Changing Places Flashcards
Place?
Place is made of 3 different aspects:
- Locale – what we think people do in a place e.g. a park is a place where people play sports, have picnics and play together
- Sense of place – emotional meanings a place has to someone
- Location - the physical point of where a place is - longitude and latitude
- Different groups or individuals may have a different sense of the same place e.g. one person may think of a city centre as a place of excitement and opportunity, whilst another person may think of it as a place of stress
- Topophobia - negative sense of place
- Topophilia - positive sense of place
- Yi-Fu Tuan proposed that our attachment to a place increases as we age
Identity and place
- Our attachment to a place may become a significant part of our identity:
- Localism e.g. town
- Regionalism e.g. county
- Nationalism e.g. country
- Globalism e.g. world as a whole
Insider and outsiders?
Insider - someone who is familiar with a place and who feels welcome in that place e.g. they feel that they belong there
- e.g. residents of a country, who all share the same cultural values, may feel like insiders in that country
Outsider - someone who feels unfamiliar with a place and who feels unwelcome in that place e.g. they don’t feel that they belong there
- e.g. international immigrants, who don’t share the same cultural values as the residents of a country, may feel like outsiders in the country they move to
Factors that can make a person feel like an insider or an outsider?
- Age, gender and religion etc (if similar then you’re more likely to feel like an insider)
Sense of place can change because:
- Personal factors- attachment to a place grows stronger over time (Yi-Fu Tuan). As you have more experiences in a place, you are more likely to be attached with that place
- External factors- those living in a place for a long time may begin to feel like an outsider due to gentrification e.g. new establishments will bring an influx of wealthier people which may make those who are poorer living nearby feel like outsiders
Experienced, media, near and far places?
- Experienced places - places people have been to and spent time in. Sense of place is influenced by their visitation there
- Media places - places that people have not been to, but have created a sense of place for through the media e.g. books, art and films
- A person’s sense of a media place can be very different to the lived experience of the same place. This is because the media may present a place in a particular way and for a particular purpose e.g. tourist websites may present holiday destinations such as the Caribbean as a place of relaxation, but the reality for people who live there may be that it is a place of poverty and hardship
Examples:
- Through holiday brochures, Cornwall may seem like a happy, healthy place with a close-knit community. However, in reality 90% of neighbourhoods are more deprived than the rest of the UK
- Near places - places geographically near to where a person lives
- Far places - places distant from where a person lives
People tend to know near places better than far places, though this is changing:
- Improvements in transport mean people can reach far places more quickly
- Technological advances including the internet mean it is easier to communicate with far places and to experience them
- People are more likely to feel like insiders in near places, as they are more likely to have experienced them and feel comfortable in them
- Not all people will feel like insiders in all geographically near places though - people may feel excluded from near places for many reasons e.g. their age, gender, sexuality etc
- People are more likely to feel like outsiders in far places, as they are less likely to have experienced them and feel comfortable in them
- Not all people will feel like outsiders in distant places - Movies, shows, and books often provide detailed descriptions of places, including their culture, language, and way of life. This can make people feel like they “know” the place, making them feel like insiders// Seeing familiar brands like McDonald’s can give a feeling of familiarity —> feel more like an insider
Globalisation/Clone towns/Placelessness
Placelessness - globalisation making distant places look and feel the same
Positives of globalisation:
- Enhances the character of a place —> attracts a wide range of people from different demographic backgrounds as everyone is familiar with it —> e.g. mcdonald’s is known across the globe —> improves cultural diversity of an area
- Well known stores —> attract people to move into the area —> regeneration of urban areas —> solves problem of inner city decline
Negatives of globalisation:
- Has eroded local cultures and produced homogenised places —> this can be seen through the presence of global chains such as Starbucks and McDonalds —> creates clone towns —> clones towns look just like each other —> locals will be frustrated especially if they have a strong attachment to their town/city
Example:
- Totnes is a town in South Devon. In 2012 Costa tried to open a store in the area. Within weeks of the proposal, the towns population signed a petition to show they wanted to support their local independent shops and would not shop at any coffee chain that came to town —> shows that the people have a strong connection towards Totnes and do not want it to be changed
Endogenous and Exogenous factors that influence the character of a place
- Endogenous — the internal factors which shape a place’s character
- Exogenous — the external factors which shape a place’s character e.g. the flows of people, resources, money and ideas (the original character of many places has changed because of the external flows that have occurred over time)
Endogenous (physical):
- Location e.g. urban or rural area
- Topography e.g. steep or flat land
- Physical geography e.g. rock type, rivers, mountains
Endogenous (human):
- Land use - human activities that occur on the land e.g. farming, residential etc
- Demographic - who lives in a place and what they’re like
- Economic characteristics - primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary
- Infrastructure - rail connections, distance to airport etc
Exogenous factors:
- Flows of ideas from the USA contribute to an ‘Americanisation’ of many places around the world
- Flows of people - migration and tourism - changes character of places e.g. economic and demographic characteristics
- Flows of investment e.g. tech company moves into an area - changes character of place by attracting different people into the area etc
Brick Lane Case Study Part 1
Gentrification:
- Brick Lane was commonly known for its curry houses and rapidly growing Bengali community, so much so that it was given the name Banglatown —> in the 1970s, many immigrants from Bangladesh migrated to Brick Lane and opened up numerous businesses such as clothing stores and restaurants
- However, in more recent years the area has been gentrified —> has become populated with vintage and art stores etc —> the influx of hipster culture has changed the character of Brick Lane —> many people view Brick Lane as a ‘hipster heaven’
- As the area has become more desirable, housing prices have increased, leading to many long term residents from ethnic minority backgrounds to move
- One study conducted that the borough of tower hamlets has undergone the most gentrification in London from the years 2010 to 2016
- Five story shopping mall development was being built upon the old truman brewery —> despite many protests and backlash from local residents, the project was approved in September 2021 —> many locals expressed their concern for the built and felt the mall would damage the culture of the area
- The ‘save Brick Lane’ campaign started —> have now collected over £20m to help legally fight against the build of the five story mall
- Ultimately, though many long term residents have already been negatively affected by gentrification of Brick Lane, it is never too late to take action and help future generations
Location:
- Brick Lane is in Tower Hamlets, East London
Flows of people:
- 1600s: French Protestants brought silk weaving to the area. Wooden spools still hang above the doors to show where the weavers lived. Large houses with large windows so that the French could work with natural light later into the evening
- 1800s: Jewish migrants moved to Brick Lane
- 1970s: Influx of Bangladeshi immigrants
- Now: Young professionals
Flows of Money/Investment:
Regeneration:
The Truman Brewery Site:
- It started facing challenges due to increased competition from other breweries - was forced to shut down - the brewery site has since been transformed into an 11 acre site, with lots of boutiques and cafés etc - has attracted many people into the area
- In recent years, five story shopping mall development has been proposed
Spitalfields Market:
- Spitalfields Market was a fruit and vegetable market but went into decline - the market was redeveloped with modern shops, offices and restaurants
Fournier Street:
- Fournier Street is known for its Georgian townhouses, which were historically home to the French
- The street has been a protected heritage area, which has ensured that its Georgian architecture remains intact. Many of the houses have been restored and are now highly desirable properties, often purchased by wealthy professionals and celebrities
Cereal Café:
- Opened in 2014 - famous for its unique concept of selling over 100 types of cereals from across the world along with various types of milk and toppings - contributed to gentrification of the area
- In 2015, it was targeted by anti-gentrification protesters - thought that the business altered the demographic of the area - gentrification meant that old communities were displaced as they could no longer afford the increasing property prices
Demographic:
- Today, the area is still known for its large Bangladeshi population, but gentrification has brought in a younger, more diverse population of professionals and creatives
Cultural:
- Brick Lane was historically known for its vibrant Bangladeshi culture. This cultural identity has been somewhat diluted as gentrification brings in a more globalised, artsy, hipster culture.
Economic:
- The redevelopment of sites like the Truman Brewery and Spitalfields Market has increased economic growth in the area. However, this economic growth has also led to increased property prices and living costs, pushing out the original working-class and immigrant populations
- New job opportunities in creative industries, hospitality, and tourism, but these positions often require higher levels of education or skills that long-term, lower-income residents might not have access to
- The traditional businesses e.g. local curry houses are being replaced by boutiques and cafés etc
Social Inequality:
- As property prices increase, many of the long-term, lower-income ethnic minority residents have been forced to move out of Brick Lane. This has led to a displacement of lower-income families, resulting in social segregation
- The jobs created by gentrification are often not accessible to the local, low-skilled population, which leads to inequality
Lived experience:
- Locals feel displaced - negative lived experience
How can external forces affect the demographic, cultural, economic and social characteristics of places?
Government policies:
- Governments can affect the demographic characteristics of places e.g. by introducing policies to control population. In China, the one-child policy was introduced as a method to reduce rapid population growth, but in France the government introduced policies (such as lower taxes and better maternity leave conditions) to increase the birth rate.
- Other government policies can affect the cultural characteristics of places e.g. by controlling immigration. For example, in the 1960s the German government invited Turkish people to live and work in Germany. As a result, aspects of Turkish culture have become a part of German culture e.g. Turkish fast food outlets are common across Germany, Turkish is the second most widely spoken language and Islam is widely practised.
- Some government policies can affect the demographic, economic and social characteristics of places. For example, the Hulme City Challenge Partnership —> scheme led to an increase in the population in the area, created jobs, reduced unemployment and increased quality of life for some residents
Decisions of transnational corporations:
- The decisions of TNCs can have major impacts on the demographic, social and economic characteristics of places. For example, Detroit (in the USA) was a major global centre of car manufacturing in the early and mid 20th century, with TNCs such as Ford and General Motors located there
- TNCs gave the city a massive economic boost —> large numbers of jobs were created —> this altered the demographic characteristics of the city by attracting large numbers of migrants —> the population grew to around 2 million in the 1950s
- After the 1950s, many of the manufacturing TNCs closed or relocated factories to places with cheaper labour e.g. Mexico —> this led to population decline (population of Detroit had reduced to around 700 000), high employment (25% of the workforce in Detroit was unemployed) and social deprivation (Detroit has some of the highest crime rates in the USA)
Impacts of international or global institutions:
- Since 2015, there has been increased conflict in Yemen so the World Food Programme distributed food aid to millions which prevented death from starvation —> kept the population up —> impacted social and demographic characteristics of places
- From 2010 to 2016, the World Bank funded the Ningbo New Countryside Development Project in China which provided water aid to 144 villages. This impacted social and demographic characteristics of china —> deaths were prevented so population increased and quality of life improved
Relationships and connections
Perception of place?
Perception of a place
- Places have different meanings to different people (known as sense of place) —> e.g. individuals may perceive the same location differently —> one might think it’s beautiful and one might think it’s unattractive
What affects someone perception of a place?
- How people feel about a place is often dependent on their experience of that place e.g. people may feel like insiders or outsiders in a place depending on whether their experience of that place has been positive or negative
- How people feel about places can also be affected by how places have been represented to them (sources of representation)
- Individuals who are proud to come from a place may present it to others in a positive way, whilst individuals who have had a bad experience of a place may present it negatively to others —> affects someone’s perception of place
Different people will aim to manage the perception of place:
These include:
- National and local governments —> adopt strategies to manipulate perception of place in order to attract people and investment to a place —> rebranding, marketing and reimaging
- Corporate bodies (e.g. businesses and tourist agencies) —> use websites, advertisements and slogans etc
- Community and local groups —> might try to change the perception of their place to improve the local economy or the lives of local people e.g. local people and business owners in Ludlow promote the town through organising a food festival every year - this associates Ludlow with good food and attracts visitors to the area
Place Marketing
- Marketing companies may be employed to produce websites, design logos, run advertising campaigns and social media pages - all of which are designed to promote a particular place. e.g. the Lake District is being promoted as the ‘Adventure Capital’ of the UK through a website and related social media pages which have details of all the available activities in the area
Rebranding
- Giving a place a new identity that is appealing to people and investors. It is achieved through reimaging, place marketing and regeneration schemes
Reimaging
- Changing existing negative perceptions of places and generating positive feelings and attitudes towards a place
Example of rebranding in Leeds:
Why did Leeds need rebranding?
- Deindustrialisation led to job losses and the decline of Leeds —> people have a negative perception of Leeds (negative sense of place)
Successes?
- Trinity Leeds shopping centre opened in 2013 —> attracted many people back into the area as jobs were created —> economic growth
- Clarence Dock waterfront area was rebranded and redeveloped with new office spaces, residential buildings, and entertainment venues —> economic growth
Challenges?
- Economic divide —> rebranding attempts often prioritise city centre developments while more deprived neighbourhoods may see little benefit —> city centre becomes richer and deprived neighbourhoods become poorer —> exacerbate economic inequality
- Gentrification —> more people have moved into Leeds —> property prices have increase —> displacement of low-income residents —> social segregation
Representations of place?
Places Can be Represented Using a Variety of Different Forms
- Quantitative - they can be quantified numerically e.g. graphs and charts
- Qualitative - they can’t be quantified numerically and may be more descriptive or creative e.g. art, poetry and photography
- It’s important to look at a variety of different sources to build up a complete picture of what a place is like
Statistics
- Statistics e.g. census data —> lots of quantitative information about what places are like, e.g. population, population structure, average income, crime figures etc
- Quantitative data doesn’t tell us about someone’s sense of place —> e.g. data may show an area as poor and derelict but this does not reflect residents opinions of their place
Maps
- Maps can be used to show where physical features are —> physical features are key to a place’s character
- They can also show quantitative data e.g. unemployment rates, crime rates etc —> contributes to the character of a place but doesn’t tell us about someone’s sense of place
Films, photography and art
- Visual representations show what places look like, and can give some sense of what a place is like
- Art - only represents what the artist wants to show you, and can therefore be misleading
- Photographs - only show what a place looks like in a given moment - photographs taken at different times of day can make a place look and feel different. Photographs can also be altered so places look different to the reality
- Films and television can portray the same place in a different light e.g. a crime drama set in a city might give a different sense of place to a romantic drama set in the same city
Stories, articles, music and poetry
- Written representations can be used to describe places, and can give us a sense of what it’s like to be in that place. They usually only offer the perspective of the author though, so they don’t show a complete picture
Example of sources of representation in Singapore:
- Located in South East Asia
Facts:
- Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world
- Singapore is a diverse city — 74% Chinese, 15% Malay, and 7% Indian
- Singapore recycles approximately 60% of its total waste
Advertising:
- Creates an appealing image to encourage tourism and investment —> focus on the best aspects of the city while downplaying the less desirable features —> leads to a biased representation
- Websites like visitsingapore.com portray Singapore in a positive light —> includes photos of iconic landmarks like Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay
These advertisements rarely show:
- Crowded streets or urban congestion
- High cost of living which affects both residents and tourists
- Weather challenges, such as the hot and humid conditions
Brick Lane Case Study Part 2
Quantitative sources of representation:
Census data:
- 2021 census —> population around 13,000 —> tight knit community
- 41% of people are from Bangladesh —> could suggest a varied cultural experience e.g. mixture of food and music// Evaluation —> however, some people may have a negative perception of the place as they might associate the demographic makeup with issues like unemployment or crime
- In 2011, 40% of houses were socially rented but in 2021, 36% were socially rented —> indicator of gentrification (socially rented could present the place as run down and deprived —> people may have a negative sense of place)
IMD maps:
- In the 1970s, there was an influx of Bangladeshi immigrants —> Brick Lane’s IMD scores were low. Immigrant communities often faced barriers to higher-paying jobs, and educational attainment levels were low
- With the rise of gentrification in the 1990s, the IMD scores for Brick Lane began to show improvements. New businesses moved into the area, creating more job opportunities// Older buildings were refurbished and new houses were built// Crime rates began to decline as investment in the area increased —> IMD scores began to improve
Positives of quantitative sources:
- IMD and census data can show us how the character of Brick Lane changes overtime
- Census data can help to determine what the character of a place is like e.g. types of shops, smells, music
Negatives of quantitative sources:
- While knowing statistics may be useful, it doesn’t tell us about people’s lived experience
Qualitative sources of representation:
Street art:
- A couple holding hands in the street —> symbolises love —> links to the idea of Brick Lane being a tight-knit community// the couple stick figures do not represent any specific ethnic identities —> reflects the multicultural nature of Brick Lane
- The bright colors of the art contribute to the lively atmosphere of Brick Lane
- Negatives: street art can show us how the artist views a place but this doesn’t represent what locals think of it// street art alone cannot provide a complete picture of the place’s character
Books:
- Brick Lane by Monica Ali —> about a bangladeshi woman who moved to brick lane —> immigrant experiences and challenges of adjusting to life in a foreign country —> provides us with an outsiders experience
- Negatives: doesn’t reflect the true character of a place as it only focuses on negatives// biased representation as it’s only coming from the perspective of the author// doesn’t capture the full diversity of the place e.g. curry houses etc
Poems:
- ‘The Brick Lane I see’ by Sally Flood
- ‘Brick Lane is a mixture of aromatic spices’ —> diverse
- ‘Cars and vans add to the pollution’ —> negative sense of place (HOWEVER, not all residents may feel this way)
- Important to use qualitative data and quantitative data in order to get a full idea of what a place is like
otley case study
endogenous factors impacting the character of otley:
physical:
- topography - the chevin is located to the south of otley - provides scenic landscapes, attracting walkers and tourists - local businesses open// the natural topography also limits urban expansion, helping otley retain its traditional market-town character
- physical geography - middle course of the river wharfe runs through otley//rolling hills - provides scenic landscapes, attracting walkers and tourists - local businesses open (however, it can cause flooding - can disrupt lives and property value)
- location - rural, green area - provides scenic landscapes, attracting walkers and tourists - local businesses open
human:
- population size - census 2021: around 14,000 - slightly growing population - increase demand for new housing developments e.g. garnett wharfe
- population structure - around 30% of the population are 65 or older - growing aging population - change in land use e.g. increase in retirement housing - new adlington care home built on the site of a former primary school - services around otley are also tailored to old people (however, young people see the town as boring - leads to outwards migration)
- ethnicity - 97% of people are white - shops are tailored to meet the needs of the white population (limited cultural diversity - people from different ethnic backgrounds may feel like outsiders)
- land use - material of buildings etc - older victorian buildings keeps the historic feeling to the town
exogenous factors impacting the character of otley:
- otley’s proximity to leeds has led to a growing commuter population - demand for housing increases - house prices increase - harder for younger, lower-income residents to remain in the town
- investment from chains e.g. costa has altered the high street, reducing the dominance of independent businesses and potentially eroding the traditional community feel
economic change in otley:
past and present:
- garnett’s paper mill - located on the river wharfe, providing manufacturing jobs// now: a mixed housing development, including affordable housing and luxury homes - also home to buon apps, an Italian restaurant
- otley mills - former textile mill// now: wharfebank business centre - office spaces and commercial units
- ashfield works - a former printing press and then a haulage yard// now: transformed into a care home and residential homes
impact on lived experience:
- greater employment in tertiary sector (however, former factory workers may struggle to transition into service-based jobs)
- increased quality of life e.g. more restaurants, care homes etc (however, this may lead to gentrification//transformation of mills and factories into business spaces and housing reduces otley’s historical industrial identity)
changing demographic characteristics in otley (between 2011 to 2021):
- population has remained stable at around 14,000 - tight knit community
- population remains predominantly white - 97% of the population
- the number of people aged 65+ has increased by around 1000
- however, census data doesn’t tell us about someone’s sense of place
social inequality and deprivation in otley overtime:
- deprivation and social inequality has decreased in otley overtime
- otley faced economic challenges as industries like textiles and manufacturing declined - loss of jobs led to a temporary period of economic deprivation - overtime, deprivation has decreased due to a shift towards tertiary sector jobs, improved transport links (increase access to higher paying jobs) and gentrification
- however, there are still pockets of deprivation e.g. weston - due to limited access to high-paying jobs and low educational attainment etc
sources of representation - otley:
poems:
- surprise view by kevin collier - the poem describes the beautiful views from surprise view in otley - portrays otley as a peaceful place away from city life
- moving to otley by sue stanwell - this poem reflects on the experience of moving to otley and adjusting to the new surroundings - highlights how people otley has a welcoming environment
- evaluation: while it captures the picturesque/positive side of otley, it doesn’t provide a complete representation of the town - misses aspects such as deprivation e.g. weston// only offers perspective from the author
art:
- otley bridge on the river wharfe by william hodges - important part of otley’s identity - very pretty
- evaluation: while it captures the picturesque/positive side of otley, it doesn’t provide a complete representation of the town - misses aspects such as deprivation e.g. weston// only shows you what the artist wants to show you - can be misleading
TV:
- emmerdale - filmed in otley - traditional market town/close knit community/picturesque
- evaluation: doesn’t accurately reflect the everyday life in otley// it doesn’t provide a complete representation of the town - misses aspects such as deprivation e.g. weston and gentrification
external agencies in otley to influence place meaning:
otley town council - our otley neighbourhood plan:
- aims to manage otley’s growth while preserving its historic character and natural environment
- includes local residents - they’re involved in decision making processes - e.g. consulted on housing, green spaces, and infrastructure
streevision 2030:
- transform otley’s streets and public spaces to improve accessibility, sustainability, and community life
- 20mph limit and widening paths - better safety and increased walkability
- improvements to parks and public areas - make the town more vibrant and welcoming
