Changing Places Flashcards
Placelessness
Loss of uniqueness of place in the cultural landscape, so one place looks like the next
Clone Towns
Urban retail areas dominated by national and international chain stores
Place
A portion of geographic space with a distinctive identity. It has a meaning to people
Location
Spatial area of a place.
Locale
Takes into account the effect that people have on a setting. A place is shaped by people, cultures and the customs within it.
Sense of place
The subjective attachment people have to a place. May be completely different from one perspective to the next.
What are the three theoretical approaches to place?
- Descriptivist
- Social Constructionist
- Phenomenological
Descriptivist approach to place
The idea that the world is a set of places and each can be studied and is distinct.
Social Constructionist approach to place
Sees place as a product of a particular set of processes occurring at a particular time.
Phenomenological approach to place
Not interested in the unique characteristics of a place or why it was constructed. Interested in how individuals experience a place.
What are the three scales we see identity at?
- Localism
- Regionalism
- Nationalism
Localism
An affection for a place or an emotional ownership of it.
Regionalism
Consciousness of, and loyalty to, a distinct region with a population that shares similarities.
Nationalism
Loyalty and devotion to a nation which creates a sense of national consciousness. Patriotism could be considered as an example of sense of place.
What is meant by global sense of place?
Places are dynamic and have multiple identities. They can only be understood by linking that place to places beyond. (Doreen Massey)
Two arguments of the effect of globalisation on a place
- It has led to the homogenization of place. ‘placelessness’ and ‘clone towns’. No place is unique
- Led to increasing significance in place. It has localised places. ‘glocalisation’.
Glocalisation
Products or services that are distributed globally but marketed to appeal to local consumers.
What factors influence sense of belonging? (7)
- Age
- Sex/gender
- Sexuality
- Level of education
- Ethnicity
- Socioeconomic status
- Religion
In what ways does place influence identity?
There can be meaning attached to a place and it can shape cultural identity through identifying with and against a place.
Insider perspective
The person connects with the place and feels a sense of belonging.
Outsider perspective
The person feels no connection to the place and could feel excluded/alienated.
What are the two categories of place?
Near places
Far places
Positionality
Factors that influence how we perceive places such as age, gender, ethnicity and religion.
Endogenous factors (definition)
Any factors thats originate internally. These could be human or physical
Exogenous factors (definition)
Factors that originate externally. Could be influences from other places.
Examples of endogenous factors
- Topography
- Location
- Land use
- Built environment
- Demographics
Near places
Geographically or emotionally near places. Changes the way we experience the place, more likely to feel ‘in place’.
Far places
Geographically or emotionally distant, more likely to feel ‘out of place’. Media has allowed geographically distant places to feel more familiar.
Experienced places
Places we have spent time in (may be geographically distant but feel near and familiar)
Media places
Places you have not been to but have created a sense of place through their depiction in books, tv etc. Often doesn’t reflect reality as it often presents a place in a particular way.
How are rural areas represented?
- Rural idyll
- Rural fearscape
How are urban areas represented?
Utopian vs Dystopian
How might economic factors affect the character of a place?
- Changes in international investment levels
- Changes in government investment
- Second home ownership, gentrification, social housing
How might technology affect the character of a place?
- Loss of high street due to online shopping
- Mechanisation/automation affects employment rates
- Containerisation leads to closure of some ports
How might international organisations affect the character of a place?
- UN: sustainable development goals. Global rates of poverty down from 47% > 14%.
- World Food Programmes: food aid
- World Bank: development projects (post-earthquake reconstruction)
- IMF: Conditions on monetary loans, which include cuts on public spending.
How might policies affect the character of a place?
- Population policies: Influences demographics
- Immigration policies: Cultural characteristics
- Investment into the area
Public place
Open to most people.
Private place
Somewhere you need to be given access to
Define a ‘place as home’
A place where you feel like you can be yourself
Topophobia
A negative response to a place
Topophilia
A strong sense of place/cultural identity
Why is the division between urban and rural areas unclear?
No clear boundaries between rural and urban. Greenbelts are often counted as part of the city.
Placemaking
The deliberate shaping of an environment to facilitate social interaction and improve a communities quality of life.
Localisation
the adaptation of a product or service to meet the needs of a particular language, culture or a desired population’s ‘look and feel’
What factors affect people’s sense of belonging to a place?
- Common language
- National anthem
- Flag
- Cultural events
What is the difference between race and ethnicity when it comes to considering belonging?
Race is usually associated with biology and physical characteristics, whereas ethnicity is linked to cultural expression and identification.
How does well-being and a good place to live and work link together?
having a good place to live and work significantly improves the wellbeing of those who live there
Third Space
The lived space, which combines the first (physical) and second (media/represented) space to create a fully lived space
What is the ‘wicked problem’?
rapid de-industrialisation of school leaver standards - leaving them lacking skills required for remaining industries, leading to unemployment
How does migration impact the character of a place?
- tourism
- rural-urban migration
- creation of a succession of homogenous places
- creation of heterogeneous places with super diversity
- altering the built environment for functional needs
How does terrorism impact the character of a place?
- societal collective trauma
- alters the built environment directly
e. g. New York City, 9/11
How do industrial accidents impact the character of a place?
- societal collective trauma
- alters the built environment directly
e. g. Chernobyl, Ukrainian USSR
How do natural disasters impact the character of a place?
e. g. New Orleans, USA (Hurricane Katrina)
- collective trauma
- damage to infrastructure
How does climate change impact the character of a place?
e. g. The Maldives
- effects of rising sea levels
Detroit Case Study - how did the expansion of the automotive industry change conditions?
- fueled large growth spurt, and population reached 1.85 million
- people moved to work at the big three auto companies (ford, general motors and chrysler)
- city very dependant on the automobile industry
- location ideal due to proximity to Canada
Detroit Case Study - why did detroit decline in the 1970s?
- many jobs were replaced with machinery
- industry shrank during the 1970 energy crisis and 1980 recession
Detroit Case Study - how did the decline in the automotive industry impact economic change?
- city is operating $300 million dollars short of sustainability
- major house price decline: 2012 average price $7,500, 2013 average price $500 or less
Detroit Case Study - how did the decline in the automotive industry impact social inequality?
- 36% of the city’s population is below the poverty line
- by 2010, the vacancy rate was 27.8%
How has Bournville Village in Birmingham changed?
Cadbury’s
- built to house employees from the cadbury factory
- good living conditions and community for them
How has Devonport in Plymouth changed?
New Deal Programme
- after fast growing port town, it became ill-suited to family life
- it has recently been regenerated, and old historical infrastructure has been changed and redeveloped
- people are now living in better conditions than before, and people are much happier, enjoying a better quality of life
How has Medellin in Colombia changed?
Medellin Regeneration Programme and Encicla Initiative
- used to be labelled ‘the most dangerous city in the world’ due to gangs and violence
- has been regenerated and rebranded to be more accessible and less divided
- programmes have been introduced to improve the lives of the disadvantaged
How do the IMF impact on place?
They provide loans for financial crisis
How do the World Bank impact on place?
They provide developmental loans to reduce poverty
Gentrification
new middle class migrants renovate older housing stock eventually driving the prices beyond reach of the original community
Shoreditch ‘Cereal Killer Cafe’ - how has gentrification caused conflict?
- the prices being charged are sparking a controversy where locals claim its ‘not good for the community’ as many locals cannot afford to pay the prices
- hundreds of protestors attacked the cereal restaurant over prices and the effects on the community
What are the positives of gentrification?
- improved public services and diverse local shops
- more cultural and income mix
- reduced crime
- improved accessibility and transport cost savings
What are the negatives of gentrification?
- reduced local identity and social cohesion
- property prices rise lead to sustainability issues
- reduced sense of place
- can create conflict between old and new residents
Decanting
temporarily moving people to another place
What do maps show about the rural-urban continuum?
- more rural than urban
- no sharp difference between the areas
- gradual change over time
- variety of types of rural area
What issues are remote rural areas facing?
- closure of rural services, decline in employment opportunities
- Second home ownership making it difficult for people to live there
- radically/politically motivated disputes
What are the main factors explaining rural change?
- population movements - counter urbanisation
- TNCs and governments relocating industries to the outskirts of cities
- changes to agriculture
Counter-urbanisation
the movement away from large urban settlements to smaller urban settlements and rural settlements
Footloose industry
An industry that can be placed or located in any location without it impacting their effectiveness
What are the negative impacts of counter-urbanisation?
- decline in local services
- house prices rise
What are the three ways of classifying rural areas?
1) ONS: population under 10,000
2) distance from an urban area
3) Terry Marsden: based on meaning and function
Isolated settlement
Extreme weather conditions/lack of natural resources/pioneer settlements (1-2 homes)
Dispersed settlement
Spread over a wide area/no nucleation/hamlets (few houses)
Loose-knit settlement
Similar to nucleated settlements, not that clustered - spaces/farm land between them with little pattern
Linear settlement
Settlements constructed along a line, often due to the geographical landscape
Nucleated settlement
Settlements where buildings are clustered around a particular point, often for socioeconomic purpose
Planned settlement
Formally planned by governments. tend to be nearer to larger cities to house workforce/fellow patterns
Oxford - why might oxford be considered a unique place?
- best known for the university and architecture
- recently become well known for successful covid-19 vaccine
Oxford - how has relief influenced the development of oxford?
The relief of the land and location of the river has meant that much of oxford is built on the flood plain.
Oxford - how has drainage influenced the development of oxford?
Most of the city is built on the floodplain and much of the rainwater gets pushed through into the river from the drainage system
Oxford - how has oxford changed between 1890 and 2016?
Oxford has grown and welcomed many new families and immigrants to the area. This has caused it to grow significantly, and now 27% of oxford is in the green belt.
Oxford - how have specific areas changed within oxford?
Since 1890, oxford has expanded beyond the expanding towns of Cowley, Headington and Botley. these areas are now part of the city, forming transport links for people who are working in central oxford.
Oxford - what are the reasons for the area changing?
- increased tourism
- founding and running of the university has welcomed students from across the world
- immigrants and families now move to the area to work
- Industry changing
Oxford - what are the issues oxford is facing?
- rising housing costs
- many businesses are struggling to employ people and continue running
- the threat of more building on the green belt
Globalisation
The increasing interconnectivity between places
What are examples of social globalisation?
- social media
- cultural food
- religion
- migration
What are examples of political globalisation?
- global governance
- growth of political ideas
What are examples of economic globalisation?
- trade links
- TNCs
- investment
- money exchanges
Four factors that have caused globalisation.
1) technology
2) improvements to transport
3) containerisation
4) trade blocs
Oxford - in what ways has oxford become globalised?
- westgate and shopping
- tourism
- international students and the university
Asset strength
An asset based approach promotes capacity and connectedness by valuing the skills, knowledge, connections and potential in an individuals group or community
Buzz strength
Media mentions, letting many more people know about a city
Place branding
A means of selling a place using branding techniques and marketing strategies. Often focuses on creating uniqueness, making a place into a destination
London Docklands - why was the area regenerated?
- docks were closed in 1981 as they were too small for container ships
- unemployment was high
- flats in tower hamlets, newham and southwark were in poor condition
- derelict and contaminated land due to damage from the war
- inadequate transport network
- lack of recreation
London Docklands - who was involved in the urban regeneration?
- the local authority
- private investors
- other bodies
London Docklands - what did the regeneration involve?
- increasing employment
- improving and increasing housing
- improving transport links
- improving the environment and leisure
London Docklands - how this has impacted on areas place meaning?
- improved the quality of the area
- attracts more people to move and work there
- creates a multiplier effect of economic growth
Reimaging
The cultural reinvention of a place to change negative perceptions of an area. May involve creating new visual images of places. Strategic aim is a makeover.
Liverpool - why is re imaging necessary?
- unemployment had doubled between 1971 and 1981
- between 1971 and 2001 its population fell by 27.9%
- by 1991, 40% lived in poverty and 15% in intense poverty
- derelict and vacant buildings characterise much of the inner city
Liverpool - what did the reimaging involve?
- retail and office development
- £15 million cruise liner terminal
- £150 million Echo Arena
- Kings waterfront
- museum of liverpool
- major refurbishment of kensington, anfield and breckfield
- expansion of the airport
Liverpool - what re imaging agencies were involved in the re imaging process?
- liverpool city council
- the north west development agency
- european regional development fund
Liverpool - how did re-imaging consider exogenous and endogenous factors?
Endogenous - retail and office development, museums, residential refurbishment
Exogenous- transport links, airport expansion
What is the frictional effect of distance?
As distance increases, the impact a place has on us decreases
What are examples of physical regeneration based on endogenous factors?
- Lake District National Park
- UNESCO
Place marketing
How areas are sold like products to consumers
Rebranding
Giving a place a new identity that is appealing to people and investors. It is achieved through reimaging, place marketing and regeneration schemes. Many places create logos and slogans that are designed to be instantly recognisable and create positive associations with the place they’re representing.
Amsterdam - why was rebranding necessary?
They wanted to maintain the cities top spot for tourism and business so they rebranded the city using a marketing campaign to attract more people and business to the city
Amsterdam - what was done to rebrand?
- motto ‘I Amsterdam’ was developed
- this then helped develop a logo to identify with the core values of the city
Amsterdam - who was involved in the re branding?
it was developed by Amsterdam Partners Organisation - including the council and businesses
How do governments influence people’s sense of place, create new meanings and behaviour?
- attract people
- attract investment
How do corporate bodies influence people’s sense of place, create new meanings and behaviour?
- generate profit
- they have been set up for specific purpose
How do community and local groups influence peoples sense of place, create new meanings and behaviour?
- try to change the perception of their place
- improve the local economy
- improve the lives of local people
Smart place
Fast broadband allows for places to develop and designed city services, and encourage quaternary industry. Reference to exogenous factors.
Eco-city
Technology is used to alter the sense of place by maximising energy efficiency or enhancing recycling. Much of this follows the Paris Agreement (2015).
Newport Parody Video - how does this represent newport?
- insider perspective
- not good for tourism
- tells us about sense of place and change over time
Newport Parody Video - how does this influence people’s perception of Newport as a place?
- subjective; biased view of the place
- snapshot of the past
Formal representation
Produced by political, social and cultural agencies and TNCs, generally more accurate
Informal representation
Small groups working outside formal sector institutions to show a insider perspective of a place
Oxford - how do films and TV represent oxford?
- posh elitist place
- very university focused
- exclusive
- town vs gown idea
- university patronises those who aren’t a part of it
e. g. Lewis, The Riot Club
What are the strengths of film and TV representation?
- emotive
- sense of place
What are the weaknesses of film and TV representation?
- very subjective
- dramatic and exaggerated
- dependant on the story
What are the strengths of music representation?
- insider perspective
- sense of place
- change over time
What are the weaknesses of music representation?
- subjective biased view
- snapshot of the past
Oxford - how does art represent oxford?
- university focused
- dreaming spires
e. g. high street oxford 1810, radcliffe cameron 2018
What are the strengths of art representation?
- emotive advertising
- distinctive features
- sense of place
- insider perspective
- graffiti - gives voice to those not usually heard
What are the weaknesses of art representation?
- not realistic
- snapshot of time
- limited perspective
- subjective
- romanticised
- difficult to interpret
Oxford - how does photography represent oxford?
- university focus
- historical focus
e. g. Radcliffe Cameron
What are the strengths of photography representation?
- realistic and easier to interpret
- shows change over time
What are the weaknesses of photography representation?
- snapshot in time
- biased - choose what to include in shot
Oxford - how does poetry represent oxford?
- city with rich history
- known most for university
- major tourist attraction
- rural and urban areas
- separate from reality
- focus on students and green spaces
- insiders and outsiders
e. g. Oxford - CS Lewis
What are the strengths of poetry representation?
- shows change over time
- emotive
- sense of place
- insider perspective
What are the weaknesses of poetry representation?
- difficult to interpret
- subjective
- emotive
Oxford - how does literature represent oxford?
- university focused
- focus on students and tradition
- historical focus
- elitist
e. g. brideshead revisited
What are the strengths of literature representation?
- insider perspective
- emotive
- shows change over time
What are the weaknesses of literature representation?
- subjective
- difficult to interpret
- biased
- exaggerated opinion
How is oxford represented in the media?
- university focus
- focus on privilege and class difference
- crime focus
What are the strengths of media representation?
- realistic
- easier to interpret
- emotive advertising
- distinctive features
- sense of place
- insider perspective
What are the weaknesses of media representation?
- can be unrealistic
- snapshot in time
- limited perspective
- subjective
- difficult to interpret
How do flows of people affect demographic?
- gentrification > young people pushed out
- Rural/urban migration > working age increase
How do flows of money/investment affect demographic?
- TNC growth > increases population. More diversity
- Deindustrialisation (Detroit Case Study)
How do flows of ideas/resources affect demographic?
- World Food Programme: Population growth. Lowers infant mortality rate
- Government policies: Population/immigration control
How do flows of people influence cultural change?
Migration: Increases cultural diversity. Mostly young people.
How do flows of money/investment influence cultural change?
TNCs: Homogenisation/glocalisation (high streets)
How do flows of ideas/resources influence cultural change?
Immigration Policies: change cultural characteristics
How do flows of people influence economic change?
- Migration: Lower wages, more unemployment
- Gentrification /second home ownership increase house prices
How do flows of money/investment influence economic change?
TNCs: homogenisation/glocalisation
How do flows of ideas/resources influence economic change?
- World Bank: development loans
- IMF: loans for financial crisis. Conditions on these mean cuts to public spending.
How do flows of people affect social inequality?
- Immigration can cause racism & discrimination
- Rural/urban migration: slums
- Counter-urbanisation: concentration of poverty
What are the positive impacts of the IMF on places?
Prevent economic crisis
What are the negative impacts of the IMF on places?
The conditions attached means cuts to public spending which leads to privatisation and a rise in infant mortality.
