não-lugar
1. A space of transience that cannot be defined as relational, historical, or concerned with identity; typically commercial or transit spaces lacking distinctive character or social significance
The airport terminal is a non-place where travelers pass through without forming meaningful connections.
O terminal do aeroporto é um não-lugar onde os viajantes passam sem formar conexões significativas.
2. An environment designed for practical function rather than human interaction or cultural meaning, such as hotels, highways, or shopping malls
Modern hotels often feel like non-places despite their luxury amenities.
Hotéis modernos frequentemente parecem não-lugares apesar de suas comodidades luxuosas.
3. A conceptual term introduced by anthropologist Marc Augé to describe spaces of supermodernity devoid of local character
The theorist argued that non-places are a defining feature of contemporary urban life.
O teórico argumentou que não-lugares são uma característica definidora da vida urbana contemporânea.
The term 'non-place' (não-lugar) gained prominence through Marc Augé's 1995 anthropological work. It reflects contemporary concerns about globalization, loss of local identity, and standardization in modern spaces. The concept is particularly relevant in Brazil where rapid urbanization has created numerous characterless commercial and transit zones. It's primarily used in academic, architectural, and cultural criticism contexts rather than everyday speech.
Related Idioms & Phrases
feeling like a non-place (describing alienation in modern spaces)
lost in non-places (describing disorientation in contemporary transit environments)
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