AQA A-Level Geography - Changing places

What does sense of place mean?

This refers to the subjective and emotional attachment people have to a place. People develop a ‘sense of place’ through experience and knowledge of a particular area

What does place mean?

A location with meaning. Places can be meaningful to individuals in ways that are personal or subjective. Places can also be meaningful at a social or cultural level and these meanings may be shared by different groups of people.

What does location mean?

‘Where’ a place is, for example the co-ordinates on a map.

What makes place more complex than location?

• Place can be applied to any scale.

• Place does not need to have a fixed location spatially or temporally

• Places are dynamic and subject to constant change.

What is the descriptive approach to place?

The idea that the world is a set of place and each place can be studied and is distinct.

What is the social constructionist approach to place?

Place is a product of a particular set of social processes occurring at a particular time.

What is the phenomenological approach to place?

Not interested in unique characteristics or why a place was built. Interested in how a place is experienced; the relationship between person and place.

What did Yi-Fu Tuan suggest?

Our understanding of the environment and our attachment of it expands with age. He suggests our geographical horizons expand in parallel to our physical ability to explore the world.

What is a person-place relationship?

The emotional, social, and physical connections individuals and communities form with specific locations.

What 3 aspects are used to explore the importance of place?

• Identity

• Belonging

• Well-being

What are 3 scales of identity?

• Localism

• Regionalism

• Nationalism

What is localism?

An affection for or emotional ownership of a particular place. Localism rarely manifests itself in a political sense but can be demonstrated in ‘nimbyism’ (not in my backyard) which occurs when people are reluctant to have their local areas affected by development.

What is regionalism?

Consciousness of, and loyalty to, a distinct region with a population that shares similarities.

What is nationalism?

Loyalty and devotion to a nation, which creates a sense of national consciousness. Patriotism could be considered as an example of sense of place.

Where in the UK is an example of regionalism?

Cornwall.

How does Cornwall show regionalism?

The Mebyon Kernow political party: believes Cornwall county, with its own distinct identity, language and heritage, has the same right to self-rule as other parts of the UK.

What does locale mean?

This is the place where something happens or is set, or that has particular events associated with it.

What did Doreen Massey suggest?

Places are dynamic and ever changing with multiple identities and they do not have borders. What we need is a global sense of the local, a global sense of place.

What is an issue with globalisation of place?

Some argue that globalisation has made place less important as the forces of global capitalism have eroded local cultures and produced identical or homogenised places.

What are near places?

Locations that individuals feel close to, both physically and emotionally, often serving as the setting for their daily lives and personal experiences.

What are far places?

Locations perceived as physically or emotionally distant, often contrasting with one's familiar surroundings, and are frequently understood through media representations rather than direct experience.

What are experienced places?

Locations a person has physically visited and spent time in, allowing them to develop a direct, personal, and emotional "sense of place"

What are media places?

Locations a person knows through media representations—such as film, news, social media, and advertising—rather than through direct experience or physical visits.

What is a clone town?

Urban areas where independent local shops are replaced by formulaic national or global chain stores, resulting in a loss of distinct local identity and character.

What are China's ‘fake’ cities an example of?

Clone town.

What are China’s “fake” or “clone” cities?

They are large urban developments built to imitate famous international cities or styles, often with low populations at first. They are examples of place rebranding and rapid urbanisation.

What is a famous example of a Chinese clone town based on Paris?

Tianducheng — a development containing a replica Eiffel Tower and Paris-style architecture.

Why was Tianducheng built?

It was built to attract middle-class residents and investors by creating a luxurious European image associated with wealth and status.

What is meant by a “ghost city” in China?

A city or urban area with many empty buildings and low population density because development happened faster than demand for housing.

What are some criticisms of China’s clone towns?

• Lack of authentic local identity

• Empty housing and wasted investment

• Social inequality

• Places designed more for profit than community

What is another example of a Chinese clone town?

Thames Town — designed to resemble a traditional English town with red telephone boxes, cobbled streets, and Tudor-style buildings.

What does glocalisation mean?

A term used to describe products or services that are distributed globally but which are fashioned to appeal to the consumers in a local market.

What is an insider perspective?

The viewpoint, feelings, and understanding of a place held by someone who lives there, belongs to the community, and has deep, lived experience. This perspective is characterized by familiarity with local norms, culture, and daily rhythms, often fostering feelings of safety, security, and strong emotional attachment to a location.

What is an outsider perspective?

The viewpoint of someone who does not belong to, feel safe in, or intimately know a place, often resulting in a superficial, stereotypical, or media-driven understanding rather than a lived experience. This perspective contrasts with "insiders" (locals) and can arise from visiting, living in a new area, or feeling socially excluded.

What is positionality?

Refers to factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, politics and socio-economic status, which influence how we perceive different places.

What is belonging?

Attachment to a particular social group. This can vary in size and scale from local community to the nation.

What influences the feeling of belonging?

Social environment:

• Age

• Gender

• Sexuality

• Socio-economic status

• Religion

• Education

• Ethnicity

What is social exclusion?

State where people are forced outside of the prevailing system and its rights and privileges.

What are endogenous characteristics?

This refers to the characteristics of the place itself. This would include aspects such as location, physical geography, land use and social and economic characteristics such as population size and employment rates.

What are exogenous characteristics?

This refers to the relationship of one place with other places and the external factors which affect this. The demographic, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of a place are shaped by shifting flows of people, resources, money and investment.

What endogenous characteristics shaped Devonport, Plymouth?

• Historic naval dockyard established in the 17th century

• Strong maritime identity

• Traditional working-class community

• Dense terraced housing built for dock workers

• Local economic dependence on the Royal Navy

What exogenous factors influenced change in Devonport, Plymouth?

• Decline in UK naval employment

• Government-led regeneration schemes

• External investment into housing and retail

• National economic restructuring

• Migration into and out of Plymouth

How has regeneration affected Devonport, Plymouth?

• Improved housing and infrastructure

• Some reduction in deprivation

• New business developments

• Community tensions over identity change

• Gentrification concerns

What endogenous characteristics define Bournville, Birmingham?

• Founded by the Cadbury family in 1879

• Garden village design with green spaces

• Strong community ethos

• High-quality housing and amenities

• Quaker values influencing development

What exogenous influences shaped Bournville, Birmingham?

• Expansion of the chocolate industry

• National housing policies

• Increased connectivity to Birmingham

• External migration into the suburb

• Influence of wider urban growth in Birmingham

Wny is Cadbury important to the identity of Bournville, Birmingham?

Cadbury created the village to provide workers with healthy living conditions, shaping:

• Housing quality

• Green spaces

• Community facilities

• Social identity

• Employment opportunities

What endogenous characteristics shaped Medellín, Colombia?

• Mountainous location in the Aburrá Valley

• Industrial history (especially textiles)

• Strong local culture and identity

• Social inequality between neighbourhoods

• Informal hillside settlements

What exogenous characteristics influenced change in Medellín, Colombia?

• Globalisation and foreign investment

• Drug trade linked to international demand

• Government urban regeneration policies

• International recognition and tourism

• Infrastructure investment from outside agencies

How did urban regeneration transform Medellín, Colombia?

• Development of cable cars and metro system

• Improved access to poorer communities

• Reduced crime rates

• Increased economic opportunities

• Improved international reputation

What 8 factors affect the character of place?

• Physical geography such as relief, altitude, aspect, drainage, soil and rock type.

• Demographic factors: population size and structure (age and gender), ethnicity.

• Location: Urban or rural, proximity to other settlements, main roads and physical features such as rivers, the coast etc.

• The built environment: land use, age and type of housing, building density, building materials.

• Political factors such as the role and strength of local councils and/or resident groups

• Mobility of the population for work and leisure pursuits.

• Cultural factors such as heritage, religion, language.

• Socio-economic factors such as employment opportunities, amenities, educational attainment and opportunities, income, health, crime rates, local clubs and societies.

What are 5 examples of natural endogenous factors?

• Topography/ relief: Hills, valleys; plains or mountains etc.

• Water: Springs; rivers; coasts; lakes.

• Rocks/ geology: Minerals; precious ores; soils

• Climate: Temperature; wind; precipitation

• Location: Altitude; coastal; aspect; floodplain; desert etc.

What are 5 examples of human endogenous factors?

• Land use: Farming? Urban? Industrial?

• Economic characteristics: Primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary industries.

• Built environment: Modernist or high tech, post-modern western cities, age of buildings.

• Communications and infrastructure: Motorways, broadband, rail, airport etc.

  • Demographic characteristics: gender balance, population age', ethnicity factors

What are 4 examples of exogenous factors?

• Migration

• Technological change

• Economic change

• Government rules and decisions

What is Dubai an example of?

A media place

Why is Dubai considered a media place?

Dubai is heavily represented in global media as:

• Modern

• Wealthy

• Luxurious

• Futuristic

• Tourist-friendly

Media portrayals focus on skyscrapers, luxury hotels, shopping malls, and artificial islands.

What positive media representations are associated with Dubai?

• Economic success

• Luxury tourism destination

• Safe and modern city

• Global business hub

• Innovative architecture and engineering

Examples include images of:

• Burj Khalifa

• Palm Jumeirah

• Luxury shopping and hotels

What negative media representations exist about Dubai?

Media criticism focuses on:

• Migrant worker exploitation

• Human rights concerns

• Environmental unsustainability

• Wealth inequality

• Consumerism and excess

These representations challenge the glamorous image promoted by tourism media.

How does tourism contribute to the media image of Dubai?

Tourism campaigns promote Dubai through:

• Luxury branding

• Celebrity endorsements

• Social media influencers

• International sporting events

• Iconic architecture

This creates a global image of aspiration and wealth

How has globalisation influenced Dubai as a media place?

• International investment increased development

• Global media spreads Dubai’s image worldwide

• Migration created a multicultural population

• International businesses and tourism strengthened global connections

Dubai is presented as a “global city.”

What role does architecture play in the media representation of Dubai?

Iconic buildings create a distinctive image of modernity and wealth.

Examples:

• Burj Khalifa — tallest building in the world

• Burj Al Arab — luxury hotel symbolising exclusivity

These landmarks are widely used in advertising and social media.

What is place meaning?

The perception of what a place stands for, or means to an individual.

What is rebranding?

The "marketing" aspect of regeneration, where places (often deindustrialized cities or declining rural areas) create a new identity to change public perception, attract investment, and boost tourism. It involves using media, logos, slogans, and re-imaging to turn a "negative" image into a positive one.

What is reimaging?

The process of changing the negative, outdated, or "run-down" perception of a place to attract new investment, residents, and visitors. It is a key marketing component of urban rebranding and regeneration, using media, logos, and slogans to create a new, positive image.

What is regeneration?

A long-term, comprehensive process aimed at reversing economic, social, and physical decline in urban or rural areas where market forces have failed. It involves improving an area's attractiveness, infrastructure, and environmental quality through public/private investment to foster new jobs and improve quality of life.

How is place meaning influenced and created?

• Some organisations attempt to manage, or even manipulate the perception of place for their own ends. 

• This is not always as sinister as it may seem but instead is aimed at managing how others see work being undertaken in the community in order to improve the place such as to create a more homogenous identity or to raise awareness of what is being done. 

• Corporate entities can influence the idea of place through rebranding or re-imaging projects. The aim of these projects would be to create a 'new' meaning or association of a certain place, making it more desirable to live and work in.  

• This process can be achieved by corporate entities through promotional marketing e.g. adverts or campaigns to show off the change in meaning.  

What problems was New York City facing in the 1970s?

• The city was in a deep state of decline

• The state was close to bankruptcy

• Many companies in New York City were disrupted

• Schools and colleges closed

• Cuts were made to the police force

What social problems affected New York City during the 1970s?

• Crime rates increased in Manhattan

• Crack cocaine use led to an epidemic

• The city developed a reputation for corruption and danger

What happened during the 1975 rubbish collectors’ strike in New York City?

• Rubbish collectors went on strike

• Piles of rubbish built up in the streets

• The city began to smell badly

• This reinforced negative perceptions of New York City

Why did New York City need rebranding in the 1970s?

The city needed:

• A sweeping makeover

• Economic recovery

• Improved public image

• Increased tourism, which was seen as the cheapest way to regenerate the city

Who was hired to help rebrand New York City and what did they create?

The city hired Milton Glaser to create a logo.

He designed the famous:

• “I Love New York” logo

This became one of the most famous logos in the world.

How was the “I Love New York” campaign promoted?

In the late 1970s and early 1980s:

• The logo appeared on billboards

• It featured in TV advertisements

• Campaigns encouraged people across the USA to visit New York City

Was the tourism campaign in New York City successful?

Yes. The campaign successfully attracted tourists:

• Visitors came from across the United States

• Tourism rapidly increased

• New York’s image began to improve

How did tourism in New York City develop during the 1980s?

• Tourism continued to increase throughout the 1980s

• Business travellers began visiting in large numbers

• International tourists also flocked to the city

Why do different players and stakeholders place make?

• Rebranding an area (regenerate the image to external groups to make it more attractive) 

• Urban renewal and revival 

• Social inclusion 

• Preservation of heritage 

• Economic regeneration 

• Housing need 

• To attract inward investment. 

What are 5 examples of government-led placemaking?

• Market-led –this involves private investors wanting to make a profit. For example, encouraging restaurants, wine bars or shops to invest in an area. 

• Top-down –this often involves a public-private partnership between the local authority and private investors. Examples include Salford Quays, central Manchester redevelopment, Silicon Roundabout, London. 

• Flagship development –this is a large-scale, one-off project which is hoped will kick-start further regeneration. Examples include the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff and the Waterfront, Belfast. 

• Legacy –these projects aim to continue the regeneration started by major sporting events such as the London Olympics in 2012 in the Lea valley. 

• Events –these involve using major events such as becoming a European City of Culture as a catalyst for cultural development of a place. Examples include Glasgow in 1990, Liverpool in 2008 and Hull in 2017. 

What are corporate attempts to create place-meanings?

• Corporate bodies usually work in partnership with public bodies (central or local government) to run placemaking projects. Their role varies from project to project but usually involves financial and planning input. 

• A recent example of such a project is the reimaging of Silicon Roundabout in Shoreditch, East London. Re-imaging seeks to discard negative perceptions of a place and generate a new, positive set of ideas, feelings and attitudes of people to that place. This may include the revival of a pre-existing but outdated place image. More commonly, it seeks to change a poor pre-existing image of a place. 

• Regeneration in this area was initially started by private sector web-based companies (companies were attracted to the location because of the relative deprivation and low rents)but later on attracted government support through the rebranding of the area as Tech City in 2010. The area is now the third largest technology start-up location in the world after San Francisco. 

What is Silicon Roundabout, Shoreditch, London?

Silicon Roundabout is a technology and digital business cluster located around Old Street in Shoreditch, East London.

It became known for:

• Start-up companies

• Creative industries

• Digital and tech businesses

• Urban regeneration and rebranding

Where is Silicon Roundabout located?

It is centred around Old Street Roundabout in:

• Shoreditch

• East London

• Within the London Borough of Hackney

What was Shoreditch like before rebranding?

Before regeneration and rebranding, Shoreditch was associated with:

• Industrial decline

• Warehouses and abandoned buildings

• High unemployment

• Social deprivation

• Crime and poor housing

The area had a negative image during the late 20th century.

What endogenous characteristics helped shape Silicon Roundabout, Shoreditch, London?

• Existing warehouse buildings suitable for offices

• Creative local culture

• Proximity to central London

• Presence of artists and small businesses

• Diverse local population

These internal characteristics made the area attractive to start-ups.

What exogenous factors contributed to the growth of Silicon Roundabout, Shoreditch, London?

• Government investment and support

• Globalisation of the tech industry

• External business investment

• Improved transport links

• National policies encouraging digital industries

How was Silicon Roundabout, Shoreditch, London rebranded?

The area was rebranded as:

• A centre for innovation

• A creative and digital hub

• A modern business location

• A place for entrepreneurs and start-ups

The name “Silicon Roundabout” links the area to Silicon Valley in California.

What role did the media play in reimaging Silicon Roundabout, Shoreditch, London?

Media representations promoted the area as:

• Trendy and creative

• Modern and innovative

• Attractive to young professionals

• A successful technology cluster

Positive media coverage helped attract investors and businesses.

How did government policies support Silicon Roundabout, Shoreditch, London?

The UK government:

• Promoted East London as a tech hub

• Encouraged investment in digital industries

• Supported infrastructure improvements

• Worked with businesses to attract technology companies

The area became part of “Tech City UK.”

What economic changes occurred in Silicon Roundabout, Shoreditch, London?

• Growth of digital and creative industries

• Increase in employment opportunities

• Rising property prices

• Expansion of cafés, offices, and co-working spaces

• Increased inward investment

What social changes resulted from rebranding in Shoreditch, London?

• Gentrification increased

• Wealthier residents moved in

• Property prices and rents rose

• Some long-term residents were displaced

• Social inequalities remained

What is gentrification?

This is the buying and renovating of properties often inmore run-down areas by wealthier individuals.

How did reimaging change perceptions of Shoreditch?

The area changed from being viewed as:

• Run-down and deprived

To being seen as:

• Fashionable

• Creative

• Innovative

• Economically successful

What criticisms exist about the rebranding of Silicon Roundabout, Shoreditch, London?

Criticisms include:

• Rising inequality

• Loss of local identity

• Displacement of lower-income residents

• Expensive housing

• Benefits not shared equally across the community

What are community-led schemes?

• Regeneration and rebranding strategies have increasingly involved local people, since they have the ‘insider’ experience of place and will be the people most affected by any changes.  

• Residents associations and heritage associations play an important role and social media is increasingly being employed to engage and involve local people in planning and place-making schemes. 

How can place making be manipulated?

Place representation can be manipulated by placemaking agencies via regeneration, reimaging and rebranding. The wider media, that is all means of communication including tv, film, photography, art, newspapers, books, songs etc. can all affect place perception.

What is geospatial data?

Also known as spatial data. It is used to describe data that represents features or objects on the Earth’s surface. Examples include choropleth maps such as the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

What is geolocated data?

Geolocation data is information that can be used to identify an electronic device’s physical location, such as the GPS coordinates of a place.

What are maps used for?

Maps are simply representations of a place that display the located characteristics of it. Can carry bias such as distortions of the area. You need to be analytical and critical when using maps as sources as they can misrepresent reality.

What are strengths and limitations of a census?

• The census can become dated quite quickly. Data can be almost 10 years old, posing questions about how representative it is.

• The census is a reasonably reliable record.

• Census data can be used to show a lot of different demographics and employment types, levels of education etc.

• Statistics can be manipulated as can our perception of them

How do qualitative sources show place meaning?

It is possible to use different artistic sources to show changing characteristics of place under study. Paintings can be used to show historical change for periods of time when we did not have photography.

How might corporate bodies have an interest in manipulating the perception of place?

A corporate body is an organisation of group of persons that is identified by a particular name. Examples include institutions, businesses, non-profit enterprises and government agencies.  Many corporate bodies will have an interest in place but some will want to manipulate perceptions of place.  For example, tourist agencies aim to ‘sell’ the place to potential visitors and marketing positive perceptions of place makes this easier. 

How do tourist organisations range in the UK?

In the UK, tourist organisations range from Visit Britain, the non-departmental public body, funded by the Department for Culture, media and Sport, to the individuals responsible for promoting a specific tourist attraction.  The strategies are similar, to make a place look as good as it can and attracts many visitors as possible. 

In the spec, what do both place studies (Barrow-in Furness and Cheam) have to focus equally on?

• People’s lived experience of the place in the past and the present

• Economic change and social inequalities.

How can Cheam be classified as a place?

• A suburban district in the London Borough of Sutton

• Part of the outer London commuter belt

• Historically a Surrey village

• Now strongly connected to London economically and socially.