Lecture Six - Consumption of the City
What do we consume in the city? How consumption works!
“Buying is more American than thinking and I’m as American as they come” – indicates what he was interested in – CULTURE
Way berlin became a place of history where people could see history in the making
Can combine communism and shopping
“In a world where everything is shopping...”
Shopping and consumption has researched such a point to actually getting involved with consumption is a big thing
Not a straight forward idea, people have criticised it in different ways – CONSUMPTION
Comment on promise consuming goods
Affluence and consumption go together
Pierre Bourdieu “Distinction” – Social Critique of the judge of tarter
More interested in symbolic consumption – might buy into an attitude or a certain lifestyle.
People distinguish themselves from one another although their consumption patterns – food, wine, culture, furniture, cost etc.
We consume things symbolically instead of physically
Consumption should not be seen as an activity which is simply induced or produced in modern consumers (BOCOCK, R (2009) “Consumption,” Routledge pg45
Your identity is formed as a person to your consumption of the world
Margaret Crawford (1992) “Variations on a Theme Park”
Says the efforts of consumption has penetrated every sphere of our lives
Consumption constructs the way we see the world
What can you consume in a city?
Leisure - Time? Diversionary activities (hotel, cinema etc)
Culture - Museum, theatre, monuments
Shopping - Specialist, shops, stores
Space - Squares, parks, boulevards
Some places in the city become tourist attractions due to their advertising
David Chipperfield, Turner Contemporary, Margate, 2012
Design is related to the history of the place
Have there own identity but a struggling to become part of the cities identity
Riots: London 2011 9against exclusion from consumption)
Endless cycle of Consumption
Allowed people to get involved with the real ideas of consumption
