Changing places Flashcards
Location:
Where a place is, for example, the co-ordinates on a map.
Locale:
Locale, unlike location, takes into account the effect that people have on their setting. In terms of locale, a place is shaped by the people, cultures and customs.
Sense of place:
The refers tot he subjective and emotional attachment people have to a place. Could be entirely individual.
Perception of place:
This is the what in which place is viewed or regarded by people. This can be influenced by media representation or personal experience.
Placemaking:
The deliberate shaping of an environment to facilitate social interaction and improve a community’s quality of life.
Place:
Location with meaning. Places can be meaningful to individuals in ways that are personal or subjective. Places can also be meaningful at a social or cultural level and these meanings may be shared by different groups of people.
Descriptive approach to ‘Place’:
The idea that the world is a set of places and each place can be studied and is distinct.
Social constructionist approach to place:
Place as a product of a particular set of social processes occurring at a particular time (Trafalgar Square built to commemorate a British Naval victory, could be seen as a place of empire or colonialism)
Phenomenological approach to place:
Not interested in the unique characteristics of a place or why it was constructed, it is interested in how an individual person experiences place.
Trafalgar Square: Lord Nelson statue-
Admiral Lord Nelson is at the top of a column that bears his name in a square commemorating his naval victory over combined French and Spanish fleets in 1805. Sought to inspire pride and patriotism in the country.
Person-place relationship:
People define themselves through a sense of place and by living in places and carrying out a range of everyday practices there.
How do people ‘buy into’ or ‘consume’ place?
E.g those who like the countryside tend to holiday in rural locations, enjoy books, and tv programmes about these areas, spend money on walking gear and maps and even furnish their houses in a country-side style.
Identity in localism:
An affection for or emotional ownership of a particular place. Localism rarely manifests itself in a political sense but can be demonstrated in nimbyism.
Identity in regionalism:
Consciousness of and loyalty to a distinct region with a population that shares similarities.
Identity in nationalism:
Loyalty and devotion to a nation, which creates a sense of national consciousness.
What does Doreen Massey argue about ‘a global sense of place’?
She questioned the idea that places are static. She argued instead that places are dynamic, they have multiple identities and they do not have boundaries. She argues that the character of a place can only be seen and understood by linking that place to places beyond.
Negative effects of globalisation on place:
It has made place less important as the forces of global capitalism have eroded local cultures and produced identical or homogenised places (clone towns). This can bee seen through chains, e.g starbucks.
What did James Kunstler mean by ‘geography of nowhere’?
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 ‘every place is like no place in particular’.
McDonald’s franchise as an example of globalisation:
There are currently more than 36,000 McDonald’s restaurants in over 100 countries but the aim to increase profit led to the company adapting to fit the local market. In Hindu countries beef has been removed from the menu and pork in Muslim countries.
What is the idea of introducing a local currency?
Totnes, South Devon have. The aim is to keep people shopping locally and keep the money in the local economy
Bristol Pound 2012:
Proved so successful (local currency) that since April 2015 residence have been able to use the currency to make council tax payments.
How has belonging effected regeneration schemes?
They now often focus as much on the social environment as much as the built environment and the work of agencies and individuals can have a positive impact on how people feel about where they live.
Factors effecting sense of belonging:
Age, gender, sexuality, socio-economic status, religion and level of education. As well as race and ethnicity.
Race and ethnicity effecting belonging:
(London)
Cities have become much more culturally diverse. London is often referred to as one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities and hosts an enormous number and variety of festivals. it has the largest Chinese new year festival outside of China.
There are still ethnic clusters in parts of London; China town, Banglatown. These have tended to develop with dedicated shops and services for reasons of mutual support and cultural preservation.
Why was Skipton voted the best place to live in Britain (Sunday Time 2014)?
Proximity to the Yorkshire Dales, great schooling, and independent shops along a’buzzing’ high street. Newham was a close second for its offering of ‘country living in the heart of Cambridge’.
What is ‘Transition Network’?
Founded in 2005 as a response to the twin threats of climate change and peak oil. Since then it has gone on tot tackle many other issues including some associated with globalisation, such as the dilution of place identity anD loss of community and economy.
What does Rob Hopkins (Co-founder of transition network) say:
‘It’s about what you can create with the help of people who live in your street, reimagining and rebuilding your neighbourhood, your town. If enough people do it, it can lead to real impact, to real jobs and real transformation of the places we live and beyond.’
What does it mean to be ‘inside a place’?
It is to belong to it and identify with it, and the more profoundly inside you are the stronger is the identity with the place.
NIMBY:
Not in my backyard
In place meaning:
People, activities or events can be seen as in place if they are suited to that area.
Out of place meaning:
People, activities or events that are not fitted to the area, e.g homeless in Canary Wharf.
What does Cultural geographer, Tim Cresswell argue?
People, things and practices are often strongly linked to particular places and when these are broken, or when people have acted out of place, they are deemed to have committed something of a crime.
In the past who have been treated as outsiders?
Protesters, gay, lesbian and bisexual people, gender has also become important.
What stereotypical view has effected women and how?
‘A woman’s place is in the home.’
this affected the type of places in which women felt comfortable.
Positionality-
Factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, politics and socio-economic status, which influence how we perceive different places.
Significance of Mecca, Saudi Arabia:
The most holy of religious places for muslims but for non-muslims it is viewed more as a historical and cultural place.
Migrants (out of place):
Death of migrants in the Mediterranean have highlighted the plight of hundreds of thousands of people trying to escape conflict and reach a ‘better-life’ in Europe, but as people-without-place, such as refugees present a crisis to state power.
United Kingdom media on migrants:
Media reports and anti-migration groups have used metaphors associated with water, blood and disease to describe the influx of refugees. Such negative terminology has invariably meant that the presence if such migrants has met with great resistance and calls from some to protect ‘our place’ and ‘our culture’ against people who do not ‘belong here’.
Possible meanings of near and far places:
They could refer to the geographical distance between places, or they could describe the emotional connection with a particular place and how comfortable a person feels within that place. Geographically near places do not automatically foster identities of familiarity and belonging.
Experienced places:
Those places that a person has spent time in.
Media places:
Places that the person has only read about or seen on film.
Countryside in the UK as a stereotype:
Stereotyped as involving a happy, healthy and close-knit community experiencing few problems of the urban life.
Geographer Paul Cloke on rural UK stereotypes:
Argues that magazines such as country life , tv series such as doc martin, and children’s books such as Postman Pat seek to reinforce stereotypical images by focusing more on nostalgic images of the countryside.
What problems does pushing the idyllic image of rural UK hide?
Unemployment and underemployment, the scarce availability of affordable housing and the reduction in public transport services have all sought to disadvantage low-income households in rural areas. Rural homelessness is also hidden from the media.
Stereotypes of English cities:
Negative way.
Economic and social deprivation, homelessness, crime, vandalism and pollution are just some of the images routinely ascribed to British cities by the media. Successful regeneration of urban areas has made city-living far more attractive in recent decades.
Character of place:
Refers to the physical and human features that help to distinguish it from another place. May be linked to strongly to the natural environment but it is more often a combination of natural and cultural features in the landscape and generally the people who occupy the place.
Endogenous factors:
In the context of place, this refers to the characteristics of the place itself or factors which have originated internally. This would include aspects such as location, physical geography, land use and socio-economic characteristics such as population size and employment rates.
Infrastructure:
Relates to the services considered essential to enable or enhance living conditions. These primarily consist of transport communications (roads, railways, etc), communications infrastructure (phone networks) and services such as water supply, sewers and electrical grids. May also include; local education system, healthcare provision, local government, and law enforcement.
When places first tarted to grow, most only had one distinct function, this might be;
-Good defensive position
-Bridging point
-Availability of natural resources
-Natural routeways
-Trading centres.
Exogenous factors:
The relationship of one place with other places and the external factors which affect this. The demographic, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of a place are shaped by shifting flows of people, resources, money and investment.
What had de-industrialisation led to?
Brought about wholescale change in the economic structure of places and this has led to unemployment and urban decline in cities with a traditional manufacturing base
What is the conflict of new housing construction?
On a local scale it may be seen to affect the character of a place as land use changes and newcomers move into an area.
Effects of second home purchases and gentrification:
In seaside resorts and gentrification in cities is also thought by many to bring change in the character and community of places.
Impact of international migration:
Sometimes form diasporas and create a multicultural society.
Diasporas:
The spread and dispersion of people from their original homeland.
Agents of change:
These are the people who impact on a place whether through living, working, or trying to improve that place. Examples include residents, community groups, corporate entities, central and local government and media.
Agents of change-
Government policies- impact:
These can attract businesses to places and stimulate a positive multiplier effect.
Agents of change-
The decisions of multinational corporations- impact:
-Job losses for employees
-Factory converted into housing
-Major job losses at Port Talbot, Hartlepool and Corby- all highly dependent on the steel industry.
Agents of change-
International or global institutions- impacts:
-Post-earthquake reconstruction of both homes and communities
-Varied level of success around the world
Agents of change-
Government policies- Example:
Regeneration schemes and financial incentives for industries such as subsidies, tax breaks and enterprise zones.
Agents of change-
The decisions of multinational corporations- Example:
-2010, Mondelez international closed the Cadbury factory near Bristol and moved production to Poland.
-2016, Tata Steel announced UK job cuts in response to difficult global market conditions
Agents of change-
International or global institutions- Example:
-2015, the World Bank was running 15 development projects in Haiti
-Millennium Development Goals.
How can change from external forces cause conflict?
People resist changes forced upon their place. The redevelopment of East London for the 2012 Olympic Games was not welcomed by everybody.
Example of continuity and change-
Bournville village, Birmingham
-Shaped almost entirely by the beliefs and ideal of one industrial family, the Cadburys.
-Built as a garden village (late 19th century) after the family moved outside Birmingham to expand their business buildings.
-Area had ample space and gardens so employees had good living conditions
-No public houses, but Bournville village trust set up schools, baths, hospitals, museums for workers.
-It is not longer exclusive to Cadbury workers but physical appearance and community feel stayed the same
-2003, named nicest place in Britain
Example of continuity and change-
Devonport, Plymouth
-Changed a lot in last 50 years (external factors)
-Originally made as naval dockyard town due to location
-By 18th century, became one of the fastest growing towns in England
-1952 Navy made the town centre a storage enclave and enclosed it with a 3m wall.
-Community split in two, displaced residents moved to apartments unfit for their families.
-Naval jobs declined, led to socio-economic problems
-2001-11 Devonport benefited from the New Deal for Communities initiative; 10yrs of funding to improve deprived areas.
-Physical environment changed a lot, dividing wall was removed and flats demolished and historical landmarks incorporated into the redevelopment.
-Still pockets of deprivation.
Example of continuity and change-
Medellin, Colombia.
-Nicknamed, ‘City of eternal Spring’
-Long time associated with drugs and violence, dubbed ‘most violent city in the world.’
-Pablo Escobar held power here until his 1993 death
-Lots of unemployment, crime and poverty; social inequality
-Today, population 2.2 million, it is a model for urban regeneration and sustainable city planning
-One recognised change that had to be made was making the city accessible to all citizens, rich/poor.
-The city’s long-divided social classes can now integrate into everyday economic and educational activities
-Poorest now have escalators and a gondola system to be economically involved.
-Metroplus- rapid bus transport system
-Emission free transport is promoted
-Education, social and art programme budgets have been increased
-Poverty has fallen but the inequality between rich/poor increased and cultural/geographic barriers limit social integration.
-Crime rates and gang violence remain high.
Continuity and Change
Belfast: One place, two representations?
-Capital of Northern Ireland
-286,000 inhabitants
-Industrial city; titanic was built here and largest producer of linen globally
-Suffered in the 30 year period; ‘The Troubles’
-Calm and substantial economic growth since Good Friday Peace agreement 1998
-City centre saw large redevelopment and different parts are rebranded as ‘quarters’ (keeping history/culture)
-Titanic quarter is one of the largest brownfield redevelopment sites in Europe; includes Titanic Studios and 100+ companies
-This is the Creative/cultural Belfast promoted by tourist board
OTHER REPRESENTATION
-Complex political history, religious segregation, image of ‘bombs, bullets and balaclavas’
-Peace walls/political parades are important part of the history some argue they represent a struggling city
-Tourism increased significantly in the last decade, attracting 6.5 million visitors and £450 million annually to local economy
Meaning:
Relates to individual or collective representations of place.
Representation:
How a place is portrayed or ‘seen’ in society.
Meanings of place for children:
Places can hold cultural, historical or spiritual significance but for children it is primarily the emotional attachment associated with places that give then meaning and this is why ‘home’ is often the most important place.
Place in terms of personal identity:
Research suggests that connecting to one’s surrounding environment establishes knowledge of and appreciation for its resources; a sense of place supports the development of personal identity; having a strong sense of place can inspire stewardship and understanding; sense of place is said to nurture empathy.
Place-memory:
The ability of place to make the past come to life in the present. This can occur through material artefacts such as old photographs or place souvenirs. The preservation of buildings, monuments, museums and plaques are all examples of placing memory, to create a public memory.
Cultural geography:
Encourages a more emotional, poetic and spiritual approach to fieldwork.
Influences on perception of international places:
-Media
-History/political relationships
-Trading links
Why is it important for governments to keep a positive place perception on an international level?
Attract trade and investment.
Re-imaging:
Disassociates a place from bad pre-existing images in relation to poor housing, social deprivation, high levels of crime, environmental pollution and industrial derelication. It can then attract new investment, retailing, tourists and residents.
Rebranding:
The way or ways in which a place is re-developed and marketed sio that it gains a new identity. It can then attract new investment, retailing, tourists and residents. It may involve both re-imaging and regeneration.
Regeneration:
Long-term process involving redevelopment and the use of social, economic and environmental action to reverse urban decline and create sustainable communities.
Weston-Super-Mare place marketing strategies:
-Advertising campaigns, including social media marketing through Facebook
-An official Weston-Super-Mare website and newsletter
-A Weston-Super-Mare logo
-Creation and promotion for first ever ‘Love Weston Winter Wonderland, increase perceptions of WSM as somewhere to Christmas shop.
Rebranding of Glasgow, 2013:
Slogan ‘People Make Glasgow’ was introduced as the new brand name for Scotland’s largest city. It was chosen following a crowdsourcing social media campaign involving more than 1,500 people from 42 countries.
Where do many people argue re-branding must come from?
Inside and involve the local residents with ‘insider’ experiences. Geographers Edward Relph and Yi-Fu Tuan have emphasised the importance of being inside a place to truly understand it and likewise, it has been argyed that without a thorough understanding of place, one would find it difficult to regenerate and rebrand a place.
Example of re-branding:
Liverpool
Deindustrialisation had caused economic downturn in the city and riots in 1981 dominated newspaper headlines. Large-scale regeneration began and the Tate Liverpool art gallery was one of a number of projects aimed at re-imaging the city’s industrial heritage through culture.
Factors that had threatened Amsterdam’s reputation:
-Greater competition from other cities both within and outside the Netherlands
-Social and economic decline in some areas
- City’s reputation for being liberal towards soft drugs and prostitution, which was seen as inappropriate for attracting new investors and enterprises
-Failed bid to host the Olympic Games
Amsterdam’s re-branding:
Slogans
“I Amsterdam” Large three dimensional letters were positioned in front of the city’s famous Rijksmuseum in 2005 and being photographed over 8000 times on sunny days. Social media also helped the image spread globally, the re-imaging becoming slightly too successful due to overtourism.
Corporate bodies:
A corporate body is an organisation or group of persons that is identified by a particular name. E.g institutions, businesses, non-profit enterprises, and government agencies.
How do tourist agencies sell a “place”?
Aim to make a place look as good as it can and attract as many visitors as possible. Promotional materials such as brochures, videos, websites, magazine advertisements, slogans and logos are used.
Why do airlines and train companies promote places?
In order to get people to use their travel services to visit these places.
Objective:
Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.
Qualitative data:
Information that is non-numerical and used in a relatively unstructured and open-ended way. It is descriptive information, which often comes from interviews, focus groups or artistic depictions such as photos.
Quantitative data:
Data that can be qualified and verified, and is amendable to statistical manipulation.
What is the purpose of the UK census?
Details the social and economic characteristics of the population of the UK over the last 200 years. Provides large scale quantitative data to better understand and plan for the population.
What is the Office for National Statistics (ONS) responsible for?
-Collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population and society at national, regional and local levels.
-Conducting the census in England and Wales every ten years.
Why should we view maps critically?
Throughout history they have distorted reality.
How can maps have hidden bias and influence?
Google maps is not objective, they direct people towards businesses that have engineered their appearance on the firdt page of a google search.
Counter-mapping:
A bottom-up process by which people produce their own maps, informed by their own local knowledge and understanding of places. The map then provides not only factuaol information but a sense of place as well.
Biomapping:
Mapping of emotions shown by people to certain places through use of a device which records the users Galvanic Skin Response. This is a simple indicator of emotional response in conjunction with a geographical location.
Advantages of interviews:
-First-hand or direct reports of experiences, opinions or feelings.
-They can be structured or unstructured.
Disadvantages of using interviews:
-Interviewer bias may affect the responses of the interviewee bu using leading questions.
-People may not be honest as they like to present themselves in a favourable light.
Ethnography:
Research method that explores what people do as well say. To understand different places from the inside the ethnographer would participate in their daily life.
What has meant geographical distance has become less of an issue, and why?
Media as people can gain insight and instant knowledge about them from media sources.
What can affect a photograph to make place seem more appealing?
Photoshop, weather and the season, selective photographing.
How can textual sources have an affect on the representation/perception of place?
Some places are so strongly associated with particular authors and stories that they are now promoted and advertised. This can play a positive role on the representation of place, and the role of popular media can be instrumental in creating ‘place prejudice’.
An example of terxtual sources having a negative impact on a place:
Liverpool, depicted through unemployment, gangs, economic deprivation, rioting and drug problems.
Famous poets associated with places:
-William Wordsworth is linked ti the lake district
-Seamus Heaney has written about his Irish roots
-William Blake described poverty and despair in London
