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VKK 757: Archiving UP's Piazza

Chloe Question Eight audio

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Lorretta Brown Sense of place: the sensory experience of the UP Piazza.

When we think of the way in which we navigate through spaces/places, we rarely recognize the role our senses play in piecing the place together. Often, we consider what we will see and what we will do, rather than pay attention to the way in which our other senses experience the space. According to Borer (2013: 956), “sense experience is the vital communication with the world, which makes it present as a familiar setting of our life”, however we pay little attention to senses other than sight and sound. The following is a reflective essay that will focus on the sensory experience of UP Piazza. In the discussion I will consider the ways in which sight, sound, and smell, shape the way we navigate space and place.

The body is a physical that directs our movement, however it does not work in isolation as it relies on our senses for perception of the environment. The body works as a communicative agent that tells us where to go, what to do, and how much time to spend at a place, however, the “amount of control over the information the body gives off is variable and often situational” (Borer 2013: 976). The UP Piazza is always buzzing with people walking through it on a daily basis. It can be assumed that the people who frequent this space are either staff or students trying to get through the day. In one way or another, all participants have stated that they have been to the Piazza before, however their encounters with and within the space differ. Degen and Rose (2012:3), argue that there are “two ways that sensory encounters are shifted and altered: by particular practices of spatial mobility; and by memories of previous visits to the same or similar places”. When asked about what they do at the Piazza, Loretta mentioned that she mostly uses it as “a vehicle to get to another destination on campus”, while another responded by contrasting the differences in her movements between now and as an undergraduate student.

Students prefer to walk around the Piazza to avoid being looked at and/or feelings of being watched. As Loretta mentions, she “prefers to not be there as it very crowed and she doesn’t like to be seen, [so] would much rather make use of alternative routes”. Molly says that she dislikes the space as it is “uncomfortable to walk through” as she feels like she is being watched and would rather walk on the outer area. This strengthens Borer’s sentiment that “the frequent interaction with strangers creates a unique problem for urban dwellers” (Borer 2013: 967). An image taken by Molly suggests that the Piazza is in actual fact a space where people are watched as they walk through and/or socialize. Thus, this highlights that people who walk through the Piazza spend little time looking as they fear that they themselves are being looked at [insert Molly elicitation], which is why they often take on a “blasé attitude or an indifference to others and the cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells that constitute the urban environment” (Borer 2013: 967).

Every city has a landmark(s) which can be considered as “objects [or] places [which] help groups identify the city and also provide a means for personal identification with the city” (Borer 2013: 970). One such object which can be found at the Piazza is the piazza. This podium is somewhat an attraction on campus as Chloe describes it as “aesthetically pleasing” and Calliope calls it a “space of opportunity and possibility”. The outside area of the Piazza is also considered very inviting, Ophelia has likened being outside as walking “from darkness into the light”. “Lush” is a word which is used by Molly to describe the place, as students are found relaxing or “chilling on the grass between classes”. Poppy has likened laying on the grass and looking up as “being somewhere tropical". The grass areas make the student feel relaxed and are considered a welcome and lovely break, not only from class but also from the building which is “very dull and outdated and needs revamping” . The inside is also often avoided by the respondents as they feel it that can get “very crowded and overwhelming with smells of tomato sauce".

The sense of smell is one we pay little attention to. According to Borer (2013: 973), “their [smell] meanings are often accepted without reflection, and their presence can go unnoticed as scents often simply accompany the air we breathe”. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the smells in the Piazza. Chloe does not like the atmosphere of the space as she exclaims that there is an “strong smell of food” make the space uninviting.

There is a general consensus amongst respondents that the Piazza is ‘noisy’ and ‘too crowded’ – with students constantly walking about, interacting, and engaging with and within that space, such is not hard to believe. According to Borer (2013: 971), “sounds of the city labelled as “noise” are often regulated by authorities”, however this is ironic as JP describes the space as having “no ownership; where a diverse group of people get together to do their own thing”. The Piazza is essentially a student centre where students go to relax and socialise with friends away from lecturer halls and assignment deadlines, and where very little attention is paid to rules and regulations. As each city has a distinct object which they use to identify it, the city can also be identified by the sounds which frequent it. According to Borer (2013: 971), “soundmarks are like landmarks in that they indicate a particular or unique quality of a specific neighbourhood or area”. The Piazza is synonymous with noise which is why most respondents avoid the area. However, when walking around, it is not a sore sight to see students sitting around the tables and working/studying, as depicted in Louise's image (perhaps they have become immune to the sounds at the Piazza).

My experience of the Piazza

The responses gathered from the group archive reveal certain truths about the Piazza that I had not considered before. This project has revealed to me the ways in which senses really shape an experience. While taking images and listening to my voice recordings I noticed that my encounter with the Piazza mainly based on what I saw and heard, as well as my past memory of the space. Learning the ways in which the body works to give us clues about our encounters with daily life has made me value my experiences. I recognize the importance of the bodily perception as it can add more substance to my daily experiences. The body is more than just the physical presence that moves from A to B, rather it is a means of connecting with the environment, and therefore to have be fully embodied being means to be fully aware of the responses the body makes.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Borer, M. 2013. Being in the City: The sociology of urban experiences. Sociology Compass 7(11):965-983.
Degen, M & Rose, G. 2012. The sensory experiencing of urban design: the role of walking and perceptual memory. Urban Studies 49(15):3271-3287