Pleasure zones: the visual study of the shopping malls in towns of Southern China 

Planned economy might have been vanished from China, but there is still "planned life" for the the countrymen. Small towns in southern China where have been going through massive industrialization since the "open door" policy in the 80's have evolved from small agricultural villages to prosperous towns that are now homes for many migrant workers. City planning has become crucial, as it improves the quality of life of the people or in a way is a measure to pacify them.

 

Parks are built to enrich cultural senses, while malls are built to satisfy their materialistic demands.

 

Most of the malls and supermarkets are regarded as landmarks in smaller towns. The lack of town planning makes a stark contrast to the glamorous malls and markets. People gather in open piazza of these malls or supermarkets during their leisure time. These open piazzas blurs the border between commercial spaces and public spaces. What also intrigues me is these "pleasure zones" highlight the ambiguity between socialism and capitalism.

 

Dustin Shum

Apr, 2009