FOR A READING OF THE FORMS OF RETAIL COMMERCE IN THE CITY

Abstract

The importance that the consumption sphere has assumed in the framework of our society in the last thirty years, clearly reveals − especially under certain circumstances − that the contemporary moment of social production apparently is no longer something trivial in terms of life reproduction; on the contrary, it seems to be its very aim. Considering the existing forms of retail trade in the city and its appropriation in time, this paper aims to point out the necessary elements to analyze the urban space produced for this purpose. It assumes that unveiling its nature and purpose is something that not only goes beyond the mere act of exchanging goods, but also reveals the power of fascination existing in the most recent and updated trade forms. Taking into consideration that the space corresponds to a time that materializes itself, a deep analysis on the configuration and appropriation of spaces might show us possible trends for the future.