The Aesthetics of Exclusion

Simulacrum, Spectacle, and Class Closure at Americana at Brand

Bibliographic Data

ID24019202
AuthorsMarine Dassé (0009-0000-7734-3560, Acteurs, Ressources et Territoires dans le Développement, corresponding author)
Year2026
Publication date2026-08-07
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSpace and Culture (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1206-3312 • E-ISSN: 1552-8308
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/12063312261468448
OpenAlexW7201834834
LanguageEN
References cited14

This study critically examines the transformation of suburban shopping malls into civic spaces, focusing on the open-air mall called Americana At Brand (AAB) in Los Angeles. Employing Guy Debord’s concept of the spectacle and Jean Baudrillard’s theory of simulacra, the research explores how AAB constructs a hyperreal environment that blurs the lines between community and commerce, public and private. In addition, the analysis incorporates French sociologist Monique Pinçon-Charlot and Michel Pinçon’s notion of entre-soi , highlighting how such spaces facilitate social closure among the affluent, thereby reinforcing existing class structures and exclusivity. Through qualitative analysis of AAB’s design, functionality, and user experience, the study reveals that while these transformed spaces offer aesthetically appealing environments, they often perpetuate consumerist ideologies and privatized public realms. The findings raise critical questions about authenticity, inclusivity, and the role of such developments in the future of urban public life.

Agency (philosophy) · Class (philosophy) · Closure (psychology) · Consumer Culture · Ideology · Public space · Social theory · Spectacle · Fashion and Cultural Textiles · Spatial and Cultural Studies · Urban Planning and Governance

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Open DOI