Module 2: Changing Places Flashcards
What is a place
A particular position, point or area in a space
What is a location
A position in abstract space relative to other geographical features coordinates. Eg/ country grid reference, nearby features
What is the meaning of a local
At an individual level personal and subjective emotion attachment at a social/cultural level and common meaning
What are the characteristics forming the identity of place
•social-economic
•political
•cultural
•demography
•built environment
•physical Geography
What is the concept of placeless ness
-some spaces, especially urban areas are becoming homogeneous (the same) due to the process of globalisation. This has created ‘clone towns’
What are clone towns
Clone towns are where there high street or other major shopping areas are significantly dominated by chain stores, making it indistinguishable from other town centres
How wide scale is the placelessness issue in the Uk
-42/103 towns in the Uk became clone towns
-many towns are turning into retail chains
What is the problem with clone towns
-loose sense of identity
-local businesses shut down
-over crowding of chain businesses
How/ why do humans perceive places in different ways: identity (localism and regionalism and nationalism)
-this can be seen at a number of scales
-localism: an affection or emotional ownership of a place. This could be through reading local newspapers, being a member of a local club.
-regionalism: loyalty to a region with a population that shares similarities (accent, wealth)
-nationalism: loyalty and devotion to a nation represented with patriotism (ukip/conservatives being dangerously patriotic)
How/ why do humans perceive places in different ways: belonging
This may be built on a number of factors including ethnicity, language, region and dialect
How/ why do humans perceive places in different ways: well-being
How does a place make you feel
-tropophilia: a strong attachment to a place
-topophobia: a dread or adverse reaction to a place
What is meant by perception
The way in which something/ somewhere is regarded, understood or interpreted
How are places perceived by different factors: gender
In different societies the role of men and women are reflected in the way the two groups can move around and the types of places they use
How are places perceived by different factors: religion
People have given places and spaces spiritual meanings for millennia and this affects peoples perception of these places eg/ Jerusalem, mecca, the river Ganges, the Vatican
How are places perceived by different factors: age
Peoples perception of place changes as they got older. The perception of a disco or nightclub will have different perceptions as age changes. This can alter the relative popularity of a place. Eg/ London may seem exciting to young people but could be deemed as dangerous and scary to older people
How are places perceived by different factors: sexuality
As the acceptance of different sexual orientations becomes more widespread, some places acquire a meaning because they are where LGBTQ groups tend to cluster
How are places perceived by different factors: role performed
Your role and the role of politics can have a huge impact on how you perceive a place
What is a life cycle in age
The progress of a person through various stages based on age and family unit form infancy to old age. Perception is relative to the stage that you are at
What is an insider perspective
-people who live in a place or visiting it often
-insiders have a strong relationship to a place they are familiar with. To be inside a place is to belong to and identify with it
-they underpin the subjectivity that is the basis for the sense of place of the community
What is an outsider perspective
-outsiders are the people who visit the place or who are new to the place
-their sense of place is more vague and abstract. Their view of entering a location or landscape and learning about that place
-they see things afresh and can recognise the notion of “feeling out of place”