大城市中产阶层化与商娱场所的空间结构

自上个世纪70年代随着发达国家"后工业社会"转型以来,中产阶层化现象成为西方发达国家城市问题与空间规划方向的重要研究方面之一,发展至今日,中产阶层化成为了一种全球化的社会与空间现象(Bell,1999)。娱乐作为一种文化现象,可以反映国家生产力水平的高低,是与每个人的生存质量息息相关的领域。因而有关文化休闲娱乐场所的微区位研究也逐渐引起了中外地理学界和社会学界有关学者的极大兴趣。从城市社会空间结构的角度探讨中产阶层生活方式及其消费(娱乐消费)与娱乐场所形成的中产阶层化现象等的社会空间结构。

GENTRIFICATION AND THE SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF RECREATIONAL PLACES IN BIG CITIES

With the "Post-industry society" turn of developed countries since 1970s, gentrification has become one of the key research aspects in the field of urban problems and spatial planning in western countries. Up to now, it becomes a global social and spatial phenomenon. Gentrification is the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. Gentrification is also defined as the transformation of neighborhoods from low value to high value.
The causes of gentrification are debatable. Some literature suggests that it is caused by social and cultural factors such as family structure, rapid job growth, lack of housing, traffic congestion, and public-sector policies (Kennedy, 2001). Gentrification can occur on a small or large scale. For example, individual newcomers can slowly populate an area because of renovations. Conversely, large-scale redevelopment and the accompanying regeneration can cause an immediate shift in neighborhood residents. At the same time, the transition from Fordism to Post-fordism in western society reflects the social turn from traditionally production oriented to consumption oriented. And consumption also changes from commodity consumption to service consumption which includes education, health, information service, entertainment, recreation and cultural service. With the economic development, the income increases, the recreation time prolongs. In addition to the idea change, recreation plays an important role in the development of daily life and social economy. As a cultural phenomenon, recreation can reflect the production level of country, be a measurement of civilization, the outcome of human material and spiritual civilization.
Understanding the history, basic characteristics, consumption and recreational places of middle class can help us to learn about western gentrification. The more we learn from western gentrification, the more it benefits our country.
As a whole, foreign urban social geography pays more attention to the relationship between gentrification and urban social space structure. However, the research at home has not touched this aspect yet. So, the author tries to work on it.