8.3

Question 1

What is meaning?

Answer 1

Individual or collective perceptions of place. This can change over time.

Question 2

What is representation?

Answer 2

How a place is portrayed or seen in society. This can change over time.

Question 3

What is sense of place?

Answer 3

The meaning attributed to a place as influenced by our interactions with it.

From these real life experiences (eg living or working there), we develop sense of place.

Question 4

Why is developing a sense of place important?

Answer 4

Because research suggests that connecting to one’s surrounding environment establishes knowledge of and appreciation for its resources.

Question 5

A sense of place supports…

Answer 5

Sense of place supports the development of personal identity; having a strong sense of place supports can inspire stewardship and understanding. SoP is said to nurture empathy.

Question 6

Define place memory.

Answer 6

The ability of place to make the past come to life in the present. This can occur through material artefacts (eg photos)

Question 7

What is the difference between sense of place and perception of place?

Answer 7

Perception of place is developed through what people have seen, heard or read about a place. Whereas sense of place is the meaning attributed to a place as influenced by our interactions with it from our real life experiences.

Question 8

Perceptions of international places tend to be influenced by…

Answer 8

The media rather than by personal and direct experience.

Question 9

Why is international positive place perception important?

Answer 9

Because governments are keen to attract trade and investment into their country.

Question 10

How is a positive perception of place created for the UK?

Answer 10

Organisations eg British council help to promote the U.K. through educational and cultural links.
The government and monarchy are also seen to play a pivotal role in promoting international relations.

Question 11

Why are perceptions of place important at a local level?

Answer 11

To improve investment prospects, as people are more likely to want to live or work in a place with a good reputation or positive image.

Question 12

Give examples of agents of change.

Answer 12

National and local governments, corporate bodies, tourist organisations and community groups.

Question 13

In what ways can perception of place be managed and manipulated?

Answer 13

Place marketing, reimaging and rebranding.

Question 14

With the example of Western Super Mare, give examples of place marketing.

Answer 14

• advertising campaigns eg social media marketing through FB
• an official website and newsletter
• WSM logo
• creation and promotion of the Love Western Winter Wonderland, a festive attraction incorporating an xmas light switch on

Question 15

What is rebranding used for?

Answer 15

To discard negative perceptions of place.

Its aim is to try to make a location desirable place in which to live (as well as to invest and develop industrial activity), and one that people will want to visit for social and recreational purposes and to shop and spend money.

Question 16

Why would it potentially be difficult to rebrand a place?

Answer 16

If you’re not an insider, and inside a place, Yi-Fu Tuan have emphasised that without a thorough understanding of place, you’d find it difficult to rebrand a pace.

Question 17

What are the problems with rebranding?

Answer 17

Different stakeholders (eg pre-existing residents, local businesses) often want to protect and project their local distinctiveness, while development agencies seek to establish place brands based on government incentives, available technologies and the area’s international links.

Question 18

What is re-imaging?

Answer 18

Re-imaging seeks to discard negative perceptions of place and generate a new, positive set of ideas, feelings and attitudes of people to that place.

Question 19

Why was Amsterdam rebranded?

Answer 19

• greater competition from other cities within and outside of the Netherlands
• social and economic decline in some areas
• the city’s reputation for being liberal towards drugs and prostitution, which was seen as inappropriate for new investors and enterprises
• a failed bit to host the Olympics

Question 20

Outline the rebranding strategy of Amsterdam.

Answer 20

The ‘I Amsterdam’ slogan, seen to be clear and memorable in large 3D letters in from of a famous museum in 2005.

This sculpture is now the city’s most photographed item - photographed over 8000 times on a sunny day, and the use of smartphones had seen the image spread across the world, and as a result Amsterdam has become one of the most successful brands on social media.

Amsterdam has now seen an increase in tourism and is in the top 5 European cities based on its brand strength and cultural assets.

Question 21

What s a corporate body?

Answer 21

An organisation / group of people that is identified by a particular name. Eg businesses, government agencies.

Question 22

Airline and train companies also seek to manage perceptions of place. Why?

Answer 22

They do so in order to get people to use their travel services to visit these places.

Question 23

Why do communities / local groups take an active role in managing and improving perception of place?

Answer 23

To attract investment and improve opportunities and services within the area.

Question 24

Why do regeneration and rebranding strategies increasingly involve local people?

Answer 24

Because they have the insider experience of place and will be the people most affected by changes.