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Reading Between the Lines

Branding of Place

This series explores the phenomenon of community branding and how this movement affects the places and spaces we call home. Each session centers on a book selected by Alex Bitterman, a graduate student at the University at Buffalo, SUNY.

The series opens with a discussion of No Logo, Naomi Klein's groundbreaking treatment of the invention and spread of "branding" to all facets of American life.


This session focuses on The Rise of the Creative Class: And How It's Transforming Work, Leisure, Community, and Everyday Life by Richard Florida, which looks at how creative communities can impact local economies and create a better way of life.


A discussion of Variations on a Theme Park: The New American City and The End of Public Space, a collection of essays by leading urbanists and architects that examine the changing American cityscape.


The series concludes with a conversation about The McDonaldization of Society by George Ritzer, one of the most popular sociology books of all time, which explores how the fast food franchising model has come to dominate much of modern culture.