Changing places - Human Geography unit 2

What is the definition of a place?

A location with meaning

What is the definition of space?

A location with no meaning

What is the definition of dynamic?

Something that changes e.g places

What is the definition of location?

Where a place is on a map

What is the definition of locale?

A series of setting that make up a place, where everyday activities take place e.g a park

What is meant by a sense of place?

The subjective, emotional attachment to a place (its meaning)

What is meant by placelessnes?

The idea that a landscape may be anywhere as it lacks uniqueness → leads to clone town effect

What is meant by out of place?

When behaviour that differs from the norm and dominant groups who have economic, social and political power make these groups feel uncomfortable

What is the definition of topophilia?

A strong sense of place of love of particular places

What is the definition of topophobia?

A fear or dread of certain places

What is meant by Paris syndrome?

A temporary disorder experienced by some indications when going to a place that causes them shock when they find out it isn’t what they expected the place to be like

What is an insider?

Someone who is familiar with the place, has experience there, feels welcome and belongs e.g home town

What is an outsider?

Someone who feels unwelcome, excluded and don’t feel that they belong e.g homeless

Where are places you may feel like an insider?

• place of birth - if you or parents were born in the country

• Language capability - if you’re fluent in the local language

• Social interactions - if you understand the unspoken rules of the society and conform to local norms

When may you feel like an outsider?

• place of birth - if you weren’t born in the country / immigrant

• Language capability - if you aren’t fluent and don’t understand the local norms

• Social interactions - if you misunderstand social interactions (e.g French people greeting by kissing cheek)

What are some factors influencing opinions?

• age

• Gender

• Religion

• Media/ book/ film influences

How is an insiders perspective on an area influenced?

• develop sense of place through everyday experiences in familiar settings

• Live there so have a stake in the community affecting how u feel about it

• Sense of place is subjective

Why do people care about insider and outsider perspectives on a place?

• investment decisions → policy makers perspective is influenced to decide what parts of uk should/‘nt get funding for new developments

• Tourism → perspective on a place influences where people want to go on holiday

• Residential choices → some areas less populated than others influencing people to believe this is because some areas are more prosperous than others

What is time space convergence?

The process of travel time diminishing as tech advancements in transportation and communication bring places closer together

What are the 3 theories of place?

1. Descriptive approach → idea that the world is a set of places which can each be studied and are distinct

2. Social constructionist approach → idea that a place is the result of social processes at a particular time

3. Phenomenological approach → idea that perception of place depends on individual experience and not related to aspects of the place

How did Totnes prevent itself from becoming a clone town?

• located in south Devon

• Costa wanted to expand into totnes but withdrew after meetings and 6k out of 8.5k locals signing a petition to stop this

• Costa would have threatened local businesses and their suppliers

• Costa expansion is rejected so Totnes keeps its individuality and charm which attract visitors

• However they weren’t able to stop cafe Nero in 2019

What is meant by character of place?

The specific qualities, attributes or features of a location that make it unique

How is the character of a place affected?

By endogenous and exogenous factors

What are some endogenous factors of York?

• topography → on flat land on the confluence of 2 rivers

• Demographics → youths in city centre and elderly in suburbs

• Economy → chocolate factory and its employees, railways and tourism

What are some exogenous factors in York?

• investment → TNC employers (nestle)

• Tourism

• Migration

What does homogenised mean?

To make something look the same

(Some argue globalization has caused this to many cities)

What is glocalisation?

Adapting to the local market

What had happened in Detroit (distant place case study)?

• in Michigan

• Many Black people migrated in 20th century from the south to the north in Michigan as the major automotive companies (e.g Ford) payed them equal money as white people

• White people were not happy, causing white flight, which they moved to other places

• Ford and General Motors shut down causing bankruptcy in Detroit

What happened in the 1967 Detroit riots?

• from 23rd-27th July 1967

• Caused from black peoples moving to Detroit, causing a white flight, racism from law enforcement and poor access to medical services

• How it happened: police called to unlicensed bar, someone threw a brick at police car’s window which then prompted the riots

• 43 died , 7.2k arrested, 1k injured , over 2k buildings damaged

• Kerner drew attention to racial segregation and addressed it

• This caused growth in activism and community engagement in Detroit after 2 years

How was Detroit regenerated recently?

• ford bought a train station in Detroit that was last opened in 1988 and renovated it

• This has employed 2.5k workers

• Attracts more people to Detroit

• but has increased house prices

How do some perceive Detroit?

• lots of crime

• Poverty

• Run down

What is the reality of Detroit?

• many businesses

• 98% apartments occupied downtown

• $12 billion invested into Detroit in last 6 years

• People are choosing to live here

What is the eight mile road in Detroit?

The road separates the city’s predominately African American urban core from the more white suburbs in the north

What are some quantitative data sources in Detroit?

• high school graduation rates → rates in city of Detroit is below 75% , it is 87% across the US → shows Detroit does not have well funded education , poor access to schools

• Population % growth 1920-2020 → 60% increase in 1930 then decreased to 10% in 1940, then keeps fluctuating after that → shows less migration due to wars , lower birth rates and less attraction to area

What is our near place case study?

York

What are the physical and human characteristics of York?

• physical → River Ouse and Foss , York is low lying (can see on contour lines)

• Human → tourist attractions in city centre (e.g Xmas market) , roads in city , densely built up areas

What are Yorkshire historic major industries and how do they link to the economy?

• Rowntree’s (now Nestle) makes chocolate and is one of biggest employers in the city

• Railway station in York and National Railway Museum - brings people in and tourist attraction

What are some demographic and cultural changes in York?

• census → 2011 population 198,000 , 2021 population 203,000

• 1.2% decrease in children (better education , focusing more on jobs)

• Increase in every age category over 50 (better healthcare)

What are some economic and social changes in York?

• 2016 York was one of the 10 most unequal cities in the Uk

• 79% employment rate in 2023 (2.5% more than Uk average)

• 2000s nestle employed 14,000 , now fallen to 2,000 employed

What are some qualitative data sources of York?

• old paintings → it has been 150 years and some infrastructure has stayed same (e.g Minster and Bootham Bar)

• Photographs → centre of York still used as a social space and an area for people to compute despite transportation changes (building of roads)

What are the three aspects needed for an identity of place?

• physical setting

• Meaning/ image

• Activity

How can place identity be changed rapidly?

As a result of increasing flows of people and culture from one place to another

What are the positives of suburbanisation in the inner city?

• improvement of transport links

• less demand for high density high rise buildings → decreased urban heat island effect

What are the negatives of suburbanisation in the inner city?

• businesses and people move away

• decreased employment

What are the positives of suburbanisation in the rural urban fringe?

• new facilities and services open up

• More people paying taxes → increased investment

What are the negatives of suburbanisation in the rural urban fringe?

• increased house and land prices

• More people commuting → increases air and noise pollution

How has brick lane changed over time due to migration?

17th century - French move in as they are driven out of France, they build Huguenot Church

19-20th century - Irish and Jewish immigrants arrive , change church to a synagogue

Late 20th century - Jewish move out and Bangladeshi move in and change synagogue to a mosque , now lots of Bangladeshi shops

What is some evidence of migration on York?

• black, African, Caribbean, black British are smallest ethnic group in York

• Asian supermarket on Rougier street

• Majority of ethnic minority working in healthcare

• The universities attract people into city