City sites: Postmodern urban space and the communication of identity

Abstract

Fragmented urban space combines elements of time and place that people use to negotiate their multiple identities. In this essay, we examine how Polish immigrants in Phoenix utilize particular locations to enact aspects of their ethnic identity. We argue that particular identity formations are articulated through configurations of space and that examination of spatial configurations gives us insights into enactment of ethnic identifications and the politics of multiple identifications. The postmodern urban environment contains fragmented and sometimes fleeting spaces that people seek out to communicate particular aspects of their identities.