The Perception of Places
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 5.2.5
Informal Methods of Affecting the Representation of Places
Different representations of a place can be used by using both informal and formal methods. It may be hard to separate fact from fiction with these stereotypes. Some informal methods of affecting our perceptions of places are:
Development agencies
- Development agencies can make us use our imagination to affect how we see a place. They may use a logo or slogan to project a certain image of a place.
- Aberdeen, which has lots of oil companies like BP with offices there, is often called the 'Energy Capital of Europe'.
- Basingstoke has been called both Basingrad (in reference to the Soviet style of architecture) and according to Wikipedia, Amazingstoke, reportedly by a local rapper.
Advertising agencies
- Advertising agencies often combine visual and written imagery to make a setting seem particularly attractive.
- Nations or cities with beach destinations often use this kind of imagery.
- Private companies, like Sandals or Thomas Cook, the holiday companies, may portray places in a certain way to try to get people to go on holiday there.
- These organisations may use artistic representations - novels, songs, visual arts, media (TV, film and photography) to 'bring places alive'.
Tourist boards
- Tourist boards may promote certain aspects of a place that fit their desired perception of that place (how they want people to see it).
- The Spanish tourist board ran a campaign called 'España - I need Spain' to attract tourists to a location.
- A city like Budapest may promote its Habsburg heritage and Superclubs, whilst Amsterdam may promote its canals, bicycles and more. Barcelona may promote their football team to tourists as part of the travel experience.
Place Perception - Formal Methods of Influence
Some formal factors that can affect our perception of various different places are:
Data
- More data about places is now collected, stored and analysed than ever before.
- In many countries, the most effective formal representations of places are their censuses.
GIS
- There has been a dramatic increase in the quantity and quality of geospatial data e.g. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) like Google Earth or Google Maps.
Government representations
- Many government agencies maintain websites that present formal representations of places.
- Formal representations offer rational perspectives of a place profile, such as numbers of people living in a place, their ages, gender and educational qualifications.
Test yourself on The Perception of Places
Where is described as the 'Energy Capital of Europe'?
Which of these is Basingstoke NOT referred to as?
Which of the following are formal ways of affecting our perception of a place?