Putting the ‘i’ in icon: An autophotographic study of iconicity

This article addresses the potential of autophotography to generate new insights into meanings iconic sites. It draws on photographic and interview data collected as part a broader study exploring everyday urban sense-making university students in Liverpool, UK. Iconic sites featured prominently participants' images meaningful city spaces well spoken accounts photo-elicitation interviews. Visual depictions iconicity are central place marketing strategies attempting attract visitors investment. Yet local level, these icons have been criticised for alienating populations foregrounding lifestyles cultures that inaccessible many residents. While we need critically, this argues should not think them reductively. The generated here challenges understandings predominantly representational establishes lived form practices. structures constitutive ‘geographies memory’ development sense students. method revealed become symbols elective belonging via which highlight their connection beyond more generic student infrastructure.