ENCHANTING A DISENCHANTED WORLD

Transcription

1 3rd EDITION ENCHANTING A DISENCHANTED WORLD Continuity and Change in the Cathedrals of Consumption GEORGE RITZER University of Maryland tsage PINE FORGE Los Angeles London New Delhi Singapore Washington DC

2 Detailed Contents Preface xi 1. A Tour of the New Means of Consumption 1 Disney's World 2 The New Means of Consumption 6 Cathedrals of Consumption 7 Overview of the Cathedrals of Consumption 9 Franchises and Fast-Food Restaurants 9 Chain Stores 10 Shopping Malls, 10 Electronic Shopping Centers 12 Discounters 14 Superstores 15 Cruise Ships 16 Casino-Hotels 17 Entertainment Aimed at Adults 18 Eatertainment 19 Other Means of Consumption 20 Conclusion The Revolution in Consumption and the Larger Society 23 Why Did the Revolution Occur? 24 The Economy 25 The Youth Market 26 Technological Change 27 New Facilitating Means 28 Changes in How Much We Consume 30 The Role of the Cathedrals of Consumption 33 Changes in the Way We Consume 35 One-Stop Shopping 35

3 Destinations 35 Do-It-Yourself and the Rise of the Prosumer 36 Altered Social Relations 36 Changes in the Way Others Consume 37 A Growing International Presence 40 Pilgrimages to America 43 Critics of the Trend 43 Conclusion Social Theory and the New Means of Consumption 47 Marxian Theory and the Means of Consumption 49 Exploiting and Controlling the Consumer 51 Weberian Theory and Enchantment, Rationalization, and Disenchantment 54 Rationalization 55 Authority Structures 55 Bureaucracy 56 Capitalism 57 Disenchantment 58 Enchantment 59 The Romantic Ethic 59 The Parisian Arcade 61 The French Department Store 66 Postmodern Social Theory and Reenchantment 67 Conclusion Rationalization, Enchantment, and Disenchantment 73 The Rationalization of the New Means of Consumption 74 Efficiency 74 For the Customer ' 74 For the Organization 75 Calculability 77 Predictability 80 Control Through the Substitution of Nonhuman for Human Technology 82 Irrationality of Rationality 86 Linking Rationalization to Disenchantment 89 Rationalization as Enchantment 92 Conclusion Reenchantment: Creating Spectacle Through Extravaganzas and Simulations 95 Spectacle 96 Extravaganzas 98

4 Creating Spectacles With Simulations 103 The Age of Simulation 103 Simulated People 105 Simulations and the New Means of Consumption 106 Theming 111 "Authentic Simulations" 112 Simulated Communities 114 Conclusion Reenchantment: Creating Spectacle Through Implosion, Time, and Space 117 Implosion 118 Implosion in the Means of Consumption 120 Shopping and Fun 120 Gambling and Shopping 122 Touring and Consuming 122 Fast-Food Restaurants, Convenience Stores, and Superstores 123 Malls 124 Athletic Stadiums 125 Educational Settings 126 Mausoleums 127 Cities and Small Towns 128 Real and Fake 128 Time and Space 129 Space: Implosion Into the Home 130 Time: The Implosion of Times Available for Consumption 134 Time: Implosion of Past, Present, and Future Earnings 137 Time as Spectacle 139 Speed 139 Spectacular Use of Time 140 Extraordinary Spaces 142 Manipulating Spatial Constraints 143 Seeming to Be Everywhere 144 A Sense of Enormous Space 145 Conclusion Landscapes of Consumption 151 On Social Geography and Landscapes 155 Landscapes of Consumption 159 The Changing Nature of the Landscapes of Consumption 160

5 Seemingly Minor Changes in a Landscape of Consumption: Milan, Italy 160 New (but Threatened) Landscapes of Consumption: Easton Town Center, Ohio; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Cotai Strip, Macau, China 165 A Landscape of Consumption in Decline: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 176 Conclusion The Cathedrals (and Landscapes) of Consumption: Continuity and Change 187 Options for the American Economy 193 From Cathedrals to Dinosaurs (In No Time at All) 195 The Not So Creative Destruction of Still-Born Cathedrals of Consumption 202 A Worst-Case Scenario: The Death of at Least Some of The Cathedrals of Consumption 203 Glimpsing The Future of Spectacles 205 Notes 213 Index 245 About the Author 255