Hotels.
Entertainment venues (e.g. casinos).
These developments create employment opportunities and influence land use patterns consistent with tourist needs.
What role does migration play in shaping places?
Migration contributes to demographic diversity, resulting in unique characteristics. For example, in Birmingham, 27% of the population is of Asian descent, impacting culture and community dynamics.
What does demographic change involve in the context of external flows?
Demographic change refers to shifts in characteristics such as:
Greater balance,
Education levels,
Birth rates.
These changes often result from increased external flows of people and ideas.
How do external flows affect cultural characteristics?
External flows of people. money, and ideas lead to changes in cultural characteristics, including:
New customs and languages,
Food and traditions.
For instance, migration from Commonwealth countries has created multi-ethnic communities in the UK.
What is an example of cultural change due to external influences?
The introduction of fast food chains like KFC and McDonald’s in China altered eating habits, shifting preferences toward Western-style fast food over traditional options, demonstrating cultural influence from external flows.
List some human characteristics that can influence place identity.
Human characteristics impacting place identity include:
Demographics,
Employment types,
Social activities.
These factors contribute to the overall character and perception of a place.
What is the significance of investment flows in shaping flows?
Investment floes, such as those from companies like Nissan in Sunderland, impact land use and employment, altering the built environment and creating economic opportunity in the region.
How can gentrification influence places?
Gentrification occurs when wealthier individuals move into low-income areas, improving housing and changing the economics, demographics, and overall character of the place over time.
Why are flows of ideas important in geographical contexts?
Flows of ideas influence social norms and practices, helping to transform communities by introducing new perspectives in issues such as population control, thereby changing the character of places.
What are some factors that affects social inequality in urban areas?
Factors include:
Large population densities,
Economic disparities,
Access to resources like electricity and sanitation.
How has migration impacted the quality of life in urban areas?
Rural to urban migration has resulted in:
Overcrowding,
High levels of deprivation,
Increased strain on basic services.
What is gentrification and its impact on social inequality?
Gentrification involves wealthier people moving into and upgrading rundown areas, which can:
Improve local infrastructure,
Increase property values.
but also create a wider gap between wealthy newcomers and existing poorer residents.
What role do government policies play in changing social characteristics?
Government policies can:
Create jobs,
Reduce unemployment,
increase access to services
thereby improving quality of life for some residents.
How did the decisions of transnational corporations affect Detroit’s economic landscape?
TNCs like Ford and General Motors provided jobs and economic growth; however, their closure led to:
Population decline,
High unemployment rates,
Social deprivation.
What impacts does the World Food Programme have on social characteristics?
The WFP food security and helps prevent famine, directly affecting:
Demographic characteristics,
Health outcomes.
in crisis regions like Yemen.
How does urbanisation affect places?
Urbanisation leads to:
Population growth,
Change in social dynamics,
Increased demand for services.
often outpacing available infrastructure.
How does past development shape the current character of a place?
The history of industrialisation or urban policies can lead to:
Existing infrastructure,
Social dynamics,
Cultural identity.
influencing contemporary characteristics.
Analyse how external flows impact the demographic and economic characteristics of a place?
External flows of:
People,
Money,
Resources.
can significantly reshape a location’s social fabric and economic landscape, leading to increased diversity or inequality.
What does the representation of place refer to?
The representation of place is how individuals or organisations portray they know about to others.
How can views of a place differ among individuals?
People may perceive the same place as beautiful or unattractive, exciting or boring, stressful or peaceful.
What impact can positive feelings about a place have on individuals?
positive feelings may lead individuals ro decide to visit or invest in abusiness there.
What is place marketing?
Place marketing is how places are ‘sold’ like products to consumers, including efforts like advertising campaigns and social media promotion.
What does reimaging involve regarding places?
Reimaging is about changing existing negative perceptions of places, often through redevelopment efforts that enhance their appeal.
What is rebranding in the context of place perception?
Rebranding is giving a place a new identity that is appealing to people and investors, often achieved through strategies like place marketing and regeneration schemes.
How do local groups influence perceptions of places?
Local groups may try to change the local economy or the quality of life residents, e.g. organising events like food festivals.
What role do stories and articles play in representing places?
Stories and articles describe places and evoke emotional responses but typically reflect the author’s perspective, offering an incomplete view.
Why might newspaper articles have biased representations of places?
Newspaper may focus on topics likely to sell more copies, rather than providing a balanced perspective on a place.
What is the significance of subjective representations of places?
Subjective representations are based on feelings or opinions, and they can convey a personal sense of place that differs from objective facts.
How can films and photography contribute to our understanding of places?
Films and photography can effectively convey the sense of place and character, as they offer visual interpretations that can alter perceptions over time.
