OCR A-Level Geography - Changing spaces;
Making places
Get a hint
What is the definition of *place*? - ANS A place is a space that has been given meaning by an
individuals *lived experience*.
Places are *multifaceted*, shaped by *shifting flows* and connections, with change over time.
What is the definition of *space*? - ANS Exists between places and does not have the same meaning
attached as a place does. It is a location that can be given a latitude and a longitude.
What is a place profile? - ANS A description of a place, based on the combination of its characteristics.
What *socio-economic characteristics* contribute to the identity of a place? - ANS Poverty, education,
literacy rates, family size, average income, type of jobs, healthcare, % unemployed
What *political characteristics* contribute to the identity of a place? - ANS Political system,
effectiveness of local authorities, democracy, monarchy
Parish Council (local)
District Council
County Council (regional)
MP (national)
What *cultural characteristics* contribute to the identity of a place? - ANS Religion, local traditions,
cultures, local clubs, societies
,What *demographic characteristics* contribute to the identity of a place? - ANS Total population,
*ethnicities*, *age structure*, gender
What *physical geographical* characteristics contribute to the identity of a place? - ANS Geology,
topography, drainage, climate, rivers, coasts, relief, aspect, altitude
What aspects of the *built environment* contribute to the identity of a place? - ANS Age and style of
houses, architecture, infrastructure, housing density, housing quality, landmarks and historical buildings
Explain 2 ways in which religion influences people's perception of place (4 marks) - ANS Natural
landscape features are sacred to religious people, and many have religious meanings built up over
centuries, for example the Uluru for Australian Aborigines.
Places of pilgrimage are also significant for religious groups. Sacred temples and other holy temples such
as Mecca are significant to many.
How do we understand place? - ANS *Location* - where a place is, the coordinates
*Locale* - a place is shaped by people, their cultures and traditions
A *sense of place* - Personal feelings associated with a place. Developed through lived experience, it
reflects emotional and subjective attachment
*Lived experience* - Actual feelings and personal history of living in a place. The time spent in a place
helps develop this
How do *emotions* influence attachments to a place? - ANS 1. SOCIAL AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCES: if
we have positive experiences in a place we are more likely to attribute a strong emotional attachment
to it. We also get strong emotions as part of a group, i.e. the strong emotional attachment sports fans
, have to their team's home ground. People often have a similar, deeper attachment to nations. Especially
true of people exiled from their homeland, eg. the Kurds.
2. EMOTIONS EFFECT OUR BEHAVIOUR IN A PLACE: eg. Auschwitz - sad, shocked, upset, emotional =
quiet, thoughtful. Glastonbury - excited, happy = loud, dancing, carefree
What effects how people perceive place? - ANS Gender
Religion
Age
Sexuality
Role
How and why do people experience places differently based on their identity - *age*? - ANS Places
change in purpose for people as they move through their life cycle, eg. a park for a 4 y/o is an exciting
place to play, for a 16 y/o a place to hang out, and for an 80 y/o a place to walk or take grandchildren.
Perception will also change when people revisit a place with different people.
The place will change over time.
How and why do people experience places differently based on their identity - *gender*? - ANS Places
can be described as male or female, a reflection of society's traditional view on gender roles. For
example a football stadium would be perceived as typically male, and a home would be perceived as
typically female.
Women tend to feel less safe than men is spaces like dark alleyways, i.e 'geography of fear' - places with
an unsafe perception are avoided.
What is an example of a place where *geography of fear* is prominent?
- Molestation statistics
