Changing Places Flashcards
(39 cards)
Concept of ‘placesness’
Some places have become placeless. Some spaces, especially urban areas, are becoming homogenous due to the process of globalisation.
Localism
Affection/emotional ownership of a place. Through reading local newspapers, being member of a local club/organisation- can lead to nimbyism.
Regionalism
Loyalty to distinct region with population sharing similarities.
Nationalism
Loyalty & devotion to a nation, represented with patriotism.
Topophilia
A strong attachment to a place.
Topophobia
Dread or adverse reaction to to it.
Perception
The way in which something or somewhere is regarded, understood or interpreted.
Factors affecting our place representation
Religion: people given places/spaces spiritual meanings for millennia. Eg: Jerusalem, Mecca etc..
Age: people’s perception of place changes as they get older. The perception of a place changes popularity of a place too.
Gender: roles of men/women reflected in the way 2 groups move around & types of places used.
Role performed: your role & role of politics can have a huge impact on how you perceive a place.
Sexuality: acceptance of different sexual orientations becomes more widespread, some acquire a meaning being central for LGBTQ etc..
Insiders (people who live in a place or frequent it on a regular basis)
The perspective is intimate (communal), stronger relationship to a place they’re familiar with to be “inside” the place is to belong to it. They have “daily rhythms” eg. School run or “shared experiences” eg. Socialising in the village pub.
Outsiders (the people who visit the place, or who are new to the place)
The perspective is neutral (draw upon experiences of other places to understand the one under observation). More vague & abstract sense of place. A more personal view of entering & location or landscape. We can recognise this notion of “feeling out of place”.
What spaces exclude people?
Place of worship (male/female marriage)
Workplaces & offices
Having areas with no lifts
Transport eg. First class & business class
Lack of access/facilities for people with disabilities
Bars/pubs/clubs eg. Age, sexuality
Anti-homeless benches
This is hostile architecture making life more difficult for homeless people & “pushes them to teh peripheries”.
Anti-skateboarding spikes
Designed to influence public behaviour known as “hostile architecture”. Skateboarders are angered at the spikes, it’s said “spikes are part of an outdated fortress aesthetic not welcome in communities, where there is recognition that urban design needs to be inclusive.”
Categorising place
1) public & private spaces
2) near & far places
3) experienced places & media places
4) rural & urban places.
Private places
Places which are connected with natural history & art or state power. They’re accessible to all & have a less intimate feel.
Near places (home)
Place we know well/feel secure in. We refer to ‘near places’ with a sense of recognition, intimacy & belonging.
Far places
Those outside of our perceived comfort zone, they may be far both physically & culturally. People recognise the division between ‘us’ + ‘them’.
Experienced places
Places we know & have visited. May also include places such as work where global events/ economics can impact upon the experience of the workers. Eg. They could be “laid off”.
Media places
Impact of electronics means many people today have “no sense of place”. Electronic media is undermining traditional physical & social setting.
Places before & after the media
Calais:
Before the media- sunny/pretty & Romantic
After media- port town, refugee camp (700 migrants & asylum seekers), nice walks but lots of industry
East end of london:
Before the media - busy, central shopping, overcrowded, crime
After the media - east Enders, different languages, lots of violence & crime, more built up in some areas.
Scotland:
Before the media - cold, loch-ness, power cuts.
After media - good rugby, built up/industry, accents, bright lights but cold atmosphere.
Characteristics of an urban area
Dense population, tertiary industry, pollution, crime, transport, tech, industry, diverse culture.
Characteristics of a rural place
Greener, historic, quiet, exposed to weather, low-lying, spacious.
Factors affecting the character of a place
Urban or rural proximity to other settlements, main roads & physical features such as rivers, coasts etc.. socio-economic employment/education. The physical geography. Demographic (eg. Population size & structure). The built environment (land use, age, type of housing, building density & materials.)
Endogenous factors
Characteristics of the place itself or factors which have originated internally. Incl.location, topography, physical geography, land use, built environment & infrastructure & demographic, economic characteristics
Eg- Bridging point over River Avon (location). 70.3% Christian (demographic). Urban environment (land-use)
