Death of buildings in consumer culture : natural death, architectural murder and cultural rape

Anderson, Stephanie and Tonner, Andrea and Hamilton, Kathy (2017) Death of buildings in consumer culture : natural death, architectural murder and cultural rape. Consumption, Markets and Culture, 20 (5). pp. 387-402. ISSN 1025-3866 (https://doi.org/10.1080/10253866.2017.1367676)

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Abstract

We propose that focusing on the death of buildings has much to offer in terms of our understanding of consumer culture. The aim of this paper is to explore the death of buildings from the perspective of consumers who have an interest in exploring obsolete buildings. Drawing on an ethnographic study of urban exploration, we uncover consumer understandings of death and mortality. We make a number of contributions. First, we demonstrate how death terminology is appropriate to material culture. Second, we reveal how consumer fascination with derelict buildings opens up opportunities for otherwise suppressed thoughts and conversations about death. Third, we recognise the multidimensional nature of death and introduce the concept of cultural death in consumer culture.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:56651
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    30 September 2017
    Published
    7 September 2017
    Published Online
    8 June 2016
    Accepted
    Notes:This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Consumption, Markets and Culture on 07/09/2017, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/10253866.2017.1367676
    Subjects:Fine Arts > Architecture
    Social Sciences > Commerce
    Department:Strathclyde Business School > Marketing
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:14 Jun 2016 09:12
    Last modified:08 Apr 2024 23:05
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/56651
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