Changing Places Lecture

Background
Part of the new AQA AS geography is a module on Changing Places. It is a more theoretical, and relatively new branch of geography. It takes a bit of getting used to, so attending this lecture by Richard Phillips (the creator of the module) was invaluable for gaining an understanding of the module.

The Changing Places module was based upon this essay. I would really recommend reading it, it gives a context to the subject content.

Changing places - Hipsterification in Hackney
  • Hackney used to be deprived
    • In 1995, it was the most deprived borough in the UK
    • At its highest rate, unemployment was at 23.5%
    • Crime was a real problem
    • The inner city was rife with economic and social problems
  • Hipster- 'on trend', following latest fashions
    • Hipsters are an agent of urban change
    • They lead inner city gentrification
  • Hipsters are changing the place identity of Hackney
    • facial hair shops
    • niche food markets
    • independent coffee shops (ubiquitous)
    • craft breweries
  • What causes the change within a place?
Doreen Massey- Conceptualising 
  • Places have different layers
    • each 'layer' represents a period of time
      • places are temporally dynamic
    • e.g. economic development occurs over time, which changes the place by causing it to become more industrialised
  • Economic 'layers' have social, cultural, and political characteristics
  • A metaphorical stratigraphy of place
    • earlier layers can affect later layers
      • places accrete over layers (historical theory)
Places can be defined by their connections with other places *human sense of place*
  • Local places are formed by near and far places
    • profoundly by global connections
    • money, people, goods, ideas and culture
  • Place is not a static entity, but dynamic and evolving
    • place can be an intersection or process
Place identity
  • individual place identity is created through personal and emotional attachments to places
    • it can be positive or negative
  • Place identity is represented through cultural/media sources
    • newspapers, TV, art, and music
  • Change can be difficult to deal with
    • can force people away
    • some people benefit, some do not
The development of Hackney
  • Industrialisation
    • factories
    • centre of furniture making
  • Economic activity drew in people to live there (economic migrants)
    • large working population
  • Other areas were middle class suburbs
  • There was a rapid population increase from 1830 to 1920
    • economic migrants from eastern Europe populated the area
  • The manufacturing industry in Hackney declined, which had a big impact on the area
    • it was part of wider deindustrialisation so there was a lack of opportunities for those who had lost their jobs
  • The decline of manufacturing also led to the formation of racial tensions
    • different cultures were blamed for the rising unemployment
  • In 1986, there was a 'big bang' where London became a global city and the economic priorities changed
    • the financial sector increased, so deprivation decreased in Hackney
    • with economic restructuring, new opportunities were created, but so was havoc

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