Consumerism and mall culture are heading into their second generation here (quite literally, in some cases, as old malls are torn down to create shiny new ones), but just as the sun never set on the British Empire, it’s always the American 1980s somewhere on Earth, maybe even most places. Except that now, for the early adopters, it’s not anymore. In Japan and Great Britain, for example, it’s the 90s (going by the “in 24 American hours” time standard). That is, these places are right now reaping the social fruits that we here gobbled up, digested and shat out a decade ago.

And if you think I’m being cynical, check out J G Ballard’s take on the ideas of consumerism, suburbia and mall culture in England.