Consumer Culture & the city

Consumer Culture & the city

Alex Button, Allison Chewter, Kristina Tang, Yougendran Thiyagarajah, Ezra Wasser

Alex Button, Allison Chewter, Kristina Tang, Yougendran Thiyagarajah, Ezra Wasser

Introduction

Introduction

• Consumer Behaviour & Impact on Urban Space

Introduction

• Importance• Stores act as Landmarks

• Make up Urban Space

• Facilitate Social Interaction

• Function Promotes Place

Consumer Culture

Consumer Culture

• Began in Late 20th Century: Symbol of Advanced Industrial Societies

• Design, Production & Use of Things

• Aestheticization of Consumer Goods Intensified Cultural Meaning

Consumer Culture

• Rise in Culture Industries

• Consumer Culture Increasingly Mediates Social Groups

• Contrast is Social Stratification

Consumer Culture

• Proliferation of “highly visible” spaces of consumption

• Aestheticization of Public Space

• Shape Urban Interaction and Sociability

The Brand

The Brand

The Brand

• Brandscaping:

• Organization of Space by Brand

• Themed Restaurants & Stores

• Amplified Visibility

The Brand

The Brand

• Replacement of Old Department Stores

• Used as Wayfinding Tools

• Familiarity

The Brand

The Brand

• 3rd Places: Homes Away from Home

• Social Segregation

The Shopping Mall

The Shopping Mall

The Shopping Mall

• Urban to Suburban Movement• Anchored by Branches of Downtown

Stores

• Drained Investment from Downtowns

• Furniture Simulates Downtown

The Shopping Mall

The Shopping Mall

• Social Space• Mall Walkers

• Loitering Teens

• Social Isolation

• Formal Social Conduct in Stores

The Shopping Mall

The Shopping Mall

The Shopping Mall

• Perceived Safety• Geographic Isolation

• Power Centres Perceived as Unsafe

• Family-Oriented Leisure Centre

The Shopping Mall

The Shopping Mall

Cultural Quarters, Urban Villages

• “Urban Villages and cultural quarters are organizer around the principle consumption, promoting various kinds of cultural goods and services including food, fashion, entertainment and housing.” (Bookman 267-8)

Cultural Quarters, Urban Villages

Gastown, Vancouver Distillery District, Toronto

Gay Village, Manchester Banglatown, London

Cultural Quarters, Urban Villages

Soho, New York City

Exchange District, Winnipeg

Cultural Quarters, Urban Villages

• Naturally Developed Village and Planned & Implemented Quarters are Different

• Problems & Issues Associated with Quartering

Cultural Quarters, Urban Villages

• “In general the most successful cities contain the most culturally and socially diverse innovative spaces of consumption.” (Jayne, 2006, p. 23)

Questions

•How can shopping be a socially stratifying experience?

Questions

•What cities/areas are identified by things?

Questions

•Can power centres affect social cohesion?

Questions

•Has social space moved from the public space to the private mall?

Questions

•Think of a cultural quarter or urban village in your home town.

•What image does it have?

•Why?

Consumer Culture & the city

Consumer Culture & the city

Alex Button, Allison Chewter, Kristina Tang, Yougendran Thiyagarajah, Ezra Wasser

Alex Button, Allison Chewter, Kristina Tang, Yougendran Thiyagarajah, Ezra Wasser

Thank YouThank You