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Shopping Malls and Consumption

Nislic, Ivan LU (2011) SIMT10 20111
Master of Science in Global Studies
Graduate School
Department of Sociology
Abstract
Shopping malls are a global phenomenon, and as such they reach a degree of local iconicity simply by being malls. One of the main roles shopping malls play in our everyday lives is nurturing social interactions. Shopping malls have been portrayed by many scholars as places where people go to practice consumer religion (Fiske, 1989; Ritzer, 1999; Zepp, 1997), prime temples which glorify consumption and place it on the throne of contemporary society. Since this is primarily a theoretical thesis, the spectrum of research questions has been divided into questions related to shopping malls and to consumption. The discussion starts with a historical overview of consumption and concerns the birth of the consumer society. The main concepts being... (More)
Shopping malls are a global phenomenon, and as such they reach a degree of local iconicity simply by being malls. One of the main roles shopping malls play in our everyday lives is nurturing social interactions. Shopping malls have been portrayed by many scholars as places where people go to practice consumer religion (Fiske, 1989; Ritzer, 1999; Zepp, 1997), prime temples which glorify consumption and place it on the throne of contemporary society. Since this is primarily a theoretical thesis, the spectrum of research questions has been divided into questions related to shopping malls and to consumption. The discussion starts with a historical overview of consumption and concerns the birth of the consumer society. The main concepts being applied in this work originate from three theoretical perspectives: Marxist theory and his concept regarding the means of consumption; Weberian theory and the terms he coined; enchantment, disenchantment and rationalization; and postmodern social theory and the ideas of reenchantment, spectacle and simulation. Ritzer’s concept of conspicuous inconspicuousness, closely related to Veblen’s notion of conspicuous consumption, is also introduced. The notions of shopping and entertainment are closely related to consumption and shopping malls, and thus they are presented and critically assessed. A vital concept for comprehending the very core of shopping malls is the concept of non-place, most extensively discussed through the work of Marc Auge. As an illustration of these theoretical discussions, VivoCity - the largest shopping mall in Singapore - is utilized. Finally, suggestions for possible future research are given. Shopping malls have become the icons of our age and have no plans to leave, at least not in the feasible future. (Less)
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author
Nislic, Ivan LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Cathedrals of Contemporary Society
course
SIMT10 20111
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Shopping Mall, Consumption, Cathedrals of Consumption, VivoCity, Non-Place, Shopping, Postmodernism
language
English
id
2173685
date added to LUP
2011-10-21 12:02:25
date last changed
2014-06-10 14:15:01
@misc{2173685,
  abstract     = {{Shopping malls are a global phenomenon, and as such they reach a degree of local iconicity simply by being malls. One of the main roles shopping malls play in our everyday lives is nurturing social interactions. Shopping malls have been portrayed by many scholars as places where people go to practice consumer religion (Fiske, 1989; Ritzer, 1999; Zepp, 1997), prime temples which glorify consumption and place it on the throne of contemporary society. Since this is primarily a theoretical thesis, the spectrum of research questions has been divided into questions related to shopping malls and to consumption. The discussion starts with a historical overview of consumption and concerns the birth of the consumer society. The main concepts being applied in this work originate from three theoretical perspectives: Marxist theory and his concept regarding the means of consumption; Weberian theory and the terms he coined; enchantment, disenchantment and rationalization; and postmodern social theory and the ideas of reenchantment, spectacle and simulation. Ritzer’s concept of conspicuous inconspicuousness, closely related to Veblen’s notion of conspicuous consumption, is also introduced. The notions of shopping and entertainment are closely related to consumption and shopping malls, and thus they are presented and critically assessed. A vital concept for comprehending the very core of shopping malls is the concept of non-place, most extensively discussed through the work of Marc Auge. As an illustration of these theoretical discussions, VivoCity - the largest shopping mall in Singapore - is utilized. Finally, suggestions for possible future research are given. Shopping malls have become the icons of our age and have no plans to leave, at least not in the feasible future.}},
  author       = {{Nislic, Ivan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Shopping Malls and Consumption}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}