Palo Alto Market : capital simbólico y consumo en un mercado de Barcelona

Neoliberal policies have been pushing cities like Barcelona to leave behind its industrial past and embrace a process of terciarization which has generated a potent local metamorphosis, not only in its productive nature, but also in its urban fabric, creating forms of strongly market-mediated sociability. From this point of view, the ancient food markets and other newly created are shown as real epicentres of these commodified practices, becoming updated centres of consumption and leisure. Among these, Palo Alto market, in the Barcelona's neighbourhood of Poblenou, is characterized by its commitment to sophistication, elitism, innovation and creativity, as well as its great setting. However, the powerful symbolic resources that make it unique could hide practices and relationships permeated by domination. Furthermore, Palo Alto Market could be acting as a vanguard in the socio-spatial transformations that its immediate surroundings are witnessing.