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The Human Experience of Space and Place Edited by Anne Buttimer and David Seamon ST. MARTIN'S PRESS NEW YORK (© 1980 Anne Bute and Dai Sesmon ‘ilight reseed Fr formation wt: SU Marrs Pray ines 175 Fh Aven, New York, NY. 10010 Printed in Great iain Ft poled inthe United States of Amero in 1980 Lory of Congres Cataloging in Pbliaton Data sin entry under oe ‘The Haman expeince of pce and plac. incuge indo 1 Antropeosraphy-—Addreses, esas, etre 2.Communiy Adres, ears, etres {EBatime, Anos I Seamon, Dv Gragg’ "3042042173, CONTENTS ist of Figures Foreword Torsten Magestrand Acknowledgements Inteoducton Are Buttimer Part One: Kdentity, Place, and Community 1. Social Space and the Planning of Residential Aress Anne Buttimer ‘Toward » Geography of Growing Old Graham D, Rowles 3. Identity and Place: Clinical Applications Based on Notions of Rootedness and Uprootedness Michael A, Godin 4. The Integration of Community and Environment: ‘Anarchist Decentealism in Rural Spain, 1936.39 ‘Myrna Margulies Breitbart Part Two: Horizons of Inquiry 5. Human Geography as Text Interpretation Courtice Rose 6, Social Space and Symbolic Interaction Bobby M, Wilson 7. Body Subject, Time Space Routines, and lace Ballets David Seamon 8, Home, Reach, and the Sense of Place Anne Butimer Afterword: Community, lace, and Environment David Seamon Notet on Contributors Index B 19 Pn 55 B 86 12 13 BBs 148 166 188 197 198, FIGURES. 11 Location of Study Areas 12. An Operational Schema forthe Analysis of Demand 113 Idealized Sketches of Social Spatial Reference Systems LA Ideaized Activity Space Profiles 15 Standard Deviatonal Ellipse Describing Activity Space Profiles within the Four Estates 1.6 Volume of Interaction and Convenience of Destinations within the Four Estates 1.7 Evaluations of Site Characteristics Ranked by their Importance for the Residents 1.8 An Operational Model of Socal Space 2.1 The Elderly Person's Lifewor!d 41 Major Areas of Collectviation, 1936 4.2 _ Activity Patterns of Peasants Before and After Collectsization 43 Changes in the Built Environment After Collectivization 44 Generalized Scheme for Regional Collective Exchange 6.1 Stages of Self a Manifested in Socal Space 8.1 Glenville, Co, Cork, Ireland 82. Glenville, Co. Cor, Ireland 83 Downtown Toronto 84 Suburbia, Chicago Region 8.5 MeDonali’son Main Steet, Worcester (or Anywhere) 86 White City (Discotheque), Route 9, Mass, USA 87 Freeway Access to Downtown Minneapolis 88 Open-it Mine, Minnesota 89. Old" Moat 8.10 Before ‘Renewal’ in Glasgow Gorbals (c. 1965), Scotland 8.11 After ‘Renewal’ in Glasgow Gorbals (Hutchesontown, ©.1970) 8.12 ‘Home’ in Drumchapel, Glasgow 8.13 “Home in Rural Cork 8.14 “Housing” at 1039 Main Steet, Worcester, Mass, USA. 180 182 182 183 FOREWORD Liberian wil find it ficult to select a suitable place on their shelves {or ths book. Given their prejudices, they are not kely to recognize the content as geography. They wil not easily find an alternative heading either. This isa fate of innovative thinking. This work i theme with variations. Anne Buttimer and her pupils and fiends direct their search- light towards litle-explored realm: ordinary people's experience ofthe fseography which touches the skin in daily doings and dreams, Is this ‘theme important or just another impractical exercise? Let me give an Incipient answer. My generation believed that functional efficlency and large-scale ‘mobility would make people rich, free and happy. We were not entcely wrong, Many good things were crested, perhaps even more than we are able Co put to any sensible use, But we were too enthusiastic to foresee legs useful consequences: ugly, standardized landscapes; dit in water and srs massmedia and bureaucracy; anonymous neighbor, resless children, abandoned old people. A recent reaction i that small-scale village life looks attractive to some city-dvellers.Igrew up atthe edge of a small and confined factory vlage. We gathered atthe rallway station to catch «glimpse of the larger world when the evening tain passed by. Although I place a high price on my childhood memories of this local word with its natural splendor, I would not lke to see its poverty and harsh social Péckingorder established again. [At fit glance this book seems to suggest the older plce-bound local ‘community asa viable solution tothe sci, tchnologcal and economic impass in which the urban-industral world finds itself. My experience ‘makes me doubt the wisdom of sucha solution. To shrink systems, tech nologies an circulations would probably bea goed thing — external eit- ‘cumstances seem to require such changes anyway. That i not to say, however, that all equipment, arrangements and habits ofthe modern world must be eliminated, and Ido not think that Anne Buttmer and her group have a vision ofthat kind in mind, Rather, the implicit ‘sggestion, a cea its that certain values almost inevitably fostered in stable, place-bound communities are indispensible ingredients fora decent human existence, There must always bea proper balance between, ‘place and journey,” home and reach. Since we cannot return to the {Been valleys we remember, and donot realy wish todo to, let. instead re-create the lost values by giving them visibility and inspiring people to cultivate them, each for his or her position, inthe world ae i Foreword row is, Once we become aware ofthe alment, ve may find oppor tunities to heal Torsten Higerstrand ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ‘The people and institutions having e role inthis book are many. Fist, the editors would ike to thank the following publishers and individuals for permission to qute or reprint: Sage Publishers (Chapter 1); Westview Press (Chapter 2); George E, Deering, MD (Chapter 3); Dick Peet and Phil O'Keefe, editors of Antipode (Chapter 4); Croom Heim Publishers (Chapter 7); nd Hans Aldskogivs and Uppsala University, ‘Sweden (Chapter 8), We also thank Hans Aldskogus for permision to ‘use several photographs in Chapter 8. "Two university institutions have had a major role inthe production of | this book: first, and most obviously, Clark University, which offered the supportive intellectual milieu forthe work described here; second, Lund University, Sweden, where time was provided to organize this collection amidst the business of other projects, ‘The editors particularly wish to thank Torsten HBgestran, for ‘suggosting that this volume be assembled and providing encouragement for its completion; Cristina Nordin, for eitiism of various sections; and Susanne Kriger for her patience and excellent typing, ‘Anne Buttimer David Seamon Dephinen Lund, Sweden INTRODUCTION Anne Buttimer “The intative to atsemble the following esays in one volume came from Professor Torsten Higerstrand at the University of Lund inthe fll of 1977 Ideas and questions which Ihad shared there during 1976 had roused curiosity and concern, Isues such a envconmentl perception, values, subjectivity, language stress — could these be regarded as legit rate objects for geographic study? Bren if one could appreciate the ‘humanistic or even logical grounds for such interests, how could one ‘operationalize esearch on them? Often I referred to work being done by collegues and students at Clark University and elsewhere in North “Ameria, and indeed since then there has been more exchange of ideas between Swedish and American scholars, Those who had worked directly ‘with me did not, felt, constitute an identifiable group: each individual hhad pursued his or her own line of work in conjunction with many ‘thers In fact, we had encouraged one another to pursue topies which ‘seemed important in their own right and none would claim the role of ploneer or spokesman for new kinds of diciplinary orthodoxy. But that 's what is attractive, Professor Hlgestrand insisted: fresh beginnings and provocative theses are far more inspiring than finished products. I isin ‘this sprit that we have rexponded, We present here a selection of ‘excusions'— benchmarks on inteleetval journeys begun a the Gradate Schoo! of Geography at Clark University and now traversing Seth eritory — rather than faite accomplis within a unified field of experts. “The diversity of syle and orientation contained inthe exstys defies rigorous clasifcation. The creditor blame for this ets largely on my shoulders and In turn credit the milieu at Clark during those years 1970-7. Thad always endeavored to make teaching an invitation to fresh Aiscovery rather than indoctrination; I used to feel nervous and sad when students regurgitated ideas or demanded tobe told what was expected of them. To work with graduate students at Clark hasbeen for mea turbu- lent yet exciting journey toward discovering and reafirming what the Socratic voeation demands in contemporary academic settings. It is with ‘gratitude and pleasure that I oin with thes former students of mine in sharing some of the fruits of our time together. Over a year of correspondence and discussion has tll ot yielded B 14 Introduction consensus on what an appropriate tit for this collection should be. One ‘common denominator wa a shared human experience of space and lace; the Graduate School of Geography at Gark University during those yeats 1970-7 was the context within which each of us drew Inspiration and direction for the intellectual journeys which converged there fora while, In retrospect, given our dispositions, we could searcely have found a more suitable context for such an endeavor. Under the Directorship of Saul B. Cohen, pluralism of thought and diversity of style could flourish. We were expecially fortunate, I fel, because none of | these dissertations were involved in funded Research Grants: we felt {rusted to follow our own insights and to measure up tothe respons ibility entailed, Each person or group may describe Clarkin a special ‘way, but for me it was a setting conducive toward liberation from the tyranies of foomer certainties, encouragement to reach beyond cherished taken-for granted preconceptions and testing ground forthe ‘sincerity of one's commitment, Such leaning experiences demand a high price, emotionally and sprtually, and inthe rush and intensity, at times ‘one scarcely appreciates what Is happening. Only in retrospect can one begin to differentiate the wheat from the chaff, "A virtual whidiwind of associations emerge a8 Try to recapture the atmosphere which prevailed during those years I was 2 bleak rainy sftemoon In September 1970 when I arived in Worcester, tearfully hostalaie for Glasgow and laden with data on my soeal space project: prepared fora now adventure. Graham Rowles had preceded me by one ‘week, He too had boxes of dita on multivariate analysis of school- leavers and their perceptions of university choice, and his enthusiasm bout new opportunities was radiant. David Seamon was a first-year fraduate student that fll, nd Bobby Wikon had already completed one ‘year ofcourse work. Everything about the scene spoke ofa fresh beginning: the Fiftieth “Anniversay Jubilee coincided witha move to new quarters inthe ‘Academie Center, twas lesson in proxemies to observe the social structure ofthe department articulate ite in the allocations of space. Environmental perception and behavior seemed to be the ‘peal of great ‘rice’ at that time: bright and eager graduate students from geography {and psychology pitched into lend strength and resources to the move- ‘ment, Jim Blaut and David Stes had already generated much enthusiasm ‘over ther place pereaption project; Ken Craik and Bob Beck were ‘Visiting Profesor in psychology for the academic year 1970-1, A faculty seminar on envizonmental perception and behavior included petsonlitis as diverse as Soul Cohen, Bob Kates, Jim Blau, David Stea, Introduction 1s Jeremy Anderson from geography, a8 well a Seymour Wapner, Bern Kaplan, and Ken Crik fom paychology. | found myself swept up into a brethles round of discussions on ‘those very themes which emerged in my social space project in Glasgow. Officially Iwas ‘post doctoral fellow” that year, fee to pura the snalyis of data and complete the report on my project. De fact, there ‘was scarcely a moment free for anything except interaction with sHudents and colleagues who seemed so eager to share ideas and ‘questions about perception, The most absorbing of all was an attempt by a small group of us ~ Gerry Karaska, Davi Stea, Graham Rowles and T--to formulate a Research Grant Proposal which would enable us to Implement a comparative study of social space in Worcester and Glasgow. Inthe couse of many months of work we leamed some unfor- ‘ettablelestons about costs and benefits in translating thought into the Tanguage of research proposals, From the same experienc, oo, we earned rich about the values of face-to-face deliberations over divergent vows when the atmosphere permits frankness and mutual respect, Our proposal was not funded, but forall four of us, that group context pro- ‘ded supportive challenge to fresh perspectives on knowledge andl. Other waves of intellectual intrest overlapped with ours. The history ‘of geographic thought and my interests in French géographe humaine rovided links withthe work of Martyn Bowden and Bill Koelsch, and Henry Aay helped me fortwo years on 2 course inthe History and Philosophy of Geography. A major program fo the taining of teachers in geogtaphy, sponsored by the US Office of Education and directed by Duane Knos and Dick Ford, drew participants with 2 keen interest in {esting some of our ‘perception’ models with grade- and highschool ‘dents. Bob Kates and Dick Howard shared their enthusism over ‘Aquarius, a computer-based simulation of problem-solving on environ ‘mental management, and Roger Kasperson’s interest in urban polities linked closely with ours. It was not allanalyss paralysis, though. Ben Wisne's vision of journal for ertcal thought — an Antipode — was already touching many cas, Tis was to become, after Ben's departute for Ala, an organ for ‘he articulation of many other views, particularly Marxist and anarchist ‘ones. In fact, by 1972, 6 ant-war thetorie waned, and the various early shoots of perception and cognition became harvested into dicrete pro- {ots and dissertations, much energy became channeled toward matters of socal involvement, Here a lively debate developed between ‘out existentialist vantage point and that ofthe revolutionary theorist, among whom David Harvey was the leading voize. On any debate be- 16 Introduction tween intellectual socialists and intellectual existentialiss, the latter, it seemed, were inevitably the losers. My defense was usually based on Togical as well as experiential evidence, but on socialism I lacked any lived experience, I think it may have been precisely this challenge which provoked me to study and live in Sweden later on. As key links between these two stances, Myrna Breitbart and Mick Godkin were especialy wel- ‘come in 1972 and 1973: for both Dick Peet and for me these two persons played an enormously important role. This was my time for speculating about values forthe Commission on College Geography, and in retrospect I realize that without the encouragement and constructive cttcam afforded by every one of my colleagues, I doubt if should rec have ventured into this area ‘where angels fear fo tead” Inthe final ‘rats, the careful etique afforded by Martyn Bowden, Dan Amaral, Gary Overvold and Denis Wood was lesson in scholarly cooperation and ‘mutual support." By 1974, Grahan’s research onthe elderly had begun, and Bobby \Wilson had completed his dissertation on the experience of Black injrant families to New York. It seemed that our ‘urban social’ phase tras winding down, David Seamon had become mor® involved in phenomenology and had experimented with empirical observations with froups of students? Myrna Breitbart was already involved infield work ‘on anarchist communes in Spain, and Mick Godkin was spending a good eal of time studying alcoholics under the supervision of a psychiatrist.” In the fall of 1974, Courtice Rose arrived from Canada, Already attuned, toot of the iterature in urban and socal gropraphy, Curt was eager toexplore the philosophical foundations ofa ‘new paradigm’ for sography. In his capacity to read and articulate difficult nuances of Snalytical philosophy, Curt taught a lesion to all of us and forced us to ‘be more rigorous in our use of language and terminology.’ Paul Kariya joined us in 1975 with a interest in native Americans and welfare policy, and one yea later Ruth Fincher, whose interests were more xplicily urban, We were indeed a motey gathering: our interests, per- ‘sonal, intellectual styles, and atitudes toward socal relevance were indeed varied, As I left for Sweden fo the fist semester of 1976 I could not have dreamed how much they were to offer help and guidance to ‘one another. “The following exays offer a sample of the orientations which were ‘poraued during that peviod 1970-7. Despite their diversity, there are ome common themes discernible. Ther isthe dialectic of security and adventure as typified inthe relationship between ‘home’ and teach,’ ‘place, and journey." There is also the dialectic of ‘manager’ versus Introduction "7 ‘cient,’ 'movement versus ‘sructure” Throughout, also, we all groped to- ward 2 language which might permit a more sensitive relationship between ‘inside? and “outsider between ‘supply efiieney” and “demand appropriatenes inthe organization of public services. In each ofthe disetation from which these essays are drawn, ether fully or in part, there isa concerted attempt to probe the experiential grounding ‘of concepts like place, community, encounter, at-homeness, movement, and commitment. ‘There ate Kimitations, of couse, in the printed word of short essays: they cannot communicate much of the important learning which occurs in the course of doctoral studies, There are hazard also when one assumes the ‘Cinderl' cause of human personhood and authenticity in ‘world where securing bread and butter often demands bliviousness to such mattrs, Once having switched on to an existentialist perspective it 4s dificult to avoid polarizing contrasts between ‘insider’ and ‘outside:" this generates language and symbolism which hasan anti-scientifi,anti- ‘managerial (one. Quite unwittingly, too, the humanistic intent can be ‘come vulnerable to charges of argonizing and manipulative tokenism, How was one to anticipate such a turn of events? In 1970 my own nies were molded by year of philogophical immersion in existentialist and phenomenological thought and bolstered by two years of concern bout planning policy and standards for hovsing and health in the UK. [felt strong sense of urgency about yielding an articulate desription ‘of human experience, and the whole atmosphere at Clak at tht ime seemed supportive, Fight year later I wonder about the mixed blessing (of ‘suoces in convincing so many students to pursue that course with- fut also leading them inthe direction of eritical evaluation. To bea teacher an awesome responsibility: inevitably, one’s students are sub- jected to influences which may be intellectually exciting and inspiring but not necessarily those which wil guarantee status or career advance Iwas witha somewhat apologetic tone that I shared these worles With this group a few months ago and their esponse was unanimously reassuring: they too have come to recognize the connections between language knowledge, and power within academic circles and the endur- ing challenge of ‘vocational versus ‘system-defined’ agenda forthe profesional geographer. To each the challenge reveals itself in different forms, foreach the responsibility to fae it as hs or her situation allows Forallof us this volume will bea souvenir to Keep the vision alive 18 Introduction Notes 1. Ange Bute, Yale x Geography, Commision on Colles Georaphy esses Paper No 18 (Aeration of American Geographers, Watton, DC, 1318) 2, Gam D- Ris xing the Gente Extn Oe, op’ (PAD dimataton Clark Univer, Woreest, Mas, 1970). PUBIshed 36 Prisoner of Space? Exploring the Gegrphical Experience of dry People {esto Fes, Boulter, Cslrad, 1978); Bobby Wien. The nsec of {Ghoeh Futipton onthe Behavior in Space of lack Mant win Bend- Stayrenants A Social Space Anaya (PRD dsertion, Chk Univers, Worcester, Mase 1979. ‘via Semon, Movement, Reet and Encounter: A Phenomenoloty of Everyday Enirnmental Experience’ (PRD distin, Ca Unrest, ‘Worse, Muay 1977. Pubahed a. Georaphy of the Lifewortd (Croom Het, London St Mari’ Prey New Fort, 1979) “C Myena pun Beart “The Theoy and Pate of Anarchist Decentom in Spain 1936 1959: The Integration af Community ah EEnoronment (PD eetation, Clark Unive, Worcester, Mast, 1978); Mlcost ‘Ar Godin, "Space Tin od se nth Expense of Stet PAD aeration, Gan Uns Wore Ma 17, ‘Rom "Te Concept of Reach an ite Reevance to Soci eogrphy PHD diaton, Ca Unverty, Wore, has, 1977). Part One IDENTITY, PLACE, AND COMMUNITY 1 RA AS 0 mie PLanninG OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS* ‘Anne Buttimer Cites are an immense laboratory of trial and error, failure and acces, in city building and city design This isthe laboratory fn which city planning should have been learning and forming snd testing its theories, Instead the practitioners and teachers ofthis discipline... have ignored the study of success and Falla in ral ie, have been incurous about the reasons for ‘unexpected suesess, and are guided instead by principles

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