Economy of Fascination

Dubai and Las Vegas as Themed Urban Landscapes
Erscheinungsjahr 2009
ISBN: 978-3-443-37014-5
Verlag: Borntraeger

Buch, Englisch, Band 11, 272 Seiten, GB, Format (B × H): 170 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 750 g

Reihe: Urbanization of the Earth

Urbanization of the Earth: Urban geography is a lively and almost

unlimited field of research. Supported by its neighbouring disciplines such as

demography, sociology, economics and technologies of construction, traffic

management and communications, it seeks to recognize trends and principles, and

with regard to the future, to facilitate structured action. Entitled

"Urbanization of the Earth", this series provides a platform for critically

investigating a crucial junction in the relationships between man and the

Earth. Humans as individuals or society as a whole, have proved to be a

powerful force for shaping the surface of the Earth, almost equalling natural

phenomena. Many more urban phenomena await study and analysis - generating a

great deal of material, at least for further studies within urban geography and

the observation of this lively interface between humans and their environment.

Large investments in the real estate and tourism sector, as well as rising

numbers of tourists and immigrants, have led to a sustained boom in Dubai and

Las Vegas. At the same time, and against the background of an urban governance

and the transfer of competences to private and semi-state actors in both

metropolises, a brisk urban transformation has been embarked upon, with the

creation of countless entertainment, shopping, and artificial worlds. This

development is primarily characterised by the theming of everyday life, but

above all an "Economy of Fascination". The casino and hotel landscapes

simulating various scenes from Ancient Rome to modern New York, artificial

islands in the shapes of palm trees or whole world maps as well as other

superlatives in the form of themed shopping malls and sports arenas are the

most visible results of these rapid changes. This paper develops guidelines for

a research perspective called "Economy of Fascination" and turns to Dubai and

Las Vegas to exemplify the approach. An analytical understanding first builds

on general trends and development lines against the backdrop of urban

governance, entertainment orientation, and commercialisation. They form the

starting point for an analysis of the mechanisms of attention and fascination,

which are considered to be the main aspects of an "Economy of Fascination".

Autoren/Hrsg.

Schmid, Heiko