Economy of Fascination

Urbanization of the Earth: Urban geography is a lively and almost
unlimited field of research. Supported by its neighbouring disciplines such as
demography, sociology, economics and technologies of construction, traffic
management and communications, it seeks to recognize trends and principles, and
with regard to the future, to facilitate structured action. Entitled
"Urbanization of the Earth", this series provides a platform for critically
investigating a crucial junction in the relationships between man and the
Earth. Humans as individuals or society as a whole, have proved to be a
powerful force for shaping the surface of the Earth, almost equalling natural
phenomena. Many more urban phenomena await study and analysis - generating a
great deal of material, at least for further studies within urban geography and
the observation of this lively interface between humans and their environment.
Large investments in the real estate and tourism sector, as well as rising
numbers of tourists and immigrants, have led to a sustained boom in Dubai and
Las Vegas. At the same time, and against the background of an urban governance
and the transfer of competences to private and semi-state actors in both
metropolises, a brisk urban transformation has been embarked upon, with the
creation of countless entertainment, shopping, and artificial worlds. This
development is primarily characterised by the theming of everyday life, but
above all an "Economy of Fascination". The casino and hotel landscapes
simulating various scenes from Ancient Rome to modern New York, artificial
islands in the shapes of palm trees or whole world maps as well as other
superlatives in the form of themed shopping malls and sports arenas are the
most visible results of these rapid changes. This paper develops guidelines for
a research perspective called "Economy of Fascination" and turns to Dubai and
Las Vegas to exemplify the approach. An analytical understanding first builds
on general trends and development lines against the backdrop of urban
governance, entertainment orientation, and commercialisation. They form the
starting point for an analysis of the mechanisms of attention and fascination,
which are considered to be the main aspects of an "Economy of Fascination".