PBS Idea Channel

The Ruins of Las Vegas (4x59)

Air date: Jan 06, 2016

Las Vegas has always portrayed an air of opulence and wealth. But in recent years, this seems to be more of a marketing ploy than the genuine culture of the city. Homes and hotels alike have increasingly become abandoned by their owners, and many new construction projects have been halted before completion. As a city with such a distinct history and narrative, one might begin to wonder if we have outgrown the super-consumption lifestyle that Las Vegas represents. Does that make Las Vegas America’s ruins?