Changing Places Content

Place

A location with meaning. Places can have personal meaning (subjective) or cultural and social significance shared by groups.

Three aspects of place

The three aspects of place are Location, Locale, and Sense of Place.

Location

The geographical position of a place on a map, defined by coordinates (latitude and longitude) or physical boundaries (e.g., Winchester is in Hampshire, UK).

Locale

The setting where social interactions occur, shaped by culture and history (e.g., Trafalgar Square as a site of protests and celebrations).

Sense of Place

The emotional attachment and meaning people associate with a place (e.g., a childhood home evoking nostalgia).

Three theoretical approaches to place

The three approaches are Descriptive, Social Constructionist, and Phenomenological.

Descriptive Approach

This approach sees places as distinct, objective locations with measurable characteristics (e.g., population size, climate).

Social Constructionist Approach

This approach argues that places are shaped by social, political, and economic processes (e.g., Trafalgar Square as a symbol of the British Empire).

Phenomenological Approach

This approach focuses on individual experiences and emotions in relation to place (e.g., Yi-Fu Tuan's topophilia - love for a place).

Place influence on identity

Places shape identity through local, regional, and national affiliations (e.g., supporting a local football team, regional dialects).

Case study on place and identity

Cornwall's Mebyon Kernow Party campaigns for self-rule, emphasizing Cornwall's distinct language and Celtic heritage.

Place influence on belonging

Factors such as age, gender, socio-economic status, religion, and ethnicity impact a person's sense of belonging to a place.

Place influence on well-being

Good infrastructure, safety, and community engagement contribute to physical and mental well-being.

Case study on place and well-being

Altrincham (Greater Manchester, UK) was voted the best place to live in the UK (2020) due to its revitalized town center, strong community spirit, and access to green spaces.

Quantitative data

Numerical data that can be measured and analyzed statistically (e.g., census data, crime rates, house prices).

Examples of quantitative data

Census data - Shows population structure, employment rates, and ethnicity. Crime statistics - Helps assess safety and social issues.

Crime statistics

Helps assess safety and social issues.

Advantages of using quantitative data

Reliable, objective, and allows for comparisons between places.

Disadvantages of using quantitative data

Lacks depth, doesn't capture emotions or lived experiences.

Qualitative data

Descriptive, non-numerical data gathered from interviews, photographs, art, music, and media.

Examples of qualitative data used to study place - Poetry, films, and songs

Reveal emotional connections.

Examples of qualitative data used to study place - Graffiti and murals

Express political and cultural meanings.

Advantages of using qualitative data

Provides rich details, captures subjective experiences and cultural insights.

Disadvantages of using qualitative data

Can be biased, hard to quantify, and difficult to generalize.

Near places

Physically close but may feel unfamiliar due to cultural differences.

Far places

May feel familiar due to globalization and media exposure (e.g., American culture in the UK).

Experienced place

A place that someone has physically visited or lived in, shaping their perception through direct interaction.

Media place

A place that is only known through TV, books, film, or social media, without direct experience (e.g., the way Africa is often portrayed as a place of poverty in Western media).

Media representation of a rural place

Idyllic, peaceful, and harmonious (e.g., Country Life magazine).

Reality of rural areas

Facing poverty, isolation, and lack of public transport.

Media representation of an urban place

Crime-ridden, polluted, and overcrowded.

Reality of urban areas

Often diverse, vibrant, and rich in opportunities.

Endogenous factor

An internal characteristic shaping a place, such as landscape, infrastructure, or demographics.

Endogenous factors - Physical geography

Relief, altitude, soil quality.

Endogenous factors - Location

Urban, rural, coastal, or inland.

Endogenous factors - Built environment

Architecture, land use.

Endogenous factors - Infrastructure - Roads, transport, communication networks.

Endogenous factors - Demographics

Population size, age structure, ethnicity.

Endogenous factors - Socio-economic factors

Income levels, employment, education.

Endogenous factors - Cultural factors

Heritage, language, religion.

Endogenous factors - Political factors

Local government policies, planning decisions.

Exogenous factor

An external influence affecting a place, such as migration, investment, or globalization.

Exogenous factors - Migration

Arrival of new communities altering local culture.

Exogenous factors - Economic change

Investments from multinational corporations.

Exogenous factors - Government policies

Urban regeneration projects.

Exogenous factors - Trade links

Global import/export industries.

Exogenous factors - Technological developments

Smart cities, digital infrastructure.