Liminal Experience and Spatial Consumption: The Cultural Practice of Youth in Environmental Theatre

Yu Zhang and Jiayuan Li

Journal of Social Science Studies, 2026, vol. 13, issue 1, 152

Abstract: With the rise of the experience economy, environmental theatre—as an emerging form of cultural consumption space—has become a liminal space for urban youth to escape reality and pursue emotional resonance. Adopting an integrated framework of liminality theory and spatial consumption, this study explores young people's liminal experiences and consumption behaviors in environmental theatre through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, and netnography. It reveals the endogenous dynamics of this cultural industry and the cultural practices of youth participation. The findings are as follows- (1) Environmental theatres construct spatial liminality by reorganizing physical space within urban buildings; by offering audiences liminal experiences, they provide a field for disembedding from reality and self-reinvention within the city.(2) The consumption practices in this culture context are driven by a dual logic- "emotional resonance triggers" and "symbolic stamp-collecting psychology." Meanwhile, deeply involved participants construct their identities through high-frequency consumption and engage in symbolic interaction practices on digital platforms, thereby guiding consumption within their circles. (3) Under the influence of the attention economy, environmental theatres increasingly emphasize visual symbols, leading to new shifts in market trends.

Date: 2026
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