comparision and cotrast of place by patricia price and space and place by yi-fu tuan
First thought after reading...
The theme of both pieces is similar as both talk about the meaning of place. What surprises me is that Price and Tuan attach many different aspects of humanity to the concept of “place”. I have never thought of the distinction between “space” and “place” since for me, they have always merely mean somewhere for us to exist. So, the most interesting yet complicated question for me to think through is what makes “place” so important to the existence of human beings.
The theme of both pieces is similar as both talk about the meaning of place. What surprises me is that Price and Tuan attach many different aspects of humanity to the concept of “place”. I have never thought of the distinction between “space” and “place” since for me, they have always merely mean somewhere for us to exist. So, the most interesting yet complicated question for me to think through is what makes “place” so important to the existence of human beings.
I start by reading the article Place written by Patricia Price. Price begins with using Geryn’s definition to explain what “place” means in the context of humanity: location, material form and meaningfulness are the three elements indispensable to the concept of “place”. Price further point out that “place” is central to how we understand the world that has emerged as today and central to the historical accounts of human exploring the world.
After that, Price distinguishes “place” from “space” by saying that “space” is a mere existence while “place” is where human exists in scale and is dense with feeling. With that definition, she believes that “place” is a lived and dynamic entity that gives specific identities to both people and places. For example, narrative plays an important role in this relationship because people gives names to places so that a “space” is claimed for manic and thus becomes the “place” that defines those people. Moreover, as people live in a place, they develop stories that carve of the permanences which further strengthen the identity of the place.
Price also talks about other forms of interaction between the place and people. Bodily engagement allows people to have a experimental life and the most common form is walking. And this is an operational definition of place rooted in experience. Bodily engagement also takes form in dance, aeromobility, automcobility and cycling.
Price ends her argument with why place is an essential to human beings. She explains that the concept of “place” is deeply felt in childhood during which emission and sentimental bonds between people and the place, and people with on e another are formed. Removing people from the place they are familiar with will cause anxiety, dread and other negative moods and emotions.
"PLACE" IS A SPACE WITH MEANINGS AND FEELINGS CREATED BY PEOPLE'S BODILY ENGAGEMENT. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL AS A BASIC NEED. |
Summary of Space and Place by Yi-Fu Tuan
The next one I read is chapter one and chapter two of Space and Place written by Yi-Fu Tuan. In the selection, Tuan defines “place” as the center of felt value where biological needs are satisfied. He emphasizes three themes that he will talk about through out the book: the biological facts, relations of space and place (he points out that they exist with each other where “space” is a more abstract concept and “place” has value) and the range of experience or knowledge. So, the key term of the discussion of “place” is experience.
In chapter two, Tuan takes the experiential perspective to discuss “place”. He explains that people’s experience of the world can be in different modes, including the five senses, perception and conception. To experience is to learn something and Tuan believes that this is the way to construct reality, giving meanings to the world. Moreover, experience is made up of two components: feeling and thought.
In addition, Tuan points out that bodily movements and the sense of sight allow people to experience the existence of space. However, with purposive movement and perception, a “place” is distinguished from the “space” in a way that the “place” is given values. People give meanings to experience like different flavors, different odors, and texture, size and shape of objects. He also discusses that the experiences of space through the sense of sight an the sense of hearing are different.
The ability of experiencing different objects allows us to discern different places and so that is how experience gives values to “place”.
The next one I read is chapter one and chapter two of Space and Place written by Yi-Fu Tuan. In the selection, Tuan defines “place” as the center of felt value where biological needs are satisfied. He emphasizes three themes that he will talk about through out the book: the biological facts, relations of space and place (he points out that they exist with each other where “space” is a more abstract concept and “place” has value) and the range of experience or knowledge. So, the key term of the discussion of “place” is experience.
In chapter two, Tuan takes the experiential perspective to discuss “place”. He explains that people’s experience of the world can be in different modes, including the five senses, perception and conception. To experience is to learn something and Tuan believes that this is the way to construct reality, giving meanings to the world. Moreover, experience is made up of two components: feeling and thought.
In addition, Tuan points out that bodily movements and the sense of sight allow people to experience the existence of space. However, with purposive movement and perception, a “place” is distinguished from the “space” in a way that the “place” is given values. People give meanings to experience like different flavors, different odors, and texture, size and shape of objects. He also discusses that the experiences of space through the sense of sight an the sense of hearing are different.
The ability of experiencing different objects allows us to discern different places and so that is how experience gives values to “place”.
"SPACE" IS A MERE EXISTENCE. ONLY WITH HUMAN EXPERIENCE CAN A "PLACE" BE GIVEN VALUES. |
Comparison and Contrast of Both Selections
Both selections discuss the concept of “place” and how is it different from “space”. Price and Tuan agree that “space” is a mere existence while “place” has additional meanings. Also, “space” and “place” exist with each other such that the formation of a place is based on “space”. However, they differ in the discussion of the actual meanings and values of “place”. Prince focuses more on how the existence of human beings and the people’s engagement into the “place” bring meanings to the “place”. In this way, people since their childhood develop attachment and bond to a specific place. And eventually, by giving their meanings to a place, people are afraid when they are removed from the place.
On the other hand, Tuan pays more attention to how people explore the world through their experience, especially the five senses in chapter two. By explaining the sense of perception and experiencing objects, people have a wider engagement into and understanding of the world.
Although these two authors focus on different perspectives of what “place” means and how it relates to people, what they have talked about are somehow interactive. It is common in both pieces of analysis that people actively engage in interaction with the “place”. In a way, I think people have become the subjects of using and manipulating the “space”.
Both selections discuss the concept of “place” and how is it different from “space”. Price and Tuan agree that “space” is a mere existence while “place” has additional meanings. Also, “space” and “place” exist with each other such that the formation of a place is based on “space”. However, they differ in the discussion of the actual meanings and values of “place”. Prince focuses more on how the existence of human beings and the people’s engagement into the “place” bring meanings to the “place”. In this way, people since their childhood develop attachment and bond to a specific place. And eventually, by giving their meanings to a place, people are afraid when they are removed from the place.
On the other hand, Tuan pays more attention to how people explore the world through their experience, especially the five senses in chapter two. By explaining the sense of perception and experiencing objects, people have a wider engagement into and understanding of the world.
Although these two authors focus on different perspectives of what “place” means and how it relates to people, what they have talked about are somehow interactive. It is common in both pieces of analysis that people actively engage in interaction with the “place”. In a way, I think people have become the subjects of using and manipulating the “space”.
"SPACE" IS A MERE EXISTENCE. IN VARIOUS WAYS, PEOPLE INTERACT WITH THE SPACE AROUND THEM AND GIVE MEANINGS AND VALUES TO THE “PLACE". |
Reaching Out to Rhode Island by Jhumpa Lahiri Recall that in Rhode Island, Lahiri talks about how she sees Rhode Island as her hometown and all her experiences in Rhode Island make her so attached to the place. Her writing is a very good example to understand the concept of “place” that both Price and Tuan talk about.
Although Lahiri was not born in Rhode Island, the fact that she has lived there for a long time and all the experiences she has gone through are the reason why she calls Rhode Island home, not London where she was born. Rhode Island might have been a mere space to others who have never been there or those who have little connection with Rhode Island, but calling somewhere “home” is equivalent to attaching meanings to that place and forming a very strong bond with it.
Although Lahiri was not born in Rhode Island, the fact that she has lived there for a long time and all the experiences she has gone through are the reason why she calls Rhode Island home, not London where she was born. Rhode Island might have been a mere space to others who have never been there or those who have little connection with Rhode Island, but calling somewhere “home” is equivalent to attaching meanings to that place and forming a very strong bond with it.