The Imagined City: Atlantic City in History and Media

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.