How to Read a Cultural Landscape in Cities

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video takes students on a virtual field trip to explore the concept of "cultural landscapes" through the lens of human geography. Hosted by a guide named Justin, the video uses Flushing Chinatown in Queens, New York, as a primary case study to demonstrate how human culture leaves visible imprints on the physical environment. Viewers learn to "read" a neighborhood by analyzing its built environment, land use patterns, signage, architecture, and cultural markers, revealing deep insights into the values and identity of the people who live there. The video delves into complex geographical concepts such as "sequent occupance"—the notion that successive societies leave their cultural imprints on a place, contributing to the cumulative cultural landscape. It traces the history of Queens from the indigenous Lenape people through European colonization, industrialization, and modern immigration. The lesson then shifts to Istanbul, Turkey, providing a comparative analysis of how history (Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern Turkey) is layered within the architecture of the Hagia Sophia. Ideal for geography and social studies classrooms, this resource transforms abstract definitions into concrete visual examples. It encourages students to become active observers of their own communities, prompting them to look for evidence of history, economy, and culture in their everyday surroundings. The video models critical thinking skills by asking students to make inferences based on visual evidence, making it a strong tool for developing visual literacy and geographical reasoning.