1. Low and Altman laid a crucial theoretical foundation for the field of environmental psychology. This study systematically elucidated the core concept of “place attachment”—the deep-seated connection humans form with specific physical environments across three dimensions: emotional, cognitive, and practical. The authors profoundly revealed the transformation mechanism from abstract “space” to meaningful “place”: this shift occurs when individuals project emotions and meaning onto physical environments through sustained lived experiences, personal memories, and social interactions. The literature particularly emphasizes three key dimensions in the formation of place attachment: the affective dimension manifests as feelings of belonging, security, and comfort toward a place; the cognitive dimension is expressed through memory storage, knowledge accumulation, and symbolic understanding of the place; and the practical dimension is revealed through daily behavioral patterns and personalized rituals. This theoretical framework provides a systematic analytical tool for understanding the complex relationship between humans and their environment.
2. This theory infuses my project with its soul, granting scattered visual fragments a profound narrative logic. When filming Victor, a Kenyan student, meticulously grinding spices from his homeland in the kitchen, the lens captures not merely an act of cooking, but the moving process of an exile constructing an emotional sanctuary in a foreign land through taste memories. The Friday gatherings of the Chinese student association transcend ordinary social events, becoming a collective practice where young people carve out spiritual enclaves within an unfamiliar culture.
Viewed through this lens, the same street traversed repeatedly transforms into an exploratory journey, a physical measurement of the city, a mapping of the soul. That fixed seat in the library becomes a personal sanctuary seeking stability amid turbulent studies. Even the tactile feel of an old iron door, the cacophony of traffic at a street corner, or the focused profile during worship become visual language exploring universal themes of modern existence—the eternal dialectic of dispersion and rootedness, alienation and attachment.
Capturing these subtle moments ultimately addresses a larger question: In this era of constant flux, how does one truly “exist” in a place? Through the lens’s meticulous observation of daily life, the project reveals the authentic process of building belonging—not a sudden epiphany, but a connection to life that slowly grows through countless moments of dialogue with the city.
3. My edited media received positive feedback from classmates. Zey said my perspective on the world is unique, which gave me a huge boost. Wenyi mentioned she really liked the background music I chose, which made me very happy. I talked with August and Lexi. I shared that I’m feeling anxious right now, but they offered comfort. On one hand, they reassured me that I’m not too far behind schedule. On the other hand, we exchanged advice with each other.
Reference: Low, S. M., & Altman, I. (1992). Place attachment: A conceptual inquiry. In Place attachment (pp. 1-12). Boston, MA: Springer US.