Research
The topic of research was "Gentrification on Cultural Heritage," on how uncontrolled gentrification has gradually caused the dissolution of culture and ways in which we can encourage more interaction with our own culture in the face of on-going gentrification.
The Research methodology
Online Survey
A total of 91 respondents and a survey including 15 questions to determine public awareness of gentrification.
Interview session
A total of 7 interviews were conducted from different perspectives to gain in depth understanding of gentrification
Key Survey Findings
•Most of the respondents did not know about gentrification, and when given a little bit of background, asked if they had experienced it, 74% were still unsure, and 12% were sure they had experienced it. This shows that a significant number of people are not knowledgeable about what can be determined as gentrification so are unsure if their experiences count.
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•Most people find gentrification an inevitable event, but feel that cultural preservation comes down to the interest of the individual and that raising awareness of its impacts could help..
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•Most respondents are aware of their own role in the loss of culture and although most are unsure they feel they may have somehow played a part and were keen on maintaining their cultural heritage and see the importance of it.
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•The majority of people believe that gentrification should be limited to a significant extent (6–8 on a scale of 1–10) in order to prevent the loss of cultural identity within growing towns.
Key Interview Findings
•Preserving culture gives a sense of identity to society and the community, and helps people identify with their own culture.
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• Gentrified areas have experienced cultural dilution. When gentrification occurs, local businesses begin to adapt to the change, and shop houses are transformed from traditional businesses into boutique hotels and cafes.
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•There are instances of intangible and tangible heritage disappearing because the younger generation nowadays doesn’t seem that much interested. Sparking interest in what the younger generation likes these days could help them become more interested.
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•Archiving and documenting these things is also quite important. For instance, books help archive some of these practises as they help the stories live on.
•One can participate in preserving cultural heritage through self-education. Through reading about your culture, reading with others, meeting with the people and so on.
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•Use social media to show your support. For instance, newspapers do share stories about the topic by featuring the stores that would suddenly have to close after 20 years of running their business, and social media is seemingly faster now, so the reach would be greater especially towards the younger generation.