CONTEMPORARY CITY AS A SPACE OF SPECTACLE: STAGE OR SCENE

Text topic: Cultures of Rhythms and Spectacle

Text author: Татјана Дадић-Динуловић

The appearance and utilisation of cities significantly changed at the end of the 20th century. The city has become an arena which, thanks to the global changes, the IT society and the need for prestige among many cities around the world, as well as different shaping of the norms, culture of behaviour and the typification of lifestyles, has been transformed into the urban stage. By increasingly accepting scenographic characteristics, contemporary city has become the space where market ideology directs and determines means of communication, but also the way we perceive things. In the process of the characterisation of the contemporary city special place has been dedicated to the relationaship between the physical structure of the built environment, theatricality of buildings and the urban spaces, as well as the spectacle and urban and spacial shaping of performing events. However, in order to experience the urban space, we also need the ability to percieve the city scenographically. This is how the spectacle becomes one of the most important elements of the city life and an important factor that characterises contemporary city.