As Chinese cities rapidly transformed themselves into consumerist societies,the relationship between consumers and consumption space under stratification has become a new research area in the field of urban social geography.Based on a consumer behavior analysis,this study explores the relationship between consumption space and the social strata of consumers in typical shopping malls in Guangzhou where the first shopping mall in China was built.The result shows that shopping malls have performed significant constructive functions of organizing consumers from different social classes into different consumption space.For middle-and upper-class consumers,the function of shopping malls centers on utilitarian consumption,identity recognition,and identity construction;whereas for lower-class consumers,its function revolves around pleasure and enjoyment.The symbolism of consumption space is the underlying reason for shopping malls to have their social constructive function.The findings of this research suggest that:1) a shopping mall is a productive consumption space and a geographical space with subjectivity;2) the micro-location of a shopping mall has social construction function;and 3) symbolic consumption is the core of social construction.
研究表明,在全国尺度和区域尺度下,广州市及其中心城区的商贸服务职能具有较强优势,广州市中心城区中央商务区(C B D)具有商贸服务经济高度集聚、经济生态高度融合的结构特征。在这一基础上,结合中心城区CBD空间发展的刚性束缚因素,即土地资源的约束,广州市中心城区CBD的发展应遵循人文CBD空间发展战略,即生态文化商务化、公共空间生产化及商业高端特色化,建构融合千年商都文化、具有现代城市精神的人文CBD。在新时期广州市角色转换的背景下,以人文CBD为核心依托,将广州市塑造为国际性大都市。
