Place Essentialism (3)





This week has us looking into the concept of place essentialism, an idea that suggests a place or location possesses certain characteristics that define its identity.

Aspen is typically regarded as a wealthy location as indicated by the median listing price of $3.3 million (Realtor, 2024) (compared to the average US house price of $412,000 (Caporal, 2024)). In addition, homes such as the one below, only fuel the public perception of Aspen as a place of luxury over necessity. This demonstrates an essentialist view that Aspen as a place is catered towards the wealthy of the world with little room for anyone else.


        Recently sold, $75 million home in Aspen (WOW) !! 

Whilst it certainly is a location catered towards tourism, this pinhole view seems to force an external viewer to gloss over many important aspects of the location, viewing it simply as a "billionaires retreat" (Vanityfair, 2014).

This oversimplification underpins the community that has called Aspen home for generations, originally founded as a silver mining town, the place has a rich history that is completely ignored in favour of preserving a common stereotype. Positive aspects of the community such as wildlife sanctuary are pushed aside and forgotten about as a result.

A large example of this is the wildlife sanctuary (logo below) which has been set up to protect and care for the indigenous life in the rocky mountains. 

Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | Muskoka ON


Ultimately, whilst arguments can easily be made regarding the massive density of wealth located in Aspen, this narrow view only serves to ignore the much more important aspects of the community as a whole. 

Vanity Fair - https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2003/03/wealthy-aspen-legends
Caporal - https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/research/average-house-price-state/
Realtor - https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Aspen_CO/overview

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Navigating Risk

Following on from the comparisons in altitude of my last post, a major risk associated with travel to Aspen is the high altitude and the subsequent impacts this can have on the human body as they ascend.  Aspen is located over 2,400 meters above sea level which, for travellers from Melbourne who live at or near sea level, provides many associated risks that must be considered and prevented/managed before making the trek. Altitude sickness is the key example of this which causes symptoms like headaches, nausea, shortness of breath and, in severe cases, pulmonary or cerebral edema (swelling caused by fluid in the body).  The likelihood of one experiencing these symptoms is moderately high, especially for individuals who are not acclimatised to elevations such as those present at Aspen. However, the minimization of this risk is thankfully simple, especially with proper research and preparation. Some key tips are ensuring you are well hydrated, avoiding alcohol and taking it easy ...
Read more

Street Art In Melbourne (2)

Image
This week's focus is centred on street art and its role in contributing to the experience of both local and external travellers. To look into this, a fellow student Zach and I explored a famous Australian landmark known as the MCG, questioning the importance of the player statues littered about the ground.   Street art transforms the landscape by commemorating important aspects of a community, an example being the sporting history of Australian culture. Whilst it is not the expected spot of colour that one would typically identify with street art (the murals down Swan Street serving as perfect examples of this), travellers who encounter these statues are allowed to connect with the space uniquely. Seamlessly blending the historical significance of each athlete with a public artwork that any and all can enjoy.  When travellers engage with street art such as these statues, they both promote the art to a wider population through a variety of social media forms subsequently drawin...
Read more

Navigating Culture Shock

Image
Travelling from Melbourne, Australia, to Aspen can seem like a minor shift in location due to the large similarities in culture between Australia and America on a macro scale when compared to other countries around the globe. However, it can bring about unexpected cultural challenges such as adjusting to the mountainous and outdoor lifestyle that dominates Aspen's identity.  Melbourne is typically regarded as a cosmopolitan city with a coastal, flat landscape. A massive contrast to the high altitude of Aspen gives it a foreign feeling to travellers such as me when we make the trip over. Unlike Melbourne, Aspen is catered towards tourism, focusing on skiing, snowboarding and hiking in contrast to the urban and/or beach activities commonplace at home.  The image above depicts the mountainous terrain located in Aspen which can be directly compared to the one below, a complete contrast in environment that can be challenging for travellers.  This difference may not be limited ...
Read more