Shopping center as consumption culture and spatial projection: The case of Siirt-Andera park shopping center

The history of the phenomenon of consumption is as old as the history of mankind. A person has to consume it to survive and maintain his life. When the consumption caused by the obligatory need is completed, a more complex consumption pattern is seen, which includes more than the need. Especially with modernization, industrialization, and technological progress, the consumption understanding of societies has become more complicated. In modern consumer societies, individuals consume not only for their needs, but also to differentiate themselves from others, to achieve status, to evaluate their free time, and to obtain an identity by revealing their lifestyle. The consumption shrines of modern societies are shopping malls. The fact that many products from shoes, bags, technological products, food are presented in one center at the same time makes these centers much more attractive. This study aims to examine the consumer culture and the shopping center that has become the new target area of this culture. Consumption is a phenomenon that surrounds people's lives and therefore directs their behavior. In the study called "Shopping Centers as a Consumer Culture and Spatial Projection", the relationship of the phenomenon of consumption with the shopping center, which is both a spatial and cultural sanctuary, will be discussed. This research, it is aimed to reveal the reasons why individuals go to the shopping center, their goals, how long they stay and how often they prefer this place. In the study, individuals residing in Siirt and going to Siirt Andera Park Mall shopping center were selected as a sample. In this direction, field research was carried out by quantitative method. . As a quantitative method, the survey data collection technique was selected and over 150 individuals were surveyed. Consumption is more of social activity. It is expressed as a new and different style of social relations, especially with globalization. Although consumption is important for human life, while the instrumental and exchange value of consumption comes to the fore, a new social pattern is emerging in which the objective and use-value are gradually weakening. The shopping center also becomes the sanctuary of this situation and embodies this relationship. Keywords: Consumption, Consumer Society, Shopping Center.