Urbanities,
Vol. 3 • No 1 • May 2013
© 2013
Urbanities
100
of urban research encounters audio-visual skills and competences. The visual, in fact, provides a
way for social scientists to explore various kinds of representations applied to the field of
ethnographic research.
This commentary gives a snapshot on visual sociological methods, spatial semiotics, and
visual culture to study the urban scene. Moreover, it would underline that we could treat
observations and photographs as we do other information, such as interviews or demographic
data which are specific to areas, neighbourhoods, streets, organizational boundaries and census
tracts. We should note here that our snapshots attempt to be as close as we can get to what an
ordinary person might see as they traverse a space. They are not attempts at artistic
representation but are intended to document visual surveys. Indeed, visual sociology and
attention to vernacular landscapes in the inner city allow us to see conflict, competition and
dominance at a level not usually noticed and which can easily be related to the theories and
descriptions of Lefebvre and Bourdieu.
As Krase (2012) states, explaining how urban spaces are used, contested and transformed
by different social groups is a crucial task. It is suggested here that a visual approach to the study
of gentrification in ethnic neighbourhoods could encourage a synthesis of old and new
approaches to the pre- to post- modern urban scenes. This could also provide insights as to how
visible cultural resources are commodified. Given that rapidly changing metropolitan landscapes
are often the venues for sociological reconnaissance of globalization and de-industrialization,
visual sociology can be a valuable adjunct to ‘normal’ urban research and reportage. For
example, we can use photographic surveys in comparison with historical photographic archives
to see and record how differing constructions of space and spatial practices in the landscape of
new immigrants transform the city. We can photograph, film or video ethnic enclaves in order to
both document and illustrate how particular spaces are changed by their new occupants. Of
special interest might be the ways by which public areas are used. Visual methods make it easier
to examine new constructions, as well as the alterations of existing spaces.
On Sunday February 10
th
, for instance, the Chinese New Year Parade with the ethnic
spectacles of Chinese dragon dances, live musical performances and more took place in the so
called Milan’s Chinatown, in Paolo Sarpi street. I could not stay still in one place, so I took one
chance to shoot some photographs of people interacting in the area. I am using this as an
example of how the built environment may be used as an empirical source beginning from the
