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GEOGRAPHY 440
PROPERTY, LAND, SOCIETY
NICHOLAS BLOMLEY
Office: RC BROWN HALL 7131
Phone: 778 782 3713. Email: blomley@sfu.ca
(preferred)
Lecture and seminar: Wed 9:30-13:20, AQ 4125
'‘Property is the root of all evil; and at the same time,
property is that toward which all the activity of modern
society is directed, and that which directs the activity of
the world’ Tolstoy.
‘All roads lead to property’ CB Macpherson.
Readings: Required readings will be available as library downloads or on reserve.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This class will explore the ownership of land. Property relations are immensely
important, shaping opportunities, identities and practice. Property is a crucial means by
which we make space and place. What is property? How is it categorized? Who gets to
have it, and with what effect? The broad goal of this class is to understand property,
unpack its social and political dimensions, and consider its geographic qualities. We will
explore its different forms, when held privately, by groups or by the state.
We will consider these issues through concrete local and international examples. Topics
will include gentrification, indigenous property and the BC treaty process, enclosure and
the commons, street uses and municipal property, and everyday understandings of
property
The format of the class will be seminar-based, with lectures and group discussion based
on assigned readings. This will be supplemented by films, and the insights of visiting
speakers.
ASSESSMENT:
Participation 20% (i.e. attendance, preparation for seminar assignments, involvement
with class discussions, tutorial feedback exercise)
Mini papers 20%
Visual Essay 25%
Critical Book Review 35%
GRADING SCHEME
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A+
A
AB+
B
=
=
=
=
=
88% and above
83% - 87%
80% - 82%
77% - 79%
73% - 76%
B=
C+
=
C
=
C=
D
=
F (fail) =
70% - 73%
67% - 69%
63% - 66%
60% - 62%
50% - 59%
49% and below
Geography Grading Guidelines:
The A grade is the grade category reserved for a very small group of superior students
whose work can be separated from the B+ category on the basis of quality of
thought. These are the students with unusually well developed critical and synthetic
abilities whose work is characterized by substantial originality and creativity. No
amount of work, in the absence of these qualities, should justify an A grade. The A+
category, in particular, should rarely be assigned; excellence of this order is rare by
definition.
The B grade is reserved for those students who have gone beyond the normal
expectations of the instructor. This higher level of performance might take the form of
far exceeding the work requirements of the course, but more usually will be that of
students clearly demonstrating an ability to critically assess the course work. Although
some evidence of critical ability and a great amount of work beyond the course
requirements might justify awarding a B-, it should not be sufficient to award a B+.
The C grade is applied when the performance is satisfactory in the sense that all work
has been completed and meets the normal expectations of the instructor. In other words,
the C grade is reserved for a sound performance indicating that the basic concepts and
principles of the course have been understood. The C+, C, and C- divisions within this
category simply are divisions across a continuum of the one performance type.
The D grade is assigned to student performances that fall between a clear fail (F) and a
clear pass (C-). Students receiving a D grade will receive credit for the course, and in
Geography may use the course as a prerequisite.
The F grade is assigned to those performances that clearly display a lack of understanding
of important concepts. Failure to complete all of the course work is not a reason to award
an F grade; a deferred grade (DE) or incomplete grade (N) should be awarded in such
cases.
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POLICIES
LATE ASSIGNMENTS: These will only be accepted without penalty if you clear this
with me in advance. Otherwise, late assignments will be penalized 5% if handed in
during the 24-hour period after the deadline and another 5% for each 24-hour period
thereafter.
You are responsible for getting all written assignments into my hands by the deadline.
You should not put written assignments in a mailbox, under a door etc. without express
permission. Unless otherwise indicated, assignments will not be accepted by email.
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another
person as if they were your own without giving proper credit to the sources you have
used. You are responsible for understanding SFU’s policy and the definition of
plagiarism: (http://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/writing/plagiarism). SFU policy requires me to
take strong action against anyone who engages in academic misconduct.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. Efforts will be made to accommodate students
with disabilities. Students with disabilities are responsible for making their needs known
to me and for seeking available assistance in a timely manner.
Students are expected to ATTEND ALL CLASSES AND TUTORIALS and READ
ALL ASSIGNED MATERIALS. Students who do not attend regularly and do not
READ carefully will not do well in this course.
Disruptive behaviour in class will not be tolerated. Please arrive on time, do not eat or
drink in disruptive fashion, do not sleep or chat during class. Turn cell phones off, or set
them to vibrate. Do not text message, or surf unrelated web sites during class. These
activities are distracting to me, and to your fellow students.
If you are having problems with the class, please see me. I am happy to help.
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Geography 440: Course assignments and grading guidelines:
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT YOU READ THESE NOTES VERY CAREFULLY. IF YOU
DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING, PLEASE SPEAK TO THE ME AT THE
EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.
All these assignments will be explained and discussed in class. Grading rubrics are
provided below. There will be opportunity for prior discussion.
These assignments seek to encourage you to reflect on course concepts.
I expect you to turn in the assignments on time. Late submissions will lose 5%/day (see
policies above). If there is a compelling reason for you to turn in your assignment late,
please contact me in advance.
Your written assignments should be 1.5 spaced and 12 font. Use APA format when
citing published sources.
There are many writing guides available (see, for example: Making Sense: A student’s
guide to research and writing). These provides invaluable advice on general writing
skills, as well as offering particular help with writing a research paper
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Class participation grade: 20%.
You are expected to be a full and active participant in this class, and will be graded
accordingly. Participating fully means much more than just attending class and doing
the assignments. It also means actively putting your mind, heart, and guts into learning in
this classroom. It means talking, listening, responding, thinking beyond the text, and
being interactive with the instructor and other students. Even if you find the assignments
easy, you still won't get a good grade unless you learn and participate beyond what you
now know.
We will engage in respectful dialogue at all times. Practices to ensure this include:
listening closely and respectfully; refraining from ridicule or interruption; retaining
modesty and humility. There is much to explore in the course, and many arguments to be
heard, so let’s work to create an environment where explorations are encouraged and
enjoyable.
Your final participation grade will be derived from:
a.
etc.)
Your attendance and demonstrated preparation for seminar assignments (readings
b.
Your involvement with class discussions: A good verbal contribution can be a
thought-provoking question or a thought-provoking comment, idea, or observation.
c.
Performance in the tutorial feedback exercise: Every week, starting in Week 3,
small groups of you will be required to provide a short presentation to the class. This will
be evaluated and form part of your participation grade. This exercise is designed to
promote student engagement with class material, and self-learning.
You are asked to choose a focused theme that I will assign to you, and prepare a short
class presentation. The whole feedback should take no more than 20 minutes.
The feedback should complement the lectures, without simply reproducing them. Your
presentation should provide a) an explanation and b) a discussion of your theme. Be sure
to connect your presentation and discussion to questions relating to property and space.
You are welcome to be experimental with the format for your feedback, but do recognize
the time constraints in which you are working. Try to connect your feedback to the
broader themes of space and power that underpin the class as a whole.
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Mini papers: 20%
3 mini-paper questions will be announced during the class (If you wish to choose another
subject for one of your mini-papers, please clear this with me in advance). Think of these
as rolling take-home tests. They are designed to assess your basic grasp of class
materials, your engagement with the assigned readings, and your ability to analyze,
integrate and reflect. As appropriate, you can also include general observations, critical
commentary, reflections on the geographic dimensions of the question, and links to other
readings, class discussions, or current events.
Each mini-paper should be between 700-900 words, 1.5 spaced. It should refer to (at
least) two class references.
Due dates:
28 January
18 February
11 March
The first mini-paper question is:
‘How does property matter? Choose one dimension, and provide at least one
example’
A letter grade will be assigned according to the following format:
A = evidence of thorough, reflective and creative engagement.
B = some degree of reflection and independent thought.
C = limited engagement. Scattered focus. Rushed and hurried.
F = fail.
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2. Visual essay: The spaces of property (25% of final grade)
Overview
The goal of this exercise is for you to begin reflecting on the geographies of property
(broadly defined), and your relationship to them.
Instructions
1:
You and your world of property
Reflect on your own relationship to property, as we have defined it in class, through some
detailed notes on the a) and b) below. This is not meant to be formally presented, but can
be in point form, handwritten, a mind-map etc. How much? Enough to show that you’ve
engaged in some reflection and exploration. 3 pages max.
a) Status: What is your ‘property status’? Are you a tenant? An owner? Part
of a family that owns, rents, leases? In a co-op, condo etc.? Access to
vacation property, time-shares etc? Property in the family, in the past (the old
family farm in Manitoba)? Property in other countries, with very different
rules – eg China, India, etc?
What is your relation to the property of others, including public property, or
that of organizations such as the university?
Property’s ‘others’: Who else has an interest in ‘your’ property? Family
members? The bank? Neighbours? The municipality you live in? Band
Council? Room-mates? Landlords? Strata councils? Renters? Home-stay
students?
Relations: How does your property status and your property relations affect
your relation to others, whether owners, or non-owners?
Significance: What does property mean to you? Security/insecurity? Privacy
and autonomy? Anxiety and uncertainty? Do you have property ‘rights’?
‘Obligations’? Pride of ownership?
b) What are the geographic dimensions of property, in terms of the above
factors? How is sharing worked out in space? How are relations with others
expressed? How do people communicate property claims through visual
markers, or practices that leave a spatial mark? How is territory delineated?
Can you see ‘exclusion’? Is the ownership model present? What about a more
relational sense of property? Try to get beyond the obvious signs (e.g. fences
and hedges). Remember also that property is not just private property. What
are the spatial dimensions? Boundaries/territory? Places? Landscapes?
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Divisions and connections? Visible and invisible spaces? Local and global
spaces?
Step 2: Prepare a 900-1000 word document that answers the question: ‘What are the
geographic dimensions of the property you use and engage with?’ Be focused – don’t
try and cover all the above. Think about one space of significance to you, and think
through its property dimensions, as expressed in and mediated by space. Try to be
creative and original.
Step 3: Also, take at least 8 pictures, or prepare a 3 minute video, posted on Vimeo or
Youtube. This should create a visual story that illustrates and relates to step 2 (i.e. the
three page submission). Incorporate text and images. Turn in your notes from section 1
(these can be in point/rough form), your formal 3 page document, and your images (or
provide a link to online materials) on FEBRUARY 18, in class. All will be evaluated,
but the bulk of your grade will be based on 2 and 3.
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Critical book review (40% of final grade). Due April 8.
Choose a scholarly book on property. I have placed a number of books on 1 week
reserve, listed below, but you are also welcome to choose another book, as long as you
clear it with me.
Nicholas Blomley Unsettling the city
A Fiona D Mackenzie Places of possibility: property, nature and community land
ownership
Theodore Steinberg Slide Mountain, or the folly of owning nature
Paul Tennant: Aboriginal Peoples and Politics: The Indian land question in British
Columbia
Gregory Alexander Commodity and propriety: competing visions of property in
American legal thought 1776-1970
Davies, Margaret Property: meanings, histories, theories
J M Neeson Commoners: Common right, enclosure and social change in England 17001820
David Bollier Silent theft: the private plunder of our commonwealth
Joseph Singer Entitlement; the paradoxes of property
Stuart Banner: How the Indians lost their land: law and power on the frontier
Hernando de Soto The mystery of capital: why capitalism triumphs in the West and fails
everywhere else
Tom Bethell: The noblest triumph: property and prosperity through the ages.
Nicole Graham Lawscape: property, environment, law.
Jennifer Nedelsky: Private property and the limits of American constitutionalism
Gregory Alexander and Eduardo Penalver (eds) Property and community
Carol M Rose: Property and persuasion: essays on the history, theory and rhetoric of
ownership
Robert Neuwirth: Shadow cities: a billion squatters, a new urban world
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Harvey Jacobs (ed) Who owns America? Social conflict over property rights.
Tom Flanagan et al Beyond the Indian Act; restoring Aboriginal property rights.
David Freund Colored Property: state policy and white racial politics in suburban
America.
LeeAnn Lands The culture of property: race, class and housing landscape in Atlanta
1880-1940 (online)
Douglas Harris Fish, law and colonialism
CF Black The land is the source of the law: a dialogic encounter with indigenous
jurisprudence
Christopher Pierson (2013) Just property: a history in the Latin West (Volume 1: wealth,
virtue and the law)
Linklater, Andros (2013) Owning the earth: the transforming history of land ownership
Read the book carefully, making notes. Prepare a 6 page (double-spaced) critical book
review, focused on the property dimensions of the text. A one page summary of the
content/argument of the book is to be submitted on MARCH 4. At least (and no more
than) 2 pages should summarize the essential argument of the book (i.e. the main
concepts and contribution – do not simply list the chapters). Use one or two illustrative
quotes from the book. The remaining 4 pages should engage with the ideas in relation to
the central argument of this class, that is:
Property is important. In particular, the way in which we define property (as absolute, or
relational, in particular) effects the ways in which we think about the identities associated
with property, the ethics of human relations, the obligations we owe others, our relation
to the collective, or to nature. It shapes out understanding of what property actually is,
and how it ought to be structured. It also effects the ways in which we relate to the
spaces and places we occupy, use, and make meaningful.
The idea of this exercise is to read the book through the lens of the class: how does the
book connect with, or differ from this argument?
You should make reference to at least two other references from the class.
A useful resource (which you should tailor to my instruction above):
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/book-review