Key Concepts in Human Geography I PDF

Key Concepts in Human Geography I ENVSOCTY 1HA3 Society, Culture and Environment Dr. Melanie Bedore  Dr. Melanie Bedore Welcome back! Unit 1: Introduction to human geography and environment & society 1: Introduction & Course overview: What is human...

Key Concepts in Human Geography I ENVSOCTY 1HA3 Society, Culture and Environment Dr. Melanie Bedore  Dr. Melanie Bedore Welcome back! Unit 1: Introduction to human geography and environment & society 1: Introduction & Course overview: What is human geography? 2: Key concepts in human geography I 3: Key concepts in human geography II 4: The map Reading: Chapter 1, sections: Pages: Outline How do we think about geography and space? Key concepts: Space, place, location Distance Distribution Loading… Density Concentration/dispersion Pattern Readings: Chapter 1, p. How do geographers think about geography and space? Space: In absolute ways Factual: Objective: In more flexible ways Relative Shaped by: Neither of these is ‘correct’; let’s explore some applications Concept #1: Space Space: Absolute understandings of space Objective, physically real, with Loading… Key for __________________, description & analysis of spatial distributions Relative understandings of space Informed by subjective perceptions Can vary over time or between people Absolute understandings of space Mapmakers use projections, scale, etc. to depict space as accurately as possible. Absolute understandings of space Relative understandings of space Canada and the United Kingdom: How can both countries’ residents think of their countries as ‘big’? Relative understandings of space What makes a house or apartment ‘big’, ’small’ or ‘cozy’? We perceive space differently Concept #2: Location Definition: 1. Absolute location: Relatively: Can be expressed: 2. Relative location: Subject to: Can be expressed ___________________ other geographical phenomena Quiz: “Where is McMaster University?” a) A short drive from downtown; adjacent to Westdale neighbourhood b) 80oW, 43oN  Westdale neighbourhood b) 80oW, 43oN Concept #2: Location 3. Nominal location: Expressing its: Locations of significance are typically given names Often provide a degree of: o See textbox 1.2 for categories of toponyms Fascinating because they can: Loading… Reveal Indigenous or colonial pasts of a place Reveal the namer’s perceptions of a place and its importance Be contested; may change over time Concept #3: Place Place: A location with: “Place is space with meaning” “A spot in the universe, with a gathering of physical stuff there, becomes a place only when it ensconces history or utopia, danger or security, identity or memory. In spite of its relatively enduring and imposing materiality, the meaning or value of the same place is labile—flexible in the hands of different people or cultures, malleable over time, and inevitably contested.” (Gieryn, 2000) Concepts #4 and #5 Sense of place: The personally significant attachments we: Sense of place can be: Some places evoke a ‘sense of place’ even though you have never been there … such as? Placemaking: The deliberate transformation of How are our perceptions actively shaped? By whom? e.g.,  e.g., Concept #6: Placemaking Some places evoke ; we refer to these as being placeless. Often linked to e.g. ”Can somewhere be both a place and placeless to different people?” Concept #7: Distance Definition: At least four ways of understanding distance: Absolute/physical distance Time/travel distance Economic distance Psychological distance Concept #8 (a, b, c…): Distribution Distribution: Geographic phenomena can often be explained with reference to the distance between them and their spatial organization. a) Density: Consider: One km2  km2 Concept #8 (a, b, c…): Distribution b) Concentration/Dispersion: i) Concentrated/Clustered Objects are: e.g. ii) Dispersed Objects are: e.g. Concepts: Distribution c) Pattern: The spatial arrangement of objects Linear, rectilinear, random, uniform/ordered, etc. Linear Your turn: Design your ideal downtown Downtowns usually have different elements of their built environments: Apartments Libraries Police stations Parks Restaurants Bars Boutiques Post offices Stores Condominiums Historic buildings Transit stations Farmers markets Shopping malls Rivers or bodies of water Fountains Pharmacies Public square Your turn: Design your ideal downtown You are a partnership of urban planners and property developers, redesigning Hamilton’s downtown. Alone or with a partner, making the following decisions: Housing: High or low density? Two features that should be concentrated in the area Two features that should be dispersed throughout the area One feature that would have a pattern to its distribution Wrapping up People consider geography in absolute and relative terms Building our geographic literacy through key concepts Use them freely and in context; develop your familiarity! Study tip: Make a chart of concepts – definitions + examples – to summarize today’s learning Next class: Key concepts in human geography II Reading: Chapter 1, sections: Pages: