In the discipline of geography, questions of space and place represent more than “where” and “when” something happens. Throughout Space and Place: Humanistic Perspectives (1977), Yi-Fu Tuan refers to space as having physical, sensual and emotional dimensions. He states that space is a “container” for people’s values, beliefs, as well as the location of, and distance between regions (Tuan, 388). In contrast, place is defined as a location produced by human experiences that includes neighbourhoods or cities within specific boundaries. The processes of socio-spatial polarization result in groups of low-income and marginalized communities that are excluded. People encounter feelings of alienation and being unable to access space. As a result, they
are forced into areas that have derelict infrastructure and social services. Based on these conditions, I investigate the following questions: 1) Whom are contemporary cities designed for? and, 2) What causes cities to become spaces of socio-spatial polarization and environmental racism? Through reviewing of Quartz - Fortress LA (1990), Three Cities within Toronto (2007) and New Regionalism: Key Characteristics of an Emerging Movement (2002), I identify the history of planning in urban environments. Also, I examine the inequalities between income classes with respect to racism, housing affordability, and social assistance (i.e. welfare). Reflecting on literature presented by the relevant authors I will demonstrate the shortcomings of urban cities.
...lves the confirmation of the boundaries of the social world through the sorting of things into good and bad categories. They enter the unconscious through the process of socialisation.’ Then, “the articulation of space and its conception is a reminder that time boundaries are inextricably connected to exclusionary practises which are defined in refusing to adhere to the separation of black experience.”
The ways in which people are placed within “time space compression” as highly complicated and extremely varied. For instance, in the book Nickel and Dimed, Barbara said, “ Something is wrong, very wrong, when a single person in good health, a person who in addition possesses a working car, can barely support herself by the sweat of her brow. You do not need a degree in economics to see that wages are too low and rents too high”(127). Barbara has a car so that she can drive to her workplace and save the time from waiting public transportation, and she also can go to different cities whenever she is free. Therefore, she has more control of her mobility. The social relations would change when she went to another city. Different social groups have distinct relationships to this anyway differentiated mobility: some people are more in charge of it than others, like Barbara; some initiate flows and movement, others do not; some are more more on the receiving-end of it than others. Instead of thinking of places as areas with boundaries around, they can be imaged as articulated moments in networks of social relations and understandings, but where a large proportion of those relations, experiences and understandings are structed ona far larger scale than what we happen to define for that moment as the place itself, whether that be a street, or a region or even a continent. We can see that from her different work experiences in different places. And this in turn allows a sense of place which is extroverted, which includes a consciousness of its links with the wider world, which integrates ina apositive way the global and the
In the book The Power of Place: Geography, Destiny, and Globalization’s Rough Landscape, the author, Harm de Blij, argues that where we are born and our geography can affect who we are and what we will become. He applies his knowledge of geography and other relatable information such as health, economy, languages, and several other areas of subject. De Blij categorizes the earth into three subdivisions: locals, globals, and mobals. He defines locals as “those who are poorest, least mobile, and most susceptible to the power of place” (pg-notes). Globals are those who “whether in government, industry, business, or other decision-making capacities, flatten
Harm de Blij and his “The Power of Place: Geography, Destiny, and Globalization’s Rough Landscape” truly describes how geography is displayed in the world today. In particular on of the major themes that he discusses is the idea of globalization. He actually calls these people the “globals.” In the very beginning of his book he describes two different types of peoples: Locals and Globals. The difference between these people is that Locals are the poorer people, not as mobile, and more susceptible to the concept of place. On the other hand the Globals are the fortunate population, and are a small group of people who have experienced globalization firsthand (5). This idea of globalization is a main theme that Blij refers to throughout the book, however he also indirectly references the five themes of cultural geography: culture regions, cultural diffusion, cultural interaction, cultural ecology, and cultural landscapes. Through Blij’s analysis these five themes are revealed in detail and help explain his overall idea of globalization in the world today.
Again, this section will give a working definition of the “urban question’. To fully compare the political economy and ecological perspectives a description of the “urban question” allows the reader to better understand the divergent schools of thought. For Social Science scholars, from a variety of disciplines, the “urban question” asks how space and the urban or city are related (The City Reader, 2009). The perspective that guides the ecological and the social spatial-dialect schools of thought asks the “urban question” in separate distinct terminology. Respected scholars from the ecological mode of thinking, like Burgess, Wirth and others view society and space from the rationale that geographical scope determines society (The City Reader, 2009). The “urban question” that results from the ecological paradigm sees the relationship between the city (space) as influencing the behaviors of individuals or society in the city. On the other hand...
Another important element of the distinction between metropolitan and colonial spaces is the understanding that this distinction exists because of the differences in power. Said defines metropolitan space as a “socially desirable empowered space (52).” He goes on to say that metropolitan spaces are connected to colonial spaces by the “design, motive and development” of these colonial spaces. Further, he says that cultures want to move into these colonial spaces because they are viewed as ‘desirable but subordinate (52).” This point is especially important to note. There is a definite understanding that those who occupy the metropolitan space have the power while those who occupy the colonial space do not.
‘Through identifying places and organizing them, we make sense of the world we inhibit’ (Unwin,
“Qualitative research is used to gain insight into people’s attitudes, behaviour, value systems, concerns, motivation, aspirations, cultures or lifestyles.” (Ereaut G. 2007) Human Geographers continue to adopt backbone qualitative methods of qualitative research including the study of texts, the conduction of interviews, engagement in ethnography and the use of focus groups. Davies and Dwyer (2007) contend there are changes in the way they (qualitative research) are being conceived and carried out, and related to this there are transformations in the way these methods are being used to make claims to understanding and intervening in the world (Davies and Dwyer 2007). Recently there have been a number of debates as to which qualitative methods are appropriate and credible to use within Human Geography. Smith argues that the choice of qualitative methods used is fundamentally a political decision. The methods chosen are ‘a way of challenging the way the world is structured, the way that knowledges are made, from the top down. We are adopting a strategy that aims to place non-dominant, neglected knowledges at the heart of the research agenda’ (Smith 2001) Qualitative research has evolved through recent years. Human Geographers understand that social worlds are dynamic and not fully stable or predictable; social life is produced through human and non-human actions. There are social worlds with distinctive and sometimes competing social meanings, competencies and practices (Gregory et, al. 2009). We have to figure out what it means to engage with the world, both in methodological practice, but also in our choice of interpretive strategy and ethical aspirations (Bennett, 2001). “Developments in qualitative research have proceeded in dif...
Prior to reading the course materials concerning ethnic space, I initially sought to predict possible descriptions for an ethnic space, by incorporating class discussions and themes into my thought processes. As a result, I contemplated that perhaps, the definition closely resembles either an area with one main ethnic group, or conversely, an area filled with many diverse ethnic groups. Subsequently, I read the essays regarding ethnic space, in order to infer the meaning of an ethnic space. In particular, the essay by Robert J. Rodino provided considerable insight on the subject of ethnic enclaves. According to Rodino, an ethnic enclave occurs when a particular ethnic group of people live amid the dominant ethnic group (Rodino 94). Even though this definition carries a political connotation, it still provided a degree insight to my understanding. However, when Rodino used the term “ethnic community,” in the context of an ethnic enclave, I recognized the relationship between the two (Rodino 100). That being said, an ethnic community, or space, is a component of an ethnic enclave. The idea of an ethnic community resonated with me to appropriately express an ethnic space. Therefore, I decided to incorporate that into my interpretation of an ethnic space, along with my personal experiences. All things considered, an ethnic space is when a city displays a prominent cultural ambience, due to the prevalent ethnic group within that area. Similarly, due to my contrasting cultural experiences, Rowland Heights displays this prominent cultural environment, due to the prevalent ethnic group of the city. On the whole, these factors contribute to the ways in which Rowland Heights appropriately exemplifies this classification of an ethnic
... onto the whole of society. When public space for public life is neglected, people become isolated, eroding any sense of communal sprit and cohesion in a community (Slessor 2001). Excessive neglect may create this vision. Although, as our cities and lifestyles change so do our definitions of public space. Original concepts of form and function are being replaces as we claw back every available corner into the public realm, is it possible to find new ways to spend our leisure time in the public urban environment? (Gaventa 2003). It is evident with further research that the recent attitude towards public space is beginning to alter. Expressed by A.E.J Morris “In terms of town planning the [public space] represents the purest and most immediate expression of man’s fight against being lost in a gelatinous world, in a disorderly mass of urban dwellings’’(Perrem 2011).
“Human geography is not just about describing the spatial manifestations of economy and society; it is about explaining how space is transformed and shapes societies and social processes” (Daniels, et al., 2005). Discuss, drawing on at least two substantive areas of Economic Geography.
The idea of open spaces has been a theme of incredible dialog in spatial and additionally in social disciplines, looking at how places are effective in accomplishing a lively urban condition. Open spaces add to the general social and mental prosperity. Generally, they are inclusive spaces that all individuals are allowed to use without assent or avocation. The constant direct contribution of individuals in urban space is basic since individuals' esteems and dispositions in their social orders change after some time. This connection amongst individuals and space sets the personality and picture of the city, which can be lost if the relationship is defiled. Open spaces thus go about as social outlets that upgrade the general prosperity
This was an era where sociology was emerging. Hirsch using Sauer’s work argued that human interaction with the natural landscape created a ‘cultural landscape’. Hirsch uses Gow ‘s (1994) chapter on Amazonian Peru to demonstrate how a cultural landscape develops. The Piro people of Peru use rotational crops to feed their people and share their food among the tribe. When they look at the land it represents kinship structures and social ties. The notion of space and place are entwined in meaning by emphasising the reality but also looking to the potentiality of the place thus creating a ‘space’.
Place as a concept can be defined from a number of perspectives. Geography appears to have the greatest claim on the study of place with the Royal Geographical Society defining geography as the ‘“the study of the earth’s landscapes, peoples, places and environments”[2]. The study of place does not however, belong exclusively to field of geography.
Everyone has a special place that people will never forget. Sometimes it is because there were places that people experienced great joy or comfort. A special place represents peoples’ special memories either good or bad. Memory will following people whole life, and store people’s heart deeper. Good memory will coming all time. My special place and my memory is my grandparent’s house; my grandparent’s house practically is my second home. I would never forget that special place because of things going on my grandparent’s house, which is symbolized by my grandparent’s love.