Mall Culture

The modern capitalist system spatially expresses its presence and functioning in today’s cities through shopping malls (AVM). In contemporary social structures described as “consumer societies,” these centers have become an inevitable reality of urban life. The great cities of the past, associated with production, now host these massive structures where consumption is concentrated and organized.^【1】

Historical Transformation and Modern Origins

Throughout history, the culture of commerce in Anatolia and worldwide has taken various forms, from marketplaces to covered bazaars. Although the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, established in 1461, is regarded as one of the earliest and largest prototypes of modern shopping centers, the concept of the AVM as understood today emerged in the 20th century.^【2】

The first example of the modern enclosed shopping mall is the Southdale Center, opened in 1956 in the state of Minnesota, United States. Designed by Austrian architect Victor Gruen, this structure was built to address the lack of social life in suburban areas and to create a “city center” unaffected by climatic conditions. Gruen’s design eventually evolved into a global model and became the primary spatial instrument of consumer culture.^【3】

A Sociological Reading: Cathedrals of Consumption

Shopping malls are more than mere commercial structures; they are sociological spaces that shape consumer culture. George Ritzer defines these structures as “cathedrals of consumption.” The sense of peace and search for meaning that people once sought in religious spaces has, in the modern era, been transferred to shopping malls, now perceived as temples of consumption.^【4】

These spaces are also analyzed within the framework of Jean Baudrillard’s theory of “simulation.” Shopping malls are simulated universes that isolate themselves from the realities of the external world—climate, noise, chaos—and generate their own internal reality and time. When individuals enter these spaces, they detach from external social realities and become immersed in a sterilized atmosphere of consumption.^【5】

Institutionalization of Leisure Time

As products of modernization and urbanization, shopping malls have not only accelerated consumption but also transformed the concept of “leisure time.” The modern individual spends a significant portion of their time outside work in these spaces for shopping, entertainment, and socialization. This has led to the institutionalization of leisure time—not as something randomly spent, but as something organized within a structured environment.^【6】

The Case of Türkiye

In Türkiye, the modern AVM culture began to take shape after the 1980s with the adoption of liberal economic policies. The most concrete beginning of this process was the opening of the Galleria Shopping Center in 1988 under the leadership of then Prime Minister Turgut Özal. In Türkiye, shopping malls have become the most prominent symbol of the transition from the traditional bazaar structure of the Republican era to modern consumption complexes.^【7】