Responses to Reading of the Week - What is Place Anyway?

What are the key characteristics defining "place"?

-To exist is to be in a place

-"Local"/"regional"/unique experiences

-Identity, character, nuance, history

Casey, E. S. (1998) Disappearing places, from The fate of place, a philosophical history. Berkley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press, ix-xv
1- Identify some reasons why Casey believes that the idea of place has been hidden in philosophical discourse, both historically and in more recent times. (your should find at least 4).

-Place has been taken for granted, not worthy (we have no choice, by existing we must be in a "place" so we don't think about it

-Place has been subordinated to "putative absolutes" like space and time

-Place became reduced to locations, subject to time and only between our movements

-It does not fall easily under analysis

-Event of wars, refugees, terrorism, etc. undermining our sense of place

-Technology: doesn't matter where you are, you are still connected

2- What does Casey mean by the term universalism? Give an example. Why is this detrimental to place based thinking?

-Universalism: an essence or contagious idea that spreads everywhere, regardless of place or particular attributes to areas/context.

-Treatment of ethics and politics, logic and language the same everywhere

-e.g. Le Corbusier's "Radiant City": a series of identical housing units for many locations around France. Design without any regard for culture or uniqueness of context. Result being "sameness"; imagine buildings being the same everywhere, not knowing India from England!

3- Casey says that disruption to a place, in the aftershock, can bring about "a revitalized sensitivity to place". He gives the possibility of nuclear annihilation as an example. Can you think of some historical examples where this new sensitivity to place might have occurred in this way?

-Christchurch, right now! A new awareness for the original streams that used to flow in the region, a re-thinking of its identity.

-New Orleans. Housing appropriate for environment, a re-design of the city and development of the main park.

4- Casey says that even the 'virtual' can provide elements of a place based experience, and can make us feel 'in place' though physically distant. Think of a virtual experience that you frequently have (online banking / computer gaming / using mobile phone) and analyse it in terms of providing a place based experience.

-Facebook: place-like as you "do" things there, and can see what other people are doing. It is sharing, community, activity and accessibility to information and people, just like in a real place.