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作者

Craig Thomas

来源

CITIES,Vol.133,Issue1,Article 104111

语言

英文

关键字

Place perception;Place attachment;Place identity;Creative class theory;Planning policy;Urban management

作者单位

Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke Rd, Victoria, BC V9B 5Y2, Canada;Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke Rd, Victoria, BC V9B 5Y2, Canada

摘要

Wider social, cultural, and geographical acceptance of creative class theory has inspired city planners to appeal to creative workers. While creative class literature assumes that creative workers develop similar conceptions of place regardless of geographic location, local context, or how individuals identify with and develop attachment to place, a comprehensive analysis of the ways people experience space in relation to creative class theory is lacking. Using a phenomenographic research approach and a framework grounded in theories of place, this study explores conceptions of place among 28 creative workers in Edmonton, Canada. Using a series of interviews and cultural probe exercises designed to provoke creative and emotional responses, this study reveals that, contrary to the literature, participants describe strong attachment to place, a sense of belonging, and a commitment and responsibility to the city, which they describe as tolerant and diverse, with flexible class boundaries. Participants are found to possess both strong and weak ties to social capital, with place not being a means of maintaining weak ties to several social circles. The study concludes that planning policy needs to give due consideration to the genius loci of a place in order to understand how its residents and socioeconomic groups conceive and understand the world around them. Thus, these findings trouble the generalizability of creative class theory, while highlighting the importance and significance of the locale in terms of applying broad policy goals and objectives.