The Digital Press

A group of Providence artists secretly lived in an unused mall space for about four years starting in 2003, turning it into a hidden apartment as a form of protest against urban development and consumer culture. The documentary "Secret Mall Apartment" tells their story using old footage and interviews.

Why it matters: The artists' covert occupation challenged the impersonal nature of modern malls and urban sprawl with creative resistance.

The big picture: Their protest reflects longstanding conservative and localist critiques of modernity and the loss of place in American cities.

The stakes: The mall's construction displaced working-class neighborhoods, highlighting tensions between development and community identity.

Commenters say: Readers appreciate the unique form of protest and the connection to broader cultural resistance against soulless urban planning.