99% Invisible

Meet Us by the Fountain

Jun 14, 2022

Alexandra Lange, author of 'Meet Me by the Fountain,' explores the nostalgic roots of American malls and their cultural impact. She reflects on her experiences in 80s malls as vibrant social hubs where teenagers gathered. Lange discusses how malls evolved from community centers to profit-driven spaces, facing challenges in today's economy. She also highlights innovative transformations, turning old malls into community assets. This conversation invites listeners to rethink the role of malls in modern society and their potential for revival.

35:47

Creator website

Episode guests

Alexandra Lange

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

Malls: A Nostalgic Social Hub

6min

The Geography of Mall Naming Conventions

2min

The Evolution of American Malls

15min

Reimagining America's Malls

6min

Reviving the Mall: Challenges and Opportunities

8min

Exploring the Cultural Impact of Malls

3min

No teenager in America in the 1980s could avoid the gravitational pull of the mall, not even author Alexandra Lange. In her new book, Meet Me by the Fountain, Lange writes about how malls were conceptually born out of a lack of space for people to convene in American suburbs. Despite the fact indoor shopping malls are no longer in their heyday, malls have not gone away completely. Lange writes about the history of mall culture, and how the mall became a ubiquitous part of American life.

Meet Us by the Fountain

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and get exclusive access to bonus episodes.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.