In William Kowinski’s, “Secrets of the Shopping Mall,” he reveals another side of the mall that the everyday shopper never is allowed to experience. During business hours the mall is an energetic and highly lively atmosphere, with people occupying all of the general locales inside the shopping mall. The shoppers almost never gaze up at the grand architecture that occurs or the special moments that exist within the mall as they are distracted by the passing couple or crying child across the way. There is almost always some brightly lit sign or activity that draws the shopper away from the architecture and to the attraction.
It is when the mall is “turned off” for the night that observer is allowed to see the mall as it was built. Kowinski describes his experience as he “sat among the menagerie of mall rats, barflies, and potential duck terrorists,” the people who are given the chance to view the mall without distraction. It is during these night time moments that the mall’s “unity, preplanning, single and centralized management are most apparent.” Without the shoppers, one can see how similar all the stores in the mall are and it is their signs that may be the only separating factor.
Many people have experienced the closure of a mall, as they leave a movie that has ended past operating time, and the lack of shoppers is all too apparent. The closed mall feels almost unnatural, as it should be occupied at all times to feel comfortable. It is possible that it is the shoppers who make the mall what it is, and the daily commotion and activities are in place to distract from the unity and sameness present throughout most of the mall.
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