Sponsor
Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning
First Advisor
Karen Gibson
Date of Publication
Summer 8-21-2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Urban Studies (M.U.S.)
Department
Urban Studies
Language
English
Subjects
Saint Johns (Portland Or.), Place (Philosophy), Group identity -- Oregon -- Portland -- Case studies, Neighborhoods -- Oregon -- Portland
DOI
10.15760/etd.6426
Physical Description
1 online resource (vii, 190 pages)
Abstract
The St. Johns neighborhood of North Portland is known for its strong regional identity, working class character, and diversity. Portland as a whole has experienced a major socioeconomic shift in the last ten years, and these changes are hitting St. Johns particularly hard. My research seeks to identify the place meanings that underpin sense of place, place attachment, and processes of attachment formation, among residents of the neighborhood. My research questions are: What are the objects of attachment? Why (the place meanings that underpin attachment)? And how (through what processes are attachments formed)? In what ways are the "why" and "how" intertwined? What are the commonalities across different variables, and how do those gesture at a holistic St. Johns essence, or sense of place?
My primary method was Resident-Employed Photography, supported by participant observation and archival research. This 'photo voice' method entailed giving single-use cameras to 43 place-attached St. Johns residents and asking them to photograph and write about twelve things that explain their connection. The results offer a rich, multifaceted understanding of place meanings and processes of attachment in St. Johns, and insight into what individual facets are most intrinsic to sense of place.
The intention of this research is to inform planning efforts, contribute to community dialogues about the future of St. Johns, empower residents to become civically engaged, and articulate a sense of place that can be leveraged by the community in spatial struggles.
Rights
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/26511
Recommended Citation
Everett, Lauren Elizabeth Morrow, "Our Town: Articulating Place Meanings and Attachments in St. Johns Using Resident-Employed Photography" (2018). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 4541.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.6426