Urban identity transformation and manifestation in Chennai city

Abstract

The paradigm shift from pluralism and critical regionalism to univalent singularity that wraps the global brand has resulted in urban identity being in a state of flux. Perception of urban identity, varied and vibrant, disparate and incongruous holds potential to redefine its domain. The quest for outlining the identity process and to reinvigorate the uniqueness of spirit of place in this research is through a derivative framework deciphering the relational connects between the generic and specific attributes. The research emanates from streamlining the operational domain to place identity, sifting through the tangible and delving into the intangible as the most visible tends to become inconsequential in the quest for urban identity. The unique assemblage of elements, the relational syntax and the language of transformation that profile the structure and process of identity formation drafted as the core objectives leads to the hypothesis : urban identity is a dynamic process manifested in the relational connect between phenomenon of place and the social constructs of people . The research rooted in the phenomenon of place identity with its imperatives in history, social constructs, power dynamics and transformation studies embarks on a derived approach in hermeneutic research. On the lines of mixed method strategy derived from the decomposition theorem and the parcellation method, a system of working from parts to the whole and whole to parts has been adopted at urban hierarchical levels. The phenomenon of place identity in its process at macro and micro level has been addressed to understand transformation of identity in the varied context of traditional, colonial and post- Independence phases. The seminal works and theoretical positioning on derivative phenomenology envisioning the identity of the city as a working metaphor of layers deviates from purely perceptive and subjective research. The grounded base theory (Seamon,Manen, and Moustakas) that the causal explanation of a phenomenon is through the meaning.