Fantasy City: Pleasure and Profit in the Postmodern Metropolis

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Fantasy City Pleasure and Profit in the
Postmodern Metropolis

• John Hannigan

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• Constructed environment allows experience of
  danger in a safe setting.
• Awed by construction, technology provides
  thrills, sterile environment
• Fantasy City entertaining consumption, theme
  based urban projects, branded w/ licensed
  merchandise, operates day and night, modular
  mixes standard components (food, movies, ...),
  solipsistic isolated from surrounding area
  physically, economically, and culturally
  ignores reality (homeless, unemployed, crime)

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• Turns channels of expression into promotion
• Postmodern and based on technologies of
  simulation and thrill of spectacle
• Hyperreality and a collage of attractions
  connected to global commerce
• Controversy key urban growth, but elitist and
  unreal, private not public
• End product of cultural contraditction in
  American society middle class desire for
  experience but reluctance to take risks,
  especially contact w/ lower class in cities

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• Since 19th c merchants saw paradox and created
  entertainment that both dazzled and reassured
  protected playgrounds
• Dominance of private over public space
• Dont really revitalize cities, no economic
  effect on surrounding areas, widen class gap
• Inauthentic urban renewal, but no real choice
  not true urbanity.
• Historical entertainment constructs 19th c
  democracys theater, the good-natured crowd
  class control.
• Riskless risk, cultural capital, technology.

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• Rational technology, themes, synergies
  convergence of shopping, entertainment, dining,
  education, and culture
• Public/private partners, economies of development
• Las Vegas as a successful Fantasy City.