Exploring the trans-local nature of cultural scene

About the project

The project aims to explore connections between cities and cultural scenes within the global economy. Using qualitative methods and it will examine the nature of trans-local cultural scenes and the flows of ideas, people and practices.

Geographers have long been interested in trying to understand how specific neighbourhoods, scenes, and movements develop and evolve within cities. In recent years increased attention is being paid to the connections between cities and trans-local flows of ideas, people and practices.

Translocalism is a nuanced way to ‘ground’ globalisation and to think about contemporary forms of global mobility by identifying ‘local to local’ placemaking connections and processes. To date, studies have focused on specific cases and forms of trans-local flows including:

However, there is still scope to explore the mechanisms that underpin trans-local flows. In cities such as London, Santiago and Toronto cultural scenes help to attract residents, workers and tourists, contribute to city branding and redevelopment initiatives and have been critiqued for encouraging gentrification. Yet, despite their purported uniqueness and authenticity, these scenes contain a remarkably similar mix of urban aesthetics (graffiti alleys), shops (record stores), movements (DIY urbanism), communities (craft collectives) and people (artists, baristas, influencers). As vital sites for the production, curation and consumption of cultural products, these scenes are ideal places to study the creation and diffusion of knowledge, practices and values across space and the tensions between local authenticity and global uniformity.

We are looking for PhD students to co-design a project around this broad topic. Qualitative methods will be used and students are encouraged to develop an approach which reflects their own interests and connections.

• people, products and policy
• urban practices
• social movements
• cultural identities

Potential supervisors

• Potential supervisors: Lead supervisor Dr Brian Hracs Associate Professor Supervisors PS Professor Peter Sunley Professor of Human Geography

Lead supervisor

• Lead supervisor: Dr Brian Hracs Associate Professor

Dr Brian Hracs

• Dr Brian Hracs: Associate Professor

Supervisors

• Supervisors: PS Professor Peter Sunley Professor of Human Geography

Professor Peter Sunley

• Professor Peter Sunley: Professor of Human Geography

Entry requirements

You’ll need either of the following (or their international equivalents ):

• 2.1 honours degree and evidence of high quality writing and analysis
• master’s degree with merit, including 60% for your dissertation

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you'll need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum level of 6.5 with a 6.0 in writing, reading, speaking and listening. Your awarded certificate needs to be dated within the last 2 years.

Visit our English language proficiency pages to find out about other qualifications we accept.

If you need further English language tuition before starting your degree, you can apply for one of our pre-sessional English language courses .

Fees and funding

This project is funded by the the Economic and Social Research Council through the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership .

Your tuition fees will be paid and you'll receive a stipend (living allowance) of £17,668 tax-free per year for up to 3.5 years.

You can also claim funding for training and fieldwork.

How to apply

• Apply to the University of Southampton
• Apply to the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership for funding

Apply to the University to do the research

Apply now

You need to:

You'll need to send us:

If you have any questions about the degree application, email the graduate school.

• choose programme type (Research), 2023/24, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
• choose PhD in Geography and Environmental Science (Full time)
• add name of the supervisor (Dr Brian Hracs) in section 2
• your CV with details of your academic record and research interests
• your academic transcript
• details of 2 current academic referees, with their institutional email addresses
• a short statement of your research interests and reasons for choosing the projects you're applying for
• an IELTS or TOEFL certificate if English is not your first language

Apply for funding to do the research

Then you need to apply to the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (SCDTP), funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

You don't need to wait for a decision from the University before making your SCDTP application.

Visit the SCDTP website to apply for funding .

If you have any questions about the funding application, email the SCDTP .

Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences

If you have a general question, email our doctoral college (fels-gradschool@soton.ac.uk)

Project leader

For an initial conversation, email Dr Brian Hracs (B.J.Hracs@soton.ac.uk)

Research areas