America at the Mall: The Cultural Role of a Retail Utopia - Paperback

by Lisa Scharoun (Author)

Since the construction of the first fully enclosed shopping center in 1952, the shopping mall has evolved into the heart of many suburban areas across the United States. More than simply a place to purchase goods, this veritable "temple of consumerism" has become a primary place for community and social interaction and an essential element in many citizens' day-to-day lives.

This study explores the spiritual, emotional and physical effects of the enclosed shopping mall on the public, chronicling the growth of the mall, its role in shaping urban and suburban life, its positive and negative impacts on society and the environment, and its future viability. As this work shows, the mall remains rich in symbolic influence, and in many ways mirrors the American condition.

Author Biography

Lisa Scharoun, a Professor and Head of School, School of Design at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, is a multi-award winning teacher, researcher and designer with expertise in Visual Communications and Cross-cultural design. She has published research on the symbolism of shopping malls in the Australasian Journal of Popular Culture and The Conversation. She has exhibited her design, photography and fine art in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and China.