On Thursday last week, 18 Lower Sixth Geographers spent the day exploring Shoreditch as part of their A Level course. The focus of the day was both to experience the area for the first time, and to deepen their understanding of the rapidly changing area. To do this, the boys trialed a range of ethnographic methods which helped them look more closely at the urban landscape than they might do normally – this involved the boys spending the day observing specific aspects of the environment. Some focuses included movement mapping, vertical urbanism, and categorising the qualitative value and meaning of retail outlets.
Throughout the day, they investigated the impacts of gentrification, migration, and urban economic change on both the landscape and urban users. They learned about the role of graffiti, street art, and stickers as forms of political communication in urban space. Finally, they engaged in academic work relevant to the urban change witnessed, including Neil Smith’s work on Revanchism, Phil Hubbard’s concept of Hipsterfication, and the ongoing debate on whether gentrification is a process of displacement or replacement.
By the end of the day, the boys had covered a diverse range of zones within their Shoreditch study area and came away with a greater understanding the changes that were happening and their impacts.
