Impossible places
Is Las Vegas a Real place?
The new KS3 Programme of Study requires that pupils study "real" places. This lesson questions the concept of a "real" place and asks students to consider a definition of "sense of place" in relation to a place that flamboyantly flaunts its inauthenticity - Las Vegas.
Key questions:
- How can the term "sense of place" be defined?
- What is meant by a "real" place
Key Concepts:
Place
Physical and human processes
How can the term "sense of place" be defined?
‘Sense of place' can be defined as the character that places have (or do not have) or, as a perception that people hold of a place and not by the place itself. Both physical and human factors lead to certain places developing an identity which contributes to a ‘sense of place'. If you compare Venice in Italy with the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas (which is a Venice-themed hotel and casino) factors in the former such as language, art, music, history architecture, climate, economic activity and the surrounding landscape all contribute to Venice's unique ‘sense of place'. The Venetian Hotel by contrast, can be regarded as lacking a ‘sense of place'.
What is meant by a "real" place?
A place is a space that carries meaning, often through human occupation or by human interpretation. Every place has a particular location and a unique set of physical and human characteristics. These include what a place is like, how it has changed and is subject to future change. Whether a place is ‘real' may relate to whether it is has a ‘sense of place'. If it does not, it can be described as ‘inauthentic'. These can be places that have no special relationship to where they are located. They could be, or may have been built, anywhere. Some heavily commercialised places, like Las Vegas has been for tourism, which is unrelated to the landscape, can be described as having no ‘sense of place' and by extension not ‘real'.
Click on an activity:
Starter
Main activity
Plenary
Downloads:
Venice and Venetian Las Vegas images
Links:
Wikipedia entry on Sense of Place:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_of_place
Academic definition of Sense Of Place:
http://www.eslarp.uiuc.edu/la/LA437-F95/reports/yards/
main.html
Clone Town Survey:
http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/news_clonetown.aspx
and download survey
http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/uploads/mrrefr55l
roqjwrefpvg525528082004130744.pdf