3.1 - Perceived Space
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Understanding Perceived Space
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Today, we will discuss perceived space, which Henri Lefebvre describes as the space shaped by the practices of its users. Can anyone give me an example of how perceived space might be created in a refugee context?
Maybe when refugees set up homes, they create spaces that feel familiar and comforting based on their past experiences?
Exactly! That familiar touch is crucial. It involves social interactions and day-to-day practices that animate the space, leading to attachment. Let's remember that - *Familiar practices create attachment.*
And what about spaces that are designed by planning authorities? How do they fit into this?
Great question! We'll explore that in a moment when we look at conceived space. Let's summarize today's key point: perceived space is all about user experiences creating attachment.
Conceived vs. Lived Space
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Now, let’s dive into conceived space, which is the opposite of perceived space. This is shaped by visionaries—like planners. How would you differentiate between conceived and lived spaces?
Maybe conceived spaces lack the emotional connections that lived spaces have?
Absolutely! Conceived spaces are often theoretical and lack the deep emotional ties that come from lived experiences. While perceived space is about direct experience, lived space involves emotional connections. Let’s keep in mind – *Conceived lacks emotion, lived thrives on it.*
Would this mean refugees might struggle to feel at home in conceived spaces?
Indeed, very insightful! That is precisely the challenge in refugee settings. Summarizing, conceived spaces represent a planner’s vision, while lived spaces reflect real emotions and interactions.
The Role of Context in Space Production
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Today, let’s explore how the context impacts the production of both perceived and conceived spaces. What factors do you think might shape these spaces for refugees?
Socio-political factors, like how they're treated in the new country?
Exactly! Political, social, and economic dynamics all influence how refugees experience their new environments. Remember – *Context shapes experience!*
So, does that mean different communities might have entirely different perceived spaces?
Correct! Community backgrounds significantly impact what they perceive as a 'space' and how they adapt to it. Let’s summarize: the context plays a crucial role in shaping perceived and conceived spaces.
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
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The section delves into Henri Lefebvre's theory of the production of space, highlighting the notion of perceived space as shaped by the experiences of users, particularly refugees. It compares perceived space to conceived and lived space, and illustrates how these concepts inform the understanding of refugee contexts.
Detailed
Detailed Summary
In this section titled Perceived Space, we explore Henri Lefebvre's theory of the production of space, focusing on its application within the context of refugee settlements, especially Tibetan refugees. Lefebvre proposes three forms of space: perceived, conceived, and lived.
- Perceived Space: This is defined as the space produced by the spatial practices of users. It reflects how individuals or groups experience and interact with their environment.
- Conceived Space: Contrastingly, conceived space is shaped by the visionaries, such as planners or decision-makers, and is based on their ideologies and perspectives regarding space.
- Lived Space: This space encapsulates people's emotional and cultural attachments to a location, influencing their daily behaviors and beliefs.
By examining these types of spaces, we uncover how displacement can result in a transformation of identity and community for refugees. The section also emphasizes the significance of understanding these concepts in relation to the dynamics of multiculturalism, segregation, and integration within refugee communities.
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Lefebvre's Theory of Production of Space
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Chapter Content
So, in this work, Indu have adopted Lefebvre’s theory of production of space because this is one of the sociological component where Lefebvre, Henri Lefebvre talked about 3 different ontological positions of place, how it gets transformed.
Detailed Explanation
Henri Lefebvre's theory of production of space emphasizes that space is not just a physical entity; it's shaped by social interactions and cultural practices. Lefebvre identifies three main aspects of space: perceived space, conceived space, and lived space. In this context, Indu Shaji uses Lefebvre's theory to explore how places are created and transformed through the experiences and practices of people, particularly in refugee contexts.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a public park that is designed with beautiful sculptures and perfectly manicured lawns. The 'conceived space' is how the planners envision it, while the 'perceived space' is how families use it for picnics, children play, and communities gather. The park's true essence emerges from how people interact with it daily.
Understanding Perceived Space
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Chapter Content
The first aspect, when he talks about the perceived space, which is the space which has been produced by the spatial practice of all the users of a space.
Detailed Explanation
The concept of perceived space refers to the reality of a place as experienced by its users. It encompasses how different groups of people interact with and utilize a space based on their practices, cultural backgrounds, and everyday activities. For example, how a neighborhood is used—like a playground for children or a market for shopping—shapes its perceived essence and identity.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a small town square. During the day, it serves as a marketplace with vendors selling fresh produce, but in the evenings, it becomes a gathering place for teens. Its perceived space changes based on the time of day and the people who use it.
Conceived vs. Lived Space
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Whereas, the conceived space is a space produced by the visionaries... The third aspect, which is talking about the lived space as the people tend to live at a particular place that is where an invisible degree of people's attachment to a certain place.
Detailed Explanation
Conceived space represents the ideal or planned vision of a place created by planners, designers, or authorities. It may not align with the actual experiences of those living in that space. On the other hand, lived space embodies the social realities—emotional and physical connections—that people develop towards their environments. This connection can reflect their daily habits, cultural practices, and history.
Examples & Analogies
Think about a university campus. The conceived space might include architectural designs of stunning buildings meant to inspire learning. Yet, the lived space is observed in students hanging out in specific areas, studying on benches, or forming friendships over coffee in the student center. Their experiences shape the campus's character beyond its architectural plans.
Application of Lefebvre’s Theory in Refugee Contexts
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So, here because we are talking about the refugee context under displacement where the whole context has been reversed out and how it is programmed in time and how it has been manifested, how it has been shaped and reshaped.
Detailed Explanation
In refugee contexts, the application of Lefebvre's theory helps to understand how displaced individuals and groups reconstruct their identities and community ties in new environments. The experiences of refugees illustrate how perceived space can drastically change due to displacement, necessitating a re-evaluation of how communities develop their sense of place in unfamiliar surroundings.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a refugee camp. Initially, the camp may be just a collection of tents—an administrative conception of space. However, as refugees begin to make it their home, they create shared spaces for community events, markets, and schools, transforming it into a perceived space rich with culture and identity that reflects their lived experiences.
Key Concepts
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Spatial practice: The ways in which individuals interact with and use space, leading to constructions of perceived space.
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Social attachment: The emotional ties that develop towards a space, leading to the formation of lived spaces.
Examples & Applications
A refugee community forming a market that reflects their heritage, creating a space of comfort and belonging.
A city planner designing new housing units that overlook the cultural needs of the refugee population, leading to a disconnection between conceived and lived experiences.
Memory Aids
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Rhymes
'Perceived is what we feel, in places that are real. Conceived is what they plan, a vision from their hand.'
Stories
Imagine a refugee arriving in a new country. They find a small corner of a busy market that reminds them of home. It becomes their perceived space. Planners want to create similar areas that look nice, but if they don't understand the culture, it will not be lived space.
Memory Tools
Pencils Create Lovely drawings: Perceived, Conceived, Lived.
Acronyms
PCL
Perceived
Conceived
Lived.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Perceived Space
Space produced by the spatial practices of its users, reflecting their experiences and interactions.
- Conceived Space
Space shaped by visionaries, such as planners, based on their ideologies.
- Lived Space
Space embodying emotional and cultural attachments, informed by daily practices and beliefs.
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