Relationship Between the Materiality of a City and Its Security

1572 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: urbanization and its impact on environment

To answer the question posed above, I will first consider what constitutes the materiality of the city, then I will consider security in the context of the city. Finally, I will then the relationship between the materiality of the city and its security.

What constitutes the materiality of a city?
The materiality of a city is the personification of that city, or urban environment through the physical objects that serve to make up the component parts of the city. These may be the physical buildings, the roads and pavements through to the street furniture and the open spaces, plants and landscaping. The other elements that populate these spaces also serve to define the materiality of the city – trams, busses, cars, cyclists and even pedestrian traffic.

Whilst this represents the “public” face of materiality, there is a more private face constructed by the individuals that inhabit the city. Their own constructions within their private spaces are part of the material of the city, but are not generally shared. The decoration and furnishing of an apartment may be influenced and controlled by a number of factors – the previous occupier, the ownership of the property and the availability of materials in the city. In addition, the sense of security may influence the design and material in the apartment. There may be additional locks, an alarm system or even bars fitted to the windows as the result of the perceived need for protection, or a lack of security. (Watson, 2008) describes a gated community, where additional physical security is added to an area to exclude others and promote a feeling of personal safety inside the compound. The safety sought by the inhabitants of these compounds is the fear of crime – perhaps engendered...

... middle of paper ...

...se-our-streets
[Accessed 6 12 2013].
Judah, S., 2013. Is cycling getting more or less dangerous. [Online]
Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24987425
[Accessed 6 12 2013].
McDonald, M., 2008. Global Security after 11 September 2011. In: S. Carter, T. Jordan & S. Watson, eds. Security: Sociology and Social Worlds. Manchester: Manchester University Press..
Smeed, R., 1949. Some statistical aspects of road safety research. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Volume 112, pp. 1-34.
Watson, S., 2008. Security In the City. In: S. Carter, T. Jordan & S. Watson, eds. Security: Sociology and Social Worlds. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Weaver, M., 2013. Guardian - East Coast Flooding Reports. [Online]
Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/05/uk-weather-warning-east-coast-braced-for-floods-live-updates
[Accessed 06 12 2013].

Show More
Related

  • The Pruitt Igoe Myth Analysis

    1265 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is a direct relationship between physical environments and human behaviour. According to Newman (1996)4, ''the widespread vandalism and violence resulted from the presence of excessive 'exposed' public spaces''. He continues by saying that ''public housing should provide an appropriate amount of private, semiprivate, and public space''.

    Read More

  • Routine Activity Theory Case Study

    1420 Words  | 3 Pages

    The premise of routine activity theory moves away from the suggestion that crime is caused by social impacts such as unemployment, inequality and low socio economic status, and rather looks at crime occurring when there is a convergence of a motivated offender, a suitable target and a lack of suitable guardians (Cohen & Felson, 2010). Routine activity theory focuses on trends in behaviour, and asserts that crime is specific to space and time (Williams, 2012). Routine activity theory looks at the differing risks that different locations possess, and the correlation between different lifestyles and victimisation (Cohen & Felson, 1979). By identifying the factors that can influence a person or a place being at an increased risk of victimisation, it may be possible to educate residents, increase the number of capable guardians and apply strategies to reduce crime by utilising law enforcement and increasing guardianship (Cullen & Wilcox,

    Read More

  • Essay On The Blame Game

    1201 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cyril Connolly once said, “Slums may well be breeding grounds of crime, but middle class suburbs are incubators of apathy and delirium”. This is the common attitude about crime in this day and age. There is no doubt that there has been a recent increase in crime. However, our society is constantly playing the “blame-game.” In the articles “Romanticizing ‘Broken Windows” by Charles M. Blow and “Broken Windows’ Policing Does Work” by Heather Mac Donald, both authors are tip-toeing around the real issues and solutions, and, instead, fighting about what, or who is at fault for crime on the climb. In all reality, does it really matter what the major cause is? Do we really need to know the root to fix the problem?

    Read More

  • James Risen Pay Any Price Analysis

    1495 Words  | 3 Pages

    James Risen discusses the fear frenzy that has taken hold of the United States for the past 14 years. This fear, primarily caused by the effects of the War on Terror has spawned what the author calls a “homeland ¬security-industrial complex” and cost American citizens billions of dollars. The author thoroughly

    Read More

  • Fear Of Crime Case Study

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    As to be expected, this leads to a large demand for secure areas as, in addition to the victim-ized citizens, fear spreads among the general public. This does not only ap-ply to residential areas: property crime affects businesses as well, which leads to a constant increase of security measures, such as surveillance cam-eras, bullet-proof glass, security gates and high fences or walls around the properties. Citizens follow these responses and install surveillance cameras, alarm systems and panic buttons in their homes, depending on their finan-cial situation and location. This does not only apply to private homes but to apartment buildings as well (Landman 2005,

    Read More

  • Analysis Of 'Thinking Resilience'

    1050 Words  | 3 Pages

    Who hasn’t seen the critical examples of overpopulation that are always depicted with large cities, tall buildings and many people? It is a common thought that cities are the cause of air pollution and are in no way thought of to be sustainable or as having a smaller footprint than those residing in rural zones. Yet, this chapter shows that the criticisms have no bearing when it comes to cities and rather, cities are better in terms of stronger economies, those who live in cities have smaller families, and the more the city is developed the lower the level of poverty (unlike rural areas which shows to have a higher level of poverty). The misconception that cities are actually overusing resources and contributing to environmental degradation is not the case. The chapter cites that this is not so, it is rather “industries and commercial and industrial enterprises (or corporations) and middle and upper income groups with high consumption lifestyles.” (56) These wealthier people who want to live more luxuriously, often live on acres of land with multiple cars, thus do not often reside in the city. The chapter continues to list the positive roles of cities, for example, “lower costs per household and per enterprise for the provision of piped, treated water supplies…collection and disposal of human wastes.” (56) Another positive is the efficient use from recycled waste, also a smaller demand for land relative to the population in cities. The fourth advantage is listed as more efficient heating techniques, and fifthly, a greater use of public transportation. The rich culture found in cities is also cited in the chapter. It concludes with the need for “good governance,” whereby the goals are met and cost is not past onto others, without it the cities are left to be sources of pollution, sickness, and waste

    Read More

  • Two Perspectives Of Right Realism And Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

    1520 Words  | 4 Pages

    In this essay I propose to evaluate two perspectives of social control which will be right realism and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and their views on crime and social order. Right realism is a theory on why crime happens and CPTED tries to minimize the opportunity of crime.

    Read More

  • Crime And Crime

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    1. To explore the spatial relationship between crime and social inequalities (deprivation) in the city.

    Read More

  • Benefits Of Livability

    1577 Words  | 4 Pages

    culture and night life. These components measure infrastructure and comforts but a city is more than

    Read More

  • Security in Inner City Areas

    1686 Words  | 4 Pages

    Security is complex and is part of our everyday lives. An explanation of security, according to Buzan (1991) (cited in McDonald, 2008, p.70) is that ‘security is the absence of threats’. Generally, it is concerned with matters related to safety, which can be physical, financial, social or emotional. However, it can also apply to an array of concepts like risk, danger and segregation (Carter et al., 2008b, p.4). Social, cultural and material practices produce security (Carter et al., 2008a, p.180) and in conjunction with material entities in inner-city areas mediate diverse experiences and understandings of individual security in our communal worlds (Carter et al., 2008b, p.6). As the city is a place of intermixing, difference and diversity (Carter et al., 2008b, p.15), the actual and imagined fear of ‘others’ has become an intrinsic part of urban life (Watson, 2008, pp.115-116). Positive and adverse imaginaries of city life and fears and insecurities constantly produce and destroy security in our shared worlds and ‘underpin social-spatial segregation and division’, an idea posited by Sophie Watson (Carter et al., 2008b, p.15). According to Ken Booth, people can only achieve genuine security if they do not deprive others of it (McDonald, 2008, p.70). This assignment will explore this issue and use the materiality of inner-city areas, under the guise of gated communities, sports utility vehicles and closed-circuit television and surveillance to examine the security among the inhabitants who reside in these built-up residential areas.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Urban Visual Culture

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    Urban visual culture focuses on aspects of culture that rely on visual representations. It explores routes within Visual Culture and how it will impact the Urban environment, London is a prime example with the Grenfell tower incident and the way it was communicated though the news. Throughout this research, I plan to investigate Governing bodies and their format for developing affordable housing along with analysing the downfall within certain areas that do not achieve milestones to ensure its balanced within the market. I will also be looking at how the media influences the way people can perceive different information, and in certain areas there are different ways of communicating with people. A key example I reference is the difference between

    Read More

  • Urban Inequality

    2164 Words  | 5 Pages

    Again, this section will give a working definition of the “urban question’. To fully compare the political economy and ecological perspectives a description of the “urban question” allows the reader to better understand the divergent schools of thought. For Social Science scholars, from a variety of disciplines, the “urban question” asks how space and the urban or city are related (The City Reader, 2009). The perspective that guides the ecological and the social spatial-dialect schools of thought asks the “urban question” in separate distinct terminology. Respected scholars from the ecological mode of thinking, like Burgess, Wirth and others view society and space from the rationale that geographical scope determines society (The City Reader, 2009). The “urban question” that results from the ecological paradigm sees the relationship between the city (space) as influencing the behaviors of individuals or society in the city. On the other hand...

    Read More

  • Big Brother Effect Essay

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    Results of the “Big Brother” effect which he predicted in his novel are now to be seen frequently in our daily newspapers. With the crime rate in Ireland, particularly the alarming increase in burglaries, home-owners are becoming more and more worried. Thousands of people are investing in high-tech security systems to protect their houses from being burgled. With S.S.I.A.’s still maturing at the moment, electronic gates, high fences, motion sensors and C.C.T.V. cameras in particular are popping up in communities around the country. These systems are installed to deter thieves from entering people’s homes but home-owners don’t seem to realise that by having such high security, they are literally telling people that they have something to protect. Apart from this, these systems also have side effects on the people who have them installed. Gone is the feeling of neighbourliness and community that rural Ireland boasted about for so many years. With the increasing number of ribbon developments in rural areas, things are getting to a stage where people have never even met their neighbours. Sturdy doors and strong gates may keep unwanted visitors out but they also discourage people from “popping round for a chat.” One has to wonder where this is going to end. It has been proven that over 55% of people who installed house alarms in 2005 did so after being burgled themselves. This is in effect “locking the stable door after the horse has bolted,” as statistics show that people are rarely burgled on more than one

    Read More

  • Geography of Fear and Fear of Crime

    1603 Words  | 4 Pages

    Smith S.J. (1989) ‘The challenge of urban crime’ Chapter 15 in Herbert D.T. and Smith D.M. (eds.) Social Problems and the City: New Perspectives (2nd Edition)

    Read More

  • Influence Of Urban Visual Culture

    1848 Words  | 4 Pages

    Urban visual culture focuses on aspects of culture that rely on visual representations. This essay will explore routes within Visual Culture and how it impacts the Urban environment, London is a prime example with the Grenfell tower incident and the way it was publicized though the news. Throughout this research, I plan to investigate Governing bodies and their format for developing affordable housing along with analysing the downfall within certain areas that do not achieve milestones to ensure its balanced within the market. I will also be looking at how the media influences the way people can perceive different information, and how in certain areas there are different ways of communicating with people. A key example I reference is the difference between high and low-rise estates and their impact on the property market within the perspective of urban

    Read More

More about Relationship Between the Materiality of a City and Its Security

Open Document