Abstract

CAPRON, Guénola  and  SABATIER, Bruno. Urban identities and public cultures within globalization: Landscape shopping centers in Rio de Janeiro and Mexico. Alteridades [online]. 2007, vol.17, n.33, pp.87-97. ISSN 2448-850X.

This paper aims to explore the relationships (in terms of uses and identification) concerning two Latin-American middle class mega cities (Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City) and two open and landscape shopping centers. Through exploring methods which are inspired from Pascal Amphoux's works on social construction of ambiencies we assert that malls are commonly frequented as spaces of a public and relatively shared use that assure tranquility and produce some urban order. For visitors, it is the way to visually identify shopping places and differentiate themfrom other urban spaces. Nevertheless, there is a clear social differentiation among shopping centers' visitors, which reflect the construction of taste.

Keywords : urban identity; ambiency; shopping centers; Rio de Janeiro; Mexico City.

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