The multiple construction of place of Songzhuang Art District in Beijing from the perspective of media geography
Under the background of social media being increasingly prevalent in modern social life and media geography becoming one of the new directions of human geography,this research explored the multiple mediated construction of place of Songzhuang Art District in Beijing by using qualitative methods,such as textual analysis and in-depth interviews.The findings reveal that the process of mediated construction of place is of heterogeneity,and the media practices conducted by different subjects are shaped by the complex relationships of power.The government and the mainstream media in China,which represent the national power,have implemented a three-stage mediated construction strategy of legalization,industrialization,and commodification of Songzhuang Art District so as to brand the place,reshape its image,and promote the transformation of its development strategies.The public as outsiders,on the one hand,accept and consolidate the representation of Songzhuang as a cultural and artistic highland and a tourist destination,and on the other hand,uncover a place image different from the government discourse based on their temporary in-situ experience.As the internal social group living in Songzhuang,the artists are capable of producing their own media discourse through informal grassroots short video practices.They construct Songzhuang from the bottom up as a place closely integrated with their everyday life,lived experience,and private emotions,strengthening their subjectivity and unveiling the seldomly known artistic life in Songzhuang.We hope to enrich the literature of place making and construction by providing a case study of Chinese art district from the theoretical perspective of media geography.Moreover,through the discussion of the interactive relationships between the above three subjects,this study may contribute to a deeper understanding of the development of Songzhuang Art District as well as the life situations of the under-researched Chinese artists.
media geographyrepresentation of placeconstruction of placesocial mediaSongzhuang
万方数据
维普
