Comm(unity)cation

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I never really understood the importance of place to begin with, until attending my very first UNIV 298 class with Luis Sanchez and Sean Kelly. Reflecting back and seeing the place I grew up in, really got me thinking as to why place wasn’t highlighted in my education in the first place. I started to see that not just the place I grew up in, but how place in general is omniscient. After reading David Orr’s “Place and Pedagogy”article, and sitting in on our various discussions about these readings in class, I came to realize that place was always there as an overarching factor in my life, I just failed to acknowledge its presence. David Orr once said that, “A place cannot be understood from the vantage point of a single discipline or specialization. It can be understood only on its terms as a complex mosaic of phenomena and problems” (2013, 186). It’s easy to say I completely understand that quote, then again that would be a lie because place is constantly changing. Therefore my take on this would be completely different from yours; because depending on the backgrounds we each came from, which are directly dependent on the environment we grew up in and the culture we’re surrounded by, it’s difficult to come to the same conclusion. However, there is one commonality here in which we can both refer back to on a constant basis, and that is place. Place is a constant variable to everyone’s equation. And whether we’ve each been in multiple places or a couple, it’s important to recognize that, “Places are laboratories of diversity and complexity, mixing social functions and natural processes” (Orr, 2013, 186), on the same level as humanity. 
Researchers Erik Braun, Jasper Eshuis, Erik-Hans Klijn, Laura N. Rickard, and Richard C. Stedman, are all moving forward in connecting their research in the communication field to the sense of place. In the article, “The effectiveness of place brand communication” by Erik Braun, Jasper Eshuis, and Erik-Hans Klijn, “…assesses whether three different strategies for place brand communication have a positive effect on attracting residents and visitors” (Braun, et. al, pg. 64). This article explores the main principles of how communication brings people together in different cities within the Netherlands towards using place branding, place brand communication, place image, place marketing, and place communications. The brand image of place represents how these researchers approach making connections towards how place branding and communication effects the total result of more populated areas. After researching these more “well-known” places and using specified target groups, “The empirical analysis shows that both physical place, brand communication, and word of mouth, place brand communication have similar positive effects, mediated by the place brand image, on attracting both residents and visitors” (Braun, et. al, pg. 64) . In other words, communication makes a positive attribution towards better defining the concept of place brand imagery being that,“all encounters with the city take place through perceptions and images” (Kavaratzis, pg. 66). Through the use of conceptual models, Braun and his team of researchers were able to reach a consensus that, “Overall, the conclusion of this study is that the impact of word-of-mouth and physical place brand communication on the place brand image differs significantly from that of traditional place branding” (Braun, et. al, pg. 70).

The easiest way to explain how communication does correlate directly within sense of place is through the use of the information presented in the article, “From Ranger Talks to Radio Stations” by the distinguished research professors Laura N. Rickard and Richard C. Stedman.The basic idea is that, “…this article examines how communication about national parks may contribute to visitor formation of meanings about and attachment to these places” (Rickard and Stedman, pg. 16). However, I saw that through these trials and tribulations in the experiences of each physical setting, the researchers of this forum came to resemble how communication is emphasized in directly impacting the quality of our experiences within sense of place in these National Parks. Rickard and Stedman simply demonstrated the mere fact that, “How people interact in places, such as through outdoor recreation, also effects the meanings and attachment they develop” (Rickard and Stedman, pg. 16). They did this through the use of survey data from the visitors of three different National Parks, and incorporated those findings into identity, socio-historical conditions and the meaning of place.
Interestingly enough, the articles selected for this linkage between Communication and place all came down to meaning. Communication gives place more meaning through the quality of the experiences within the place and being able to interpret the physical characteristics of the place itself. The articles previously discussed covered a lot of foreground and helped me to better understand why place matters in my discipline. In fact, it makes me want to become more disciplined in this field knowing how important my field of study is to the world around me. The use of GIS and embedding information into tables is a key aspect of learning more about that connection.

Works Cited
Braun, Erik, Jasper Eshuis, and Erik-Hans Klijn. “The Effectiveness of Place Brand
Communication.” Cities, 41 (2014): 64-70.
Rickard, Laura N, and Richard C Stedman. “From Ranger Talks to Radio Stations: The Role of Communication in

Sense of Place.” Journal of Leisure Research, 47.1 (2015): 15.
Orr, David. “Place and Pedagogy.” Place and Pedagogy 38.1 (2013): 183-88. Place and
Pedagogy. The NAMTA Journal, Winter 2013. Web.

Why place matters in Environmental Science

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Place, what an obscure topic such a simple word can be. The technical definition of place is any particular point or position in space, but place can be anything someone makes it out to be. Just like “home is where year heart is” place can follow in the same footsteps. With a definition as vague as place it is no wonder why it cannot be quantified to its’ full extent, because where would a person begin to start? Well for the sake of this argument and for this essay, place will be defined as the specific area, city, state, and in greater terms the country in which a particular test and or study is being conducted. Now place actually matters a great deal in any specific situation, in blatant terms knowing ones specific place can be the difference between being alive or dead. Luckily for us college students, we do not have to be faced with such a dramatic decision, and the only place we need to be concerned about is the place within our own disciplines.

Although us college kids enjoy pressing our luck most of the time and explore “sketchy” places because we have that invincible mentality that comes with young adult hood. Those atmospheres in which we judge whether a police officer will come or not are not the sole reason why place is a concern of ours. Place has always been brought to us on an open platter we just never fully taken the time to ask ourselves why is it there and how it is important. As we were growing up every adult one time or another would always ask “what do you want to do with your life” and we for the most part never knew how to answer their questions. At the time we were unable to answer their questions because we did not fully know how to attack it. Well what we didn’t know or failed to realize was they were really asking us which metaphoric “place” in our lives do we want to reach. Now when I mean metaphoric place I do not mean the actual place we are in the point of time. What I actually mean is the destination at the end of our lives that we want to be at and or reach. Now as humans with our complexed minds it is almost impossible to stay stationary we are always on the move constantly looking for opportunities to express our complexed needs. Now with that nomadic mentality we people are constantly traveling from place to place whether it is literally or metaphorically.

As for me, my literal place right here right now is in the dorms of California State Channel islands and the metaphoric place I am seeking out to go is a career as an Environmental lawyer. Well as that is my desired place for now, it is not an easy task. In being so difficult my first step is getting a degree in Environmental Science and Resource Management while I study here at Channel Islands. Well thanks to this wonderful place I now call home this idea of place has finally been brought to my attention through the various course I have taken here. Place to me is far beyond the given space in time I am in, place is the exact position in which an event occurs and how that particular event reflects the span of all the other things in a given sequence. Well as I feel that a given place is an important point in the sequence, I also feel that any place is an important point of reference in any discipline. Especially one such as Environmental Science where the field itself practically has a monopoly on Geographic Information Systems, a system which utilizes the idea of place. To demonstrate not only the importance of place within my field, but in general as well I will be utilizing two case studies conducted in regards to environmental science and the real world.

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Now we all live in a city, and that city was formulated from the ground up with carful thought and consideration in all aspects. A city or even a building cannot even begin development until it compiles an environmental impact statement. A statement which explains the consequences it would cause to the environment and or to the people who would be living in such an atmosphere. Well as we know there are tons of cities all around the world and each one has underwent its urban development. All types of countries and even societies regardless of wealth carefully puts thought into their productions of building a cities. They utilize all sorts of resources they have to not only take into account the environmental consequences, but the economic, and social consequences as well.  With a system such as GIS which can virtually map out all sorts of situations it is almost impossible not to take into account the places and areas in which a particular event is taking place. Now since I am specifically talking about the environment and societal up bring and development those will be the only two main subject I will touch upon.

As I had mentioned before, a city’s development and or improvements take serious and diligent consideration in all regards especially in the safety of its citizens. For if the foundations of a city are built under let’s say an old radioactive wasteland its population would face many unintended consequences. With having the formation of a city being so dire such studies as the water quality of a main water source is an important test to compile before development. Luckily for environmentalist the system of GIS could help point and map out the potential contaminated water areas that would be undesirable for people of a highly polluted country such as China. With regards to China and its highly polluted country Yan et al. was able to conceptualize and visualize the spatial pollution characteristics and identify potential polluted risky regions of the Honghe River Watershed. Which due to the hustle and bustle of a rapid economy such as Chia nonpoint source pollutants tend to runoff into vital societal utilities. Now with such a study the scientist had used space and GIS to map out these non-point polluted surface waters and warn it the citizens of the Honghe watershed not to drink its waters from specific sources. Bring this back to home and using the same tactics and agenda Yan et al. were trying to accomplish with the help of GIS scientist could warn us of the potential water contaminations. If hypothetically in the local area fertilizer run off became a problem, where if it was an issue they would be able to map out which farms and or crop lands these pollutants were coming from so we could do something about them and resolve the issue of pollutants entering a system.

Well to further piggybacking off the idea that urban development has a vital role in our everyday lives, another case study has been conducted in another part of the world to demonstrate the importance of environmental science and its development planning. In Tehran the capital of Iran the problem of urban sprawling has been getting out of control and creating obnoxious noise pollution leaving its citizens to experience nervous system damage and mental behavior alterations. With the help of the GIS system scientist were able to assess the spatial changes in traffic noise pollution so they could identify critical noise pollutions, where they could then install noise barriers that would limit the decibel levels being expelled. Well thanks to the study Mohammad et al. conducted the material of a surface was determined to be a factor that could and would limit the noise pollution levels. As though this may not be a major issue to us city folk who are used to the constant noises of cars and other materials, others that are not so use to such a chaotic life style it could experience negative consequences. Well to demonstrate a real world example map layers and surveyors could utilize the GIS system to do what Mohammad et al. did and see where the nosiest places are and help them map out desired places to live for like real-estate. Where if noise pollution is a problem propriety values could drop and vacancy rates may rise causing issues within the house market.

As demonstrated with the small case studies I have presented, place is a vital part to any equation whether if it is something big as picking out a place to live or something as small as which seat one should sit in class. Place is an important utility that most of us take for granite and fail to be credited when credit is due. If place had no relevance we or even I would not even being writing this essay as I speak because Channel Islands would have never existed. Instead the CSU system decided to utilize this place the once Camarillo State Mental Hospital and turn it into the CI we know and love. Place and GIS in general can and does place a crucial role in all aspects and failing to recognize and utilize such as system is a disadvantage to our own self.

Works Cited

MONAZZAM, MOHAMMAD REZA, et al. “Spatial Traffic Noise Pollution Assessment – A Case Study.” International Journal Of Occupational Medicine & Environmental Health 28.3 (2015): 625-634. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Feb. 2016

Yan, Chang-An, et al. “Assessment Of Water Quality And Identification Of Polluted Risky Regions Based On Field Observations & GIS In The Honghe River Watershed, China.” Plos ONE 10.3 (2015): 1-13. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

Blog Entry #4 – 5 metaphors and a reason why-

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2. Show & Telepaths

This metaphor means what you can explain a concept but can’t prove it which means don’t tell a story that you can’t show proof to. This is a tricky thing in writing because it is a fine line between academic writing and creative writing. Which is often a struggle in writing but can be easily avoided. I struggle with this but I’ve learned to read over the assignment multiple times and check to see what I write is able to be proven with examples or citations.

 

4. Lost Money and Thank-you Notes: what’s in an audience

This is a tricky metaphor because it not only addresses the primary audience but also the secondary audience. I find it hard when writing to make sure that I am addressing the correct audience in the right manner. I face this problem a lot this semester in English 107 with the blog posts. We are writing as an assignment for our professor but also to our peers and ourselves. With this we need to be able to formal for the academic part but relaxed so we don’t lose the interest of our peers. With this type of writing it requires you to analyze the type of writing produced which should always be take into consideration.

6.Fruit-Jell-O: Balancing Argument & Examples

With this metaphor it is important to provide constancy. In the Fruit Jell-O it is important to always have a balance with what you are discussing. Such as keeping the fruit to jell-o ratio balanced it is important to keep the examples balanced with the arguments you present. Within my writing I need to practice balancing out my Jell-o; I tend to provide the argument but lack the base of examples to support it. I often feel it does not come across well in writing. Although in person I always make sure I have more than enough examples to provide evidence to my arguments. I hope to strengthen my arguments in writing by getting my examples across in a clearer manner than before.

7. Wash-and-Wear Paragraphs

The importance in paragraphs is the length and content. This metaphor addresses the jell-o metaphor as well. In other words you need to have balance within your paragraphs so you do not overwhelm your reader. The length is important because a too long paragraph can be too much and cause the reader to lose interest. You may think that a too short paragraph is bad but it’s not. If your writing can withstand short paragraphs it is okay even if it is just a sentence. Within my writing I feel that I do not over extend my paragraphs I like to keep them short.

The next most important thing to think about in your paragraph is the content. If your paragraph does not have the right content within it is then just taking up space ( a filler ) which is not good. I was always taught that it is the content of the assignment and not the length. So within my writing I feel that I was Wear and Wash effectively.

9.Short Time Writing: Use your Higher Brain

This metaphor addresses the importance of analyzing the question and finding out the main key points. When writing for class such as English it is often asked that our writing is based off of a prompt. I find this type of writing to be the most difficult because it is asking you to write outside your comfort zone. With this metaphor it is telling us to use our higher brain to analyze and pick apart the prompt before we even begin to write. I tend to ignore this step and read the prompt once and then jump into writing. I need to take the time to analyze the prompt; to decide who my audience is, what I am writing about, and why it important. Then begin the assignment based on those three key points. I noticed that last semester in English 105 I had a hard time with the writing because I did not fully understand the prompt I was given. I think that if I had taken the time to analyze the question it could have been better addressed in my writing. This is something that I will try to do to better understand what it is I am writing about.

Reid, E. Shelley. “Ten Ways To Think About Writing: Metaphoric Musings for College Writing Students.” Ed. Charles Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky. Vol. 2. West Lafayette, IN: Parlor P, 2011. 3-23. Writing Spaces. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.