4.2.2 - Perceived Space
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Understanding Perceived Space
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Today, we will delve into the concept of perceived space. Can anyone tell me what they think perceived space means?
Is it about how we interact with our physical environment?
Exactly! Perceived space is not just about physical locations; it's about how we give meaning to those locations based on our experiences and emotions. Think about how a place can feel different based on personal memories.
Can you give an example?
Sure! The film 'Cast Away' illustrates this well. Tom Hanks creates a life on a deserted island, forming an attachment to the volleyball he names Wilson. It shows how we can attach emotional significance to objects in our perceived space.
So, it’s not just about the physical space but also our feelings towards it?
Exactly! That emotional connection is vital. It highlights that our identity is linked to the places we inhabit.
That makes sense! But how does this tie into social constructs?
Good question! We'll explore how social constructs make places meaningful through collective values and experiences as we continue.
Lefebvre's Theories
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Now, let’s discuss Henri Lefebvre's theories about space. He categorized space into three aspects. Can anyone name one?
Is one of those aspects conceived space?
Correct! Conceived space is about how planners and scientists conceptualize space based on ideologies and knowledge. It often reflects a vision behind urban planning.
What about perceived space?
Perceived space speaks to our daily routines and interactions within a given environment. It's the active engagement people have with space.
And the third aspect is... lived space?
Exactly! Lived space encompasses our experiences, emotions, and how we relate to spaces beyond words. It shapes our identities as inhabitants.
So, all these types intertwine to influence how we experience spaces?
Absolutely! Each aspect influences the others, creating a complex relationship between individuals, communities, and their environments.
Post-Disaster Context
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Let’s look at perceived space in the context of post-disasters. How might someone's idea of 'home' change after a disaster?
They may feel disconnected from their previous home, especially if it was destroyed.
Correct! This disconnection can lead to difficulty accepting new housing solutions, even if they are practical. Many survivors rejected houses after the Latur earthquake.
Why do you think that happened?
It's often because those new houses may not fulfill their emotional needs or cultural significance. People seek shelters that reconnect them to their identities.
Makes sense! It’s about finding a place where they feel they belong.
Absolutely! Understanding these emotional connections is crucial for architects and planners working in post-disaster recovery.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
In this section, we delve into the concept of perceived space, illustrating how individuals and communities attach meanings and values to their spatial environments. Through examples like the film 'Cast Away', we see how the protagonist builds a sense of belonging and identity despite isolation. The section also discusses Henri Lefebvre's three aspects of space: conceived, perceived, and lived, emphasizing the social and emotional layers of human interaction with space.
Detailed
Detailed Summary
In this section, we explore perceived space and its significance in understanding how individuals and communities experience their environments.
- Geographical Identification: Locations are often defined by latitude and longitude, but they also encompass physical features like hills, architecture, and coastal settings. The meanings associated with these places are critical to their identity.
- Social Constructs of Place: Geographers, including Doreen Massey, suggest that places are social constructs shaped by societal interactions. Our thoughts and creations regarding space reflect this.
- Case Study - 'Cast Away': The film serves as an illustration where Tom Hanks’ character creates a personal identity and emotional attachment to an isolated island. The character's relationship with a volleyball, named Wilson, exemplifies how emotional bonds can be formed even with inanimate objects, highlighting how perceived space is not solely about physical geography but also emotional connections.
- Post-Disaster Recovery Perspective: The emotional and identity aspects of place are particularly visible during post-disaster recovery situations (e.g., the Latur and Gujarat earthquakes). Many houses built after disasters remain abandoned because they do not meet the social and emotional needs of the survivors, showcasing that shelter goes beyond mere physical structures—it is deeply intertwined with identity and community.
- Lefebvre's Theory: The theories of Henri Lefebvre categorize space into three types: conceived space (knowledge-based), perceived space (practical interaction), and lived space (experiential and emotional). Together, these concepts illustrate how spaces are not static but dynamic and influenced by social relations, power structures, and personal experiences.
The understanding of perceived space urges us to consider our environments not just in terms of physical geography but through the lens of identity, emotional attachment, and societal interactions.
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
The Definition of Place
Chapter 1 of 6
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Which is normally referred with a geographical location by the Latitude and longitude, and it also reflects through its material form and which is a physical features, whether is a hill architecture, whether it is the coastal architecture, whether it is through its natural settings and the built environments. More importantly, the place is associated with the meanings and the values that the people or the communities invest in them so this is where the identity comes in.
Detailed Explanation
A place is defined not just by its geographical location marked by latitude and longitude, but also by its physical features such as hills, architecture, coastal configurations, and other natural settings. The significance of a place is deeply connected to the meanings and values that people and communities assign to it, thereby forming a part of their identity. This means that a place becomes a part of who they are—it's not just a location; it's a space filled with emotions and social constructs.
Examples & Analogies
Consider how your hometown feels to you. It’s not merely a series of coordinates on a map; it’s where you have your memories, friends, and a sense of belonging. When you think of home, you don't just think of the buildings, but of the experiences that shape your understanding of that space.
Social Construct of Place
Chapter 2 of 6
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
So many geographers talk about place is a social construct, Doreen Massey talks about it is a social construct, and we actively make places, and our ideas of place are products of the society in which we live.
Detailed Explanation
Many geographers argue that places are not just physical locations but are socially constructed. Doreen Massey emphasizes that our concepts of space and place are shaped by the society and are actively created through our interactions. This means that how we understand and relate to a place can change over time and is influenced by cultural, social, and political factors.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a park in your city. It might serve as a play area for children, a gathering place for community events, or a peaceful retreat for individuals. The way people view and use that park varies based on their upbringing and current societal norms, showing how our interactions construct the meaning of that space.
Sense of Belonging and Attachment
Chapter 3 of 6
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Here, whatever it is not just only for the food or the shelter it is how a man makes a sense of belonging with other individual though it is not a living being but he still makes some attachment.
Detailed Explanation
This highlights how human beings create attachments and a sense of belonging even in the absence of other people. For instance, in the movie 'Cast Away', Tom Hanks’ character, stranded on an uninhabited island, develops a relationship with a volleyball named Wilson. This exemplifies how people can form emotional connections with objects, which serve not just practical needs but also emotional ones.
Examples & Analogies
Think about how people can feel attached to a childhood toy. It isn’t just a piece of plastic—it represents comfort, memories, and a connection to one’s past. Just like Wilson represented companionship for the character in the film, a toy can symbolize love and security for a child.
Power of Emotions in Space
Chapter 4 of 6
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
So here what I want to say here is, a man is attached with a lot of emotions, its values, 4 years that ball has given him a sense of being. That is where Sack talks about places cannot exist without us, but equally important we cannot exist without places.
Detailed Explanation
The attachment to places is often filled with personal emotions and values. For instance, over the four years on the island, Wilson provided the character with a sense of purpose and companionship. The quote from Sack reinforces the idea that our existence is tied to the places we inhabit. They provide us with identity, belonging, and emotional stability.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a family home that has been passed down through generations. The walls may be old, and the structure may need repairs, yet the emotions tied to family dinners, celebrations, and shared memories make it a priceless space for that family. That house offers not only physical shelter but also emotional comfort.
Post-Disaster Contexts
Chapter 5 of 6
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
The post-disaster context is always seen as a very immediate need for both the beneficiaries and the providers. The providers for them it is a great need because they have to give a helping hand for the people who lost their houses for them there is an immediate requirement that they need to shelter their families for that kind of pressurized situation.
Detailed Explanation
In post-disaster scenarios, the focus shifts quickly to meeting basic needs for shelter among those who have lost their homes. The urgency of this situation creates a complex dynamic between service providers and those affected. While immediate assistance is crucial for survival, it is also essential to consider the long-term emotional and social needs of these individuals.
Examples & Analogies
After a natural disaster, organizations often rush to build temporary shelters for those displaced. While these shelters may meet the immediate need for safety, they might not account for the emotional and social connections that make a house feel like home. For instance, a family who grew up together in a neighborhood may feel lost in a nondescript tent city, highlighting the importance of understanding and rebuilding the emotional fabric of their community.
Theoretical Understanding of Space
Chapter 6 of 6
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
So, when we talk about the theoretical understanding of the place and space, one of the important understanding one has to look at the Henry Lefebvre works the production of space. He says the space is a social product, and it offers a theoretical assemblages and tactics in which power, architecture, and also their associated agencies alter and potentially dissolve the centrality of space in the depoliticized arena of post-disaster recovery.
Detailed Explanation
In discussing theoretical perspectives, Lefebvre proposes that space is not just an empty area; it is shaped by social interactions and power dynamics. His work emphasizes how different forces—such as politics, power, and architecture—affect how we understand and utilize space, especially in the context of post-disaster recovery.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a city after a major flood. The local government may decide to redesign the city based on new 'safer' concepts, but this might ignore the traditions and community values of those who lived there. The decisions made by those in power can fundamentally change the meanings attached to space for its residents.
Key Concepts
-
Perceived Space: The emotional and personal significance attached to a physical place.
-
Social Construct: Places and meanings shaped by cultural and social interactions.
-
Lefebvre's Theory: Understanding space through conceived, perceived, and lived dimensions.
Examples & Applications
The character Wilson in 'Cast Away' represents how objects can give emotional meaning to a space.
Post-disaster housing solutions can be rejected by survivors if they do not meet social and emotional needs.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
In a place we perceive, it's how we believe, our hearts mix emotions, memories weave.
Stories
Imagine a child finding a favorite toy. That toy, though just an object, becomes a friend in every game, teaching the child about love and loss. This story reflects how perceived space shapes bonds.
Memory Tools
To remember Lefebvre's types: C, P, L - 'Concepts Plan Life'.
Acronyms
CPL for Conceived, Perceived, Lived – the triangle of spatial understanding.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Perceived Space
Space understood and given meaning by individuals through their experiences and emotions.
- Social Construct
A concept or perception that is developed through societal interactions and shared meanings.
- Conceived Space
Space conceptualized by planners and scientists, reflecting ideologies and knowledge.
- Lived Space
The experiential and emotional understanding of space, shaped by human interactions.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.