Abstract
Atlantic City represents a paradigmatic case of urban
identity shaped through the continuous interaction between material
transformations and cultural imaginaries. Founded in the mid-nineteenth century
as a seaside resort, the city has repeatedly reinvented itself through tourism,
Prohibition-era mythology, and the later casino-based economy. This article
approaches Atlantic City as a space that exists simultaneously as an urban
reality and symbolic construct, actively produced through media, popular culture,
and narrative representations. Drawing on urban studies and cultural theory,
the analysis explores how songs, films, television series, and other media have
not merely reflected social change but have contributed to shaping public
perceptions, collective memory, and policy expectations. Particular attention
is paid to the circular relationship between imagination and material reality,
highlighting how narratives of promise, decline, and regeneration have
structured Atlantic City’s historical trajectory. By situating the city within
broader debates on urban imaginaries, the article argues that Atlantic City
functions as an archetype of American urban modernity, where symbolic mediation
plays a central role in negotiating identity, memory, and future-oriented
visions.
