This thesis will explore the complex relationship between marketplace exclusion and symbolic resources mediated by the market, for older consumers who have traversed from a socio-cultural identity in the majority to stand on the periphery of consumption. Employing a Consumer Culture Theory influenced perspective and using Baudrillard critical theory of symbolic exchange and death as a lens of analysis, this thesis will utilize a psycho-social method to explore how and why older consumers find themselves excluded from the market. As well as how this absence is negotiated in a society where inclusion in social life is dependent on consumption. This thesis postulates the market as an ideological structure that promulgates a capitalist ideology of life as an affirmatory force and, therefore, negates death. In doing so this thesis problematizes the dominant notion of the market in theory and practice, in particular, the notion of the market as a free and open space for participation. Contributing to an explorative effort to shed light on the complex relationship between exclusion and sign-value, marketplace representation and ideology.

The aim of this study is to question the relationality between conception of image, social condition of an era and architecture. With acceptance of a transition to a new kind of relationality in contemporary era, a trialectical analysis is carried on, in order to understand changes in this relationality and its effects on contemporary architecture. Image, mainly depicted as the tool for communication, loses its transcendental and ideal status and degrades to an artificial and tricky state under the contemporary social condition. Likewise, current state of both image and social condition manipulates architecture, architectural production and the position of architect. Therefore, in this study, for understanding the new social condition, it is referred to the world constituted as a system of sign in philosophy of French thinker, Jean Baudrillard which originates from new status of image. For comprehension of contemporary architecture, it is referred to the practice of French architect, Jean Nouvel who features special value to image in his architecture. Finally, for consequences of this collision and effects on architecture, it is referred to the analysis of the book of &ldquo / The Singular Objects of Architecture&rdquo / which is composed of dialogues between Jean Baudrillard and Jean Nouvel.