LO: To understand the concept of space, and the importance of place. 3.2.2 Changing places. LO: To understand the concept of space, and the importance of place. Starter: You can choose anywhere in the world to visit for a day – where do you go? Why?!

So what is place? Think: How would you define ‘place’ in a geographical context? At what scales can we consider place? Give examples where you can. Is everyone’s perception of place the same? E.g. Take Dharavi for example, in the centre of Mumbai. For which stakeholders would this place have different connotations, feelings, concepts? So, is place a difficult concept to define?! Is it based on perception rather than theory?

What do the experts say? What examples could we apply to each of these definitions? E.g. in your local area, which places might make you act in different manners? Where in the world do you feel a personal connection to? The geographical concept of place has 3 different aspects: Location – where a place is on a map (latitude and longitude) Locale – each place is made up of a series of locales or settings where everyday life activities take place, such as an office, a park , a home or a church. These can affect social interactions and help to forge values, attitudes and behaviours – we behave in a particular way in these places, according to social rules we understand. Sense of place – the subjective (personal) and emotional attachment to place, its meaning. Task: Read through your article about place vs space. What can you find out? Journal reading tip: Highlight and annotate on the journal to outline the key points of reference/appropriate theories etc.

What does the graph above tell us about our attachment to place? The depth of feeling and attachment to a place is influenced by our understanding and knowledge of it. So does that mean our enjoyment of a place can influence how attached we feel to it? Take the places below for example – how attached would you feel to these? a. b. c. d. So, in a nutshell – is place all based around your own feelings, and identities? What does the graph above tell us about our attachment to place?

Our sense of place can become part of our identity. Place and identity: However, our association of place, and the places we identify ourselves with, can change fluidly. Back in April 2013 – this stadium would have been identified as many as a place of big achievements– fast forward to 2016, there was no such joy…. Whereas, The King Power Stadium was a place that would not have been identified by many as a stadium of Premiership titles, until May 2016…. Our sense of place can become part of our identity. For example – where we link ourselves to. E.g. A 3rd generation British Indian. Do they still identify themselves as British/English/Indian? British/English? Higham/Rushden? UK/England? What about places of work – are they places of safety? Do we have particular attachments to them? What happens when the employer or industry shuts? Does our attachment to that particular place change?

Can we be excluded from places? So, if place is such an abstract concept, and one shaped by how we understand it, can that lead to people feeling excluded? Take for example, if you see school as a particularly safe place, and somewhere that you identify with, and understand, can you therefore exclude those who don’t understand it? (TENC?) The dominant groups, who have particular economic, social or cultural power in a place may make others feel excluded. Your task: Reading the article on page 65 – can you explain which group of people may feel excluded from rural place? How could we improve these feelings? Extend: Which other group of people in society do you think could become excluded? Why would they feel excluded? Where would they feel excluded from? How could it be dealt with?! Take these places for example – each of these groups of people would identify with their own space, as they have social and cultural power in them – swap them over, and they would feel highly out of place! Extra: Does the concept of Nimbyism come into place?

Homework: Choose one place that is the most important for you: Explain why you identify with it (linked to the aspect of ‘sense of place’) Suggest how you feel when you’re in it Explain how your concept of that place might change over time. Suggest how someone might feel excluded from that place. E.g. Miss Goacher’s place that is key to her is Sixfields stadium. I can identify with it, and feel attached to it, as I have been going since it opened in 1994, and support Northampton Town. I associate it with spending time with people that are important to me – and it has brought me a lot of happiness (and sadness!!) I imagine my concept of place might change over time if the team lose more; but positively it could change if I’m able to pass my connection on to my children. Some people might feel excluded from that place as they don’t support the team, or have not been before, or if they lose!