Mall Theory

The origin of the modern commercial space continues with the idea of good congestion. As a former shopaholic, I can attest to the shopping mall being the new center for public life. Shopping is one of my top pastimes that fulfill my need for socialization however thinking about it critically and how it relates to architecture and society is something new for me. As a result of society becoming more and more spread out, a semi-controlled social meeting space became necessary. In terms of society, I believe this relates back to Learning from Las Vegas. Society called for a place to support capitalism and community and thus the shopping mall was born. While this may not be the most appealing form of architecture, it serves as a clue that gives insight to what is valued today. In my opinion, the shopping mall is not bad in terms of society. To criticize a mall's effect on society is to criticize society itself which is beyond an architects scope of work according to the theories associated with retroactive manifestos. However a shopping mall may fall short architecturally and begins to fall into the category of Junkspace. One of the key traits of junkspace is accumulation rather than hierarchy: the idea that more is more. There is also an overuse of lightweight, cheap materials rather than an appreciation for quality noble materials. It seems to me that rather than prioritizing the architecture and building itself, malls today play into the commercialization of human nature. Branding is another way architecture can be weakened and meaning disappears. Ultimately, the shopping mall is a reflection of society and its architectural success depends on whatever theory you subscribe to.