David Guterson's Endured: One Week At The Mall Of America

David Guterson’s “Enclosed. Encyclopedic. Endured: One Week at the Mall of America” provides Guterson’s analysis and observations of the Mall of America as well as his views on modern megamalls in contrast with old marketplaces. According to David Guterson, the Mall of America is a disorientating shopping environment which disables social interaction and provides an insight into the dangers of American shopping culture. Guterson begins by describing the outward appearance of the mall as both mystic and disturbing. Guterson attributes these characteristics to being a part of the mall’s function as a tourist attraction. Upon entering the megamall, Guterson contrasts the mall’s menacing outward appearance with its simplistic interior which resembles …show more content…
Without a sense of time or direction, consumers, will shop aimlessly and endlessly according the Guterson. In addition to the exploitment of mental and physical lostness, the mall also exploits individual greediness, which was not the case in antiquated marketplaces. Guterson proceeds to discuss some of the conversation he had with patrons at the Mall of America. Two of the patrons displayed emotional attachment and addiction to the megamall. Guterson notes that patrons of this sort are not abnormal as humankind has been going to markets with the intention of finding pleasures for many years. Guterson also notes; however, that old marketplaces used to condemn consumerism to an extent, whereas the Mall of America does not condemn consumerism. Guterson elaborates on his analogy of the Mall of America to the old marketplaces by stating that the “rituals of indoor shopping”(282) are well known among humans. While humans have known of the “rituals of indoor shopping,” the modern megamall actually weakens social interaction that was experienced in the old marketplaces in order to serve needs of the individual rather than of the