Changing Places key terms

Community group

• an organised collection of people with shared interest and aims often concerning aspects of public life

Endogenous factor

• these constitute the characteristics of the place itself, including aspects such as climate, topography, land use, the built environment and social and economic characteristics, all of which contribute to peoples’ experience of the place and their sense of place

Exogenous factor

• these constitute external agents and processes that affect the character of place and the experiences of those who ligve there

• they include the activities of central governments, decision taking by business and public agencies, and the operation and effect of the national and international economy

Near place

• a location that a person perceives as being physically close, whether spatially or through easy access

• often this place is inextricably linked to the place the individual is located

Far place

• a place that a person perceives as being physically distant

• the place may be viewed as being different to that of their own experienced place

Experienced place

• a place in which a person has actually spent time and directly experienced its characteristics

Media place

• a place that has a meaning for a person as a result of exposure to images and information about that place via TV, radio, print, film or online

Insider perspective

• a viewpoint from an individual who typically lives in a place and therefore has frequent, direct experience of that place, and understands the social and cultural norms

Outsider perspective

• a viewpoint from an individual who is not from a place or who doesn’t live there and has little experience of the place

• such individuals may not understand the social norms of the society

Place

• an area on the earths surface which is identified as distinct by the people who live in it or visit it, and which has meaning for them

• such meaning can and may well be shared by different groups of people

Location

• physical point of where a place is

Locale

• everyday activities and happenings of a place

• structures social interactions and behavioural traits of people

• conform with social stereotypes in certain settings

Sense of place

• the subjective emotional attachment to a place which gives it meaning

Identities

• a combination of physical, psychological and behavioural traits that contribute to a persons self-awareness and how others perceive them

• this is in part shaped by where they live and/or their place of birth

Representation

• how a place is portrayed by the views, statements and communications of others

• this may be through formal sources such as census data or through informal sources such as media reportage and imagery or verbalisation by others

Perspective

• a particular attitude or view towards a place

• this can be influenced by media representation and/or personal experience

Placelessness

• place is not unique

• many UK high streets have similar chain shops (locales) - these then develop the sense of place, which makes them clone towns

• could however be argued that people shape the place, so memories created within locales will make the area unique to them

Gentrification

• the process of renovation and improvement of housing to suit a middle class audience, usually leading to higher house prices

• can cause insiders to feel like outsiders over time

• entire districts can change and adapt to suit a different audience

The Other

• refers to people who are unfamiliar or different to the self

• conflict and social tensions can exist when people who do not have the same identity as other people they meet

Place meaning

• refers to the sense of place and character that different people igve to a place

• how a place is represented by tourist organisations, governments, corporate bodies and community groups

• shaped by past and present connections from global to local scales

Rebranding

• the process by which forces of change aim to adapt the place meaning of a location

• through encouraging tourism or promoting endogenous or exogenous characteristics of a place to overcome negative connotations

Globalisation (GS&GG)

• the economic, political and social changes associated with technological and other driving forces which have been a key feature of global economy and society in recent decades.

Topophilia

• love of a place

• can be formed from strong positive attachment to place

Topophobia

• dislike of a place

• can be formed from strong negative attachment to place

Genius Loci

• ‘spirit of the place’

• it refers to the distinctiveness of landscapes

• a location's genius loci creates a unique sense of place that influences human experience, culture, and memory