A Farewell to Dewbridge Palms Mall: Death of Post-Modernism by Jimmesha Littleton

"A Farewell to Dewbridge Mall: Death of Post-Modernism is a thesis on the Post-Modern Architectural period's significance and decline over the last few decades. This project is presented to explore the concepts of Post-Modern architecture, culture, and design in comparison to Modern and Meta-Modern ideologies. A three-dimensional animation of a Post-Modern designed mall explores the beauty and importance of the shopping experience. The dreamscape mall dives deep into the mall's history and the reality of a mall's lifespan. The introduction to the Meta-Modern world is what challenges the ideas of Post-Modernism and how it affects society's thinking and way of life. I explore the mass hysteria of dead and abandoned malls left behind to the advancement of something greater in this thesis. My work consists of 1980's and 90's aesthetics, liminal spaces, dreamscapes, interior design, and architecture. I am inspired by the Post-Modern period and heavily influenced by the Memphis Design Group. 

This thesis dives into a compelling exploration of a nostalgic 1980's mall that has been abandoned when a research team steps in to investigate its remnants before ultimately deciding its fate. With the essence of Post-Modern design and architecture, the mall features bright neons, pastels, and bold black and white designs to highlight its importance in art history. This project is inspired by the internet fictional story of The Backrooms, a tale of being trapped in a liminal space. The animation is perceived to be found footage with heavy distortion and eerie sequences all strung together on one VHS tape."

The animation can be viewed here.

- Jimmesha Littleton